The keys on the keyboard barely make as sound as Nikita stares at the monitor at what she is writing. Her mind creating what she is typing at the same moment, and then waiting for it to appear on the screen. Her chair is reclined back, giving ample relief from the pain in her leg, that still aches.

Nikita's hair is pulled loosely back, hanging by her neck. Her clothing is simple, a gray sweatsuit. Everything is simple in those moments, and even Nikita's typing appears slowier and more like a graceful and careful dance. Her finger tips touch the keys as if they are made out of glass.

"Nikita... aren't you to be at home?" Michael asks as he enters Madeline's office, that Nikita has been order to maintain until Madeline can resume her duties. Nikita, herself, is still not on full status, and it appears it will be still a while until that occurs.

"Operations needed this profile done for tomorrow." Nikita says softly as she looks up at Michael and smiles. Michael enters and closes the door and looks at Nikita.

Nikita is also looking at Michael. He was out on a mission, but he had already changed into the standard after mission clothing of the black pants and the black turtleneck underneath the black form fitting jacket. Nikita had tried in vain to get Michael to wear a black sweatsuit.

"How was your therapy?" Michael asks as he pulls a chair up to the corner desk that Nikita had arranged for her use. Nikita saves the screen and closes it quickly.

"It's going slow, Michael." Nikita says as she rolls her body more towards herself and plays with her fingertips, as if embarassed to respond. Michael nods his head and looks around the room.

Nikita looks at the desk, and starts to order papers into the report. Michael watches, but thinks. He could not remember a time that Nikita had been so passive in the aftermath of an injury. Michael had gone home with Nikita for two days bringing her back for halfdays. Nikita would go to therapy and then work a few of the profiles.

Then, if Michael was on a mission, as a few days he had been, Walter would drive Nikita home and get her settled. Usually, Michael would arrive home to find Nikita snuggled in the bed reading a book. This had been going on for almost ten days.

Operations had not commented on the length of recovery. For the same type of wound, Nikita was up and around in two weeks... and in three, had moved out of the no-touch-status. Michael looked away from Nikita as he asked if Nikita would ever leave that no-touch-status.

"How did you get Walter to leave you here?" Michael asks, as he knows the strict rules and regulations that he talked to Walter about. Walter was to take Nikita home no matter what, and had followed it till this particular day.

"Madeline sent him back to the retreat." Nikita responds as she slides the papers into the folder and starts to attach them together.

"Nikita..." Michael says as he turns to her and sits back down. Nikita drops the folder on the desk and turns to Michael.

"Why are you milking it?" Michael asks and Nikita turns her head away, this time in shame that Michael knew the truth.

Nikita sucks in a deep breath of air as she presses hard down on her lips. Her eyes dart towards Michael and then back to the blank blue wall.

"Why shouldn't I use the time I am given? I rarely get time like this." Nikita says as she snaps her head back towards Michael and gives her response in a brave and bold voice.

"Nikita... I have never seen you like this..." Michael says as he takes the report from the desk and stands up. Nikita pushes the rolling chair backwards before placing her right leg down. She slowly stands up, still in pain.

"I'm not ignoring the pain... it's there..." Nikita says as she sees Michael whincing in his watching of Nikita's pain.

"I am to walk more... I can't say that desk work has helped me, at all." Nikita elaborates, and Michael smiles. He had plans before he saw Nikita working. Now, he could keep those plans.

Michael wraps a hand around Nikita's waist and smuggles a kiss in behind her ear as they start to walk out of the office. Nikita reaches for the light switch, and then the door.

The door closes lightly as they step out into the hallway. Michael smiles at Birkoff as they pass him on the way out of Section.

**********

The tops of the trees where starting to blend in with the darkening sky as Michael and Nikita walked through the park. A light breeze rubbed the green leaves together, as Nikita looked around her.

Michael couldn't help but study Nikita. Usually, with walks like this, Nikita would not stop talking, smiling, or giggling at anything. This walk, was unusual, and a squirrel ran at Michael like he was a tree. Michael pushed it away and continued to walk. Nikita barely cracked a smile.

Michael could feel her pace start to slow. There was a small hill left, until they arrived at the spot Michael wanted to get too. Michael slowed his pace, trying to make it unnoticeable to Nikita.

Nikita moves close to Michael and slides her head down on Michael's shoulder and sighs lightly. Michael's hands instinctively wrap around her waist.

"I'm tired." Nikita finally says after five long steps on the sidewalk. Michael turns his head at the words, the first the entire walk.

"It's right there." Michael says, pointing at the wooden bench on the crest of the hill. Nikita's head felt heavy on his shoulder, a feeling so odd, he couldn't shake it's effect.

The bench arrived soon, and Nikita stretched out on the bench, giving room for her to be comfortable with the leg. Her head continued to lay on Michael's shoulder. Michael started to trace small circles on the area just above Nikita's elbow, and just below the hem of the shirt.

"You have been so introspective, Nikita." Michael states softly as he looks down at her blonde hair.

"That's a big word for you, Michael. Three points." Nikita says quickly and the silence rains into the couple again.

BOOM! CRACK!

