Michael circled around the computer and stared frantically at Birkoff. He moved to a phone and punched forcefully at the pad. He held the phone to his ear and waited. After ten rings, Michael pulled the cord from the phone and heaved it far into the hallway.

"Where is the trace?" Michael barked out angrily as he circled back towards Birkoff. Birkoff shook his head to Operations and Michael. Michael pulled at the younger and weaker man' s collar and lifted him up from the seat.

"I want a trace now." Michael reiterated sternly his want and wish. Birkoff looked at him with sad eyes and shook his head.

"I can' t Michael... It' s beyond what my equipment and any other equipment can do." Birkoff says and Michael drops Birkoff to the floor. He circles back around to the front of the desk and goes to another phone. Michael punches as the numbers and taps his foot as he waits. Operations watches Michael' s foot steadily tap faster as an indication that there was no answer.

"Birkoff... contact Nikita immediately on all numbers we have." Operations says and Birkoff nods his head as he moves around in his seat. Birkoff' s fingers type quickly at the computer as Michael slams the phone down and begins to circle again.

"Michael.... you know who the prime suspect of these killings are. I need to know." Operations says firmly and Michael shakes his head.

"I only know what I got sent. That is all." Michael says firmly without blinking. More operatives are walking pass the area, to see what all the brouhaha is. Michael turns to one and stares. It causes the operative to scurry off down the hall.

"I have no answer on all lines." Birkoff announces softly, and Michael' s head snaps over at him.

"That is impossible!" Michael says as he places his hands on Birkoff' s shoulders and looks down at the screen. Birkoff looks at Operations and Operations looks at the screen.

"Contact anyone in the New York sub-station." Operations says. Birkoff starts to type and suddenly buzzers around Section start to ring and blare.

"What is going on?" Operations demands firmly as Michael runs to the wall panel and disables the alarms. Birkoff looks from the computer and then to Michael.

"New York sub-station has gone off line." Birkoff announces and Michael runs to the computer.

"That is impossible. There are too many operatives working there!" Michael says and Birkoff types quickly.

"I also have no answers from any of the lines connected to operatives who work out of the New York sub-station." Birkoff says as Madeline walks down the hallway. She stops with the phone at her foot and stares in.

"It is an internal off line, from the New York sub-station, or has someone caused it?" Madeline asks firmly but still calmly from the hallway. Birkoff pushes his chair hard against Michael' s large thigh and pushes his way to the next door computer.

"The off line is being caused by someone in Section but not currently in the New York sub-station." Birkoff says as he rolls back to his computer. Michael pushes his hair back in his hands and leans his head back.

"Send someone from the Albany station down to New York. They might not even be aware of the problem." Operations says and Madeline walks closer to the computer and looks at Michael.

"He is winning when you get upset like this." Madeline says as she copies the disk. Michael stares at her and then back at the computer.

"He, how do you know it is a he?" Michael demands and Madeline smiles softly.

"The force of the blow and the height. We don' t have operatives that would fit that description and mental make-up. Whoever is doing this is trying to send a message to you and Nikita, and not just Nikita." Madeline says and Michael feels a chill come over him. It was like Madeline knew who the murderer was also.

"He is doing a fine job at it." Michael says and Madeline nods her head softly.

"You know who she thinks it is?" Madeline asks and Michael nods barely and Madeline raises an eyebrow. She turns and starts down the hallway.

"Then I would think that Nikita knows who it is." Madeline says as she disappears down the hallway. Michael slumps down in a chair and sees Birkoff rolling his head around his back.

"I' m sorry, Birkoff." Michael says softly and Birkoff shrugs.

"No problem. I understand." Birkoff says as he looks over his shoulder to Michael. It had to be terrible to be so far from Nikita during such circumstances.

"Call Walter... let' s see if Nikita has the tooth with her." Michael says as he stands up and starts to find a way to get a hold of Nikita.

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

The steady clicking of the wide heel had become extremely familiar in the last two hours in the New York sub-station. It was strong, forceful, and quick. There was no time to waste on the sound, and to Nikita, she was wasting time in just walking.

"Where is Ayn?" Nikita asks Hayter as he looks up from his computer. He had been having problems all day and looks to Nikita with his tired eyes.

"She is back in route. Poor Ayn, did she even get back into Headquarters?" Hayter asks and Nikita quickly turns and leaves. She has no time to think about Ayn' s problems and certainly, she wasn' t going to wait to continue the conversation with a tired and crabby computer specialist.

Nikita turned the corner and went down the hallway. Operatives who were walking towards her moved closer to the walls to let Nikita pass, as they saw with her strict tight bun that it was not a good day in any way. Nikita lightly pressed the buttons to the room and the door slide open. Nikita walked in as the door closed.

"Ayn is back on her way." Nikita says firmly and Zachary nods his head as he looks up from the desk.

"Do you care to explain to me why we needed Ayn back?" Zachary asks as he motions to the chair. Nikita shakes her head no and looks to Zachary.

"I will not know how to proceed with this. If the killer is who I think it is.... I won' t be able to contain and control the situation." Nikita says and now Zachary stands up. Zachary looks at the pictures that Nikita had kept and the pictures she had censored. There were just some pictures that haunted Nikita along with Zachary that had been placed in a file not to be looked at any more. Zachary rolls his head as he moves back away from the photos.

