"Have you seen Nikita?" Michael asked as he walked to Madeline's side to catch up. Madeline looks at Michael's concerned face and feels the strain that had quickly been placed inside of Section One.

"No. You haven't seen her since the briefing?" Madeline questioned and Michael nodded his head and looked around Section One.

"I don't know where she went, Madeline. It has been a long and trying day for both of us, and I didn't want her to go off by herself." Michael explained and Madeline nodded her head and stepped to a small hallway off to the side.

"Did she leave the list of names?" Madeline asked and Michael nodded his head.

"Then she is still inside Section One Headquarters." Madeline said and stepped away. She felt that anymore words might take her to her own edge. She had thought about smacking Operations another one for one of the most cold-hearted moves she had seen from him in a long time. Madeline could still see the images of the briefing in her mind, and she was sure that Nikita could still hear the words echoing.

"Michael, you will take your team to Anchorage Alaska tomorrow morning. There you will start work for Mr. Kyle Huddle. He is an arms dealer who is using the oil business to smuggle the guns in and out of the United States." Operations said as he turned on the screen. Nikita tilted her head to the side and smiled. It was not going to be a difficult mission, and would get her away from Operations for about a week.

"What will I be doing?" Nikita questioned, as she knew that she could not work on the oil field as Michael and the other men would be.

"You will be helping Birkoff in the communications center during this mission." Operations ordered and Nikita looked at him and then to Michael.

"So the communications unit will be going to Anchorage." Nikita stated and Operations looked out to the hallway.

"It's across the hallway, Nikita. That is where you will be." Operations stated and Nikita stood her body up.

"NO! I am going to with Michael!" Nikita hollered and Michael reached out and touched her arm. He now knew why Operations had not given out anymore information about the mission before the briefing.

"You are staying here. It is for the best interest of your child. You have been asking for shorter missions and days. This is how you will get it." Operations said and then allowed an evil smile spread across his face.

"NO! This is an attempt to get closer to me! You don't fool me, you BASTARD!" Nikita screamed and she stalked out of the briefing. Michael stood up, about to chase after Nikita.

"Michael, the briefing is not over." Operations stated clearly. Michael turned to look at him, knowing the power struggle that had been occurring all day.

"We were talking about lowering Nikita's stress. This is only going to increase it. Why don't you send Gurdy to Alaska." Michael said calmly and Operations flipped on the holographic screen.

"He was killed today. Sit down, Michael. Nikita is a big girl." Operations said and Michael took the hint and sat down.

Madeline moved to Birkoff's station and looked at the young man. He looked up at Madeline and shook his head.

"She is still inside Section One Headquarters. I know it." Madeline stated and Birkoff sighed and looked up at Madeline.

"There have been no phone calls up to Walter, and I haven't had activity on levels that there shouldn't be activity on." Birkoff stated and Madeline frowned and turned away.

"Keep looking. And contact Housekeeping staff to bring a comfortable chair to your station. Starting tomorrow, Nikita will be spending a lot of time by your side." Madeline stated and moved down the hallway, wondering where Nikita had found to hide. It was hard to hide a six-month pregnant beautiful operative.

*

Nikita looked down to the trembling paper in front of her and dropped it. She could not even write the words that she wanted too. She could not think straight, as she was not ready to lose Michael from her side. They had not been separated like this since the time Nikita knew she was pregnant. In Nikita's book this was plain cruel and it was her father's entire fault.

"I don't want him to leave." Nikita sobbed out as she came to the staircase and she looked around. She had been slowly working herself deeper and deeper into Section One, careful to make sure no one knew where she was. Yet, it wasn't that the actions were rational to Nikita's mind. She was just running, like she had done many times in the past. She wasn't ready to face with the truth of her situation.

Nikita thought on some level that if they could not find Nikita come morning, that they might have to send someone else in Michael's spot. She did not want anyone to find her; she just wanted to cry.

"I want my Michael by my side." Nikita cried out as she started down the stairs and then stopped. Her legs would not move her anymore and she was tired. There was no more energy left in her body. She had struggled this far, and now, it was the end of the line. She looked around, and to be honest, Nikita didn't even know where she was.

"Dear Michael… please don't leave me." Nikita sobbed as she attempted to write the letter again. She could not believe her luck and she could not deny the pain she was feeling. Nikita stopped and dropped her hands and screamed as she stopped herself from tumbling down the stairs as her head felt like it exploded.

*

Michael stopped outside the office and looked around. He had been looking for four hours and had no further luck. Michael stopped and moved to Ayn's office.

