Nikita lifts a long leg and drops it into the hot water that her body relaxes in. There is no light on in the bathroom, as the water continues to pour warm water into the tub. Nikita leans her head back as the warmth is just starting to return to her body.

Nikita looks to the ceiling and thinks about the past couple days. To her, they felt like months. Every day was standing still and dragging out. She couldn' t remember the last time she got two moments just to look at the clouds.

Then she thought about the lies. She hated to lie, but she wasn' t going to allow Gannon to tell Madeline that the Loving2000 was fluctuating. It was bad enough that Nikita had to worry about it, but she didn' t want everyone worrying about it. Nikita knew that it was probably being caused by the extreme amounts of stress that caused the levels to peak. Nikita had tested her blood before slipping into the tub, and they were back to normal.

The darkness is broke as the door opens and Michael slips in. Nikita turns her head and then turns it back away. It was not good news.

"We've been called in." Michael says and Nikita is almost on the verge of tears again. She was getting to her last straw. Nikita sits up in the tub and Michael hands Nikita the huge pink towel.

"Do we know why?" Nikita asks and Michael nods his head slightly. Nikita stands up and wraps the still warm towel, fresh from the dryer, around her body.

"Rachel Streb has planted a bomb somewhere in Pittsburgh." Michael says and Nikita closes her eyes.

"Didn' t they arrest her for the murder of Patrick?" Nikita asks and Michael takes a deep breath.

"Yes, but she got bail and skipped back to the United States by using a friend' s car and license." Michael says and Nikita walks out into the hallway and towards the large bedroom. She moves to the drawer and sighs as she pulls out underwear.

"So, we are going to be going back to Pittsburgh." Nikita says and Michael nods his head. Nikita drops to the bed and drops her head.

Michael goes to the closet and pulls out some comfortable clothing for Nikita' s flight. He was sure that they would be going with varieties of clothing and identifications so that they could search Pittsburgh for the bomb.

"You are going to get sick." Michael says as he drops the clothes next to Nikita. Nikita shakes her head and pulls at the sweatshirt.

"I can' t believe her... I can' t believe this..." Nikita mumbles as she pulls herself together and then sits back down.

"Can I go on strike?" Nikita asks seriously and Michael stares at her. He had never heard her this way. There were thousands of people at risk of being blown to pieces, and Nikita wanted to go on strike. This was not the Nikita he knew.

"Nikita... what is wrong?" Michael asks as he sits down beside her. Nikita shakes her head and licks her lips again.

"Nothing, Michael.... I' m fine." Nikita says as she pushes her damp hair back from her face. Michael grabs her hand and stops her from standing up.

"Nikita, if something is wrong, you have to tell me." Michael says and Nikita turns and smiles at him.

"Nothing is wrong." Nikita says and she pulls her arm away and stands up. Michael watches her walk out of the room and down to the stairs. Michael stands up and looks around the room. It was a feeling that was engulfing his body, he was going to have to watch her a bit more carefully.

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

Section Headquarters was humming again loudly as Michael and Nikita walked side by side down the hallway. Madeline had spotted them from the cat walks, and quickly went to her office. Michael stopped to check with Birkoff as Nikita spoke to Walter. That was a common event, and Madeline would question it if it was not done.

Madeline looked at the screen and saw Nikita' s casual looks and looked to her desk. Nikita had all of her hair pulled up into a high ponytail and was wearing a sweat suit. Her face was pale and Madeline rubbed her chin a bit as the door slid open and the two operatives walk in. Madeline turns off the computer and motions for Michael and Nikita to sit down.

"As I know Gannon told you, Rachel Streb has gotten back to Pittsburgh and planted a bomb." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head before Michael. Madeline looks to her papers and is shocked at the movement. Almost always, they moved together. Something wasn' t right here.

"Have we gotten a narrow downed target area?" Michael asks and Madeline shakes her head.