Zachary had his own theories on the killer, and most of the points agreed with Nikita' s. He was sure that all of the murders were a personal statement to Nikita, or Michael and Nikita. Zachary also knew that Nikita had a name for the person who was on the top of her suspect list. He had to guess that Nikita knew this person well to place him there. He didn' t really have to look at the files to figure out who that person was for Nikita. The name Stephen rolled into his mind no long after Nikita found the way to identify the copy cat form the original killer.

"Nikita, the killer will be canceled." Zachary says and Nikita moves to the wall and stares at the photos.

"You may think that." Nikita says slowly. She doesn' t want to tip her hand, but she also didn' t want to be alone in the New York sub-station if she was right.

"Nikita, there are only a handful of people that Operations would spare." Zachary says and Nikita turns around and smiles at Zachary.

"Madeline may request the chance to study the operative' s mind. She will most likely want to find out how Section turned one of our hired killers into a serial killer against innocents." Nikita lies effectively and Zachary nods his head as he sits down.

"Yes, that would be my sister." Zachary comments as Nikita moves to the computer to the corner of the room. She turns it on and looks for her mail. She tried to find some more information on Stephen' s location but continued to get in the mass of cover ups and encryption.

"I have another one.... hush little baby don' t you cry... you' ll be with your mother... in hell..." The first e-mail reads and it had been sent 100 times continuously.

"Zachary... he has one.. he wants me to find her..." Nikita says as she pushes away from the computer and heads to the hallway.

"NIKITA!" Zachary calls out. He wonders what Nikita will find. The living or the dead.

**********

It was not the greeting or activity that Ayn expected upon arrival from the plane hopping. She expected that Nikita would be there to brief Ayn on why Nikita pulled her back. She had at least expected an operative to be waiting for her. The only greeting that Ayn received was to be immediate to be knocked down from the side by a running operative. The operative then didn' t even help Ayn up.

"Hayter.. what is going on?" Ayn asks as she sets her two bags down on a table behind his computer area. Hayter looks to Ayn and then watches three operatives run down the hallway.

"Nikita got an e-mail. It seems that our copy cat killer might have his next victim and that she might not be dead yet." Hayter says and Ayn' s mouth drops.

"Where haven' t they searched... and more importantly, where is Nikita?" Ayn asks and Hayter waits for the passing operatives run by. Their pounding feet were just too loud to talk over.

"Remember how they sealed the hallway that had the quarters where Nikita was staying?" Hayter asks and before he can even tell Ayn that Zachary and Nikita had headed in the direction, she takes off in a sprint also.

*

Nikita steps through the cracked door that Zachary had to pry open. Because Nikita and Zachary knew the copy cat killer was sending the messages to Nikita, they had shut down the entire part of the hallway, including the electricity. Nikita held the flash light and moved into the room.

Nikita feels instantly like an icecube was dropped down her back. She steps forward slowly, almost expecting something to jump at her from the shadows. Nikita can' t remember the last time she had been so afraid of what could be in the shadows. More importantly, who was in the shadows.

Nikita stops as she looks down at her feet as it kicked something. Nikita looked down and gasped in horror.

"Oh my god.. she is still alive..." Nikita screams out as she drops to her hands and knees and places her hands over the cut on the neck. Nikita stares down at the surgically removed arm. He had sewn up all the major arteries, so no blood come from there.

Zachary pushes the button on the jacket of his outfit and shines a light down further on the woman' s stomach. Both Nikita and Zachary gasp in horror.

"Another baby.. Zachary.. it' s breathing.." Nikita cries out in sobs as she tightens her grip on the oozing neck gash. Nikita watches Zachary move the baby away and Nikita closes her eyes as the blood from the gapping hole in the stomach begins to pour. Nikita clings onto the neck, although her mind told her there was nothing more that she can do.

Ayn rushes in and looks at Nikita on her hands and knees.

"NIKITA!" Ayn says loudly until she sees what Nikita is doing. Nikita can no longer feel a pulse, but continues to hold tightly, as if she was holding the woman' s life in her hands.

"Ayn.. help me here..." Zachary says firmly from the table. Ayn moves over and looks at the tiny baby. Zachary is trying to give CPR to the small child and Ayn shakes her head and places a place mat over the naked and bloody body.

Right then the medical team rushes in. Zachary does not stop them, as he wants the bodies removed as quickly as possible and Nikita stays on her hands and knees.

"No... no... he has to be stopped.... killing children... letting them die in my hands... what is he trying to prove..." Nikita says as she stands up and rubs the bloody hand on her jeans. Ayn looks at her and sighs.

"It' s Stephen." Ayn says and Nikita nods her head. Nikita turns and walks out to the hallway, in the bloody mess that Stephen had created for her.

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

Birkoff struggled to maintain contact with the operative that was doing the long distance travel to the New York sub-station from Albany as operatives swarmed about the computer area. Michael was typing away at a computer, upset that Nikita did not have the tooth on her.

"DEATH REPORT" flashed on the screen and Michael stood up.

