Madeline walks through the gray metal doors and walks over to the man who is standing above a huge microscope. Madeline's heels click, but the man does not look up. Madeline looks around the room, and finally clears her throat.

"Madeline... I didn't know you had come in." The man says as he pushes up from the microscope.

"Do we have the results?" Madeline asks softly.

"It is working... that devise should be able to predict levels just as well as we can." The man says as he walks over to another desk area. Madeline turns and watches the man pull out the quarter size pad and place it into a box. He looks at it and hands it to Madeline. Madeline turns and walks down the hall. He is about to settle down at the microscope again, when Madeline returns.

"Fred... I need some other tests run on the drug." Madeline says barely within the door.

"The drug?" Fred asks and Madeline holds up the little box. He nods his head. "What about it this time?"

"It's effects on pregnacy." Madeline says. "I need it as soon as possible."

"We already know that it kills a fetus if it is induced into the system early on." Fred says as he pulls out the thick file.

"After the drug has been induced... the after effects." Madeline says and leaves quickly.

She walks down the hall and pushes through another gray metal door.

"Madeline!" The medlab doctor says as he looks at her.

"Is it ready?" Madeline asks as she moves closer into the room.

"Yes.. and in a powder, like you requested." the doctor says pulling out a tub of the powder.

"And it will keep the levels down." Madeline says firmly.

"It has so far." the doctor says. Madeline holds it in her hands and gives it back to the doctor.

"Now add some powder birth control." Madeline says and she turns and walks out the door quickly.

Madeline continues down the hall in the same hurried and firm stride. She pushes through into the computer nerve center and turns the corner to the left. The glass shines brightly as Madeline walks into Walter's workspace.

"Work or play?" Walter immediately asks as he sees Madeline.

"Work." Madeline says as she sets the box infront of Walter. Walter picks up the box and opens it up. He studies it and then sets it down.

"What?" Walter asks as he looks at Madeline.

"I need you to make that look like a diabetic sugar monitor." Madeline says firmly.

"And what is it to start with?" Walter asks, not sure what the item is.

"It is a level reader." Madeline says, withholding the information.

"Level reader for what?" Walter asks and Madeline turns around. She slams the door shut and walks very close to Walter.

"If you tell anyone, I will personally cancel you. I have two hours before I brief on this mission, and I want no leaks at all!" Madeline says and Walter looks at her eyes and sees the fires within Madeline stirred. She really really meant what she was saying.

"This is about sugar." Walter says softly and Madeline moves away.

"It is a level reader for LOVING2000." Madeline says and Walter turns and looks at it again.

"Are we going to expose her again?" Walter asks softly as the light glints off the object.

"We have developed many ways of protecting Nikita from the effects of the LOVING2000, we hope." Madeline says.

"None of it has been tested in humans." Walter says as he picks up the box.

"We have two things that should stop it..." Madeline says.

"So she is going to get exposed." Walter says. "And the side effects..."

"We don't know. But we must protect the world from this drug." Madeline says and she moves out of the room quickly.

She strides down the hallway and knocks at the office before entering.

"Nikita, I must speak with you in ten minutes." Madeline says. She leaves before Nikita can respond and goes to collect the powder from Medlab.

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

Madeline looks at the items on her desk again before checking her watch for the late Nikita. Madeline is about to call for Nikita when the young woman enters. Madeline is struck by the complete natural look of Nikita on this morning. No makeup and Madeline liked it.

"Nikita.. I wanted to speak to you about the next mission." Madeline says and Nikita does not squirm like she once use to do. In ways Madeline likes the new Nikita, but in ways, she wish she could make Nikita squirm. Madeline knew in a few minutes, Nikita will be squirming.

"We brief in an hour and a half.. can't it wait?" Nikita asks softly as she folds her hands on her knees.

"Nikita... we have given you and Michael two months since your wedding, but this mission is going to be a tough one.. and I wanted to go over aspects of it with you before the briefing." Madeline says. Nikita swallows and looks at Madeline.

"We have information that Uray Patiraski had shared his knowledge with his brother Stev Patiraski." Madeline says and she watches Nikita's mind click through the information slowly.

"The LOVING2000?" Nikita chokes out and Madeline nods her head. "You can't do this to me, AGAIN!" Nikita almost screams as she stands up.

"Nikita.. we have new measures to protect you." Madeline says firmly.

"I don't care.. get Billie on this!" Nikita says as she pushes at the door. Nikita turns around angerily when she finds out that Madeline has locked it.

"You will take this every day as a protein drink, but it should protect you." Madeline says as she throws the canister to Nikita. Nikita circles her hands around it and walks back to the chair.

"This, looks like a sugar monitor.. it will actually give you levels of the LOVING2000, if it turns yellow, you will go to Michael for this." Madeline says showing a long syringe. "It will knock you out, but it will stop the LOVING2000."

Nikita sits back and sighs. She looks at the items and her body is screaming, "NO WAY!"

"Why me?" Nikita asks, and Madeline knows that Nikita has given in.

"To put it with the truth, we don't want to expose another person to the drug." Madeline says. Nikita stands up and moves towards the door.