"The only thing Ms. Streb told anyone was that the future intellects and champions were going to die. That doesn' t give us much to narrow down with." Madeline says and Nikita looks up at Madeline. Madeline holds Nikita' s blue eyes briefly and nods her head.

"Is it just to downtown Pittsburgh, or any part of Pittsburgh, or the area around Pittsburgh?" Nikita asks and Madeline takes a deep breath.

"We do not know. She has been leaving riddles, but they haven' t proven to be much help." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head. Nikita stands up and looks at the walls of the office.

"Nikita... have you lost weight?" Madeline asks concernly and Michael turns abruptly to look at Nikita. Nikita looks down at her body and shakes her head.

"No... but I did have a nice long jog yesterday and today!" Nikita retorts and Madeline nods her head.

"I just want you to be taking care of yourself." Madeline says and Nikita looks at the map of Pittsburgh that Madeline had placed up.

"When do we leave?" Nikita asks and Madeline stands up and walks to the map. Nikita had quickly changed the subject.

"As soon as the plane is fueled." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head.

"Do we have a time frame?" Nikita asks and Madeline pulls up the paper with the initial threat.

"Three days... and no demands... She wants to hurt us." Nikita says and Madeline pulls out two watches. They show the hours ticking away.

"Whatever is going on... when those watches say two minutes before the bomb is to go off... I want you in a park.. in the middle of those three rivers... I WANT YOU AWAY FROM ANYTHING... Do I make myself clear?" Madeline asks and Michael and Nikita nod their heads.

"Plane is fueled." Birkoff' s voice drifts over the office. Michael turns and heads towards the door. Madeline takes Nikita hands and holds onto them.

"Nikita... is there anything you would like to talk about?" Madeline asks and Nikita shakes her head no.

"Nikita.. this is the time.. not when you get to Pittsburgh." Madeline says and Nikita pulls her hands away.

"Madeline... we are wasting time. Pittsburgh is a large city." Nikita says and walks to the door. Michael wraps his arm around Nikita' s shoulder and looks at Madeline as the door closes.

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

Nikita walked out of the airport and rolls her shoulders back. In her purse, she holds over 100 different identification cards to get her into what buildings needed to be checked. Michael steps out and the van pulls over. There was no time for creating a main identity, they would be sleeping in the van, if they got time, during this mission.

"Team One has cleared Three Rivers Stadium." Nikita says as she steps to the van and enters. The warmth caresses her cheeks and Nikita rubs her cold hands together. Michael looks at Nikita and moves to the corner. He presses the panel, and turns the heat up.

"Then there is the Civic Arena... and there are college stadiums." Nikita says as Michael opens the computer and starts the massive job of coordinating seven teams of operatives to search the city, and to do it in an orderly fashion.

"How about I send teams One, two, three, and four to colleges and have them search all the grounds?" Michael asks and Nikita nods her head.

"We can eliminate the seasonal areas. Kennywood and Sandcastle are closed, and the amphitheaters are closed up." Nikita says as she sits down on her legs and starts to stare out the windows.

Michael looks up from the computer and then to Nikita. They sit in silence as Michael stands up and crosses off those areas from the map of Pittsburgh.

Nikita stands up and walks to the map. She reaches out as she falls forward.

"DAMN PENNSYLVANIA ROADS!" Nikita swears as she picks her body up and takes off the high heals. Michael looks at Nikita and hands her the marker.

"Well... individual households can be taken off the priority.. of course... she could have it in a sewer and blow up a block or two." Nikita says and Michael pulls the pen away from her.

"Then we are taking off only those places we know are secure." Michael says and Nikita stares at Michael.

"We are going to have to narrow it down, Michael.. there is no way we are going to cover this city and it' s suburbs before our watches run down." Nikita says and Michael nods his head.

"I' m going to freshen up." Nikita says and walks to the little bathroom.

Michael watches the little door close and sits down. He knows that they were heading to the Civic Arena, but he had to worry about Nikita. She had just fallen. It wasn' t a pot hole, and it wasn' t high heels. She had fallen.

