Birkoff' s eyes pop open. . . first the right one, and then the left one. He stares at the ringing telephone, hoping that he could will the call away. Birkoff pushes his head further into the pillow as the ringing continued, and his arm, by some other force picked up the phone.

" Birkoff?" Walter asks calmly. He hated the assignment he was given. Operations walked down the hall, puffing obsessively at a cigarette and stopped at Walter' s door way. He barked the command without missing a puff.

" Yeah, Walter." Birkoff sighs loudly as he responds. Melissa shifts closer to Birkoff' s stretched body. Her skin skims against Birkoff' s and Birkoff closes his eyes.

" Who is it, Seymour?" Melissa asks softly. Birkoff kisses her head and smiles softly.

" Don' t worry about it..." Birkoff says as he tries to lean away from Melissa.

" Operations wants you in. New York just went up a few minutes ago." Walter says and suddenly Birkoff sits straight up. There were only a few reasons why communication with New York would have been reestablished.

" Did Nikita catch the killer?" Birkoff asks excitedly. Walter smiles. Birkoff sure did worry about Nikita.

" Yes, at least the original killer." Walter says as he looks at the clock. Birkoff was really going to have to get a move on.

" Look, Birkoff... you know the back log of communications that have to be sent to New York. Operations wants to resume a normal communication link with them before the 12 hundred mission." Walter says and he hangs up the phone.

Birkoff pulls the blanket off his legs as Melissa sits up in bed.

" I thought you said that Nikita went to New York to visit family?" Melissa asks and Birkoff leans down and kisses her cheek.

" You also knew that Nikita doesn' t have family." Birkoff says with a soft smile. He hated lying to Melissa like this, but it was the only way Birkoff could half way protect her.

" What does Nikita do? Is she a profiler now?" Melissa asks as she pushes back her own blonde hair. Birkoff sits at the edge of the bed and looks at Melissa.

" She is special. She does special things." Birkoff says and Melissa frowns.

" Is this the way it is going to be when we are married?" Melissa asks and Birkoff looks to the blanket.

" You know I can never promise the time... All I can promise is the love..." Birkoff says as he pulls at some folded pants. Melissa nods her head.

" Have you told your boss yet?" Melissa asks and Birkoff shakes his head.

" Melissa.. you' ve seen him.. he is really scary!" Birkoff says as he stands up and pulls a shirt over his chest.

" Birkoff... he seemed really nice..." Melissa says with a soft smile. Birkoff leans forward and kisses Melissa' s lips softly.

**********

" I have to go." Birkoff says as he picks up his tennis shoes and tip toes out of the bedroom. He doesn' t even turn on a light as he gathers the few things he needed and headed off into the night back to Section One

Birkoff sits at the computer typing away. He never realized how much information and communication got sent to New York until Nikita blocked all communications. Birkoff immediately came in and sent a thank you card to Nikita for her great timing. Birkoff shook his head as he could barely think about what he had to do. He kept on going back to Melissa' s question if this was going to occur all throughout their marriage.

Birkoff looks at the incoming message and shakes his head. He pulls at the phone and punches the number code. The phone rings a few times before it is sleepily picked up.

" I thought Nikita was going to sleep?" Birkoff questions and he hears Michael chuckle softly.

" You have the secured transmission?" Michael asks as he stands up and pulls off the sheets.

" Yes." Birkoff says slightly annoyed at Nikita. She had lied to him again.

" Can you send it to the computer at the house?" Michael asks as he walks out of the room in his robe and boxers. He moves across the hall and down to the computer room.

" I have already done that." Birkoff says and he hears Michael snap on the computers.

" Hey, Michael... does Nikita lie to you a lot?" Birkoff asks and Michael starts to laugh uncontrollably.

" Birkoff.... I can' t believe you are asking that about Nikita!" Michael says. Michael shakes his head. He is sure that anyone in Section One could tell you that Nikita did lie to Michael, but also that Michael lied to Nikita.

" Oh, the baby thing..." Birkoff says and Michael enters in the code and mumbles a little bit.

" Birkoff, you can stop monitoring it now." Michael says firmly. Birkoff already knew a little bit too much. Michael didn' t want to get Birkoff too deep in this mess that he found Nikita in and had promptly placed himself in.

" My god, Michael.... How could Stephen be doing such things!" Birkoff says as he looks at the screen.

" Birkoff... you know nothing." Michael says as he opens up another screen. Michael smiles with mischief.

Michael types away and smiles softly. He knows that Birkoff was asking the questions to Michael that only one person could answer. Birkoff was going to have to talk to Operations sooner than later. Michael just planned on speeding up the process. Giving Birkoff the chance to worry about Operations' reaction, would be the quickest way to get Birkoff to forget what he had seen Nikita working on. It was a little evil what Michael was doing, but it couldn' t be helped.