"I guess the profile has been activated and there is no changing now." Nikita says and Madeline opens the doors. Nikita walks out, with a lot on her mind.

***********

"This is Camp Forehope... it is a camp for mentally and physically handicapped children." Operations says as an helicopter view of the camp is seen. Nikita looks at Madeline for just a split second and goes back to the briefing.

"We have intelligence that Stev Patiraski is working there currently." Operations says.

"Isn't that the brother of the man who created LOVING2000?" Michael asks and looks at Nikita, who in return looks away.

"From what we have gathered... he has the formulas and has been using LOVING2000." Operations confirms.

"From the behavior reports from some of the intial groups of children, it appears that their behaviors change over violent outbursts, while we believe that Stev just gives them LOVING2000." Madeline says and Michael stares at Nikita, who continues to stay away from his glare.

"You and Nikita will enter the camp as counselors and this camp will allow you to stay together. We do not know which man is Stev. This we must find out." Operations says firmly.

"How do we do this, do we know any weaknesses?" Michael challenges Operations, not wanting to participate in this mission.

"Tall, blonde, married ladies." Nikita says as she looks at Michael. Michael shakes his head and looks at Madeline.

"I can't believe you are willing to chance everything." Michael says back to Nikita.

"It is the job." Nikita says and Operations looks at the two, which in return shuts them up.

"Once inside for a while, you two will fight and hopefully at that time Stev will make his appearance." Operations says. Madeline stands up and pulls the new items in front of Michael.

"We aren't going to just expose Nikita to LOVING2000 again. This powder should maintain her levels.. we have a monitor, and if she should recieve a massive dose, we have this." Madeline says as she pulls out the syringe. Michael shakes his head.

"I don't like this... Nikita.. what about.." Michael says as he looks into Nikita's eyes.

"That isn't a problem." Nikita says and Madeline no longer feels guilty for putting in the birth control.

"Backup?" Michael asks.

"None." Operations says.

"Weapons?" Michael asks.

"None." Operations says.

"We will have contact, right?" Michael asks.

"Yes. Limited but contact." Operations says firmly.

"These children are going to latch out to you two.. and expect to make attachments, but be careful." Madeline says and they quickly leave.

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

Nikita stood in the mess hall in a blue shirt with a panda bear on it. She is wearing long blue jeans and is leaning against Michael. Michael, wearing a black shirt and blue jeans, is standing firmly, listening to the camp coordinator.

"I want to explain why there are so many of you... with the children we work with, it proves to be emotionally straining and physically exhausted. We do not work more than six hours in a row. Most of you will feel the need to spend more time with some of these kids..." Evan says as he walks around the room. "In fact, we like it... but an attachment for you will be harder for you to say goodbye than it will be for them to say goodbye."

Michael looks at Nikita, is listening to Evan. Michael moves his head and stares at the other men in the room. There are a lot of them.

"I want you all to meet the first husband/wife team to come with us," Evan says as he walks to Nikita and Michael. "This is Michael and Nikita... they will be working out of the stables." Evan says. He proceeds around the room, introducing the people. Michael is surprized to find out a man is not in any of the nurses' areas.

The groups start to mingle, and former workers start to take the new workers to their tents. Michael kisses Nikita's forehead as Evan walks towards them.

"It is also the first time that we've had a woman on our horse staff... it takes a lot of strength." Evan says to the couple.

"It's no problem... I've pressed Michael before." Nikita says softly and Michael nods his head.

"Wow... you couldn't tell it." Evan says with a soft chuckle.

"Her biggest problem will be becoming attached to the kids." Michael says and Nikita smiles at him coldly.

"We all have that problem." Evan says. "Why don't I show you to your tent... We put you up on the mountain, there are no kids up there." Evan says. Michael and Nikita bend down for the bags. They smiles at each other, and both know that the tents are exactly where they wanted them, away from the kids.

"How many kids will be up here?" Nikita asks softly.

"In a week, we usually get 50 to a 100." Evan says and he starts up a wooden path.

"Michael! Nikita! I thought it was you!" Yvonne Polyack yells out from the left hand side. Nikita smiles brightly and Michael is about to throw in the towel on this mission.

"How are you?" Nikita asks. Evan sees that Yvonne will get them to their tent, so he leaves.

"Fine... I knew you two would make a good couple..." Yvonne says and Michael allows Nikita and Yvonne to talk about the wedding things that Nikita likes to gush about.

The path starts to get smaller and smaller, and in the clearing there are three tents.

"I'm in the unit tents... right there with the kids... These almost aways have couples in them.. Zack and Emily are on the right and Eric and Erin are on the left... they have been together for ten years and still don't plan on getting married." Yvonne says as Nikita steps up into the wooden platform tent.

"We have a lot to do... now the stable are?" Nikita says, sensing the need to uplink with Section.

"Right back down this road, down to the mess hall and to the right... you'll smell it!" Yvonne says as she hugs Nikita. She smiles at Michael and skips down the road.

"Now that twists things..." Nikita states as Michael pulls out a blanket to hide the computer as Nikita starts to link with Birkoff.

"Oh, Madeline is just going to enjoy this one!" Michael says as he rolls his eyes.