It was so much like the falls from the days of the Loving2000 problems and Michael knew that . He didn' t want to face it. The Loving2000 had been a major issue for so long, but for a long time, it didn' t seem to matter any more. He didn' t want it to start playing havoc on their lives again. Michael didn' t want to see what he was seeing, so he accepted it, Pittsburgh had bad roads.

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

The guard turns to the door and stares at the beautiful blonde as she enters and walks straight to him. The guard notices the man behind him and walks towards the woman. He places his hand on his little gun and swaggers to them, not noticing that his beer belly was sticking out.

"No one but players and staff are allowed in here... That means you reporters!" The guard says loudly and Nikita smiles at the man. She turns to her bag and pulls out her identification card.

"I could stop the game tonight, if that is what you want." Nikita says as the man looks at the identification card and stares at her.

"What does the Pennsylvania Games and Arenas Staff do?" The guard asks and Nikita looks around.

"Checks the building for structural problems... ah, there is a leaking pipe, Michael... note that." Nikita says and the guard looks at Nikita in slight horror.

"But we have a game here tonight." The guard says and Nikita nods her head as Michael starts to unpack the bag.

"Then we must get going. I need to be on the floor of the arena." Nikita says and the guard starts to shakes his head.

"It' s ice, hon. Maybe that sturdy young man can do it, but not you." The guard says and Nikita smiles.

"Michael, take your position underneath the announcers booth. This nice guard is going to show me the way to the ice." Nikita says and Michael moves quickly. In reality, he wished Nikita would have just switched with him. He didn' t know what was wrong with Nikita, but Michael didn' t want to see it mixed with ice. This could become a sticky situation.

***

Nikita walks around the ice slowly, as Michael walks in the main hallway quickly. Nikita looks around and sighs.

"Birkoff... can' t we do this quicker!" Nikita complains as she watches Michael' s black jacket float from one doorway to the next. Nikita leans her head back and looks around. She feels a slight weakness in her legs and touches the boards lightly as she continues to walk.

"We can' t." Birkoff hisses and Nikita slams her hand on the boards in anger.

"We have been doing this for an hour.. and you haven' t scanned the entire building?" Nikita asks in shock. It never took Birkoff this long.

"I am also running seven other searches at the same time, Nikita." Birkoff says and Nikita rolls her eyes and throws her hands into air.

"STOP!" Birkoff hollers through the comm unit and Nikita looks at her raised arm.

"In the air?" Nikita asks and Birkoff types quickly. Nikita turns and motions the guard.

"The scoreboard as to come down." Nikita says and the guard shakes his head.

"Then you don' t play tonight... I wouldn' t want to be the one to tell management I caused the canceled game." Nikita says and the guard moves to the phone.

***

"Birkoff.... I see it." Nikita says as she is standing looking down at the scoreboard.

"It' s small... no way is this what Rachel planted." Nikita says and Michael leans over and helps disconnect it. The guard watches.

"What are you doing!" The guard hollers up and Michael carefully places the bomb in the box and looks down.

"There was a short circuit. Could have created quite a fire." Michael says and Nikita starts down.

"Well... have a good game." Nikita says and the two operatives hurry outside. An operative walks over to Michael and takes the mini bomb.

"Off to the zoo...." Nikita says and Michael nods his head.

"Diversion?" Michael asks.

"If that was planted by Rachel... she has no idea who is after her." Nikita says and ducks into the van.

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

Nikita steps out of the van and straightens her white lab coat. Michael steps out and looks around. They are in a back alley and move quickly to the sidewalk and start to walk. Nikita lifts her head up and rolls her head side to side.

They had spent the entire night going in and out of buildings, searching and searching. Three bombs, of small size, were found, and determined to be planted by Rachel. Nikita was starting to have it up to her neck with Rachel.

Michael watched Nikita as she walked. There had been several times during this mission that Michael just wanted to shake her till she told him what he knew. It was the not telling that was driving Michael to the edge. Nikita should know that Michael can accept anything, and he didn' t understand her reasoning behind not telling him that she wasn' t feeling good.

