Melissa ran her hands through her hair. She could not believe that several months ago that she had colored it brown. She was glad to have it back to the golden blonde that is was meant to be. It shined in the afternoon sun as she walked down the street.

Her mood could only be good. For the first time in a long while, Melissa was able to workout and go out with Nikita. Nikita could make anyone's bad day good. Now, Melissa hummed as she walked to the ice cream store that kept Oreo Surprise Ice Cream on store just for Birkoff.

Birkoff sat at a little table just at the corner of the ice cream store's door. He looked up and down the street, looking for Melissa. He turned to the right, did not see her and turned to the left. It was when he goes to the left that he realized he might have seen her.

"MELISSA!" Birkoff exclaims in delightment to see the blonde tresses back. He never wanted to tell her, but he never liked the brown hair. He stood up and stopped. She was wearing an outfit that Nikita just wore into Section last week, before Michael shot her. Again, he was reminded that Nikita and Melissa were sisters.

"Do you like it? Does it make me look too much like Nikita?" Melissa asks as she jogs to Birkoff and holds him tightly. Birkoff stands up on his toes and kisses Melissa. Melissa wraps her hands around his head and kisses deeper.

"You only look like Nikita because you two share clothes!" Birkoff laughs as he escapes the heatening kiss. He has almost hit the boiling point on that kiss.

"What are you talking about? I bought this when I was with my co-worker Lisa." Melissa says as she intertwines her fingers with Birkoff's and heads towards the ice cream store. Birkoff starts to laugh.

"Then you two must really know each other. Nikita wore the exact same outfit. The black long skirt, the silky red top. Oh, but she wore a pair of boots that went to her knee, and they were a glitter red." Birkoff says with a smile.

"THOSE ARE MY BOOTS!" Melissa laughs loudly as Birkoff waves to the owner of the store. He immediately starts to get the ice cream for the two. Birkoff would have his Oreo Surprise, and Melissa would have Pineapple Serbert.

"Then you two need to get some other friends!" Birkoff says as he hands the money over. Melissa looks at him and laughs.

"Do you know, today, two guys swore we were sisters! Can you believe that?" Melissa says with a laugh. Birkoff licked at the ice cream as he thought about the truth.

"Well, I heard that some psychological study says that you pick your close friends because they look like you!" Birkoff says with a smile as he heads out of the store. They immediately choose the same table that Birkoff had waited at for Melissa.

"I've heard that. Nikita actually told that to one of the guys!" Melissa says with a laugh as she licks her serbert lightly.

"So what did you and Nikita do?" Birkoff asks and Melissa smiles even more.

"Well, she worked with my self defense and then guess what?" Melissa says with a slow smile that grows.

"You two went shopping!" Birkoff says, knowing that it is the truth. It was what Nikita and Melissa did all the time.

"Yes... and we both got the same blue dress. It was just perfect." Melissa says and Birkoff blinks his eyes.

"The same blue dress?" Birkoff asks blinking his eyes.

"Yes, but I think Nikita looks better in it." Melissa says. Birkoff goes back to his ice cream. God help him if they wore the dress on the same day!

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

Birkoff laughed as Melissa explain about her day. Melissa and Nikita always found the neatiest things around the most boring of places. Birkoff knew that it had to be because of the two of them.

"And then Nikita got real close to the man and told him to shove off!" Melissa says with a squeal of laughter. Birkoff laughs back. He knows Niktia did more than get close, probably squeezed something real tight.

Birkoff looks across the street and sees three men standing and looking at him. Melissa looks where Birkoff is looking and turns back to Birkoff.

"Those guys were with that man." Melissa says. Birkoff smiles at Melissa and pulls out his cell phone. Melissa looks at him. Birkoff wonders why they followed Melissa. He quickly dialed the number. One of the men took a seat at a table not far away.

"Nikita! Where have you been..." Michael answers the phone. Birkoff smiles.

"Hello mother, how are you?" Birkoff says. Michael moves quickly to a standing position.

"What is it Birkoff?" Michael asks. Melissa raises an eyebrow. She knows that Birkoff is not talking to his mother.

"I am with Melissa at our ice cream store." Birkoff says as he reaches a hand out and pats Melissa's hand.