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

Nikita is standing near a large black mare as Michael looks over at her. Michael had watched the first level come back all right, and Nikita drank the powder drink.

Michael easily remembers Madeline reminding him not to worry about Nancy Polyack, but Madeline was not Nikita. Nikita was there for the events that happened with her. Michael looks away and is surprized to see the group of children coming down already.

Nikita jumps down off of the rail and jogs to the kids. Michael stands back, and realizes how good Nikita is with children. He knew their first two months had gone without any luck at all.

"HELLO EVERYONE!" Nikita says and the children explode in smiles and laughter. Some are in wheelchairs, others are on crutches, and a few walk with support of others.

Michael walks over and the entire stable staff, who are on shift, start taking the children up to the horses.

"Don't you want to see the horse... You can just pet it?" Nikita asks a young girl in a wheel chair. She has raven black hair and is staring at the horses.

"Nah." the girl says, but she continues to look at the horses.

"I'm Nikita.. and you are?" Nikita says as she squats down to the girl's level.

"Dani!" the girl says with a giggle. Nikita smiles brightly.

"I like the name Dani! Are you around twelve?" Nikita asks, knowing that the group is all ten year olds.

"Nah..." Dani says and she lifts up her two hands to Nikita.

"Only ten! I think you are older than that!" Nikita says with a giggle. "That horse there is ten also..." Nikita says.

"Reeally?" Dani asks with a bright smile. Nikita is happy to see the smile.

"Yeah.. and it really likes to be pet... look, it even is colored the color of your hair!" Nikita says with a laugh.

"Retty horse." Dani says and she starts to push her wheelchair towards the fence. Nikita goes to the fence and pets the horse's forehead and helps bring the head down so that Dani can pet it.

"Soft!" Dani says as she pulls her hand away after a quick pet. Nikita lets the horse go back to grazing.

"What do you like to do?" Nikita asks as she squats back down to Dani's level.

"Make friends... Aint... take ictures..." Dani says. Nikita quickly understands that Dani has problems with the letter 'p', but is still very intelligent.

"Do you see that man there?" Nikita says, pointing to Michael who is lifting a boy up onto a brown horse. "He paints..." Nikita says and Dani smiles.

"He cute!" Dani says with a blush.

"He is my husband." Nikita says, so happy that she can tell the truth.

Dani starts to giggle.

Michael turns from the horse and sees Nikita with Dani. As soon as he saw that Dani was the outcast of the group, he knew that would be the one with Nikita.

"She is so nice Michael.... and she is so smart." Nikita says as they sit in their tent in the afternoon. They are now off shift, but are expected to be in the mess hall in an hour. Michael reaches over and pours some water into the glass for Nikita. Nikita rolls her eyes and she pours the powder into the drink. She slowly drinks the mixture down.

"Madeline knows that he is here... all we have to do is figure which one he is." Michael says.

"Do you think he would announce himself.... we might not know until the middle of the summer." Nikita says softly.

"Do you think you could survive seeing week after week of children come and go?" Michael asks and Nikita sits down on the bunk that has been pushed against Michael's.

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

Nikita rubs her neck after helping a young girl up onto a horse. Dani applaudes from the line of trees. Michael moves over to her, the two weeks straining her muscles.

Nikita has been more or less attached to Dani. Nikita found out that she spends every summer at the camp, from the first week to the last week. Nikita feels extremely attached to the girl, and when Nikita is not on duty, she is with Dani. They paint together, and Dani is quite good. Nikita goes swimming with her at least every other day.

"You need a massage." Michael says softly as he starts to rub Nikita's shoulders. Dani starts to giggle. Dani has told Nikita many times how Michael is cute. Nikita closes her eyes but then opens them.

"Michael... my levels dropped the past two days." Nikita says softly. Michael lifts an eyebrow.

"Isn't that good?" Michael asks.

"No one is sure... I've been steady for a long time..." Nikita says and she smiles. "I promised I would teach Dani to make god's eyes while that group is on the trail." Nikita says and she moves over to the girl.

"Nikita... are you alright?" Michael asks as he enters the tent. Nikita holds a towel over her head.

"I'm fine." Nikita says. Michael frets a little bit and sits down.

"Nikita, I saw you lose your grip... are you alright?" Michael asks more firmly. Nikita sits up, now more upset.

"I just lost my grip, but I never put that girl in harm!" Nikita says defensively.

"I didn't say that Nikita, but we have to watch your condition..." Michael says drifting off. Nikita looks at Michael and *knows* that this is not about the LOVING2000.

"What are you saying, Michael?" Nikita asks firmly.

"We are trying..." Michael says with a drop of his voice.

"And if I am, I'm not going to do nothing!" Nikita hollers. "But I AM NOT!" Nikita says.

"I know..." Michael strains to say.

"Does that disappoint you?" Nikita asks in a normal voice.

"Yes... it does." Michael admits. Nikita jumps up from the bed.

"SO I DISAPPOINT YOU! DO YOU SEE THIS ALL THE TIME YOU LOOK AT ME? DO YOU SEE THIS WHEN I AM WITH DANI... I AM GOOD WITH HER, TO BAD WE DON'T HAVE OUR OWN?" Nikita hollers and stomps out of the tent.