Nikita looks at the hospital and swallows carefully as the employee' s door opens. Nikita shows her badge to the guard and he lets her in. Nikita walks through and waits for Michael to do the same.

"We should have sent team one to do this." Michael says as Nikita walks pass a room with crying child. Nikita looks in and bites her lip softly. Her heart was being pulled.

Nikita turns the corner and looks around. Michael grabs her shoulders and stares at her watery eyes and drops his head. Nikita looks away and wipes at her eyes.

"Birkoff... we are in position." Nikita says and she waits. Michael stands in front of her, as they appear to be two doctors heavy into conversation.

"Nikita... I have never seen you like this." Michael says and Nikita looks at him.

"JUST BACK OFF!" Nikita screams and Michael steps back lightly. He takes a moment before going back to Nikita.

"We need you to go down three wards to the left." Birkoff says and Nikita starts to walk and Michael follows. Michael walks to a door and grabs a chart and continues to walk with Nikita.

"This is starting to occur a lot more frequently." Michael says as he places the chart in Nikita' s hands. She opens it and looks at it. It was Michael' s way to talk about what was going on with her, while being in a setting that she couldn' t walk away and she couldn' t scream in.

"No.. you are just noticing it more often." Nikita says as she closes the chart and moves down the hall and stops at the point that Birkoff wanted them to go to.

Nikita looks around and Michael looks at her. He brushes his hand up to her cheek and she pulls her face a way.

"You are tired." Michael says and Nikita smiles.

"We are all tired..... too many hours working... not enough to sleep and eat in." Nikita says as a nurse passes down the hallway. The nurse nods her head and turns the corner.

"The hospital is clear... get out..." Birkoff says and Nikita turns back to the hallway that they had just walked down. Nikita starts off and then, just out of no where, the legs give out. Michael' s strong arms pull her up and pushes the closet door open.

"Michael... Nikita... why are you going out of the hallway?" Birkoff asks and Michael shuts the door.

"An anomaly.. a code has been called.. must go off air." Michael says and turns off both comm units. Nikita doesn' t look at Michael and pulls out the little unit.

Michael watches Nikita as she pricks her finger and drops the blood down on to the pad. Nikita leans her head back and waits to find out that the levels of LOVING2000 have gone back up. Nikita closes her eyes and pulls out one pill. The mission came first, and the second pill would just have to wait, she couldn' t be sloppy now.

"How long, Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita smiles softly as Michael picks up the unit.

"Michael.. I just need food. We really should eat." Nikita says and Michael looks at the unit and starts to press buttons.

"Nikita.. there are over a hundred readings here... you turn this in every three months." Michael says as he hands it back to Nikita.

"That is when I have time... I haven' t had time.. so I haven' t worried about it.. It' s probably over a year old." Nikita says as she drops the unit back into her pocket and goes to the door.

Silently they slip out of the hospital unnoticed. But now, Nikita was noticed by Michael.

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

Time was running out.

Quickly.

Nikita looked at her watch and opened the stairwell door and started down the stairs. Michael' s steps were not far behind her. She didn' t want to waste time.

They were half way up the USX building in downtown Pittsburgh, and their watches had just slipped under six hours. Both Michael and Nikita were running on empty, along with the seven other teams out and about Pittsburgh.

"Michael... we have to think logically about this..." Nikita says as she turns around and starts down the next flight of stairs. Michael nods his head and watches Nikita carefully. She had insisted on the stairs, and Michael would have rather taken the elevator.

"Nikita... this is not a serial killing... Rachel planted a bomb.. that is going to kill thousands of people." Michael says as Nikita starts going down the stairs quicker.

Nikita holds onto the railing as her body tumbles forward, her world is a vision of blurred stairs and blackness until her knees slide to the landing and her head flops forward, Nikita stops it with her hands.

"Nikita...." Michael says quickly as he leans on the opposite railing and slides down to the landing. He hears Nikita' s tears as he bends down to her.