"You still haven't found her?" Ayn questioned as Michael entered the eccentric office. Michael shook his head as he saw the numerous pictures that Ayn had on the walls, including himself with Nikita. Michael stopped and dropped his head.

"I am worried." Michael said and Ayn moved to Michael and looked at the picture.

"I tried to discourage Viktor from doing this, but he has other motives." Ayn explained as she touched Michael's hand. Michael shook his head and stared at the picture.

"If he ever cared for her as his daughter, he would let her be. I doubt that he ever did." Michael stated harshly and Ayn stepped back and Michael lifted his head and looked around the room.

"You aren't even related to her, and you have given Nikita more than I can get from her father. I just want to find her tonight, so I can spend a few more hours with her." Michael said and Ayn lifted her head and shook it.

"He won't allow a pin point?" Ayn asked and Michael shook his head. He rubbed his hands through his hair and sighed loudly.

"And Birkoff just went home." Michael stated and Ayn frown and then winked.

"Unlike what Nikita and Madeline think, I'm not blinded by who he is. I know that he just does things without thinking the consequences out." Ayn explained as she moved towards her computer and started to type quickly.

"Sometimes it is best if someone close to him knows exactly what he is thinking, so that person can undo some of the harshness that he is doing." Ayn said and she turned the screen around. Michael moved close to the screen and shook his head.

"She is really down there." Michael said and Ayn placed her finger over her lips and typed the code in and Michael saw Nikita clutching her head. Michael shook his head, dashing down the hallway. Ayn frowned, closed the computer, and followed behind Michael. She pulled out the cell phone and called Madeline along the way.

*

"I just want it all to be over." Nikita moaned as she leaned back and felt the cold steel of the stair behind her back. She braced her feet out to keep herself centered as the world swirled. Her head thumped with the rate of her racing heartbeat. Nikita swallowed back a scream, knowing that it would only make her head hurt more.

"Why can't it all end!" Nikita cried out. She was getting sick of everything. She no longer wanted to be pregnant. It was getting in the way. She felt fat, and she was now being pulled away from Michael.

"Help…" Nikita sobbed out as she reached her hands out and grabbed the railing. She felt as if she was going to fly down the stairs. She could barely hold onto the cold steel, in fact, it almost felt as if it was burning her skin and hands.

*

Michael stopped in the hallway and saw the paper. He picked it up and looked both ways. Nikita must have dropped it on her way. He looked at the paper, as it had some of the names they had narrowed down to prettily written on it. Michael dropped it back down as he continued on his way to the staircase that Nikita had taken her body. It was twisted path to the isolated staircase.

Michael took off down the hallway as Ayn turned onto it. She held the phone as she jogged her older body down the hallway. Keeping up with Michael was impossible and she finally stopped as she picked up the paper that Michael had allowed to fall down.

"Madeline," Ayn heaved as she looked at the paper and closed her eyes. She wished that Viktor could even see the pain that he was putting Nikita through. He was never so blind, but now Ayn was sure that he never even saw this as painful to Nikita.

"Ayn, do you need any more help?" Madeline asked through a yawn. Ayn looked at the hallway and saw Michael pop his head back up.

"AYN! HURRY!" Michael called out and Ayn ran down the hallway.

"Maybe." Ayn said and folded the phone. She turned the corner and found Michael down the stairs, supporting Nikita's body as she held her head.

"I want it to be over…" Nikita moaned out and Michael looked up at Ayn. Ayn moved down the stairs and touched Nikita's head and felt the hot skin.

"She is overheated." Ayn said as she started to peal away the heavy sweater that was over Nikita's shoulders.

"I don't want this anymore… I want to be with Michael. He is separating us. Punishing us." Nikita moaned out and Ayn looked at Michael and saw the pain in Michael's eyes.

"Let's get her up on the landing." Ayn said and Michael nodded his head. He surrounded Nikita's body with his arms and helped to lift her the four stairs to the large steel landing. Nikita leaned back and Ayn stopped her head from hitting the hard metal. Michael hurried around and sat Nikita's head down on his lap as he sat down on the floor.

"Nikita, I need you to calm down. It's going to be fine." Ayn said and Nikita shook her head from side to side.

"He hates me… He wants me to suffer…. He hates me…. He hates my child… He doesn't care…." Nikita murmured out as the tears ran down her face along with the sweat. Nikita held her head tightly as the headache pounced away at the insides of her head.

"Shhh… Nikita… we will be fine." Michael whispered in her ear and looked at Ayn. Ayn frowns and she looks around.