"I thought Nikita was with Melissa." Michael says as he pulls at his jacket. He knew that Birkoff was in a bad situation, since he called him mother.

"Melissa arrived here about ten minutes ago." Birkoff responds. Michael walks to the door and steps out. He will try Nikita's cell phone later.

"How many, Birkoff?" Michael asks as he pulls his keys out and makes a mental inventory of what equipment he has on him and in the car.

"I can see walking three blocks, Mother!" Birkoff exclaims with laughter. Melissa breaks out in laughter also, following Birkoff's lead.

"Three?" Michael asks to get a confirmation.

"Yes." Birkoff replies with a slightly annoyed tone. Michael opens the car door and slides into the car.

"Do we have an idea of who they are?" Michael asks.

"No." Birkoff replies.

"Did they follow you?" Michael asks.

"No, mother. Why don't you just get here as soon as possible. If we aren't at the table, we'll be across the street or at the corner!" Birkoff says as he clicks the phone down. Michael turns the car on and pulls quickly out. He tries Nikita's cell phone but gets no response.

Birkoff reaches across the table and pulls Melissa into a deep embrace. He lingers and then moves to her ear.

"Michael is on his way." Birkoff says and Melissa's eyes open wider. She knows something is going on. She just continues holding Birkoff.

Birkoff moves in to kiss her ear again.

"Keep this up, keeps people noticing us." Birkoff says before he licks her earlobe softly.

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

Michael walks up the block and instantly sees the three men that Birkoff had told him about. He had on the way, called Operations for instructions. Michael was to bring Birkoff and Melissa in along with a live hostage. Michael still had not been able to get in touch with Nikita. He did not try to worry, but he did either way.

The first man was at the corner. Birkoff and Melissa were really making out at the table. It was a good position for Birkoff to take. The man stepped back towards the bushes and Michael smiled. The man was no long in view of the other men.

"What a display? Why don't they just do it right there?" Michael asks as he steps behind the man. The man nods his head and turns towards Michael. Michael breaks the mans neck before he even sees Michael. Michael half pushes the man into the bushes and walks around the corner.

The next man who was standing across the road from the tables was going to be harder to get rid of. Michael could wait for back up but it could be too late. As luck had it, Melissa stood up and sat down on Birkoff in his chair. The two men who were about to drool became easier targets.

"Do you know where St. Mark's is?" Michael asks as he bumps into the man. He frowns and proceeds to tell Michael were. Michael crosses his face and shakes his head. The church was viewable from further back, and near the same bushes. The man pulls Michael back and points to the church. Michael levels the gun to his stomache and angles up to a perfect heart shot. With the silencer on, the man falls instantly dead into the bushes.

Michael tosses his hair about and starts to stumble across the street. The car honks at him and the last man stares at him. Michael tilts his head and stumbles right into Birkoff and Melissa. Melissa stares at Michael in horror. Michael knows she has no concept of what is going on.

"Hey man... want tzoo take you woooman with mee, and have szum fun?" Michael slurres out as he pretends not to keep his balance.

The man who was left grabs hold of Michael and starts to drag him around the building. Michael smiles, drops to the ground, and pulls the man down. He is dead before he hits the cement. Michael pushes his hair back and walks out of the little alley way. He pulls out the walkie talkie the man has and moves quickly.

"We are to go in." Michael says as he takes Melissa's hand and leads him to the car. Birkoff stops in shock.

"After we drop Melissa off, right?" Birkoff asks. Michael stares at him.

"I have a hood in the car." Michael says. Michael throughs the keys to Birkoff as he sees the car. Michael motions to a blue van that has a man in it. Melissa opens her eyes and tries to talk. Birkoff nods his head and Michael moves quickly.

Michael pulls the man out and twists his neck. The man falls out of the van and starts to walk with Michael.

"I am not going to kill you like your friends... but you will wish you had died." Michael says as he cuts off the air supply to pass the man out. He throws him into the car and starts off.

"Birkoff... the hood has to go down now." Michael says firmly. Birkoff holds the hood to Melissa. Her eyes tear up.

"Where do you work, Birkoff?" Melissa asks in a trembling voice.