"I can' t no more..." Nikita moans out as Michael' s hands touch her blonde hair. He nudges her and Nikita slowly raises her head.

"We have to continue, Nikita...." Michael says softly, knowing that Nikita didn' t want to tell him what was wrong. He had accepted it at this point, and as long as she wasn' t hurt, it was time to move on. Nikita stood up and started down to steps.

Michael watched Nikita' s body pitch forward, and he grabbed her mission pants and supported her weight as she floated in the air, with no control of her body.

"Sit down..." Michael says as he maneuvers his way to the front of Nikita and helps her down. He looks at her and the tears begin. This had gone on long enough, and Michael could feel that this was the time to ask, even if it might be bad for Section One.

"What is wrong, Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita covers her mouth lightly and then nods her head. She licks her lips, as if nervous for saying what was wrong.

"It' s the Loving2000 levels." Nikita says and Michael places his hand behind Nikita' s neck. Their heads push against each other as Michael looks into Nikita' s eyes.

"For how long, Nikita?" Michael asks and Nikita drops her head to her chest. Michael uses his other hand to reach into her jacket pocket and retrieve the testing kit. Nikita allows Michael to quickly run the test. The numbers blink at Nikita and she nods her head.

"Since the fourth day at Penn State." Nikita says as she pulls at her jacket for the pills. She pulls one out and Michael stops her hand.

"You are to take two." Michael says and Nikita shakes her head.

"It will make me slow... This mission is too important." Nikita says and Michael again stops her hand. Nikita drops the second pill into her hand and swallows them dry.

"Michael.. it is just worse now.. because I' m tired.. I' m hungry. That is why..." Nikita says and Michael nods his head. He touches her chin and Nikita opens her mouth. Michael lifts her tongue to make sure that she did not hide it in her mouth.

"You are going to tell Madeline, aren' t you?" Nikita asks softly and Michael shakes his head no. Nikita looks at him and Michael sits down on the stair next to her. He folds her hand into his and looks at Nikita.

"Somethings, for the time being, are best between husband and wife. But..." Michael says and Nikita rolls her eyes lightly.

"I don' t want complaints from you when I ask you to test it.... and I don' t want you hiding this anymore from me. We are a team." Michael says and Nikita nods her head. They slowly stand up and Nikita drops her head to his chest.

With a slight lift, their lips lightly graze each other, until they get a firm grip. Michael' s hands wrap around Nikita' s waist tightly as Nikita' s hands run through his hair.

"MICHAEL! NIKITA!" Gannon calls as a door down about eight floor slams.

"On our way." Michael calls out as he breaks from the kiss, but not his hold.

"Madeline needs Nikita' s advise on location." Gannon calls up as he looks up the railings. Michael nods his head and looks over the railing.

"OK." Michael calls out and Nikita shakes her head and looks over.

"ONLY IF I GET SOMETHING TO EAT!" Nikita calls out and Gannon laughs and continues down to the ground floor. Michael looks at Nikita, and they walk out to grab an elevator.

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

Nikita sits in the van with no mission pants on, at the computer. Michael walks over and places a few ice chips onto her knees and Nikita looks at him. She looks at the computer and then cups her head into her hands.

"Michael... I can' t figure it out." Nikita whines softly and Michael sits down and looks at Nikita as his hands hold the ice. The computer ticks down the time, as does their perspective watches. Nikita starts to shake her head lightly as Michael watched the two hour mark start to melt away.

"Intellects and Champions... Intellects and champions..." Nikita mutter softly and she leans back and pushes Michael' s hands away with the ice. Michael stands up and moves to the bags and pulls out some pants for Nikita.

"Didn' t Rachel go to high school around here?" Nikita asks as she pulls out the day' s paper and reads it quickly. Michael moves over to the wall and nods his head.

"She went to Oakhurst." Michael says and Nikita nods her head. She flips to the sports section.

