Tears.

Tears.

Madeline looked at her hands that the tears feel from and then looked away. She couldn't remember the last times that she had cried for herself, for her own emotional pain. Maybe it was when Michael and Nikita got Anna caught in the drive by, but that were tears for her daughter, not for Madeline's own pain. Needless to say, she had cried enough for Nikita, especially lately, as no matter how she avoided it, Nikita was continually sent out on missions.

Now Madeline had her own tears.

For her own pain.

For her own loss

She never thought that Operations would marry someone, or rather, marry someone else other than herself. She knew that Operations had feelings for Ayn, but thought it was linked to Trevor. Now she was exposed as being wrong, and all the security she felt in her position, being Operations'second-in-command seemed to be in the air. He could easily get Ayn placed in her position. Madeline then began to worry for Nikita.

Madeline pushed her thoughts back to the computer and sighed. She was going to have to tell Nikita either before the mission briefing or after the mission briefing. She also had to wonder if Nikita was going to find out about Millicent and Logan's apparent capture during a mission.

Madeline pounded her hand down on the desk as she looked at the screen. It was just like Operations to do such a think while most of Section One was up in arms, with crisis missions occurring, and he just leaves on a honeymoon.

Madeline's tears evaporated quickly as her mood changed. In the next day she needed to bring all activities inside Section One under control. She could not depend on Michael and Nikita helping her as they had done in the past. In Madeline's mind, neither of those two operatives should be bothered with Section One in the months to come.

Madeline shook her head as more thoughts continued in her head. She was going to have to tell Anna that her father married Ayn. Anna was already confused with various half-brothers and half-sisters running around, that Madeline worried for the child. She was going to have to seek a help of a therapist for the young girl soon, as she no longer liked to communicate with anyone. And because of the missions Operations demanded upon Michael and Nikita, Anna has been severed from the one person she always seemed to glow with, Nikita.

Madeline leaned back in her chair and sighed. She was not sure what was going to occur when Nikita walked into Section One. She wasn't sure if someone would be brave enough to tell Nikita that Operations and Ayn got married. She wasn't sure if someone would accidentally tell Michael and Nikita that Millicent and Logan have been captured. Walter wasn't here to do that kind of activities, as Madeline was sure that was one of the motives of sending up operatives for training at the retreat this morning.

Madeline wondered if Birkoff had the guts to tell Nikita. Or, could Madeline tell Michael and have Michael tell Nikita. She was running out of answers, and more questions just came back onto her desk. Time was running out, and before Madeline could do anything, she would find the situation out of her hands.

Because she couldn't admit her own hurt in the entire situation.

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

Nikita walked down the hallway as Michael turned to enter the office. He stood in the doorway as Nikita marched her body over to Birkoff's station. Michael had no idea what was going on with Nikita, as she seemed to be more emotional than ever, and the episode with Lori had not been explained to him. Michael shook his head as he entered his office to grab the materials for the briefing in a few minutes.

"Birkoff, we need to talk." Nikita said firmly as she pulled a rolling chair nearby and carefully sat down. Birkoff looked up at Nikita and nodded his head.

"So I guess you want the details?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita turned her head to the side. She was surprised by Birkoff's immediate reaction, with no protest.

"Yes, you better believe I want the details." Nikita hissed out and Birkoff sighed.

"What first? Operations wedding to Ayn or the capture of Millicent and Logan?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita turned around in the chair to stare at Birkoff. She blinked her eyes as she cocked her head at Birkoff.

"What did you say?" Nikita questioned, hoping that she had heard Birkoff's words wrong. She had planned on finding out all the details about Birkoff's affair with Lori, but now she heard something that set her heart on fire.

"Operations got married to Ayn lasts night… and…"

"STOP!" Nikita hollered, and Birkoff halted his speech.

"They got married?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff nodded his head. Nikita shook her head and looked away from Birkoff. She couldn't believe that Ayn could be so stupid to do something like that. It scared Nikita to the core.

"Are they here? Why didn't they tell me before now? Where are they?" Nikita said quickly. Birkoff reached out to grab Nikita's arm and Nikita pulled it away, still in disgust at what Birkoff had been doing to Melissa.

"They are on their honeymoon. He didn't want me to tell you about that or about Millicent and Logan." Birkoff said as he saw the tears of frustration build in Nikita's eyes.