"I can't show you. It's for your own good." Birkoff says as he pulls the hood down.

Michael throws his phone to Birkoff.

"Call Nikita. Speed dial 1." Michael says. Birkoff looks at the phone and looks at Michael.

"I thought that Speed dial 1 was to be Operations on all Cell Phones." Birkoff asks. Michael doesn' t move as Birkoff calls. There is no answer.

"Melissa, did these men see you with Nikita?" Michael asks firmly.

"Yes, they called us sisters." Melissa says. Michael presses on the gas a bit more.

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

Michael pushes the passed out man to an operative as he walks out of access. He moves quickly to the computers. He turns around and looks for Birkoff. Birkoff is taking his time. Michael walks back and leads Melissa further into Section One. He pulls the hood off and throws it to the ground.

"This is where Birkoff works. Don't try to remember any of it." Michael says firmly as he sits down at a computer. Birkoff sits down at the computer next to Michael and stares at him.

"Why?" Melissa timidly asks as she glances around. Her body jumps when she sees Operations looming from above. He moves back and away from the window.

"Do you value your life?" Michael asks rudely from his computer.

"Melissa, you just can't know certain things." Birkoff says firmly as he glances at Michael's stern face. Melissa would not take Michael's words hard. Melissa was also scared for Nikita.

" Enough chit-chat. Find Nikita." Michael says firmly to Birkoff. Birkoff jumps into action and Melissa looks around frightened.

"Hello, Melissa." Madeline says as she walks to the computers. Operations had asked Madeline to watch Melissa while she was there. Michael and Birkoff worked furiously at the computers.

"Hello, Madeline." Melissa responded. She did not like Madeline much at all. She gave Melissa chills deep into her bones. Nikita seemed to have a roller coaster relationship with the woman, but Nikita confined in Melissa that if anything was wrong, she would trust Madeline totally. Melissa hoped that Nikita was right about the woman.

"Michael, what is so important that you couldn't escort Melissa to my office?" Madeline asks as she glances up to see Operations hovering. She knew he would be hovering in a rare chance to see his daughter.

"Nikita was with Melissa, and I have not been able to contact her." Michael says firmly.

"Have you tried her cell phone?" Madeline asks. Michael rolls his eyes up at Madeline and stares. Madeline takes Melissa's arm and starts to lead her away. Operations had relayed the information of no contact with Nikita to Madeline also.

"You can ask me questions about this place, and I will try to explain to you enough so you understand but not enough that you can threaten our lives." Madeline says and she sees Michael standing up from the chair. Michael stares at Madeline until she stops moving.

"How will handle the debrief?" Michael asks firmly, talking about the man he brought in. Madeline turns to Michael and smiles.

"I guess you will have to handle it." Madeline says with a nod of her head. She turns back around and walks with Melissa to her office. Madeline would make sure the exposure of Melissa to Section One would be minimal. That had been the orders from Operations.

"Michael, go do the debrief now. I want to know where Nikita is." Operations says firmly from above. Michael looks up and then level as he trudges off. Michael tried to tell himself not to pulvirizes this man, but the thoughts did not keep in his mind long. He wanted to know where Nikita was now. He looked at his watched and sighed. Nikita would be late for her antibotic again.

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

The man had been identified as Stanley Preston, a small time wheeler and dealer of women. This time, he had picked on the wrong women. He sat in the white room with wide open eyes, scared so badly that he had no control over his bodily functions.

Michael knew of this part when he opened the door. Michael was not surprized to see the mess. He nodded to the operative outside the door and immediately, Preston was pelted with buckets of water to clean the mess.

"Mr. Stanly Preston, your life will end today." Michael says slowly as he stands in front of the man. Michael hopes that this will be done easily.

"It is up to you if it is slow or fast." Michael says. Michael squares his feet to Stanley Preston and punches the man low in the stomache. The punch carries its force and pushes his back painfully against the metal chair. Without medical care, Mr. Preston would die in less than twenty four hours from that blow. He would not receive any care, and hopefully would be dead before the time came.