"Are there any missions ongoing?" Michael calls out over the mess of operatives to Birkoff. Birkoff in turns stands up on his chair and looks at Michael.

"No missions." Birkoff replies and Michael nods.

"ANYWHERE?" Michael calls out and Birkoff nods his head. Operations had suspended all missions until the problem with the New York sub-station was figured out. Michael drops down to the computer and opens the file. Michael' s eyes open up in horror as his feet plant onto the chair and lifts him into the free air above his head.

"BIRKOFF! THEN WHY DO I HAVE A DEATH REPORT FROM NEW YORK?" Michael screams and all the operatives stop talking. They all move out of the path of communication between Michael and Birkoff as Birkoff stands up.

"That' s impossible... they are off line!" Birkoff says as he walks to the computer and looks at it. Birkoff then moves to the next computer and finds the same thing.

"Well... read it!" Birkoff finally says and Michael slowly opens the file. Michael reads only a few lines and shakes his head.

"It' s the killer' s victim." Michael says and Birkoff sits back down in a chair.

Then in the silence, Michael' s cell phone rings persistantely.

"Michael?" Nikita asks loudly as Michael pulls the phone open and hits the receive button. Birkoff jumps up and looks up at the phone.

"Nikita, New York is off line." Michael says and he hears the confusement in Nikita' s voice.

"We aren' t off line.. Michael.. we found another body.... and another baby.. and they were living.. and now they are dead." Nikita says with tears running down her face.

"What do you mean you aren' t off line?" Michael asks rudely, not even hearing Nikita' s tears.

"I sent in the death report.... Michael, it' s Stephen... I know it." Nikita says firmly and Michael leans against the computer monitor.

"Nikita, that is impossible. He doesn' t know this much about computers.. I am telling you that you are off line." Michael says and Nikita moans out lightly.

"WHAT ABOUT ME MICHAEL! I held a dying woman who had her baby cut out of her... and I couldn' t do anything!" Nikita screams and hangs up the phone. Michael places it back into his jacket and looks at Birkoff.

"New York is reporting all systems up, which means that the computers are being mostly manipulated either here at a different sub-station." Michael says to Birkoff and Birkoff nods his head.

"This could take a while.. especially since I don' t know if I can get back in touch with the New York sub-station... will Nikita remember that we have them as off line?" Birkoff asks and Michael hods his head as he looks for other work to do.

***********

Ayn stands at the door, and knocks again. She looks down the hall and then back to the door. She wished that Nikita would answer it quicker. Nikita had muttered to Zachary that Headquarters had them listed off line and then said she would go find another room to sleep in. That was three hours ago. Less than ten minutes ago, Ayn heard from Nikita.

Ayn looks at the door as she remembers how unsteady Nikita' s voice was. At first she was surprised that Nikita even made it to the room, the physical and emotional torture was evident on her face and the way she walked. Ayn had feared for Nikita, and thought it was going good when Nikita made an attempt to care for herself. The call brought Ayn back to the realization that it was just too much for Nikita to handle. A person was killing mothers and their babies, and Nikita had dealt with enough death of her own unborn children.

The door opens and Ayn walks in. She was surprised that Nikita had selected a white room, but the panel on the right hand side showed that Nikita had learned about the White Rooms quite well. Nikita had pulled it back and established a secure room, that security just couldn' t view into.

"Help me, Ayn." Nikita says as she turns and looks at Ayn. Nikita sits down willingly in a metal chair and Ayn shakes her head.

"Nikita, what do you want?" Ayn asks as she gets a sick feeling in her stomach.

"I keep on seeing bloody hands... I tried to sleep.. and I saw the mother..." Nikita says with closed eyes and Ayn nods her head. She couldn' t imagine anyone forgetting those images soon.

"Nikita, it may be too soon to do anything." Ayn says, as she understands everything. If she tried to do what Nikita wanted, she could not be sure of the effects of it. Ayn looks at Nikita as her blue eyes stare back.

"You must. Stephen will just kill again.... I have to get some sleep so I can capture him." Nikita says in firm words. Ayn looks to the wall and starts to pace.

"Nikita, I can' t do interventions like this.... someone will know.. it will show up on the computers." Ayn says and Nikita jumps up to her feet.

"I NEVER SAID AN INTERVENTION!" Nikita screams as she kicks at the chair. She pushes it with her hands and then raises her hands towards her face.

"All I see is the blood... dripping... and staining my hands... and it won' t go away..." Nikita says with tears as she lets her trembling hands move down towards her waist.

"Nikita... what did you want?" Ayn asks and Nikita looks at Ayn with her crying eyes.

"Madeline has used hypnosis on me before... can' t we use that?" Nikita asks and Ayn sighs and nods her head.

"But, Nikita... I can not guarantee the outcome.. You are so emotional.... It is taking a big risk." Ayn says and Nikita sits back down on the metal chair.

"It would be a bigger risk to allow Stephen his reign.. he would kill them all... with no guilt at all." Nikita says and Ayn shakes her head.

"Nikita, let' s try some sleeping medications first." Ayn says and Nikita shakes her head.

"I won' t take them... there is enough drugs in my system." Nikita says and Ayn looks to the wall.