Nikita's body jumps to a hunched sitting position, placing both feet painfully on the ground as her hand reached for her gun. Michael stops Nikita's hand and his face almost smiles.

"What was that?" Nikita mutters, and another BOOM! CRACK! echoes out, and Michael watches Nikita's body jump in the automatic reflex that Section One had programmed.

"Nikita... it's fireworks." Michael says with a smile and Nikita turns her head. Several BOOM! CRACKS! occure and Nikita closes her eyes as the sounds vibrate in her head.

"Open your eyes, Nikita." Michael says as he covers Nikita's ears lightly. Nikita looks at Michael and he helps to turn her head up towards the sky. Nikita finally sees what Michael is talking about.

A childlike smile spreads across Nikita's face, as the fireworks make not a sound to her. The colors shine in her blue eyes with amazement. Her face is all a shine with happiness.

Michael slowly takes his hands off of Nikita's ears, and although Nikita's body tenses with each BOOM! and each CRACK!, her eyes remain wide open.

"I vaguely remember these..." Nikita mutters as she leans back into Michael's shoulder. He strokes her hair and watches till the last firework sizzles in the sky, and watches the stars above for a time afterwards.

**********

Nikita placed her hand on the black car and limped over to the passenger side door. Michael walked around the front of the car and opened the door for Nikita. Nikita's hand only brushes Michael's knuckles as she looks up at Michael.

"I could have carried you." Michael says lightly as he grabs Nikita's hand to give her support as she slowly lowers her body into the car. The last part is her right leg. Once it is in, Nikita makes a move to close the door.

Michael doesn't allow the move, as he continues to hold the door open. Nikita turns her head to the side, and Michael, slowly slides something into her hand.

"What's this?" Nikita asks as Michael lights a match. Nikita is so tired, that she doesn't question were the match came from.

Suddenly, the long black stick lights up and Nikita almost drops it.

"My personal firework!" Nikita says with a laugh and Michael almost roars.

"It's called a sparkler." Michael says as he watches Nikita enjoy the moment.

"I figured it was something that you didn't get a chance to do." Michael says as he watches Nikita drop the sparkler as it ended to the ground. Michael leans down and brushes his lips against Nikita's in a soft and tender kiss. Michael stands up and closes the door.

"But you are still stubborn." Michael says, hoping that the comment will create a conversation for the way home. Michael turns on the car, and Nikita looks out the window.

Michael was puzzled, and he was sure he wouldn't be the only one. It had been one of Madeline's, Walter's, and even Michael's tricks to get Nikita to talk. They would expose her to something that she missed as a child or something she missed because she lived on the streets.

After a new experience, Nikita would usually launch into what she felt about it. She would glow in the rememberance of the experience and start planning when she will do it the next time.

This reaction didn't occur as Michael pulled out of the parking lot of the park, and turned onto the road home. Michael would look over at Nikita every once in a while, and then look back at the road.

"You aren't very talkative, tonight." Michael comments as he stops at a red light that shades Nikita's face in the bright red shade. Nikita slowly turns her head to Michael and stops.

"I want to give it a try." Nikita says firmly and Michael tilts his head at the comment.

"Give what a try?" Michael asks as he blinks. He was lost in the conversation.

"I want to try to have a baby. Now." Nikita says, and the light turns green. Yet, Michael can't put his foot on the gas. He sees Nikita's face, now glowing green, looking at him with wide eyes.

"Nikita.. this isn't the time to think about this... You are still in the no-touch-status." Michael says as he finally starts down the road.

"I don't mean now... I just know I want to try." Nikita corrects and then looks back out the window. By the next time Michael turns and looks at Nikita, her eyes are closed in a deep sleep.

***********

Nikita's head lightly floats down onto the pillow as Michael settles her into the bed. He kneels on the floor, and slowly unties Nikita's white tennis shoes and slides them off her feet. Michael continues by sliding the slouchy socks off and lightly rubbing Nikita's bare feet.

Michael looks up, and sees Nikita's eyelids twitching, and from his schooling, knows Nikita is now in REM sleep. He continues slowly, by pulling the sweatpants off of the good leg, and pulling then from the ankle.

Nikita is floating in a dream of clouds and birds. She feels her body tingling and that is all.

Michael carefully pulls the sweatpants off of Nikita's injuried leg, before moving to her sweatshirt. Michael cradles Nikita in his arms as he pulls the shirt up and over Nikita's head. Nikita is then placed back in bed, with only her bra and panties on.

Michael pulls the sheet over Nikita, and moves to exit the bedroom. He has been sleeping in the guest room, so not to bother or bump Nikita during her recovery. He isn't sure if it is helping, because Nikita has tossed and turned everynight. Nikita, when with Michael, would snuggle in tightly and barely move.

Nikita's eyes open and see Michael in a fine haze leaving the room. She sits up a bit.

"Stay here, tonight." Nikita says and Nikita watches Michael's hair turn as his body turns, just shy of the doorway.

"Nikita... you need your rest." Michael says in a gentle voice, but Nikita turns around from the tone.

