The hand grazed the wall on the steady and weary decent into more darkness. At times, only the hand was able to tell where the wall was and where the wall wasn’t. Nothing pierced the darkness but the sound of the two pairs of boots descending at the same rate and same time.

“How much further?” Nikita asks and Michael stops as they make the 180 degree turn to go down the next flight of stairs.

“We seemed to be just before half way. These stairs haven’t been used in ages. All the paint is gone.” Michael says as he nudges Nikita ahead. Nikita starts down the stair again and sighs loudly. The sound echoes upwards and downwards. It was quite eerie.

“Why couldn’t we get at least a little light or something... this is quite dangerous.” Nikita says as her legs start to feel the burn of the continual motion of going down the stairs. Michael shakes his head as his eyes focus on the darkness ahead of him.

“All power is being used to finish the profiles.” Michael says and Nikita sighs. They turn the corner and step down on the stair. The stair gives way and Michael and Nikita both tumble down a few stairs.

The sound echoes endlessly and not a word is said until the echo stops. Nikita winces in pain, but Michael cannot see so. Michael feels the pain and starts to work his hand across the plaster on the wall.

Michael finds the little panel and opens it up. Instantly, one streak of light appears in the pitch blackness. Michael rubs at the panel’s metal and finds their exact location before picking up the little phone.

“It’s Michael.” He simply says as Nikita holds her ankle in her hands and sits on the stairs.

“What is it, Michael?” Madeline asks and Michael tenses his jaw.

“Me and Nikita have encountered a broken stair on flight 31... might want to warn any other operatives.” Michael says.

“There will be no more down that staircase.” Madeline says and she moves to the computers. That meant Michael and Nikita only had 33 flights left.

“Are you both ok?” Madeline asks.

“We are fine.” Michael says as he pushes the phone and the light back into the case. Nikita grabs Michael’s arm before all the light disappears.

“Michael.. why did you tell her that we are fine!” Nikita demands loudly.

“There will be no more operatives brought in. We must be ok.” Michael says as he pushes Nikita down the next flight of stairs.

And they continue. Circling and circling in the darkness. Nikita’s ankle throbs and so doesn’t Michael’s. No one says a word. Just the continual clicking of boots down the stairs, with an occasional wince of pain.

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

Madeline raised her head from the table and then intelligence when Michael and Nikita walked in. She stared at them. Something was different. They had switched sides. Nikita had always walked to Michael’s right. Now she was to his left.

Something was wrong. Madeline listed the possibilities, and was overjoyed with a few and was down right upset with some others. Madeline didn’t care what it was, as long as it wasn’t that Nikita was pregnant. It would be the worst timing ever.

“What’s wrong?” Madeline asks as they sit down at the table and Nikita smiles softly.

“I didn’t like walking down the stairs.” Nikita comments firmly and Michael glares at her.

“We are fine. Now, the briefing?” Michael asks and Madeline nods her head. She hands over the copies of paper. Everything was do inefficient without the computers and equipment. Nikita glanced over the profile and stared at Madeline.

“So?” Nikita finally asks before Michael can ask a more eloquently stated question asking exactly the same thing.

“We can download all the information without placing a device onto the computer. All we need to do is get this little box nearby the computer.” Madeline says as she shows the device. Nikita looks at in and looks at Madeline.

“It uses a lot of our electricity.. that is why we are running so low on this end. You two will go in as a tired couple who has been traveling. From any of the rooms it should transmit.” Madeline says and Nikita looks at the device.

“So we stay all night.. ok.” Nikita says and Madeline shakes her head.

“Once they turn off the security alarm on the office tomorrow at six they will know the information is gone. You two will have to leave once the information has been retrieved.” Madeline says as Operations walks in.

“Did you tell them that we don’t have use of comm units?” Operations asks and Nikita shakes her head.

“Then how do we know that the information has been retrieved?” Nikita shouts in disguise. They were going to have to shimmy down a drainage pipe and run, and not know when too.

“We will shock your tooth. It will use the least amount of electricity. If it is four o’clock, run.” Madeline says and Michael looks at Nikita.

“You leave soon.” Madeline says and Nikita shakes her head.

“From van access, right?” Nikita questions and Madeline shakes her head.

“We don’t have the power... you have to walk back up the stairs.” Madeline says. Nikita looks at Michael and Michael looks at Nikita.

“We will get changed in our office.” Michael says as he stands up. Nikita stands up in the half lit room and follows Michael out. They walk closely together, more than normal.

“Something is wrong there.” Madeline states flatly and Operations smiles at Madeline.

“They know what they are doing.... Did you hear?” Operations asks and Madeline turns to Operations.