"Madeline has done this before?" Ayn asks as she looks at Nikita. Nikita nods her head and Ayn pulls at a chair.

"And you have a trigger?" Ayn asks and Nikita nods her head as she slides further onto the metal chair.

"Nikita, why don' t you close your eyes... and think of a day on the beach.... The sun is beating down.. and there is a slight breeze coming off of the ocean....."

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

The door slams and Madeline raises her head as Operations turns from the window. Michael stands there at the door, staring back at them.

"I am going to New York." Michael says firmly and Madeline looks to Operations and Operations looks at Madeline. Operations had called Madeline in, knowing that the demand was going to be made soon enough. By some miracle, Birkoff had heard the conversation Nikita had with Michael.

"Michael, that is not feasible at this time." Madeline says calmly as Operations walks from the window and to the desk. He did not know how this was going to continue on.

"I am going to New York." Michael says with only a blink of his eyes. Madeline clenches her teeth and forces a smile.

"Michael, we are all concerned about Nikita.. but the best thing we can do for her is to allow her to work this out on her own..." Madeline says and Michael' s jaw muscles start to twitch in anger.

"I am going to New York." Michael says as he leans further up in the chair that he so willingly graced. It was a move to show that he was willing to stay there for hours upon hours fighting this point. Madeline leaned back in her chair, showing Michael that she was willing to continue the power struggle.

"Michael, Nikita has the situation at New York control. Any emotional support that Nikita needs can adequately be handled by Ayn." Madeline says as she glances over her shoulder at Operations. She had to have a similar discussion with Operations. He was already packed. Madeline wouldn' t be surprised if Michael' s bag was on the other side of the door.

"I am going to New York." Michael says and Madeline rolls her eyes. She wishes that Michael would start using other words than just that sentence.

"Michael, Madeline is correct. If Nikita knows who it is, she can' t be worrying about when you might be arriving... we have to trust that if Nikita truly needed you there that she would tell us." Operations firmly says and Michael stares at him. Michael knows information that would take down in world. Michael looks at Madeline and her firm face tells Michael not to spill it. Michael wonders how Madeline knows, and turns back to her.

"I am going to New York." Michael says to her and Madeline shakes her head. She knows how delicate the situation is. Madeline knows the fine line she is walking on.

"Michael, it is an order." Operations says and Michael stands up firmly.

"I am going to New York... I am going to help Nikita track down your damn son who keeps on killing to send Nikita a message about her!" Michael screams as his hand points to Madeline. Madeline stands up and places two hands on Operations chest, but he does not move. Operations in turn, seems interested.

"What about Madeline, Michael?" Operations asks, interested in Michael' s question. He can see that Michael is reacting totally on emotion.

"That Madeline set us up.. that she made sure Nikita got pregnant and made sure that Nikita had a miscarriage for the sake of a mission... That essentially she is killing Nikita' s children and her hopes for a life like he is killing the women who are pregnant in Section. Why should some women have kids in Section, while Nikita is forced to lose hers." Michael spits out with all the hatred he had for Madeline. Madeline pulls her hands off of Operations chest and walks away.

"Madeline, that is what occurred on their last mission?" Operations asks in a hurt tone. He hated the implications of what Michael said, and Madeline' s actions convicted her of them before a word was said.

"Yes, and she was also forced to lose a clone of herself." Madeline says and Operations turns back to Michael.

"I am going to New York." Michael says and Madeline shakes her head.

"Michael, I am going to have to assess the situation, and if I feel it is worthwhile, I will send you to New York." Operations says and Madeline grabs Operations by the shoulder.

"You have to allow Nikita to work this out on her own... She needs time away from all of us... She doesn' t know if I worked alone on this mission, or you, her father, had involvement. I will tell Nikita that you said that we needed to take the cloning clinic out by whatever means!" Madeline says firmly and Michael stares at her.

"I am going to New York, NOW!" Michael says and Madeline' s eyes blare red as she pushes the button.

"Do not try to leave this office, Michael. You will not be going to New York. You will stay here, or you will face the consequences." Madeline says and Operations pulls away from Madeline and takes her hand off of the button.

"Enough, the both of you. I don' t like the situation, and don' t know enough. Madeline, I want all the reports and information on the clinic. Michael, I want you to help Birkoff to get back on line with New York. Once that is established and I talk to Nikita with my mouth and my ears.. then I will decide if you go to New York, if Madeline goes to New York, or if I got to New York. Until then... NO ONE GOES TO NEW YORK!" Operations says and Michael turns and leaves.

***********

Walter smiles as he steps out of the van and stretches his arms. When Operations screamed that no one was going to New York.. was well after Operations sent Walter. Walter walks into the sub station and nods his head at the facility.

"Walter... it is so good to see you." Ayn says as she steps out of a room and towards Walter. Walter looks at her and smiles.

"Only if things were better... how is my sugar?" Walter asks as he moves down the hall with Ayn. Ayn looks at him and shrugs her shoulders.

"I had to hypnotize her last night so she could sleep. I think it was effective.. but too effective." Ayn says and Walter looks at her.

"I can' t believe how willingly we play around with minds... with a snap of our fingers.. for the good of Section..." Walter starts to rant and Ayn places two hands on his chest.