"I'm calling him." Ayn said firmly and walked out of the staircase with a face as hard as cement. Michael took his hand out and fanned Nikita softly. She needed to cool off, and Michael hoped that Ayn could remember that first before yelling at Operations for Nikita's emotional state.

*

Operations stumbled out of bed to grab the phone that was sitting on the dresser. He pushed a hand through his hair and mutters about how this better be good.

"Yes." Operations growled out with the lack of sleep.

"How dare you even sleep when you have done this to Nikita!" Ayn hollered over the phone as she paced outside the staircase that Michael was holding Nikita in. Her anger was boiling over.

"Ayn, You woke me up to yell at me about Nikita?" Operations asked as he sat down on his bed and shook his head.

"YES! You bastard! You don't even know that Nikita hadn't been seen in hours! YOU DON'T EVEN CARE!" Ayn screamed in disgust. She turned around and found Michael pulling off more of Nikita's clothing. Nikita must have just continued to run down staircases of stairs and never used the elevator.

"Ayn, Nikita is a big girl." Operations said slowly in a testing voice. He was quickly becoming sick of the subject of the phone call.

"Viktor, you are sending her husband and her support to ALASKA and ordering her here! I know what you plan!" Ayn hollered and Michael looked up directly into Ayn's eyes. Ayn nodded her head and Michael turned his head to the side.

"I know that you want this time for Nikita and you to get back together, but it is not going to happen, if Michael will even leave in the morning." Ayn remarked.

"Ayn, you are not my mother, you are not my boss. I will do what is best for Section." Operations said as he pulled on a robe over the thin pajamas that he was sitting in.

"Viktor, you are doing what is best for you!" Ayn said and hung up the phone. She turned from the hallway and walked back to Michael. Nikita had fallen into a fitful sleep and she was still overheated. Ayn looked around. The elevator was too far for the two of them to maneuver Nikita too.

"He isn't going to change his plans. All we can do is be here for Nikita when he does things like that." Michael said softly in a voice that told Ayn that he had given up on the hope of Operations ever letting Nikita be.

"Sonya…. Isabelle…. Joline… Rainbow… Trisha…" Nikita muttered out and Michael kissed the top of Nikita's sweat drenched forehead.

"He did some good. We started to think about names…" Michael said slowly as he looked at Ayn and frowned. Ayn stood up and Michael sighed.

"You better call Elana." Michael said and Ayn nodded her head. Ayn looked at Nikita and felt her heart drop. She did care for Nikita more than she really knew, and the way that Viktor was acting in every situation was destroying the girl. During the time of Nikita learning of her pregnancy, which caused her to flea to New York, and the mission that involved Stephen, Ayn was almost sure that some sort of arrangement, or even a relationship could have been worked out between Viktor and Nikita.

Ayn pulled out the cell phone and sighed as she looked at Nikita. Nikita deserved a better father, and she even remembered a tear filled phone call from Walter. Ayn wasn't sure what had occurred, but Nikita had begged Walter to be her father, and Ayn's heart went out to Nikita. It would have possibly been better for Nikita to continue believing in the fake father that she would never had contact with. This contact with Viktor was placing stress onto an operative that was unreal, let alone stress on a pregnant operative. Ayn had tried to get Operations to just place Michael and Nikita on suspended duty until she gave birth, but he kept on having missions for them. She had even watched him slightly change the Intel so the profilers would call for Michael and Nikita because she was pregnant.

"Hello?" Elana asked as she picked up her ringing phone.

"Can you bring Medical to come fetch Nikita?" Ayn said softly as she looked back at Nikita on the floor.

*

Madeline walked into the hallway and saw the firm posture of Operations. She shook her head as she saw the image. Madeline turned and faced him firmly.

"Go back to bed." Madeline said firmly and Operations blinked and watched as the Medical team fly down the hallway with Elana not far behind the flying gurney. Madeline pushed her hand against his chest and looked at Elana.

"Hold that elevator!" Madeline hollered out and Operations stared at Madeline. She turned and pushed him back.

"Leave this to those who care." Madeline stated and left to join the elevator down to the floor with Nikita.

Elana touched Madeline's shoulder and Madeline blinked her eyes. She looked at the floors fly by as they moved downward. Madeline could not believe that Nikita had made it as far as she did, but then it was Nikita they were talking about.

"Madeline, he is going to do some damage to her that I am not going to be able to reverse." Elana said firmly and Madeline turned and nodded her head.

"I know. We can only protect Nikita. Ayn and I can't control what he is doing." Madeline said and Elana looked at the gurney and the supplies that they had placed on it for use with Nikita.