" Well... stop looking at the intel on this, Birkoff. It can only destroy you." Michael says as he hangs up. At that instant, the little blob in the right hand corner beeped for Birkoff' s personal mail.

He had received a carbon copy of what Michael had wrote to Operations. It said that Birkoff wanted to meet with him today to discuss some current events and other avenues of personal life and discovery. Birkoff' s mouth hit the floor as he read that Michael had set up a meeting with Operations at 3 o' clock and signed Birkoff' s name to it.

**********

Birkoff walks into Madeline office and raps his hand on her desk. Madeline jumps as she turns around and faces Birkoff. He had heard that Anna had been sick throughout the night and the time was seen on Madeline' s tired face.

" I need your help." Birkoff says firmly as he sits down. He watches Madeline' s eyes turn from tired to intrigued.

" Why, Birkoff?" Madeline asks and Birkoff hands over a paper copy of the message that Michael sent to Operations. Madeline raises an eyebrow after reading the paper and sets it down on the desk.

" That isn' t your style of writing. Operations wouldn' t realize, but I see... Who? Michael?" Madeline asks and Birkoff nods his head. Madeline smiles softly.

Madeline knew that Michael had been doing some research for Nikita, and Birkoff must have been involved. In her mind, Michael did the smartest thing to get Birkoff' s mind off of what he had done. Although Madeline is interested in what Birkoff and Michael had found, she is more interested in how Birkoff was going to handle this meeting.

" Madeline, I' m not prepared for this meeting." Birkoff says as his hands twist in his lap. He is more than frightened about the meeting. Madeline represses a smile and nods her head.

" Well, how do you want my help?" Madeline asks, deciding to have some fun with Birkoff. It had been a while since she felt like playing with some of the operatives minds.

" Tell me what to do.. what to say... In fact... tell me how I can get out of it!" Birkoff says and Madeline can' t help but laugh.

" Oh, you' ll get through this." Madeline says as she stands up and licks her lips. She can' t believe Birkoff' s nervousness. Michael must have told Birkoff something about what Operations all ready thought. Michael was getting good at the subtleties of this.

" I would suggest you don' t play games with Operations, Birkoff." Madeline says and Birkoff' s eyes open up wide.

" I don' t want too!" Birkoff exclaims and Madeline presses her lips tightly together.

" You already started one, but not telling him first." Madeline says and Birkoff stands up defensively.

" I don' t want every single aspect of my life cleared by Operations first! I love Melissa first, and I know that you and Operations are concerned that I only love Melissa because she looks like Nikita.. but that isn' t it. I love her smile, her past, her compassion, her needs.... EVERYTHING!" Birkoff says as he paces around and finally falls back into Madeline' s chair.

" Why can' t I just send a tape of that?" Birkoff asks as he leans his head back and looks at Madeline as she stands behind Birkoff.

" Birkoff.... I would suggest maintaining your calm with Operations. He does not respond well to defensive acts like that." Madeline says and Birkoff leans his head forward and shakes his head. Madeline stops and walks back to her seat.

" Tell him straight out, Birkoff. Don' t beat around the bush." Madeline says as she sits down and places her hands on the desk.

" Oh, say... I love Melissa and I am going to marry her... What can I tell her about Section?" Birkoff asks and Madeline shakes her head.

" Remember.. Operations is her father.... don' t demand anything. I want to marry her is much better than I am going to marry her." Madeline says and Birkoff nods his head. He stands up and looks at Madeline.

" Ok.. I can do that." Birkoff says and Madeline smiles softly. Birkoff walks out and Madeline starts to laugh. Birkoff was too funny.

Madeline stands up and goes to the make up drawer and starts to prepare what she will need. Madeline the whole time, chuckling.

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

Birkoff walks into Operations office and stands still. He doesn' t like the office, in fact he hates it even more when Operations has the windows tinted black. It was like a black whole, and now it contained smoke. Birkoff waved his hand in front of his face, trying to get some fresh air. Birkoff had heard that he had started to smoke again once Nikita took over the New York arm killer case. He didn' t know it was back to this bad again.

" Do you want Anna to be fatherless?" Birkoff asks sternly as Operations turns to him.

" What did you want to talk about?" Operations asks as he smashes the lit cigarette into the ash tray.

" I don' t think that Nikita should have control over communications in New York. It hampered operations here more than it should have." Birkoff says and Operations stands up and walks towards the young man.

" I thought that you wanted to meet with me on a more personal matter. That was what it sounded like." Operations says as he moves over and pours himself some water. He raises the pitcher towards Birkoff and Birkoff shakes his head no.

" It is personal. When did all this happen? Where is Nikita clearance at and where isn' t she?" Birkoff asks as he twists his hands in balls behind his back. Operations takes a sip of water and takes the glass back to his chair.

" Nikita' s clearance is on an as need basis. Don' t question it." Operations says as he stares back at Birkoff. Birkoff nods his head and looks out of the black windows.