"What happened to Millicent and Logan?" Nikita demanded and Birkoff sighed. Right away, he realized that Nikita knew nothing about either of these topics before she sat down. Birkoff did not worry about what Nikita really needed to talk about any more as he worried about getting himself out of this mess.

"They were captured during their mission last night." Birkoff said and Nikita nodded her head, as she knew the profile was difficult.

"When is the mission leaving to bring them out?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff swallowed.

"There isn't one." Birkoff choked out and Nikita started to shake her head.

"This is impossible! He gets married, leaves, and condemns the couple that is going to work for Michael and me to death! WHO THE HELL DOES HE THINK HE IS!" Nikita screamed and Birkoff looked away from Nikita as he heard the pain in her voice. He felt that someone should have told Nikita right away, as soon as anyone knew about the wedding. It wasn't fair to her now.

Michael stepped out of the office and swallowed. Walter had left a message, as the rumor mill moved quickly around Section One. He saw Nikita and knew instantly that she knew about both incidents, on top of whatever what was occurring between her and Lori.

Nikita stood up as she pushed her hair back and looked at Michael.

"We are getting Logan and Millicent back. TODAY!" Nikita said and Michael nodded his head, as he had instantly pulled up the mission profile and all details for a profile to be made. Michael turned and looked at Nikita.

"Madeline wasn't going to tell me, was she?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff shrugged his shoulders. Michael tried to reach for Nikita, but she started towards Madeline's quickly. Then she stopped and turned to Birkoff.

"We will talk later, Birkoff." Nikita hissed out and then went down the hallway to discuss matters with Madeline.

Michael turned and looked at Birkoff, wondering how Birkoff managed to become added to Nikita's hit list.

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

There was no guessing who had barged into Madeline's office as she lifted her head. She could tell instantly, probably before she even lifted her head that Nikita knew. Madeline looked at the tears streaming down the pregnant young woman's face and felt for her. It was not easy for Nikita to know that Operations was her father. It was not easy for Nikita to watch her father to continually use her unlike any other operatives. It was not easy for Nikita to watch others have relationships with Operations that almost seemed like a normal relationship.

"Nikita… please sit…" Madeline tried to say as Nikita started to pace. Nikita shook her head back and forth and placed her hands on her back.

"I am not going to sit down." Nikita hissed out and Madeline stepped back, knowing that to deny Nikita's anger would be incorrect. Madeline nodded her head and waited.

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME!" Nikita finally screamed out at Madeline. Madeline blinked and looked at Nikita stunned that the anger came from Nikita was directed towards her.

"Nikita… I didn't know until this morning…" Madeline tried to explain but the shaking head showed that rational thought for Nikita was gone.

"YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME! Birkoff shouldn't have TOLD ME! HOW DARE YOU JUST FORGET ME!" Nikita screamed and Madeline blinked and looked at Nikita.

"I didn't forget you. I have been in this office trying to figure out how to help you through this…" Madeline said and she could see that the words were still not getting anywhere to Nikita.

"KILL HIM!" Nikita hissed out as she continued to pace. Madeline sighed and picked up a disk.

"I can't do that Nikita. But, I do have a profile to gather up Millicent and Logan." Madeline said and Nikita tilted her head and halted her pacing. She looked at Madeline and then grabbed the disk out of Madeline's hands.

"Operations was going to sacrifice them." Nikita stated firmly as she looked in Madeline's eyes. She needed to trust Madeline again, and Madeline was willing to do anything to make that occur. Nikita did not need enemies now; she needed friends and allies. Michael couldn't do it by himself, and Madeline could only hope to reestablish a friendship with the stubborn Nikita.

"Do you want to have this child while on a mission, Nikita? If you don't rescue them, I would put the odds at over eighty percent that your child will at least start labor on a mission." Madeline said and Nikita turned her head and wiped at her tears.

Madeline was thinking that Nikita was calming down, and reached out to comfort her. Madeline was surprised by Nikita's quickness to push her from her shoulders and against a wall.

"How can I trust you? All I needed was a PHONE CALL!" Nikita spat out at Madeline and she nodded her head. She felt entirely guilty for letting the situation get out of her control. Madeline shook her head and did the one thing Madeline would have normally never done. Allowed her own emotions out.

"How do you think I took it? Nikita, I have a relationship with Operations that has been off and on for many years, and WE HAD ANNA TOGETHER!" Madeline pleaded out to Nikita, hoping that Nikita's own emotional state could identify with what Madeline went through.