"Nikita asked." Ayn says and Walter takes a huge sigh. He looks around and then at Ayn.

"So where is she?" Walter asks and Ayn' s mouth tightens.

*

"Hello Marilynn." Nikita says as she walks into the room and the young woman jumps up from the bed. Her seventh month of pregnancy is very well seen and Nikita doesn' t even look.

"You are Nikita..... the reason why we are dying." Marilynn says and Nikita nods her head. Nikita steps forward and sits down on a wooden chair.

"I need your help." Nikita says and Marilynn' s face flashes in terror.

"I am to do nothing." Marilynn says and Nikita looks to the floor and then to the bedspread.

"If we do nothing, Stephen will kill you." Nikita says firmly and Marilynn shakes her head and places her hands protectively on her stomach. The baby kicks her but she barely feels it.

"What do you need done?" Marilynn asks and Nikita smiles broadly.

"I want to use you..." Nikita says and Marilynn shakes her head violently.

"That would put me and my baby into danger.. I won' t do that." Marilynn says and Nikita looks to the door and two women walk in.

"Do you know at Headquarters... we have Frick and Frack?" Nikita asks and Marilynn stares at Nikita.

"Yes... the torture twins..." Marilynn says and Nikita nods her head. She walks over to the women and takes the one case.

"You can these two.. Thelma and Louise.... New York' s Frick and Frack." Nikita says slowly and Marilynn' s mouth drops in horror of what Nikita has said.

"I will die! My child will die!" Marilynn says and Nikita pulls out a couple medical instruments.

"We can' t lose anymore operatives, Marilynn. Help me." Nikita says as she starts to clean the instruments.

"No!" Marilynn says and Nikita looks to Thelma and Louise. Nikita sets the instrument down and the two women move closer.

"Then we must take the baby now." Nikita says and Marilynn' s eyes scream in horror.

"But it can' t live!" Marilynn screams out as Thelma pushes Marilynn back onto the bed and Louise grabs her legs.

"We can' t allow it too, because without you helping us.. we will just lose you to Stephen... Make your decision." Nikita says as she pulls out some latex gloves and Marilynn screams with the snaps of the latex.

"I WILL HELP!" Marilynn screams and Nikita stands up.

"Take her to the safehouse." Nikita says as she stands up and leaves.

*

"What did you do to her?" Walter asks Ayn as he turns and stares at her.

***********

It was a miserable day inside Headquarters. Operations made half hourly rounds, to make sure that Michael and Madeline had stayed and he even posted three operatives to watch the both of them at all times. Operations himself was being watched, he believed there were four operatives watching him. Whenever he passed Michael, he would spot the same four operatives.

Operations walked to his office and slammed the door. He tinted the windows and moved to the computer screen. He was sure as soon as he answered the phone call that Birkoff would be scanning, tracing, and retransmitting for Michael or Madeline, or for the both of them.

"Talk to me Walter." Operations says as he sits down.

"HOW DARE THAT MAN!!!!!" Michael' s voice roars down the halls of Section One and Operations closes the line from Madeline' s office that was already yelling at him.

"Ayn used hypnosis last night to allow Nikita to sleep." Walter says and Operations turns his head.

"That is a good thing, right?" Operations asks and Walter seems to be stalling at the pounding at the door begins.

"I AM GOING TO NEW YORK.. NOW!! DO YOU HEAR ME!!! I AM GOING TO NEW YORK!!!" Michael screams as he pounds on the black metal door. Operations turns and secures that the back enterance that Madeline uses was securely closed also.

"It allowed Nikita to sleep, but she now seems to be no affected by anything. She coldly got a pregnant operative to work with her... I would have expected those kind of actions from Madeline." Walter says and Operations stands up and glares down at the screen.

"But we are on the way of capturing the killer?" Operations asks and Walter nods his head.

"We have planted the bait for Stephen, now we wait." Walter says and Operations shakes his head.

"THE KILLER IS NOT STEPHEN!" Operations roars and Walter stares at him.

"Nikita has been trying to protect you... knowing that you won' t believe that it is Stephen until we catch him red-handed... She had e-mail today... he called her sis... Do you know anyone else in Section One that calls Nikita sis?" Walter asks and Operations sits down in the chair.

"And Nikita did not react to this?" Operations asks concernly as the pounding begins again.

"I WILL GET A ROCKET LAUNCHER AND BLOW THIS DOOR DOWN! I AM GOING TO NEW YORK!" Michael screams as a light pounding starts at the other door.

"I was there.. She read the note and destroyed it." Walter says and Operations grasps the paper weight.

"And Ayn did the hypnosis?" Operations asks and Walter shakes his head. Operations throws the paperweight and closes the communication.

"NO ONE IS GOING TO NEW YORK!!!!" Operations screams as he starts to throw objects at the door and at the windows.

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

Nikita stands in the fake wall, waiting. She holds the gun tightly in her hand and waits.

She had stood there for an hour, watching Marilynn lay on the bed. Marilynn was being monitored health wise by Hayter. Nikita' s eyes open up as she sees the shadow move.

"So open to me..." Stephen says slowly as he walks into the room and faces Marilynn. Nikita touches her hand to the button, waiting for the right moment. There is back up several rooms down, but Nikita had to time it perfectly.