" So, how are you and Melissa?" Operations asks, knowing about the engagement. He just wish that Birkoff would be straight and tell him.

" Fine... she hates the lies.. but she loves me." Birkoff answers as his eyes become extremely wide.

" Is that all you wanted to talk about? Nikita?" Operations asks and Birkoff nods his head and runs towards the door.

Madeline walks out of the closet area shaking her head. Operations turns and smiles at her.

" You would think that the company he kept with in Walter and Nikita that he wouldn' t be so scared." Operations says as Madeline looks out the window of Birkoff scampering down the hallway.

" It is part of his emotional profile to react this way.... I guess I will just have to do something about that!" Madeline says with a soft smile on her face.

" I still think that Ayn would do this much better, she has had the practice." Operations says and Madeline rolls her eyes.

" Ayn is in New York with Nikita.. and I think that that is more important than Birkoff telling you that he is engaged to your daughter." Madeline says as she turns to the side and stares at the pack of cigarettes.

" And Birkoff is right.... those things are going to kill you." Madeline says as she walks out of the office, reading for part two of her plan.

" That is if you don' t kill me first, Madeline." Operations mutters as he goes back to work.

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

Birkoff walks into a part of Section One that rarely anyone uses anymore, that is evident by the half inch of dust on the floor as he sits down. He is upset at himself for not having the strength to tell Operations. It was part of his failings. He just couldn' t stand up to those who have power. It was a miserable time for Birkoff.

" BIRKOFF!" Operations' voice vibrates down the hallway as Birkoff pulls his head up and looks down the hallway. The young man scrambles to his feet as he sees Operations walks down towards him. Birkoff almost trembled with fear. Thoughts ran through Birkoff' s head at an uncontrollable rate.

" What is it, sir? Incoming intel?" Birkoff asks as he tries to brush off the dust from his pants. Operations frowns at him and stares hard into his eyes.

" You engaged my daughter." Operations says firmly and Birkoff' s mouth dances in horror.

" Yes... I am engaged to Melissa." Birkoff says firmly and Operations slams a hand into the wall next to Birkoff' s head.

" AND YOU DIDN' T ASK ME!" Operations yells and Birkoff closes his eyes with each word. Birkoff sucks in a tough round of air and stares at Operations.

" Sir... I love Melissa.. and she doesn' t know that you are alive..." Birkoff tries to excuse his actions.

" You are only engaged to my Melissa because you can' t have Nikita." Operations says firmly, and suddenly Birkoff' s eyes are lit with a fire.

" How dare you say that!" Birkoff screams back firmly as he moves away from the wall. He looks at Operations' gray hair and shakes his head.

" I love Melissa! I love her smile... her little mole on the back of her right hand... I love Melissa' s own scent..a touch of evergreen with a dash of roses... I love the feel of the rough patch of skin on the left hand side of her right leg... I love the way she folds my underwear!" Birkoff cries out in anger.

" And you started to love her because she was Nikita." Operations says in a slow manner with smoldering anger.

" I started to love her, because she was brave enough to live alone.... I started to love her for her sense of humor that was so different than I was ever use too. I loved her because she wasn' t Nikita. I love her because I don' t work with her day in and day out... I love Melissa because she has everything I want and more... and I can only give her what I can... and she accepts it!" Birkoff says firmly and Operations nods his head.

" AND WHY DON' T YOU GO AND TELL OPERATIONS THAT!" Madeline' s voice booms out from Operations voice and Birkoff stands still as Madeline pulls off the latex mask. Birkoff stares at Madeline, almost ready to faint.

***********

Birkoff walks down the hallway with Operations next to him. Some operatives stop and look at the huge smile on his face and continue down the hall.

" Birkoff.. I want to be at this wedding." Operations says and Birkoff nods his head.

" I understand sir." Birkoff says and Operations smiles.

" But, it will be a while.. I think that she needs some time to grow up still... her first marriage was very very bad... and you.. you haven' t been in the outside world very long." Operations says as he slaps Birkoff' s back.

" I understands sir... and if you don' t mind, I am going to tell Melissa that I can' t get free from work for a good two years." Birkoff says and Operations laughs.

" That is enough time to plan a huge wedding.... to create enough identies for the operatives who will attend... to find two operatives to pose as your mother and father...." Operations says and Birkoff nods his head.

" And I guess I will be in charge off all that." Birkoff says and Operations nods his head. Birkoff laughs softly.

" Then you can have a long vacation... so you are going to need to train someone... and then we must discuss children..." Operations says.

" BIRKOFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Michael' s voice vibrates down the hall before Birkoff could scream that kids were a way off thing.

Birkoff sprints down the hallway and Operations is not too far behind.

" I need this traced and traced now." Michael says as he pulls away from a screen.

" Michael--------- only you and Nikita have the tools to stop the murders." The screen laughed at Michael.

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