Michael blinks and looks around. He doesn't think the others were in their tents. He looks through Nikita's things, seeing if her levels did go down.

Michael putts around and finally contacts Madeline about the drop in the levels. She gives Michael a list of over a hundred things that could have caused it, but not all good and not all bad.

Michael walks around the large left hand bend, past the wooden stage and into a large barn like cabin. He looks at the open windows and sees Nikita with Dani.

"Look...retty!" Dani says, pointing to something that Michael can not see.

"I like that one!" Nikita says, as she holds the paper up.

" 'Kita... I like you." Dani says softly. Nikita bends down and hugs the girl. Michael can almost feel it in the back of his voice. The words Nikita said echo back. He does feel disappointed... not at her, but in the circumstances... Michael turns and walks away. Hopefully, Nikita will be in a better mood.

***********

Nikita's face glows in the dark night in the tent. Outside, the rain continues to fall, as it has for two straight days. Michael and Nikita, after taking care of their share of the horses, had to go to the rec center and be with the massive groups of kids. Of course, this would be the week with the most kids.

Yet, Nikita was creative. She started to produce little skits and all went well. But Nikita had started to think.

Michael rolled over and saw Nikita, and rolled his eyes. He had other activities planned for this night. Instead, Nikita had spent the past two hours behind the computer. Somehow, Nikita got a bug on Evan's computer and is now reading all of the files. First was the employee records, but of course, she would strike out there.

Michael is about to roll over when he reads the title of the documents that Nikita has been reading, "Behavior Modifications with Herbs". Michael moves down to the end of the bed and reads one of the reports.

Nikita, knowing that Michael is reading them, pushes against the bed. She looks at his face and then back to the screen.

"They all end the same." Nikita says softly.

"Good results." Michael says and Nikita grabs his ear before he can flip over in bed and go back to sleep.

"Too good... all are the same.. all behaviors become the same..." Nikita says very stressed. Michael pushes up one his elbows.

"Are you sure?" Michael asks.

"I had Birkoff run a program over the common words and meanings...we have over a 85% match." Nikita says softly.

"And what do you think that means?" Michael asks as he kisses the top of Nikita's blonde mane.

"I think the herbs have LOVING2000 in it." Nikita says. Michael looks at her and thinks for a moment.

"That is probably correct... who is in charge of this herbal program?" Michael asks.

"It seems to be headed by Evan, but there are about 20 others involved." Nikita says.

"Anyone interesting?" Michael asks.

"All are men, but one." Nikita says.

"Who is the one?" Michael asks and Nikita rolls her eyes.

"Oh, you are real familiar with her... remember our best friend Yvonne Polyack?" Nikita says sarcastically.

"Nikita, it was a mission." Michael says, but can see that Nikita is somewhere else. "We'll speak with Madeline in the morning."

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

Nikita walked down the path towards the stables, not feeling good at all. In fact, she felt very weak. She tested her levels twice this morning, and drank the powder, but still felt down right awful.

Michael walked behind her and was worried. He had watched her slowly go down hill. Even, a passing Yvonne had mentioned it. According to everything Section had given her, she was fine.

" Kita... 'Kita!!!" Dani calls out as she wheels out into the path.

"What is it?" Nikita asks, afraid to bend down with her weakness.

"Me go home for a few days... in a week!" Dani says happily. She pats the book, in which she keeps all of the photos of camp she has made.

Nikita had given the girl a camera, and it was like her life turned around. It allowed her to become part of the crowd and not the outcast. Yet, she still loved the relationship between herself and Nikita.

"Can we swim tonight?" Dani asks Nikita and NIkita smiles.

"Of course we can! I'll see you then!" Nikita says. A few of the other kids go over to Dani, and they go off to the art's barn.

"Nikita, we haven't really talked about things." Michael says softly in the hay loft. Nikita pitches some hay over her shoulder.

"About what?" Nikita challenges, having a short temper along with her pounding headache.

"About our lack of success." Michael says softly as he moves towards Nikita. Michael is rewarded with a fork full of hay in his face.

"You mean, my lack of success... we all know that you can have kids perfectly fine..... It's Nikita who is dropping the ball." Nikita says without looking at Michael.

"Nikita.. it is our failure!" Michael says softly.

"I don't think we should be thinking about our own kids... we should be thinking about these kids!" Nikita says as she shoves the fork deep into the hay.

"I was meaning to talk to you about that... I think you have formed an attachment that is well beyond acceptable." Michael announces. Nikita turns, picks up another fork full of hay and throws it at Michael on purpose.

"They are kids like anyone else! Dani has hopes and dreams and talents like any other kid! Attachment, my butt. Her parents shipped her off to this camp so they could be rid of her. I could never never do that to a kid of mine!" Nikita hollers.

"When Dani leaves.. you won't be there." Michael says firmly.

"But I would have made a difference. I would have changed her life hopefully for the good. Now that is different from detached, unemotional guy unless it deals with Nikita not getting pregnant with HIS baby!" Nikita screams back and a few of the other stable people stop and look at them.

"Now you are upset about two things!" Michael says as his face starts to turn red. Nikita runs towards him and knocks him into the hay. She stands up and looks at him.