"OH.. you are with child!" Stephen says and Nikita pops the button and places the gun on Stephen' s back.

"Sis!" Stephen says as he turns around and smiles at Nikita. Nikita stares at him.

"Stephen.. just let me call back up.. we will take care of you." Nikita says and he shakes his head.

"STOP!" Nikita hollers and Stephen smiles back at her.

"I am just doing what Madeline has done to you... each time she kills a kid of yours.. she kills you." Stephen says and Nikita shakes her head.

"STOP!" Nikita says and Stephen violent lashes at Nikita and pushes the gun out of her hands and slices a scratch on her arm.

As Nikita reaches for the gun, Stephen lunges for Marilynn and plunges the knife into her stomach and into the baby.

"STOP!!!! STOP!!! STOP!!! STOP!!!" Nikita screams as she runs to Stephen. She knocks him off the bed and kicks him violently.

Nikita pulls Stephen up and slams him against the wall. Her face is flaring red with emotions as the doors open up and operatives pour in.

"STOP!" Walter calls out as he holds Nikita' s arm. The blow would kill Stephen and Nikita looks at Walter.

"We don' t have cancel orders." Walter says and Nikita falls away. Nikita moves to the bed and Marilynn stares at her.

"STOP! I don' t want you near me!" Marilynn screams and Nikita walks away.

"I have some shopping to do." Nikita says as she hurries out of the room.

Walter looks to the way Nikita went and shakes his head. Stephens stares to fight against the operatives and Walter open handed slaps him.

"STOP IT!" Walter says.

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

Operations is down on the main floor with gloves on his hands. He pulls up the dust pan and dumps the shards of glass into the giant trash can. He looks to Birkoff, who is shaking his head.

Michael is over at the computers and summons Birkoff over to them. This time Operations had gone too far, and Birkoff refused to clean up. Everything had been quiet since Operations walked out of the office and started to help in the clean up.

"That' s not good." Birkoff whispers to Michael and Michael nods his head. Michael is concerned about other things, but knows that the news that Birkoff was going to deliver was the worst. Birkoff slowly walked the distance and looked at Operations.

"The killer has been captured." Birkoff says and Operations sits down with a sigh. He nods his head and looks at Birkoff.

"Who is it?" Operations asks. As Birkoff swallows, Operations knows the answer, but he maintains his strong face.

"Stephen." Birkoff says and Operations leans his head forward in outwardly pain. His head leans against the desk and Michael approaches.

"We have other issues." Michael says and Operations raises his head.

"He will not be cancelled.. we rehabilitated him before.. we will do it again." Operations says and Michael holds his emotions back.

"Nikita wanted to kill him... when Walter stopped her... and Marilynn blamed her for getting stabbed, Nikita went.. ' shopping' , and no one knows where she is." Michael says and Operations drops his head to the table again.

"Once Nikita is back to the sub-station.. she will be assigned to Stephen... then Walter and Ayn come back here." Operations mutters and Michael bites on his lower lip.

"Why don' t we bring Nikita back? We don' t know if Marilynn' s baby is going to make it. Nikita can' t continue in that environment." Michael says and Operations snaps up and throws Michael against the wall.

"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? DO YOU THINK YOU ARE IN CHARGE HERE? SINCE WHEN DID YOU QUESTION MY ORDERS? DO YOU THINK THAT SINCE YOU MAKE MY DAUGHTER HAPPY THAT YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING?" Operations yells as Birkoff moves to the corner of the room.

"Get your hands off of him, Viktor!" Madeline screams as she round the corner. Operations stares at Madeline and then drops his hands.

"Then I am going to New York!" Michael says as he turns to leave and Madeline shakes her head.

"Michael, I will speak with you in my office... until then, I must agree with Operations' profile if he is not going to cancel Stephen." Madeline says and Michael' s mouth drops the floor.

"MADELINE! Nikita went shopping.. in New York! She is hurting... now it is not like Nikita to just walk away!" Birkoff says and Operations turns his head sharply.

"Why is everyone so concerned about Nikita?" Operations asks and Madeline stares at the fallen man.

"Because she is the operative who is worth something!" Birkoff spits out as he continues to keep his distance.

"She recieved some hypnosis..it might be that... check her credit cards.. see what she has spent." Madeline says. Birkoff looks at his computer, which is where Operations is standing.

"Use my computer." Madeline says as she stares at Operations. He closes his eyes and sits down defeated.

"If Nikita doesn' t come home.. then I go to her!" Michael demands.

"To my office, Michael." Madeline says. Michael turns and leaves. Madeline walks to Operations and wraps her arms around him. Operations starts to cry.

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

Madeline moves into the office and pushes her hair back as it sticks to her skin tightly. Madeline steps down and stares at Michael. Michael stares ahead at her desk.

"I am going to New York." Michael says firmly as Madeline rounds her desk and sits down. She looks at Michael and then folds her hands.

"Michael, do you think that it is wise?" Madeline asks bluntly and Michael looks at the wall.

"It is the best for Nikita." Michael says and Madeline frowns.

"What is best for Section, Michael?" Madeline asks as she pulls up the computer screen and shakes her head.

"That I stay here." Michael says and Madeline nods her head with a few blinks of her eyes. She turns the screen and shows Michael the screen.

"I have to break Nikita of that bad habit." Michael says softly as he views the record of Nikita' s credit cards. She is withdrawing money, and not charging from the store.

"Looks like she is on quite a shopping spree." Madeline says as she turns the computer off. She looks around the office, and activates a secondary security system.

"Michael, once Ayn comes back, we will be working on a plan to bring Nikita back. Personally, I believe that seven weeks in New York is way too long." Madeline says and Michael looks at Madeline.

"But if Operations orders her to help Stephen, she will not take this well." Michael says and Madeline nods her head.

"Michael, she has been through a lot... and therefore, me and Ayn have to think of the perfect mission to bring her back on. Give us time.... and Nikita will be back." Madeline says firmly.

"And what happens to Stephen?" Michael asks and Madeline looks to the wall.

"I wish I could make him disappear. If Operations even wanted to see why he hasn' t been able to have a relationship with Nikita, he didn' t have to look pass Stephen. Nikita knows of the standards that Operations has. He tries so hard.. I just don' t think he thinks and loves hard." Madeline says and Michael stands up.

"And what do I do?" Michael asks and Madeline smiles.

"I need you to continue to be the thorn in Operation' s side.... to continually say that You are going to New York... It would give me leverage when the time comes..." Madeline explains.

"That won' t be hard.. because I do.. I want to go and take Nikita in my arms... and hold her... She has to be suffering." Michael says and Madeline presses her lips together tightly.

"Michael, this shopping trip... is not about suffering.. she is trying to detach from the anger she feels for Stephen. She has too. Nikita knows Operations very well. She knows that she will be assigned Stephen. She can' t help him if she continues to identify with the anger." Madeline says and Michael looks at Madeline.

"If Nikita is trying to detach from anger.. she will physically hurt him once and then go on, Madeline.. Until Nikita beats Stephen up some... she hasn' t detached from her anger." Michael says as he moves to the door and leaves.

***********

Walter stands in the van access, waiting for Nikita to arrive back. When she does, she has more bags than Walter and Ayn do combined. Nikita smiles and hands the bags to the operative standing nearby.

"Can you take them to my room... the old white room?" Nikita asks and Walter looks at Nikita shocked.

"Nikita, you can go back to those other quarters now..." Walter says and Nikita shakes her head.

"Do you know which white room Stephen is in?" Nikita asks and Walter nods his head. He hoped that Nikita would come in a mess, and would be reassigned away from Stephen.

"The brand new one... White Room XL." Walter says and Nikita nods her head and starts down the hallway. Ayn looks at Walter as she heads towards the van that is waiting to take them back.

"You didn' t tell her about Marilynn' s baby." Ayn says and Walter turns his head straight forward.

"Do YOU want to tell her that the baby died?" Walter asks and Ayn continues on in silence. Walter looks over his shoulder and shakes his head.

*

"Hello, Stephen." Nikita says as she walks into the room dressed in field blacks. Stephen smiles at Nikita and shrugs his shoulders.

"Hello, Sis... looks like we get to spend some time together... See.. dad can' t cancel me... but he has cancelled you!" Stephen says with a snarl on his face. Nikita moves closer to Stephen and stares at him.

"Is that why you did this... because you wouldn' t get cancelled?" Nikita asks and Stephen shakes his head.

"I want to have a niece or a nephew!" Stephen says and Nikita' s eyes narrow into little slits. Nikita circles around Stephen, glad that they placed him into the standing torture and went to his back. Nikita grinds her teeth and then smashes her fist into his lower back.

"AAAAHHHH!!! Sis... that is a death blow!" Stephen cries out in pain as Nikita moves to the wall.

"Medic to White Room XL." Nikita says calmly as she walks back to Stephen.

"It wasn' t a death blow... the death blow is an inch to the right.. and it is a very long and painful death... No instead.. for the next several months.. you' ll find it difficult to stand... difficult to sit.. You will find out that laying down doesn' t help out much more... And maybe you will find some blood in your urine.. and maybe you will develop scar tissue that will start to cut off your spinal cord... And you can remember all the lifes you killed to get my attention... and then realize that you can' t even keep my attention." Nikita says coldly as she walks to the door and allows the medic team in.

"Stephen.. I knew what Madeline was doing... It was what was needed. You aren' t needed.. The only reason you are still around is because of Operations... but I wouldn' t consider what you are going to have a life." Nikita says as she walks to the door and walks back down the hallway.

***********

Michael watched the two tired operatives stumble into Headquarters. Michael watched Ayn walk down the hallway towards Madeline' s office. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Operations walking towards the office, also.

"Walter... do you know something more?" Michael asks firmly and loudly. Operations stops and watches Walter flop down into a chair. He pushes at his hair that is falling out of his ponytail and then shakes his head.

"Man, Michael... I wish I could have brought her back with me..." Walter says and Operations walks closer to the area that Walter is sitting in.

"Why?" Michael asks and Walter swallows hard. He had seen the video, since Ayn had patched in.

"Michael... she almost gave Stephen a death blow... and then.. she seemed fine.. She was soo cold... She was like the old Madeline." Walter says with a haunted face. Michael turns and looks at Operations. He pushes at the computer and stands up.

"I AM GOING TO NEW YORK!" Michael says firmly and Walter stands up.

"Michael, I' m not sure if that is good.. she has her mind working in some way.... it could just mess her up even more!" Walter says and Michael shakes his head as he pulls at his jacket. This definitely didn' t give Madeline and Ayn enough time.

*

"I saw the video." Madeline says as Ayn walks in and Ayn sits down with harsh eyes towards Madeline.

"It all could have been avoided." Ayn says tensely and Madeline nods her head.

"I know.. and I intend to fix the mess I created." Madeline says and Ayn shakes her head as Madeline sits down.

"We have to bring Nikita back to Section Headquarters." Madeline says and Ayn blinks. Ayn rolls her head around and then faces Madeline again.

"I don' t understand you Madeline." Ayn says and Madeline stands up.

"I have plans on missions, and now would be a good time to allow Michael and Nikita to work on things... we are up in percentage of successful missions, and more and more, the profilers are asking for operatives to wear pregnancy stomachs." Madeline says and Ayn stands up.

"My god, Madeline... you are feeling guilty." Ayn says and Madeline touches her picture of Anna. She turns to Ayn and smiles.

"You have seen Nikita with Anna.. and you have seen how much Anna has done for Nikita... imagine if Nikita had her own." Madeline says and she looks at her watch.

"I better go and stop Michael from leaving for New York.. Think of a mission, Ayn." Madeline says as she walks down the hallway.

**********

"I AM GOING TO NEW YORK!" Michael screams as Operations holds Michael against the wall again. His knuckles are turning white, and Operations shrugs Walter off with an elbow.

"SHE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP MY SON! THE LAST CHANCE! YOU ARE STAYING HERE!" Operations screams and Madeline stops. For this one time she is interested in hearing what was going to happen.

"DON' T YOU CARE ABOUT NIKITA! DON' T YOU CARE ABOUT YOUR DAUGHTER! SHE IS HURTING AND MORE VALUABLE THAN THE TROUBLE MAKER STEPHEN!" Michael screams and Operations drops his hands.

"I need to help Stephen because NO ONE ELSE WANTS TOO! Nikita... she has you, and Walter, and Birkoff, and Melissa, and Elana, and Madeline, and Ayn... STEPHEN HAS NO ONE!" Operations screams as he turns and sees Madeline and Ayn standing there. Operations moves pass Madeline and into Ayn' s arms. Ayn turns and helps Operations down the hallway. Madeline closes her eyes and looks at Michael.

"Good job, Michael... Walter... you may go back to the retreat now." Madeline says firmly as she walks the opposite way of Operations, upset that he was crying on Ayn' s shoulder and not hers.

**********

Nikita walks into MedBay and stops at the first room. She looks in and closes her eyes. She moves to the chart and opens it.

Nikita drops the file as she notes that Marilynn' s baby had died. She doesn' t notice Zachary walk up behind her hand place his hands on her shoulders.

"You should know that Michael is worried about you." Zachary says and it brings Nikita back to reality. Nikita turns and looks back into the room.

"I should have moved sooner.. It is my fault..." Nikita says and Zachary shakes his head. He touches Nikita' s chin and moves her to look into his eyes.

"It was Stephen... Stephen has a messed up mind... and in my humble opinion.. I wouldn' t waste my time worrying about him, Nikita." Zachary says and Nikita starts to move out of MedBay.

"I have too... Operations has assigned him to me." Nikita says as she leans against a wall and sighs.

"Do you always listen to Operations?" Zachary asks and Nikita smiles lightly.

"No." Nikita admits and Zachary smiles lightly.

"Nikita, I don' t know what they are planning... but they are up to something... I' m not even sure what they did before this..." Zachary says and Nikita starts walking down the hall.

"It started when Madeline put me on birth control and said it was fertility drugs... a mission was coming up for me and Michael and I couldn' t be pregnant... the fertility clinic they sent us to was a cloning center... for us to look like the perfect subjects for cloning... drugs were used to make me pregnant for a few months... and then have a miscarriage... They never had a miscarriage and didn' t want the blemish.. and offered me cloning.." Nikita says slowly and measured. Zachary looks at Nikita and shakes his head. She was holding up so well for what Madeline had put her through.

"Me and Michael said things to each other that we didn' t mean and I got offered this.. and I ran..." Nikita says slowly.

"I was afraid that Michael would want to try to get pregnant right away... when I just wanted to grieve a little bit more... Maybe it was all planned.. but I lost another child of mine and Michael' s, and I couldn' t just forget it." Nikita says and Zachary nods his head. Nikita reaches a hallway and sighs.

"I' m going out..." Nikita says with a huge smile.

"Out? Where?" Zachary asks with the sudden change in mood.

"I saw that Mulan is still playing a couple blocks away... I never saw the movie and want to see it!" Nikita says as she smiles and starts to float down the hallway to the exit.

Zachary shakes his head and moves back to the computers. He turns and then stops. Zachary swears lightly as he realizes that Nikita got away with not talking to Michael again.

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