“That you took Ayn to dinner?” Madeline replies and Operations shakes his head no. He is surprised the Madeline knew of such doings, but that was not what he was speaking of.

“I got some reports back from some watchers. It seems that Birkoff has asked my daughter to marry him.” Operations says and Madeline nods her head.

“I’m glad for Birkoff... as long as it is for the right reasons...” Madeline says as she starts to turn towards the door.

“What do you mean by that?” Operations says firmly and angrily.

“You know what I mean..... And I thought your good news was that you and Ayn were going to get it on tonight...” Madeline says as she walks out.

DAMN!

Operations shakes his head. How does Madeline know?

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

Nikita sits in the chair and pulls off her shoe and shakes her head. Michael moves to his desk and opens a drawer. He pulls out a black roll and heads back to Nikita. He takes her ankle softly and kisses it.

“Michael, we should just tell...” Nikita says and Michael slowly starts to wrap the ankle. Michael looks up at Nikita and shakes his head no.

Nikita didn’t need to be told how important this mission was. She now knew the power outage in the city was because of this mission. Nikita winces as Michael pulls the wrap tightly and then pats the foot.

“Thanks.” Nikita says as she moves to the boots that she had selected. They should give her enough support to walk up all those stairs. Nikita stands up and watches Michael wrap his ankle in the dark.

Neither one could tell if they had started to bruise or if they were more damaged than a sprain. There just wasn’t enough light. Nikita sighs and walks to the little bathroom. Somehow she was to look like the blushing bride and put her make up on in the dark.

Michael stands up and smiles as he sees Nikita’s eyes glowing from the little battery ran light in her compact. Michael stood there smiling.

He wished Nikita had heard him that early in the morning. He felt that if Nikita heard it once it would be enough. Michael didn’t have the nerve to say it again. What if he said it and it made Nikita angry? What it made her feel worse? He couldn’t chance it.

“Are you ready?” Michael asks and Nikita almost jumps. Michael shakes his head but Nikita can barely make Michael out.

“I hate the dark, Michael.” Nikita says as she leans down into the little cabinet. She reaches in and snaps something.

Michael smiles as Nikita’s face turns a shade of neon green. Nikita hands a stick over to Michael.

“We wouldn’t want to fall on the broken stair again.” Nikita says softly. Michael shakes his head and smiles at Nikita.

“I love you Nikita.” Michael says as he swings an arm over Nikita’s shoulder. Nikita laughs and leans her head against Michael.

“I love you too...” Nikita says as they walk into the dark hallways of Section One... bringing a light that only Nikita could. And it wasn’t the left over glowsticks for the Fourth of July.

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

Ayn slips out of the quarters with a tiny candle in her hand. She looks back at the door with the shades of orange and red from the candle. Ayn trembles. She had cut her life off from the last time that she had been with Viktor. That had been the last time for her... Ayn had dedicated her life to Trevor, her son.

“So I was right.” Madeline says from the deep dark shadows of the hallway. Ayn turns to her and sheds the candle light onto her face. Ayn stares at her.

“About what?” Ayn says and Madeline smiles and the candle casts evil shadows over her face.

“You and Operations. I knew you two would do such tonight.” Madeline says and Ayn stares at her.

“I thought you were trying to protect your son?” Madeline says as she stares at Ayn. Ayn lowers the candle to about her waist.

“I have protected my son. Years and years of my life I have protected my son.” Ayn spits out deeply.

“Who is your son? Your captive or your escape?” Madeline asks and Ayn almost drops the candle to punch Madeline. She had been so candid with Madeline before that she can’t believe that Madeline is doing so. But then, this wasn’t about her son... This was about Operations.

“He is my only light in this dark world. He is all that I have and he is all that I will ever have. I will never have Viktor. Maybe tonight I did... but damn it, Madeline... I haven’t been with no one else.... I have been so busy protecting MY SON that I didn’t protect my heart from becoming cold and icy like yours.” Ayn fires back with tears running down her face.

“It yours and Operations son.. not just yours.” Madeline says. Ayn steps away from Madeline and uncovers the door.

“Do you want to tell.. go ahead.” Ayn says and Madeline looks at the door and then at Ayn. Madeline does not move.

“I can achieve more holding it over his head.” Madeline says.

“And you can achieve more holding it over mine.” Ayn sarcastically remarks and Madeline turns away.

“He is just going to eat your heart away.” Madeline says firmly.

“You have loved after him, Madeline... so don’t say that he will eat my heart away....” Ayn fires back and Madeline frowns.

“Ayn, do him if you must... but don’t look for me to support it.” Madeline fires back.

“Because you want him for yourself.” Ayn says.