"Maybe it is time that you made someone stop him." Elana said and Madeline looked at the door as the elevator came to an abrupt halt.

"Madeline, I will see my daughter." Operations'voice came down from above and Madeline shut her eyes and blinked. She looked to Elana through the darkness, already reaching for her telephone. It had gone far enough now.

*

Ayn paced the hallway as Michael tried to fan Nikita softly, but he was sure that it was not approving the situation. Michael swallowed and looked at Ayn.

"Is there a bathroom close by?" Michael questioned and Ayn smiled. She dropped her cell phone down by Michael and dashed off down the hallway. A few moments later, Ayn appeared with drenched brown paper towels in her hands. She reached out and placed most of the cold towels on Nikita's chest and then handed one to Michael for Nikita's face.

"Michael… I like the name Beau… ha ha ha…" Nikita said as her eyes tried to open up. Michael smiled and kissed her wet forehead softly.

"Remember Nikita, the names are; Evan, Gunnar, Randal, Javier, Xavier, Coleman, Rene, and Roy." Michael said and Nikita laughed softly.

"Roy… I like that." Nikita said with a peaceful smile crossing her face. Michael pressed the towel to her forehead as Ayn retrieved some more wet towels and placed them on her stomach.

"I know you like that name. Roy." Michael replied and Ayn lifted an eyebrow. Michael winked at her gesture.

"Nikita, I would go with Evan." Ayn whispered into her ear as she looked down the hallway, wondering what the hold up was.

Michael looked at Ayn's movement and felt the pit of his stomach grow larger. It was taking a long time for the medical team to arrive. Michael dropped his head and looked at Nikita.

"No… Beau…." Nikita moaned out. "Roy Beau…" Nikita said and Michael smiled softly as the gurney turned the corner and the medical team came in site.

"What took so long?" Ayn demanded from Madeline.

"I will explain later." Madeline said as Elana reached down and started to assess Nikita.

*

Elana walked down the hallway with Michael. The medical team was quietly taking care of Nikita, as Madeline and Ayn all walked behind the crowd. Michael was looking at Nikita, but also paying attention to the crowd behind the gurney, as he wondered what Madeline was talking about earlier.

"Madeline, you still haven't told me." Ayn stated as firmly as they turned the corner and finally the elevator came in site. Madeline looked at Nikita and then to Ayn.

"I had to pull some strings. Viktor stopped the elevator on us, demanding that things get done his way." Madeline said and Ayn's eyes bulge out in shock.

"I called George." Madeline said and Ayn smiled broadly. She had thought of doing the same thing, but knew that it would have been frown upon. Madeline on the other hand, always had a relationship with George and George probably found the conversation very interesting.

"Michael will still be going on the mission." Madeline said and Michael turned around abruptly to stare at Madeline.

"With Nikita like this?" Michael demanded as the medical team stopped and waited for the elevator.

"Michael, George has to evaluate the situation. He cannot make too many orders over Operations'head. Plus, he never received official notification of Nikka's pregnancy." Madeline said and Michael and Ayn both stared at Madeline in horror.

"What?" Michael and Ayn both exclaim and Elana looked back at the crowd of operatives. She had the reaction when Madeline told her. Elana could not believe that George did not know of this, because it seemed as if everyone in Section One knew.

"George never knew until today. To him, it had been rumor. He thought that since Nikita was Operations daughter, that Operations would have immediately pulled her off of missions." Madeline said calmly, although she could identify what Michael and Ayn were thinking. Madeline had to keep herself calm on the way down to Nikita.

The elevator opened and the medical crew pushed the gurney in and turned and waited for everyone to enter. Madeline pushed the code and watched the elevator move slowly.

"Michael." Nikita softly moaned out and he moved to her side. Michael stroke her cheek surprised to find that she had already cooled off so much.

"I'm here, Kita." Michael whispered softly.

"The baby?" Nikita questioned and Elana nodded her head to Michael. He reached down and touched her stomach softly.

"The baby is fine, but no more running off!" Michael said and Nikita smiled gently. She rolled her head to the side and looked at Michael.

"I'm tired of thinking that I am going to lose you, Michael. I am tired of thinking that I am going to lose this child. I'm tired." Nikita stated gently and Michael nodded his head and kissed Nikita's forehead.

Madeline looked at her watch and sighed. Michael wasn't going to have Nikita for much longer. She dreaded having to deal with Nikita for the next week without Michael. Madeline was going to strictly force Nikita into the restrictions that Elana was going to set down for her. Nikita wasn't going to be able to do what she would want to do. Madeline would make sure of that.