"I want to have kids with you, Nikita... and that is what I expect to do." Michael says firmly, but trying to sound nice.

"What? You want me to be your personal baby factory?" Nikita hollers in shock. She can feel her entire body shaking, but does not show it.

"I didn't mean that.. but once you are.. things will change!" Michael says.

"What?!? Will I stay home with the baby and start on planning to pop out the second? Why don't you just chain me up and screw me until I get pregnant.. I can be your slave incubator!" Nikita hollers and she kicks the fork over into the hay.

"Nikita... I think you have gone way overboard with this..." Michael says as he moves towards the storming away Nikita.

"I'll be waiting in our tent, praying that I succeed in the mission of begotting a baby this time... maybe the HARDER YOU TRY THE BETTER CHANGES IT WILL BE!" Nikita says and she exits the hay loft. Michael steps quickly foreward and steps onto the fork, and receives the handle in his face.

"Hey... I'll get you ice..." Yvonne offers and runs for the ice. Michael can't understand why Yvonne was there to start with. Something was up with Nikita, and he wasn't quite sure what.

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

Nikita stumbles up the path, feeling upset at Michael, sick to her stomache, and extremely weak. Nikita knows the signs of the levels of LOVING2000 on her body, and all of those are the signs, except for being mad at Michael, but the levels come back alright every time.

Nikita stumbles into the tent and lays on the bed. She drifts off to sleep.

"Swimming with Dani!" Nikita recalls as she pushes her sweating body up off of the bed. The images swirl a little, but she had promised Dani. Nikita starts to swing her legs around the bed. She is grasped into a choke hold and thrown back into the bed.

She sees green eyes infront of her, and barely can keep a straight imagine. She starts to fight, but realizes with the stabbing pain in the left arm, that she has now again, have been exposed to the LOVING2000.

"OH, sweet, unhappy Nikita...." Henry, the second in command says softly as he strokes her hair. Nikita starts to control her mind, hoping to retain enough control over her body.

"I liked you from when I first saw you... and my brother gave me the means..." Henry laughs as he sits on the bed. He picks up the bottle of the powder that Nikita has been mixing drinks with.

"When I first saw you drinking drinks, I knew it would be perfect." Henry says and Nikita understands as he starts to run another hand up her lower calf.

"I couldn't put the drug that I just used in it... I saw you raw power... so I used muscle relaxer and someother things to undermind your power... and when that didn't work, I gave you a couple viruses... nothing serious, but enough to weaken you so I can do this now." Henry explains.

"You drug the kids..." Nikita fits to say out.

"Yes.. and because of that, we have no behavioral problems and we recieve more money from the government.... You see... Evan worries about the kids.. I worry about the money..." Henry says as the hand continues up the leg.

Nikita struggles to maintain control, but can almost feel it slipping away.

"I liked you from when I first saw you with your husband.... you are very pretty..." Henry says softly as he leans down to kiss Nikita. She grabs him by the neck, and tears the main veins in his neck. She gathers strength and rolls away as he falls on the bed.

"I must get to Michael.. the shot." Nikita thinks to herself as she starts to crawl out of the tent. She moves deep into the woods... not wanting to run into any of the campers.

**********

Michael walks up the path as Yvonne looks around. The couples at the top had been given four days off, created by Birkoff's tampering in Evan's computer, and so Michael and Nikita are up there alone.

Michael looks around as Yvonne grabs at the wig and pulls it off. Soon comes off the mask and Elana stands, walking next to Michael.

"Madeline will hear about this dislike I have with this... and Nikita will be very upset." Michael says calmly as they stop on the path.

"Madeline felt that with the LOVING2000 in play here, that an extra set of hands were in play." Elana explains.

"She should have thought better than using Yvonne Polyack. She knew what I had to do on that mission." Michael says firmly.

"You mean, who you did." Elana says with a raised eyebrow. "The real Yvonne suddenly won a trip around the world...

I'd much rather be in those shoes." Elana says softly.

"So why are you telling me now?" Michael asks.

"Madeline is worried about the level testor." Elana says and she pulls out another one and shows it to Michael.

"It just doesn't feel like it is LOVING2000... but have you recovered more about the herbal testing?" Michael asks.

"It made my stomache sick... whoever is tampering with the herbs are adding LOVING2000... and most of these kids.. it would never be noticed on." Elana says as she leans forward.

"I better talk to 'Kita..." Michael says as he takes a step forwards. Elana pulls his arm slightly.

"I might get canceled for this... but I think you should know... Madeline had the Medlab mix in birth control in the powder drink mix." Elana says softly. Michael shakes his head and drops it to his chest.

"I don't understand that at all." Michael mutters as he walks to the tent.

It doesn't feel right. Michael starts to walk slowly, and notices no music is on. Nikita either was very much asleep or with Dani somewhere. Michael walks forward and sees a body on Nikita's bed.

"What the hell?" Michael exclaims as he bounds up into the tent and finds the very dead man. He sees the smashed syringe on the floor. He touches it softly and looks at Elana.

"I bet that is what we both think it is." Elana says softly.

"Then where is Nikita?" Michael asks. "And how did he get this into her?"

Elana starts walking around the tent. There is no way of telling which way Nikita went.