"I have to think about getting Anna to therapy as she isn't the same girl. She is sad all the time. Doesn't talk to me, play with me, or be with me. How do you think she is going to take this? How do I keep my own emotions of feeling for my own daughter in check in order to deal with this?" Madeline exclaimed and Nikita stepped back and dropped the disk to the desk.

"I shouldn't be bothering you. I am not your daughter." Nikita said coldly and left the room. Madeline dropped her head to the side and closed her eyes.

Tears.

And Madeline had no more control over that, than Nikita had over her anger.

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

The only sound that came from the room was one of labored breathing, quickly in and out, in a ragged pattern and Michael's heart jumped. He pushed the door open and found Nikita gasping for air in her worked up state.

"Come on, Nikita, put your head down…" Michael said as he moved towards the couch and reached for Nikita's wet hair. She shook her head and continued to gasp for air.

"Nikita, you need to calm down…. You are hyperventilating." Michael stated and Nikita turned her head with tears still on her eyes.

"I can't…." Nikita gasped out and Michael looked at Nikita and rubbed her shoulders. He did not have the time to hold onto the hatred that he felt for the people of Section One that had done this to Nikita. He did not have the time to track down Operations and send hateful messages to the devil himself. He did not have the time, and Nikita was suffering because of this.

Michael was sure that Operations knew exactly what he was doing to Nikita. He had run her ragged and maybe in some odd way, he thought that this was a solution. Michael was worried about the baby and Nikita. Nikita wasn't going to allow an examination anytime soon, but if she passed out because she hyperventilated, Michael was sure that Elana would jump at the opportunity.

"You have to try." Michael whispered out and Nikita looked at her body.

"My stomach is in the way." Nikita said and Michael smiled and looked at Nikita. She sputtered out a laugh and leaned forwards towards Michael. Michael closed his eyes and rubbed her back. Methodically, Nikita's breathing eased and finally settled. Michael knew that it did not mean that she had eased her emotions, but physically she was doing better.

"Are you going to be able to handle this mission?" Michael questioned and Nikita lifted an eyebrow.

"The walk to the baby store to make a contact with some bad guy? I don't think it is that hard." Nikita commented and Michael nodded his head and then looked at Nikita.

"And for Millicent and Logan?" Michael questioned and Nikita fought back tears.

"We aren't using Madeline's plan. We will go immediately after the contact is made." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head and rubbed Nikita's hair back softly.

"Things have to get better." Michael stated and Nikita swallowed and looked at Michael.

"Madeline said I could have child on the field if we don't get Millicent and Logan back, Michael. I don't want that to happen. I'm so scared of…." Nikita said and turned her head. Michael smiled and nodded his head.

"Don't worry about being on the field. You won't." Michael stated and Nikita nodded her head.

"But I'm scared of the labor, Michael." Nikita stated and Michael smiled and kissed Nikita's nose softly.

"Let's worry about that later, ok, Kita?" Michael questioned and he turned towards the computer. He worked quietly for some time and then licked his lips.

"Are you going to tell me why there was tension between you and Birkoff?" Michael questioned and Nikita turned her head and looked away from Michael.

"No." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head and continued on with his work.

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

If easy could ever be used to describe a Section One mission, that was the mission to the baby shop. Both Michael and Nikita moved quickly and the mission was successfully completed so that the second matter could be dealt with.

Nikita pulled at her special body amour and moved down the hallway. She felt so clumsy in this outfit now, but that was not her worry. She felt that it was stupid for her and Michael to enter this building with no back up at all, but so far there has been no guards.

"Michael…" Nikita hissed as she motioned him over from his stance. He protectively looked forward as Nikita pulled out a scanning devise. She could see the anger in Michael's eyes at her movement, as he was ready to commando crawl down the hallway if he had too. Nikita looked around and shook her head as the equipment read back to her quickly.

Whoever took Millicent and Logan had not done a good job, at all.

Nikita slung the heavy machine gun over her shoulder and carried her handgun as she walked into the middle of the hallway. Michael tried to pull at Nikita's arm as she pulled the door open.

There were Millicent and Logan, tied up heavily onto two chairs. Chains ropes, tape, wire, and even some rags. Nikita pulled the tape off of Millicent's mouth first.

"Millie, did they clear out of here?" Nikita questioned as she undid the ties around her hands.

"Yes. They cleared everything out before we even arrived." Millicent said and Nikita looked to Michael and then carefully bend down to start working on her leg ties.