Oakhurst battles Pineglenn in Homecoming match

Nikita looks at the article and starts to read. She reads about the on going battle between the two schools and how Oakhurst has come in second place in football, girls and boys basketball, swimming, softball, and baseball. All of those championships had gone to Pineglenn. Nikita drops the paper to her lap.

"Michael... check the reported SAT scores between Pineglenn and Oakhurst." Nikita says and Michael crinkles his nose. He moves to the second computer as Nikita pulls up the Section directory of athletes. They always looked for athletes that mess up, they were easier to train.

"Wow.. Pineglenn has three students that had 1600' s. Oakhurst has a high score of 1550. Average at Pineglenn is 1235 while at Oakhurst they are looking at 1000." Michael says and Nikita stands up.

"Rachel planted the bomb in Pineglenn." Nikita says and Michael looks at her.

"Nikita.. she said it would kill thousands." Michael says and Nikita sits back down. She knew that Rachel' s school only had 1,100 students in it. Nikita rolls her head and then snaps it back up.

"What is the attendance at Pineglenn?" Nikita asks as she did not know that detail. Michael pushes a few buttons and then sits down.

"4,500." Michael says and Nikita stands up. She pounds on the van and looks at Michael.

"We need to get into that school.... make us reporters... set it up that if we don' t have the bomb by 15 minutes too... that the fire alarms are pulled." Nikita says as she waits for the van to pull over. She pulls her head out and screams to the driver.

"He said it might take him over an hour to get there." Nikita says and Michael looks at her. They both look at their watches. It wasn' t going to give them a lot of time to search the building and disarm the bomb.

"I want Walter on the units, Michael... We don' t know exactly what kind of bomb we are dealing with here." Nikita says and Michael lifts his hands in disgust.

"Nikita... I am working on our identifications." Michael says hurriedly and Nikita stares at him.

"FINE! I WILL DO IT MYSELF!" Nikita hisses and Michael stares at her. The emotional outburst was from nowhere.

"Sometimes you would think I was asking you to perform brain surgery or something... All I wanted to do was run ideas past you and you had to snap out at me like that. I can' t stand when you jump to conclusions like that and look at me like I am insane or something..." Nikita mutters under her breathe and then she slams her hand against the computer.

Michael looks at Nikita and then looks at the computer screen. She never was a big one for huge mood swings like this, especially while on a mission. Michael looks back at Nikita as she drops her head back and rolls it from side to side.

"SOMEONE ANSWER FOR GOD' S SAKE!" Nikita screams and Michael stands up and moves away from Nikita. He closes his eyes in thought as he pretends to be looking at their supplies and their wardrobes.

It was just the stress of the situation, Michael tried to convince himself. It didn' t pan out. It was the lack of sleep, but deep down in Michael, that wasn' t the answer either. There was something going on with Nikita that he didn' t know about.

Michael looks back at Nikita as she calms down and is talking to Walter. Michael walks back to his computer and sits down. Maybe Nikita didn' t even know herself, Michael thought and that thought placed a heavy chill down his spine.

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

The doors opened to the new building known as Pineglenn. Nikita walked up the ramp and looked at the delightful school. Nikita had never seen a school that was so open and bright. Nikita smiles at Michael and walks towards the office. Michael is carrying a small bag that seems to be a camera. In reality, it held all of the devises and clothes that might be needed.

Nikita steps to the desk and gathers the attention of the secretary and smiles as she is told to wait. Nikita glances at her watch and then to Michael. They had twenty minutes before the bomb was to explode, and then five until the building was to evacuate.

"Hi, I am Dr. Shalaby." A nice woman, a bit older than Madeline says as she extends her hand. Nikita shakes her hand and hands over her card.

"NBC? You are a reporter for a national show?" Dr. Shalaby asks and Nikita nods her head. Dr. Shalaby starts to walk into the hallway and Michael looks around. He was looking at the signs, looking for anything to give him a hint to where the bomb is.