"Well.. she knew you had the shot..." Elana says and Michael nods. He is half way out of the tent when he turns and pulls out the canister of the powder mix.

"If Madeline put birth control in it... couldn't he have placed other drugs in.. since Nikita is the only one who uses this?"

Michael asks and Elana nods her head. She pulls out a mirror and replaces her mask and wig.

Michael opens up a pair of shoes and pulls out the little comm unit and turns it on.

"Hello, Birkoff?" Michael says. Elana points to hers and Michael gives her the thumbs out.

"What's the emergency call for?" Birkoff says almost in a chipper mood.

"It seems that Nikita has the ability to fight the LOVING2000." Michael says as he walks out of the tent, filling Birkoff into what they have so far figured out.

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

Nikita's mind is like swiss cheese, floating from thought to thought. She drags her half slumped body from tree to tree.

She doesn't notice the heavy fever she is now suffering from, and she does not notice that she is walking further and further from the camp.

At first, Nikita had very clear thoughts. She knew she had to get to Michael and that shot. And for the first ten minutes, that was what she was able to focus on as she slowly stumbled in the forest.

But as the LOVING2000 took a deeper hold on her system, she lost those thoughts. She now drifts from thought to thought. Some deal with the current situation. She worries about getting to close to the camp, because she could tramatize the children. She even at one point swore she had to go see Dani.

Yet, some of her thoughts were in no way connected with the current situation. She was craving Oreos and thinking about Birkoff. And one moment, she swore she felt Michael touching her shoulder.

The worst thoughts though, were about Yvonne. Nikita even rammed her fist into a tree when that thought crossed her jumbled mind. She didn't like the lady and Madeline knew it.

Nikita cannot see the steep hill infront of her that runs down to a stream, and slides down it, doing a flip over her head twice before landing in the cool trickle of water.

"Michael... in that powder was some muscle relaxers, pain medication, a couple viruses...." Birkoff reports in. Michael and Elana had run down to "Yvonne's" computer. Yvonne was an author and wrote during her free time. They used the computer to analysis the powder.

"And birth control." Michael finishes off as he walks up the hill. He and Elana had decided to split apart and walks through the woods. It was three hours before either would be needed to be at the mess hall. If needed, Michael could cover for the absence of Nikita.

"We'll discuss that later." Madeline's voice boomed and he rolled his eyes.

"Housekeeping has been up and is gone." Birkoff says as Michael and Elana approach the tent.

Michael steps into the tent, and looks around the tent.

"If Nikita maintained enough control to kill him... she might have had enough control for something else... but that other junk is screwing with her system." Michael says, thinking outloud.

"Yes. Those viruses probably have her in a fever." Madeline confirms the thoughts.

"Which way, Nikita?" Michael says outloud as he looks out the tent.

"I think the quickest way is to this way." Elana says pointing in the opposite way that Nikita went. Michael looks at it and thinks for a moment.

"But going that way, there are two units... one with Dani.. she wouldn't risk running into any of the children." Michael says.

"But what is important is getting the shot!" Elana argues.

"But that isn't Nikita." Michael says as he jumps down and heads out after Nikita.

Madeline moves from the computer and sighs. She looks at Birkoff.

"Raid all of the camp's computers. Crash them all and look through all of the information." Madeline says.

"You think there is more than one person involved in this?" Birkoff asks.

"I don't think we have Uray's brother." Madeline says and she walks down the hall, knowing that housekeeping will have the body inside Section in a few minutes.

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

Birkoff shakes his head as he goes through the computer information. Most of it is totally personal stuff, like journals and letters. Birkoff sighs as he opens up the computer to Evan's computer again.

He runs programs through it to highlight any odd changes and soon it flashes with a warning. It seems up too three weeks ago, Evan never used or needed the spell checker. Now, it was regularily being used.

Birkoff pauses and then pulls up the records of Evan's college education. He scans through teacher's reports and scores.

Birkoff stops and pushes up from his chair.

"Madeline.... someone other than Evan has been using his computer... Evan is a brilliant genius." Birkoff says.

"Even more of a genius than you?" Madeline asks with a little smile.

"Madeline... he never needed to use the spell checker. Three weeks ago, it was used and has been used ever since." Birkoff says and Madeline nods her head.

"I have been called down to Medlab, would you like to come?" Madeline asks as she stands up. Birkoff doesn't answer, but just follows Madeline.

The door pushes open and the Medlab operatives just stop. Birkoff looks around and some of the operatives look away, trying to look busy, although they are currently empty.

"Madeline.... the man that was brought in was Evan..." The head of medlab starts to say.

"It can't be... Evan was just writting a letter when I crashed his system." Birkoff says looking at Madeline.

"So Stev Patiraski is posing as Evan." Madeline says as she turns on her heels and starts to walk out of Medlab.

"Madeline... this man was loaded with the LOVING2000." the head says as he follows behind Madeline and Birkoff catches up with the walking Madeline.

"I figured as much. Birkoff.. I want Nikita found now... and I want to know if she had attached to any of the campers." Madeline orders.

"Could that camper be in danger?" Birkoff asks, but knows the answer. "Do I tell Michael?"