"Don't talk to me like a child!" Nikita rumbles as her eyes start to sting with tears. Michael stands in his spot, wondering what is occuring here. It had to be the first time that Nikita had aggressively said something to him since her injury.

"I'll stay." Michael says as he moves forward and peels off the turtleneck shirt. Nikita turns her head, and Michael sees the tracks of Nikita's tears sparkle as her cheeks rise in a smile.

Michael is positive at what Nikita was smiling about, as he slide the zipper down in his pants and slide down. He moves to the bed, as Nikita watches his every move.

"No." Nikita says, as she doesn't pull back the blanket for Michael to join her. Michael looks down and notices that Nikita is on his side of the bed as he waits for an explaination.

"I want nothing between us, tonight." Nikita says as her hand appears, with her two items of underclothing. Michael takes a deep breathe and looks down at Nikita.

"Nikita.. you are.." Michael starts to protest and Nikita turns her head away.

"I didn't mean THAT!" Nikita mutters as she continues to look away. Michael takes another deep breath, working on his last nerve, and slides his underwear off. He pulls the sheet up and slides in.

His skin is cool compared to Nikita's as he slides in next to her back and nestles her in his arms. He lightly takes his index finger and makes the lazy circles on her back and neck.

Nikita's lips open with a slight murmer of pleasure for the contact, as her eyes close. Michael leans up and looks down at her peaceful face and continues with his fingertip. Michael slides back down and starts to use the broad tip of his thumb.

Michael's eyes start to close and he slips into a peaceful slumber that he had not been able to achieve in the guest room. Nikita's eyes open, feeling every centimeter of her body that touched Michael's skin turn warmer and warmer. Nikita stares at the wall, that she normally doesn't look at, and stays still.

************ The light on the refrigerator glared at Nikita as she opened the door slowly. She reached to the first shelf and pulled out the green plastic container. She closed the door, and slowly turned around, only whincing for a millisecond.

Nikita moved to the drawers, and peeled back the foil lid from the container. Picking the smallest spoon she had, Nikita shuts the door. She again turns, and uses the hip that is lightly gowned in Michael's bathrobe to close the drawer.

Nikita takes a small bit of the Snackwells Chocolate Peanut Butter Yogurt onto the spoon. Slowly, she slides it into her mouth, and savors the taste and texture. The spoon slowly moves down for more, as if in slow motion. Nikita pushes of the counterside, and moves towards the table to sit down.

"Nikita?" Michael asks as he rounds the corner, and to Nikita's amazement and statisfaction, he arrives with not a piece of clothing anywhere. Nikita dips the spoon into the yogurt and curls more into her mouth.

"Nikita? I thought you were tired." Michael says as he moves a bit closer to her, as he watches her movements. Nikita looks at Michael, inch by inch.

"I couldn't sleep." Nikita finally says before she eats some more yogurt. Michael looks at Nikita and starts to shiver.

"Come back to bed." Michael says as he starts to wish he had his own bathrobe. He immediately noticed Nikita wearing his black silk bathrobe when he entered the room.

"No." Nikita says, and she brushes past Michael and moves to the living room. She doesn't even pause to look at the wonderful body of her husband, and Michael follows behind.

Nikita carefully sits down on the couch and places the yogurt on the coffee table infront of the couch. Michael immediately sits down, and pulls the light quilt over his shivering body. He reaches a hand out and touches Nikita's cheek.

"What is it, Nikita?" Michael asks as Nikita looks at Michael. Her eyes are almost glowing like the blue part of a flame.

"I don't like thinking." Nikita says as she pulls her face away, but Michael reaches out with his other hand and draws Nikita's tender face back to look at his.

Michael thinks of what Nikita could be talking about, but with Nikita, sometimes it was a wild guess.

"Thinking about everything?" Michael questions, hoping Nikita won't take the question wrong. Yet, Michael is met with a feeble nod of Nikita's head. He was fighting the urge to scream.

Somewhere, he lost the carefree Nikita. The Nikita who did take everyday as the last. Each day was a new experience. Michael didn't know what happened to Nikita's constantly happy attitude. He couldn't tell you when Nikita turned into a the gloomy person.

Michael turned his head as he started to think about what occured. He felt like he placed Nikita in chains now. He made Nikita start thinking about a family, a kid. He made Nikita worry about the next day, the next week, and the next month. He made Nikita.

Michael pulled Nikita into his arms and kissed her cheek.

"We all hate to think.... we all want to act... We'll get back to that... we have too." Michael says softly into Nikita's ear.

Nikita sits up and looks at Michael. She diverts her eyes and Michael, who had leaned back, sits back up.

"What I said tonight was because I'm scared that I won't get a chance if we don't try now..." Nikita says and Michael's lips part, but no words come out of them.

"I've never been like this Michael... but I want things to be right... Now, isn't the time to even think about it." Nikita says as she continues to look away.

"I understand." Michael says pulling Nikita back into his arms. What Nikita didn't understand was that Michael did understand what she had truly said. Her eyes revealed it all. She wanted to have it now, but she said everything for Michael's benefit. She was so confused and so mixed up, that she couldn't be true to herself, and in doing that, had come up with the right decision, to wait.

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