"Well, in ten minutes, we will be having a pep rally in our new gym. It was the last part of this new facility to be opened. It opened at the beginning of the school year." Dr. Shalaby says and Nikita nods her head and looks at Michael. They now knew where the bomb was planted.

"Would the whole school be participating in that?" Nikita asks softly and Dr. Shalaby nods her head.

"Why, yes... before we would have had two pep rallies, but now, with the new gym, all the students can be in one area at the same time." Dr. Shalaby says and Nikita smiles and nods her head as they head to the stairs. Nikita glances at her watch, ready for the fire alarms to blare.

"Sounds like the school spirit is alive here. Do the other schools have a hard time accepting the dominance of the school?" Nikita asks and Dr. Shalaby clasps her hands and starts up the stairs.

"Well... actually, it' s a nice circular effect. All the other schools have improved, and just force our students to work a bit harder. I which every school in the city of Pittsburgh could win everything, but that isn' t reality." Dr. Shalaby says as she makes the landing. Nikita turns to Michael as if in a consultation as the fire alarms start to blare.

Dr. Shalaby looks around as students start to fly out of rooms. She looks at Michael and Nikita and shrugs her shoulders.

"I guess it is a surprise fire drill. The fire department calls them now and then. You want to go straight down this stair case and to the right. This should only take a few minutes." Dr. Shalaby says as she jogs back down to her office.

"Birkoff.... nearest bathroom." Nikita says as Michael and Nikita start down the stairs.

"Make the right... it should be down two doors to the left." Birkoff says and Nikita jogs through the fire doors and against the traffic of students.

Nikita pokes her head into the room to make sure that there are no students hanging in. Nikita hits her hand on the door loudly as there is a girl and a boy in one of the stalls.

"Isn' t this a fire drill?" Nikita asks loudly and the two students gather their things and run out into the hallway. Michael walks in and looks at Nikita.

"Birkoff... make sure the building is searched." Nikita hisses as Michael starts to pull out the firemen clothing.

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

The way down to the gym was not easy. There were kids still running in and out of the building. Nikita ran quickly and pulled up at the door and looked at her watch. Not much time at all.

Then she walked into the gym. The place could have been a stadium. No, some of the college stadiums were still smaller than this gym. Nikita pulled off the helmet and looked around, amazed by the size of a high school gym.

Michael enters and looks around. It was going to be impossible to find the bomb in the time that was left. Nikita stood in the center of the gym and turned in a circle.

"Birkoff... can you give us a read?" Nikita asks and she waits. Michael drops his helmet and looks at Nikita. She taps her foot and looks around the gym nervously.

"FOR GOD' S SAKE BIRKOFF! WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!" Nikita screams out, with no worries that anyone heard her.

"Nikita... I have explosives... But I can' t get a location. You need to do a visual." Birkoff says and she runs to the first floor of bleachers.

"MICHAEL! LOOK!" Nikita screams and Michael goes to the other side of the gym. Nikita looks in and out of the bleachers and looking below.

Time passes too quickly and Michael runs down to the center of the gym as Nikita looks at a large box with the band logo on it.

"NIKITA! WE HAVE TO GET OUT!" Michael screams and Nikita pulls the lid up.

"I have the bomb." Nikita says and Michael runs up the bleachers.

"Leave it... we have to evacuate." Michael says trying to pull Nikita' s arm but she drops the gloves and presses her glasses.

"Walter... I have less than two minutes... what do I do?" Nikita asks and Michael stomps his foot.

"That is not our orders, NIKITA!" Michael screams and Nikita turns to him.

"Nikita.. focus on the bomb!" Walter screams at her and she looks back to the bomb.

"Michael... evacuating the building doesn' t mean that those children are safe." Nikita says as Walter instructs her to open the panel.

"DAMN!" Walter swears and Nikita starts to sweat.

"Nikita... at least we would have a chance to live." Michael says as he sees the watch tick under a minute.

"WALTER!" Nikita screams out as the seconds are ticking down too quickly. She pulls out wire cutters and look around the bomb.