"Not until Nikita has been found. Maybe Nikita picked up on something more than that..." Madeline says, continuing down the hall.

"Michael.. Madeline wants Nikita found like it was yesterday." Birkoff says softly as he sits down at his computer.

"I want to find her too." Michael hisses back.

"SO, Michael... would there be any campers missing Nikita?" Birkoff asks as he starts to continue to sift through the contents of Evan's computer.

"Dani is going to be crushed... she has grown a lot because of Nikita." Michael says as he steps over some low logs.

Birkoff types the name and starts to read up about Dani. He knows from the psychological report why Nikita had attached to this girl and not the others.

Nikita lifts her head from the stream. SHe remember that the stream runs behind the stable. None of the campers are ever by the stream. She pushes her arms up and starts to crawl upstream.

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

Michael crested a little crest in the hill downward and sees the creek. Instantly, the blonde hair of Nikita's flashes to him. He looks around, and picks up his pace towards Nikita, who is surprizingly moving.

Nikita is pulling her body over rocks in the little creeks bed. She focus on the water and pulls at the sturdy rocks, and have had several rocks crumple had her pulls and tugs. A branch or two snap and Nikita instantly turns her head.

"Nikita!" Michael calls out as he is about five feet away after Nikita has turned her head. He watches her push her body upward.

"Michael, have you found Nikita?" Birkoff asks once he hears her name said.

"Nikita... here... let me help you." Michael says as he steps over a log and bends down for her hand.

Nikita, seeing Michael, immediately grabs into the pocket and pulls out the syringe. She rips her shirt and plunges it into her upper arm. She pushes half of the medicine in and pulls it out.

"Michael?" Birkoff asks, not hearing a sound. He knows they talk way too much with their eyes.

"Nikita, you need that all." Michael says as he watches Nikita hold the syringe in her hand. Michael sees Nikita flinch with pain. She half closes her eyes as the pain radiates at her arm and runs into her stomache. Michael just continues to watch.

Birkoff immediately signals down an operative to get Madeline up here. Nikita has been found, now the question was how to proceed.

"Nikita... we were told the entire syringe..." Michael says as Nikita's blue eyes stare at him intensely. Nikita looks at her hand and before Michael can grab the syringe, her hand smashes the instrument into pieces. Pain runs through her and she doubles over.

"Birkoff.... what will half the medicine do?" Michael demands as he holds onto Nikita so she doesn't fall back into the creek.

"I have to ask Madeline....I'm sending Elana over to you." Birkoff says as he starts to type on the computer. He looks down the hall, and getting worried with the time factor, he beeps Madeline's office very loudly.

"Birkoff. Nikita has been given the medicine, she will be out for ten minutes while her body goes through the pain of the withdrawl." Madeline says as she walks up the hall.

"She only took half." Birkoff says.

Nikita's eyes roll around as she grits her teeth. Michael can feel the internal screams of pain, but Nikita makes not a sound. She touches her lips as breathes rapidly. Michael cups some water in his hands and gives it to Nikita.

"Thanks." Nikita says as the water drips down her throat.

"Michael.... how is Nikita?" Madeline asks as she pulls on the comm unit.

"Looking much better... it seems that your shot stopped the LOVING2000..." Michael says as Nikita looks at him, now standing on her own.

"I've been drugged with other stuff.... muscle relaxers... a virus or two..." Nikita informs Michael.

"To be exact, five viruses, Nikita." Michael says.

"Michael... get Nikita a comm unit. The man she killed was not Stev... Stev is pretending to be Evan... the man she killed was filled with LOVING2000 to act as Henry." Madeline says as she sits down in Birkoff's chair.

Michael pulls out a comm unit and Nikita easily puts it on. She wrings out her wet hair and looks around the forest.

"It seems that the mind control has helped." Madeline says once Nikita says hello.

"Yes, it has. It wasn't Stev." Nikita says.

"Either Michael told you with his eyes or you found out." Madeline says with a soft smile.

"I felt it... do we know where Dani is?" Nikita asks both Michael and Madeline. Nikita looks up the hill and sees Yvonne walking down the hill.

"What is *She* doing here?" Nikita demands to Michael.

***********

Nikita moves a bit, but stumbles.

"Did you give her the shot?" Elana asks, but all Nikita can see is Yvonne.

"Why would she know about that, Michael!" Nikita demands, her anger starting to mount.

"She still has the muscle relaxers and viruses in her." Michael says as Nikita stumbles again, in her attempt to get a hold of Yvonne.

"HOW DARE YOU!" Nikita screams, but she stumbles backwards and Michael catches her. Nikita, once she regains her balance, slaps Michael across the face.

Elana, seeing the anger that her disguise is causing pulls off the mask and wig. Nikita stops, and Elana instantly knows that taking it off might not have been the best move.

"Are you lying to me again!" Nikita demands.

Birkoff looks over at Madeline. He knows the truth, and can not believe that Madeline has allowed this to continue.

"Madeline... she has been infected... just tell her." Birkoff says as he hears Nikita starting to get angerer.

"There should be no need." Madeline says. Birkoff stares at Madeline and then hears Nikita starting to scream more.