"What do you want?" Mr. Preston asks with tears running down his face. Michael could laugh at him. This wasn't a harden man. He was scum. This was the scum that had terrified Nikita while she was on the street, and Michael now had a chance to meet one.

"The blonde you took this afternoon, where is she?" Michael asks. The reports had come in about Mr. Stanley Preston. He was the highest of his little group with no connects. He was just some flesh to Section One.

"The hot one! Mighty fine woman!" Preston says with a whistle. Michael blinks and smacks a vicious backhand across the offending mouth. Preston tastes the blood and looks away from Michael.

"Where did you take her?" Michael asks firmly as he looks at the puny little man. His hair although wet, still showed the grease that held it back. A disgusting form of man.

"She's at my little playground." Preston answers with a little smirk on his face. Michael steps back and procedes to place a heavy kick with his boots into the middle of his chest.

Preston starts to gasp for air. Michael nods his head and has another prisoner placed in the room. They had been trying to break that one for several days. Michael did not have a purpose for that prisoner except to show Mr. Preston what is in store for him.

"I could use drugs... but that is too kind. I like physical torture that would make you insane." Michael says as he holds Preston's chin tightly in his hands. He drops the chin and walks to the other prisoner. He pulls at the arm, and twists it quickly. The prisoner screams out in pain of the broken arm. Michael steps back towards Preston and waves the operatives to take the other prisoner away.

"I own a store... Locked her in a storage closet until I gathered the other one. Those two would have made me a couple thousand a night." Preston says as he looks away from Michael.

"The only thing they made you was your death." Michael says as he steps towards the door.

"Let Frick and Frack play with him until I make sure I have Nikita." Michael says as he opens the door. He walks quickly out down the hall. It was time to retrieve Nikita.

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

Nikita looked at the door and shook her head. She could climb out through the vent, but she didn't want to get dirty. The door wasn't that strong.

Michael moved through the store. He said not a word. He did not know if there were any other men. He turned the corner and saw the door. He smiled. The door wasn't that strong.

Nikita backed up against the wall and charged towards the door.

Michael stepped close to the door and pushed his leg into it.

Both Michael and Nikita fall backwards as they hit the door as the same time, splintering it in the middle. Nikita shakes her head and looks through the door. Michael sits straight up and sees Nikita.

"The least you could do is call out my name!" Nikita exclaims as she stands on her feet. She feels like her full leg was stove, but nothing too bad.

"Are you ok?" Michael asks as he picks his body up from the ground. Nikita shakes her head yes and pulls the door open. She wraps her arms around Michael and kiss him tightly.

"We must get back." Michael says as he looks to the outside door.

"Can't we just pretend you still don't have me and use the time for 'other' activities?" Nikita asks with girlish charm. Michael looks at her and wishes he could. Under other circumstances, he would have.

"Melissa is in Section." Michael says and Nikita's eyes widden quickly.

"Not to stay. Just until I got you back." Michael says as he places a finger over Nikita's mouth. Nikita moves with Michael to the door. There is a crowd of people. Nikita locks Michael's lips and starts out the door.

"Oh, look at that couple!"

"They need to get a room."

"Lookie Mommie... that man has his tongue down that woman's throat!"

Nikita pulls away in laughter. Michael pulls her close and holds her.

"Oh, how sweet?"

"Young love... bet they have only known each other a few days...."

"I wish I had that."

Michael leans closer to Nikita, hoping that the crowd would pass. Nikita slides her tongue against his ear. He feels himself grow in response. He couldn't hold himself in check, even in public. Nikita claimed his mouth again. Finally, Michael moved his hands to Nikita's chest. He gently touched her through the t-shirt.

"MOMMIE! HE IS TOUCHING HER BREASTS!" The kids exclaims and Nikita pulls away.

Nikita takes Michael's hand and walks towards the van.

"Madeline, I have Nikita." Michael says firmly as he tries to keep Nikita off of his body.

"She is fine?" Madeline asks.

"Yes." Michael responds as he almost laughs at Nikita's pouting eyes.

"No fooling around. I need you two back here pronto. Mylo and Gannon are having some difficulty." Madeline says and cuts the transmission. Michael moves to kiss Nikita, but she stonewalls him. Michael frowns and drives back to Section quickly.

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