"I guess I'm in trouble now. I guess I won't be going shopping for the crib this week." Nikita stated as her head swirled away to the side. Michael looked to Madeline and shook his head.

"Nikita, I want you to go for that crib. I know you will pick the perfect one." Michael said before Madeline or Elana could even open their mouths.

"But you won't be there." Nikita said softly and Michael kissed her forehead.

"You have better judgment either way." Michael said and Nikita laughed gently and then rolled her head to the side to go back to sleep.

Michael looked to his own watch and shut his eyes. Madeline touched his shoulder.

"You better go when we get up there." Madeline said and Michael nodded his head. He leaned down as the elevator stopped.

"I love you Nikita." Michael whispered as he kissed Nikita gently.

*

Nikita looked around and sighed deeply. She pulled the light gray jacket over her shoulders and moved to the door. No one was watching her, as it was not of their concern. Nikita turned and walked out of the medical area, with no need to hit or punch one operative.

Michael had left over 24 hours ago, and he should be working on the profile now. Nikita moved down the hallway and looked at the computers. Only Birkoff was there, and Nikita sat down carefully next to him, rejoicing in the comfortable chair that she knew Michael made sure was there for her.

"So, Seymour, how is the mission going?" Nikita asked softly and Birkoff looked up from the computer and then to Nikita.

"You aren't suppose to be here for another two hours, Nikita." Birkoff replied and Nikita leaned forward and looked at the computer.

"Do you want another two hours of pure boredom?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff smiled.

"I won't have two hours of boredom now. I know you, Nikita. You aren't going to leave." Birkoff replied and Nikita smiled and messed with his hair.

"I am only following the orders of the mission profile." Nikita remarked sharply and Birkoff shook his head. He wished that Nikita had been sent with Michael, because Nikita did know him too well. Birkoff didn't want Nikita to start thinking about him, because he was trying hard to hide his affair with Lori.

"So, what is going on with you and Melissa?" Nikita asked and Birkoff turned back to the computer.

"Nikita, we are to be monitoring the mission." Birkoff said and Nikita leaned back in her chair and nodded her head.

"Yes. So what is Michael doing right now?" Nikita asked and Birkoff shook his head. He was in a no-win situation. He was going to have to call out the troops to get Nikita removed from the computer station before he could get any other work done.

"He is at a meeting." Birkoff replied and Nikita nodded her head and looked at the screen.

"Can I hear the audio?" Nikita asked and Birkoff rolled his eyes. He looked at Nikita and saw the sadness in her eyes. He wished he knew how to torture someone, because Nikita shouldn't have to put up with this. She had saved Section One on numerous accounts, and now Section One was torturing Nikita for being pregnant. Sometimes, Birkoff hated this place.

"Not know. It would establish a line and I'm not going to have you whispering sweet nothings into Michael's ears!" Birkoff said firmly and Nikita looked down at her hands. She thought about Michael being so far away when she rubbed her stomach.

Then something jarred Nikita and she pushed back on the chair and groaned.

"Nikita, is everything all right?" Birkoff asked as he turned and looked at Nikita. She was staring at her stomach. Birkoff reached out and touched Nikita's hand.

"Nikita?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita looked up with tears rolling down her eyes.

"I felt a kick." Nikita said happily and she stood up. She looked around and smiled broadly.

"I FELT A KICK!" Nikita screamed as operatives turned and looked at her. Birkoff saw Madeline standing behind Nikita and she touched Nikita's shoulder, but instead of finding a happy Nikita, she found a sobbing Nikita.

"Michael isn't here with me." Nikita sobbed out and Madeline looked at Birkoff and nodded his head.

"Michael, excuse yourself from the meeting." Birkoff ordered out as the line was established. Madeline soothed Nikita's hair as she handed over the communications unit to Nikita.

"Michael…. I felt a kick." Nikita said with the tears rolling down her eyes.

"Nikita, that is great!" Michael happily replied and Nikita smiled broadly.

"I wish you were here." Nikita said and Michael laughed.

"That baby is going to be kicking you day and night. I am not missing too much Nikita." Michael reassured Nikita and she nodded her head.

"I love you, Michael." Nikita said softly and Madeline smiled at Birkoff.

"I love you, Nikita. Now, you call Walter and tell him the good news!" Michael said and Nikita nodded her head as Madeline stepped away. Madeline looked up at the observation deck and for once, it was empty. Madeline smiled and walked down the hallway; glad for once Operations had been left in the dark.

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