"Nikita... it was Madeline's idea... she didn't tell you or Michael... only Elana knew." Birkoff says and he stares at Madeline with a patent Michael blank stare.

Nikita holds her head and Michael tries not to worry about her health. Nikita stops her ranting and drops her head with a little sigh.

"Where is Dani?" Nikita asks softly. She lifts her head and looks at Michael and Elana. Neither know. "I can tell you that she is with Stev." Nikita says and after taking a pause to hear from either operative, Nikita starts back up the hill.

"So do we keep that lie from her too?" Birkoff asks as he points to the computer screen. He looks at Madeline.

"You can tell her whatever you wish Birkoff... my wishes and orders do not matter, do they?" Madeline says as she walks away from the station.

"Nikita... Michael... Elana.... Dani is Stev's twice removed neice... It may help to know this..." Birkoff announces.

Nikita heads immediately to the offices. She runs around the building and looks into the office and sees Dani in it with Stev.

"Mr Evan... what are you doing?" Dani asks softly.

"Keeping the world in order.. complete order." Stev answers.

"Michael.. you take the front door... Elana.. there is a side window... I'll take the back window.... In on a count of five..." Nikita starts to direct.

"You are not.." Michael starts.

"One..." Nikita says.

"Nikita.. you are not the..." Michael tries again.

"Two..." Nikita continues.

"THe leader... don't..." Michael struggles to say.

"Three..." Nikita continues, not replying to Michael.

"Nikita.. stop.." Michael hisses.

"Four..." Nikita says as she squats to get a good leap in through the window. Michael does the same, knowing that Nikita will need help once she is in.

"Five..." Nikita says and she is instantly in the room, taking out Stev as she enters.

Michael enters the room to see Nikita on top of Stev and Dani looking at Nikita in shock.

"I think I will be missing our swim today." Nikita says to Dani as she hands over Stev to Michael and she begins to cough.

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

Nikita sits in the drastically cold office with her damp head in her palms as she leans on her desk. A fever continues as Nikita rubs at the throbbing headache.

Madeline walks in and instantly gets a shiver. She walks over to the girl and looks down.

"You should let us give you something." Madeline says as she looks at the suffering Nikita.

"I've been given enough already... and I couldn't be sure what else has been added." Nikita says coldly as she looks at Madeline.

"So Michael told you." Madeline says as she pulls Michael's chair towards her.

"Did you expect him not too.. he wants a child more than I do!" Nikita exclaims loudly, but regrets the loudness.

"We haven't completed the tests about the LOVING2000 and pregnancy." Madeline says softly.

"Why should it matter?" Nikita asks as she pulls her head up.

"It could drastically harm the child's life... a child of yours could possible end up being like Dani." Madeline says.

"It wouldn't matter to me." Nikita says simply.

"Nikita... in Section, we rarely have time for normal children... we wouldn't have time for a special needs child." Madeline says.

"So, what percentage are we dealing with.. if there is a five percent change that I have a child like Dani you'll continue to feed me birth control?" Nikita asks.

Madeline looks at Nikita softly, and Nikita drops her head back into her hands. The viruses are running her body down, but Nikita was being extremely stubborn. Madeline had told her to stay home, but no, Nikita came in. Madeline didn't think this was the time to tell Nikita that the birth control might not even be needed. So Madeline, again put off that conversation.

"I will not do that again." Madeline says.

"As simple as that?" Nikita asks, realizing that Madeline didn't tell her to continue the birth control.

"You've been good to Section.... we will see what occurs... as long as a pregnancy doesn't pose an extreme risk to your health... I can care less." Madeline says as she stands up and leaves. She closes the door and rubs at her own headache. She wasn't about to admit that she may care for Nikita's possible baby more than Nikita does at this moment.

Nikita pushes her pounding head against the wall as Michael enters with flowers. He meant to make up with her for the fight, but the visible pain worries her.

"Why are you so stubborn?" Michael asks as he pulls her head away from the wall and places his strong hands over her forehead and pushes at it. He can feel Nikita starting to relax. In a few minutes, Nikita pulls away.

"Thanks." Nikita says as she coughs lightly. Michael pushes the flowers to her and Nikita laughs.

"What's this for?" NIkita asks.

"The fight... I don't want you to feel like a baby factory." Michael says. Nikita shakes her head.

"Didn't Madeline tell you? She ordered that fight." Nikita says softly. Michael pauses for a moment.

"Well.. good.. they are get well flowers." Michael says as he looks at Nikita's wrecked body. He walks to the little closet and pulls out a blanket. He drapes it around Nikita.

"But I'm hot..." Nikita protests.

"You have this room at 40 degrees... this one is for you and I'm huniing out my own." Michael says as he gently hugs Nikita.

Birkoff walks into Operations office and stands still.

"I understand that you gave away information to Michael and Nikita without Madeline's ok." Operations says softly.

"Yes sir." Birkoff says.

"You know that is against the policies we have established in Section." Operations says firmly and Birkoff establishes his best attempt at the blank stare.

"I know sir." Birkoff says. Operations moves around the table and is standing within inches of Birkoff.

"I want to thank you." Operations says, extending a hand and shaking Birkoff's slightly shocked hand.

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