"Nikita… let me do that." Michael said as he saw the awkwardness Nikita was dealing with, but she was all ready down onto her knees and working.

"Get his tape off his mouth, Michael!" Nikita reamed at Michael for his rudeness. Michael jerked the tape off and Nikita shook her head.

"So where did the mistake come?" Michael demanded and both of the operatives started to protest.

"Our units went down. And there are other problems." Millicent said quickly and Nikita finished with the last tie.

"Can you stand?" Nikita questioned as she saw the bruising around her ankle. Millicent tenderly stood up as Logan pulled up from the chair.

"Good, help me up." Nikita said as she reached her hands up to Millicent. Millicent helped provide Nikita the leverage to squat her body up and Nikita looked at Michael.

"I want to know what went wrong. Why is this place cleared out?" Michael demanded as he moved into Logan's face.

"If you would just listen. Black Rings has nuclear warheads." Millicent said and Nikita blinked her eyes. She handed her gun to Millicent and started to walk down the hallway.

"Operations was going to sacrifice you two." Michael commented as he watched Nikita carelessly walk down the hallway towards their waiting van.

"Well, that still doesn't matter now. There are nuclear warheads in the possession of Black Rings." Millicent said and she moved down the hallway. Michael shook his head and moved quickly.

The nasty situation Operations had gotten them in just got a lot nastier.

***********

Madeline walked down the hallway as Michael and Nikita walked in. Everyone watched as Millicent and Logan headed towards Medlab and Madeline could see the look in Nikita's eyes.

"You better find Operations, if he even cares about us." Nikita said as she moved towards a chair and sat down. Madeline turned her head to look at Michael, who turned his glare from Nikita and to Madeline.

"He is on his honeymoon." Madeline stated and before Michael could say a word, Nikita carefully popped back up from her chair.

"Just like him to leave us when Black Rings have nuclear warheads." Nikita stated firmly and Madeline closed her eyes and looked towards Birkoff, who was working as quickly as he could.

"I'M WORKING ON IT!" Birkoff called out, knowing what they all wanted. Madeline looked at Michael as Nikita carefully sat down again.

"Michael, are Millicent and Logan going to be able to go out on the mission?" Madeline questioned, and again, before Michael could answer, Nikita started to stifle her sarcastic laughter. Both Michael and Nikita looked at Nikita. She turned and walked out of the area.

"She isn't taking this well." Michael stated as he watched Madeline looking at Nikita's movement to the office.

"It has been a difficult day for everyone, Michael." Madeline stated and Michael swallowed and looked off to the wall. The silence was deep, as the only noise was Birkoff typing at the keyboard.

"Usually I can get her to talk about the baby in the van. She didn't saw a word." Michael said and Madeline blinked her eyes and looked down to her hands. She did not need Michael's concern for Nikita to become compulsive and overbearing.

"Michael, she is getting late in pregnancy. She is tired." Madeline replied but she could see the comment was dismissed before Michael heard the ending. Michael turned towards the computer and looked at Birkoff.

"I'm working on it! Why don't you try to find out other intel!" Birkoff complained as he saw the two circling operatives.

"I am going to go check on Nikita." Michael stated and moved quickly away.

~~ 3 Hours Later ~~

"DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!" Birkoff swore as he looked at the computer. He shook his head and slammed his hand on the desk. He knew Operations would protect his location, but this was insane. Michael opened the office door and walked down the hallway as Madeline walked towards him.

"We have some intel on Black Rings current location." Michael said and Madeline nodded her head.

"Continue working on it. Nikita is helping you?" Madeline questioned and Michael blinked his eyes.

"She is working. She isn't communicating." Michael said and Madeline tilted her head. She thought that this little fit that Nikita was working herself into was going to pass quickly.

"At least she is doing work." Madeline commented and Michael reached out and grabbed Madeline's arm.

"Have you ever know Nikita to be quiet when her father has made a mistake?" Michael questioned and Madeline pressed her lips together.

"Birkoff, do we have a location yet?" Madeline inquired. Birkoff looked up at Madeline and pulled his glasses off of his face.

"If I had a location, do you think I would sit on my hands and hid it from you?" Birkoff remarked sharply and turned back to his work.

"This is not fun and games Birkoff and Michael. We don't know who the target is and Black Rings have nuclear warheads. This isn't a game at all." Madeline said and turned down the hallway. Michael sighed and walked back to the office, almost feeling an imaginary clock ticking down over his head.

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