"WALTER!!!!" Nikita screams.

"Don' t touch it, Nikita." Walter says and Nikita hears the ticking of the bomb get louder.

"Walter... we are now under 20 seconds... I am going to die... what do I cut?" Nikita demands as she looks at the bomb.

"Ah..." Walter says and Nikita feels Michael' s arms around her. They were going to die together.

"GREEN BLUE OR RED!" Nikita screams out as the seconds tick under ten.

"THE BLUE ONE!" Walter screams out and Nikita presses the wire cutters to them. She leans back into Michael' s arms.

"I love you, Nikita..." Michael says as Nikita cuts through the wire.

And then with a 2 frozen on the time, all ticking stops. Nikita leans back into Michael' s arms and drops her head.

"Let' s get a bomb squad in here... we have to get out of here." Nikita says as she steps down from the bleachers and retrieves her helmet.

Michael walks over to Nikita and takes her head in his hands.

"I love you, Nikita...." Michael says and kisses her softly before they walk out of the gym before the real bomb squad shows up.

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

Madeline stood in her office, looking at the large computer screen in front of her. She didn' t like to admit it, but there was a lot of turmoil in Section One at this time. She stared at the screen as her heart started to pound as she thought about turning Michael and Nikita back out on another mission. She knew they needed rest, at least six hours. She hoped that she could give that to them.

Madeline was so caught up in the problem, that she did not notice the door open, and Nikita softly walk into the office and stand there. Madeline rolled her head back and turned to go to her desk when she finally noticed Nikita.

"Nikita.... I thought you went home." Madeline says and Nikita stares at Madeline. The lines of tiredness are etched deeply into her face and her body. It was amazing that Nikita was standing up, let alone looking at Madeline with a full blank stare.

"I needed to retrieve the intel on the hunt for Rachel." Nikita says and Madeline nods her head.

"She died." Madeline says and Nikita nods her head. Nikita was not sad at all. In fact, for the world, it was best that a girl like Rachel Streb died.

"I also wanted to know if it is safe to go home... or should we rather stay at our standby quarters." Nikita says firmly and Madeline smiles at Nikita.

"You should have about six hours before I need you again. Go home." Madeline says and Nikita lifts her chin and then nods her head. Madeline looks down at her desk as Nikita slowly turns around.

"What happened in the staircase, Nikita?" Madeline asks and Nikita turns back and looks at Madeline.

"The stairs were wet, I slipped. Landed on my knees." Nikita says and Madeline tilts her head to the side and stares at Nikita.

"Is that so?" Madeline asks almost rudely, and Nikita snaps a leg up onto her desk and pulls up the leggings.

The scratches and scabs were on the knee along with deep bruises. Madeline looks at them and motions for Nikita to pull her leggings back down. Nikita drops her leg and stares at Madeline.

"What would Michael tell me happened?" Madeline asks and Nikita stares at her, as her tiredness is starting to crash in around her.

"He would tell you that the stairs were wet and that I feel down the stairs." Nikita says with a few degrees of sharpness in her voice and Madeline smiles.

"I' m glad to see that you and Michael are now communicating and orchestrating your lies better." Madeline says and turns away. Nikita lets a huff of steam out of her mouth and stares at Madeline.

"There are no lies there, Madeline." Nikita says firmly and defensively. Madeline turns back to look at Nikita with a smile on her face.

"Sure, Nikita. You aren' t lying. I' m sure in a few days, I will learn the truth out." Madeline says and walks back to the screen. Nikita stands and watches Madeline.

"You know your way out." Madeline says and Nikita lifts her head to say something, but then decides to leave. She turns and walks out of the office.

Michael looks up from the wall as Nikita exits Madeline' s office. Nikita leans her head down on Michael' s shoulder briefly, and Michael rubs her neck softly. Michael lifts her head and kisses Nikita' s nose softly.

"Let' s go home." Nikita says with partially shut eyes. Michael smiles and starts off, hoping that this time they will get the sleep they need.

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