“I don’t think anyone should be with him.” Madeline says as she recedes into the dark shadows as Ayn moves in the opposite direction.

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

Nikita swore to herself as she stumbled over yet another root of a tree. Nothing Section One planned every worked as planned.

Nikita looked into the darkness and shakes her head. Michael and her had been separated for about five minutes now. The intel was that the space between the elite hotel and the road was a simple field. It didn’t mention the ditches and roots that Nikita’s sore ankle found easily.

Nikita falls down and says down. The night was black as ever, with no moon. It made moving through the darkness easy. Nikita didn’t have to hunch down.. but it also made losing Michael easier. She scanned the area but found nothing.

Michael looked to his right. He had believed that Nikita was there until he heard noise to his left. He did not want to admit it, but he lost Nikita in the darkness. He wondered if she was behind him because of her ankle.

Michael turned his head and saw a patch in the darkness that seemed lighter. Well, not like a streak of light.. just not as dark. He turned his body and headed to it. Maybe if Nikita saw the same thing she would head to it too.

Nikita winced in pain and feel back down. She was ready to tear open a glowstick and find Michael. She heard some noise to her left and hits the ground harder. She grunts as the boots kick into her side and the body falls over her body.

“Nikita?” Michael voice rushes out in a whisper and Nikita pushes Michael’s legs off of her. She now has pain in her side.

“MICHAEL!” Nikita says as she grabs the stick and turns it on. Michael’s face turns green and he smiles.

“I followed the lightness and found you... let’s get out of here.” Michael says as he stands up. Michael leans down and grabs her hands.

“My ankle is bad.” Nikita says as she stands up and Michael swings her arm over his shoulder.

“We aren’t going back down those stairs, Michael. I refuse.” Nikita says and Michael laughs.

“They’ll have access opened... believe me...” Michael says as the light gives them a path to follow. Michael starts off and Nikita leans on him.

“Boy.. I need some milk!” Nikita says and Michael laughs.

“How can you think of milk now in a time like this?” Michael asks and Nikita giggles.

“It’s white.. and it isn’t black.. I don’t think I will be drinking coffee for a long time!” Nikita says and Michael shakes his head as the road appears and Nikita looks both ways. The car is only ten feet down the road.

“How did we manage that?” Nikita questions as Michael opens the door and Nikita slides in. Nikita pulls out the small device and smiles as Michael starts to drive. Nikita pushes the little button and looks away.

And in the darkness... the light of the car exploding that Michael and Nikita brought in interrupts the night.

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

“Hello son.” Ayn says into the computer and Trevor smiles back. He looks good for what he had gone through with the hurricane.

“Mom.. you look so happy. I have never seen you like this.” Trevor says and Ayn shakes her head.

“It must be the lighting.. we lost power here.. we don’t have it all back.” Ayn says and Trevor shakes his head.

“No... it’s like when you told me about dad... told me that he got you to eat onion rings and milkshakes... That’s what you look like...” Trevor says and Ayn tremble inside.

“Well, today was good. Trevor... we have to be more careful...” Ayn says and he looks at her hurt.

“What? I’m not allowed to call you?” Trevor reacts and Ayn shakes her head and sighs.

“It might be best to call me on the phone before the video phone... ok, son?” Ayn says and Trevor trembles.

“So tell me about the island? Are things better?” Ayn says and Trevor shrugs his shoulders.

“Mom... I still can’t get around...” Trevor says as he holds up his casted arm. She smiles and continues her conversation.

*

“Ouch.... and you did that in that field?” Elana asks Nikita. Nikita looks at Michael and then nods her head.

“It was filled with tree roots.” Michael says as he looks at Nikita’s ankle. It had to have been from the stair. It was the shade of the night they had waded through. Elana smiles softly.

“And your side?” Elana asks and Nikita glares at Michael. She wanted to tell the truth. It was funny! Madeline would call out for more psychic testing and Operations would scold both.

“When I fell from the ankle, I ran my side into a rock.” Nikita says and Elana looks at Michael, who has his own foot up.

“And then you tripped over Nikita’s leg and twisted your ankle?” Elana asks and Michael nods his head. Elana picks up Michael’s boot and takes it to the bruise on Nikita’s side.

“Go home. Rest. NO MORE LIES!” Elana says as she hands Nikita the air cast. Nikita places it on and they exit quickly.

Madeline walks out of the room and looks at Elana.

“They worked efficiently on the mission. Those ankles were hurt walking down the stairs last night...” Madeline says and Elana stares at Madeline.

“Those stairs were closed because of the weak supports.” Elana says. Madeline nods her head and walks out of Medlab. Elana stares at Madeline. She was up to something.

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