Michael stepped out of the car and looked up at the building. It had not changed in the four years that had passed. He looked at the building and then closed his door. He slowly shoved his hands into his pockets and walked towards the entrance.

So much had passed in the four years that he did not know where to start and what to think about. When he had been transferred, his hair was short, but now it had grown again, longer than it had ever been before in his life. The years seemed to pass extremely slowly. Michael did not tell anyone of how he wanted to go back to Headquarters. If he did such, they would feel that it was because of Nikita.

Things were bad between Michael and Nikita when he received the transfer. He had almost not even told Nikita. Instead, two hours before he got on the plane to go to Hong Kong, he showed up at Nikita's steps. The hallway was different from the hallway that he now walked down.

"Hello, Nikita." Michael said when she opened the door. She did not move it past the cracked position and stared at him. She had recently broken a relationship off with a man who Michael believed that she had loved. She had been having a hard time readjusting since then. Michael knew he had not helped the situation.

"Michael." Nikita said and Michael looked into her blue eyes. She must have heard the rumors by then.

"I am here to say good-bye, Nikita. I am going to Hong Kong." Michael said and she nodded her head.

"Good-bye, Michael." Nikita simply said and shut the door. Michael walked away from the door hurt and confused. On the plane trip to Hong Kong, he tried to contact Nikita, to talk. He found that Section had changed her cell phone.

Michael had kept track of Nikita, no matter how covertly he had to do so. Sometimes for months he could not access her files, while other times, they were almost sent to him. The missions that were very successful, missions that Michael himself would believe would fail were sent to him, with Nikita's name highlighted on the top. Successful. Rarely did he find a mission that had failed.

Now he was standing in front of Nikita's door. He heard the cheerful music and mused that Nikita must not of changed much of all. She had no boyfriend, that much Birkoff told Michael. