Madeline sits in the briefing room as Operations walks into the room. He sets down the cup of coffee and looks at Madeline. He walks to the door and looks around in the hallways.

"They were 'occupied' when I called. I would give them some time." Madeline says and Operations turns and nods his head. He walks back down and sits next to Madeline, which he normally never does.

"I talked to the MedLab doctors today." Operations says and Madeline nods her head. She looks to her fingers and then back to Operations.

"And what did they tell you?" Madeline asks, although she already has formed her own opinion.

"That Anna needs tubes in her ears and that the tonsils have to be taken out." Operations says and Madeline nods her head.

"Yes, I know. They suggested going to a children' s hospital since they do not normally deal with children here." Madeline says and Operations turns to her quickly and frowns.

"I cannot risk that exposure. They will do the surgery here. The question was of when." Operations says and Madeline frowns firmly.

"Now. The longer we wait the more bad days she has." Madeline says as her anger starts to mount. She couldn' t believe his attitude with their daughter' s health.

"Although, I think we should think about the children' s hospital. I heard there is a real good one in Pittsburgh, and no one would be watching for us in such a little town." Madeline says and Operations shakes his head.

"She will have it done here... and I think it should be after this current mission for Michael and Nikita." Operations says and Madeline' s mouth opens in horror.

"Have you not read the profile? This mission will be an intense four week mission. They will not be home quickly." Madeline says as she spots the blonde hair walking down the hall.

"And we must do something about their promptness." Operations scowls and Madeline sucks in some air to maintain a calmness.

"I need to get more coffee." Operations says as he stands up and walks out of the briefing room. Madeline watches Operations stop and talk to Nikita shortly. Nikita only says one word before Operations moves away.

Madeline shakes her head as she feels someone behind her. She turns her head and finds Ayn standing behind her.

"It will take a long time to mend that relationship..... and bringing them in so soon after intimacy... I don' t think that it is wise." Ayn says as she sits down and looks down at the mission plan on the table.

"I had no choice." Madeline says and Ayn lets out a low whistle.

"Another test for them, already?" Ayn asks and Madeline frowns at her.}{

*

Nikita enters and sits down. She can tell that Madeline is upset and that Ayn is not much happier. She had the same feeling come from Operations as he walked past them in the hall. He had mumbled that they were late.

Operations reentered the room and flashed on the screen.

"This is Rachel Streb. She is the leader of a new age terrorist group named Crystal Angels. They are very dangerous." Operations says and Nikita looks at the screen. The girl had to be younger than Nikita.

"Their most recent covers and recruitment patterns have them based in Penn State University. You and Michael will be placed into dorms." Madeline says and Michael nods his head.

"It will be a long mission. You need to gain trust with the members of the Crystal Angels and then get the other one of you accepted. You will not be married for this mission." Operations says and Nikita sighs softly.

"Well.. looks like we don' t believe in abstinence before marriage." Nikita comments and all of the people glare at Nikita. She smiles and shrugs her shoulders.

"In the dorms you will be GA.. graduate students who supervise what is going on in the dorms. You will find it difficult to have time for each other, but time for those in this group. They seem to be taking the smart ones." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head.

"How long is the suggested stay on this mission?" Nikita asks softly.

"Four to five weeks.. that would be shorter than your last mission, Nikita." Operations says and Nikita glares at him.

"Birkoff will be a student in Michael' s dorm. He will be with computers at all times, and therefore communication maintained between us and you." Operations says and Nikita nods her head. It was like receiving punishment.

"Well.. Michael.. at least I' m not pregnant.. that would ruin this mission too." Nikita sourly remarks as she steps out of the briefing room and walks down the hallway.

"We have your thinks packed. You leave in a few hours. Try to improve Nikita' s attitude." Operations says as Michael stands up. Michael nods and leaves.}{

*

Nikita twists at her ponytail as she stands outside Madeline' s office door. She had read the profile that Madeline had sent to Nikita about her cover. Michael wasn' t in the office at the time, and Nikita just broke down into tears.

"Nikita, what is wrong?" Michael asked as he entered and closed the door. Nikita wiped at her tears and pointed to the screen.

Madeline had made Nikita a biology degree holder, looking for her masters in advance genetic something or whatever. Nikita did not know what the terms meant, but knew how important that it was that she looked like the real thing.

"I would have to agree that there is a problem." Michael says as he turned off the screen. He rubbed Nikita' s shoulder and pulled his chair up closer to Nikita.

"It is going to be difficult with two extended stay missions so close together. It is not suppose to happen." Michael explained softly. Nikita bite her lip and looked up at Michael.

"It happens when your father is Operations and he is upset at you." Nikita said with a half smile. Nikita looked up and shook her head.

"Michael, I do not fit in with the college crowd. And let alone a graduate student. There is no way I should be on this mission." Nikita said and Michael touched her hand softly.

"Nikita, Madeline has taught you well in many areas, do not doubt yourself... but science.. she did go wrong there." Michael said with a smile.

It did not take long for Nikita to decide to beg Madeline to change the profile. Nikita pulled the disk and walked down the hall, to where she was now.

Nikita extends her hand and knocks at the door. She waits for the door to open and she enters. Nikita looks around as she sees a little Dalmatian suitcase.

"Madeline... I needed to discuss my profile." Nikita calls out and looks around. Madeline turns the corner and proceeds to trip over the bag. Nikita picks up the bag and holds a hand out to help Madeline. Nikita feels the bag and looks at Madeline.

"Is Anna going somewhere?" Nikita asks as she sets the filled suitcase on the table. Madeline smiles and moves to her computer. She takes the disk out of Nikita' s hand and reads it.

"I see the problem... I will make you a graduate student in English, with a concentration in creative writing. Is that satisfactory?" Madeline asks and Nikita nods her head.

"Mommie.... I feel bad.." Anna' s voice calls out and Nikita looks towards the bathroom.

"What' s wrong with Anna?" Nikita asks and Madeline swallows.

"Nikita... you can' t tell Operations... I am taking her to a Children' s Hospital to have her tonsils taken out and tubes placed in her ears." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head.

"I understand. Where?" Nikita asks and Madeline smiles.

"In Pittsburgh... we are going to stow away on the plane you and Michael take." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head.

"Can I visit?" Nikita asks and Madeline smiles.

"I' m sure you can." Madeline says as Nikita walks to the door and leaves.}{

*

Nikita smiles at some passing freshman as she walks up the door. The way the profile sounded, Nikita believed that she would be separated from Michael entirely, but the truth was, only two floors separated them.

Nikita had been stirred from her sleep, not from the a fire drill, but rather Operations. For two days he had been searching for Madeline and Anna. Nikita had maintained her promise, and Michael still did not know.

Nikita knocks on the door as Birkoff passes in the hallway. Nikita can tell that he is on his last nerve, and probably had been helping Operations throughout the night to locate Madeline and Anna.

"Nikita... I thought you had class in the morning." Michael says as he opens the door. Nikita smiles at his sweatshirt and jeans and walks in.

"I do, but I have to miss it." Nikita says and Michael raises an eyebrow.

"Why, Nikita?" Michael asks as Nikita sits down on his cot. If there was one thing that Nikita knew she would not get use to was the cots in the rooms. They were just a few wires and that was all. Nikita didn' t know when it was going to fall.

"I have to go see Anna.... and before you yell and scream, sit down." Nikita says quickly and Michael sits down.

"Nikita. Operations has been..."

"I know.."

"NO! YOU DON' T KNOW! He called here four times last night.. almost blowing my cover..!" Michael screams.

"Michael, he was withholding proper medical treatment from Anna! Now shut up and listen!" Nikita screams and Michael closes his mouth.

"What kind of treatment?" Michael asks and Nikita sits down by Michael.

"She had her tonsils removed and tube placed in her ears. Operations wanted to wait until we were back." Nikita says and Michael shakes his head.

"And Madeline took off." Michael responds and Nikita sighs.

"No, they just hide in the plane to here.. I' m sure that Walter helped with a distraction." Nikita says and Michael shakes his head.

"Madeline took her to Children' s in Pittsburgh?" Michael asks and Nikita nods her head. Michael stands up and pull at his coat.

"Well.. to the city we go." Michael says and they walk out together.}{

*

"ANNA-BANANA!" Nikita calls out as she enters the room and holds something in her hands. Anna smiles and waves. Madeline stands up from the chair as Michael enters the room.

"Thank you.. the first thing she wrote down was that she wanted to see Kita." Madeline says softly as she pushes Anna' s hair off of her forehead. The hair was turning blondier quicker each day, and such a move made Madeline sad.

"Well.. I' m here.. and I brought something for your sore throat!" Nikita says as she holds out the container. Anna smiles brightly as she sees the double fudge ice cream.

"We have a dish right here for it, too." Madeline says as she takes the ice cream. Nikita smiles and they move to the window.

"When are you going to tell Operations?" Michael asks and Madeline smiles.

"I just talked to him. We will leave tomorrow." Madeline says and Michael nods his head.

"I have to thank you, Nikita. Your help kept us covered. I wish I could say you two could come back with us." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head.

"Well.. I guess I will just have to send a lot of electronic get well cards for Birkoff to print up for Anna." Nikita smiles and Madeline nods.

"Please.. find some time for each other in the next month.. I know it will be hard, but you have too." Madeline says and she looks to Anna.

"In my dreams, Anna would have a mother and father, like you two obviously will be. We all need a few moments together, even if it is a fleeting kiss." Madeline says as she walks back to Anna. Nikita smiles and pulls out the checkerboard.

Send suggestions and comments to ranma.
OR
If you would like to send a comment to Nikita507, click HERE!!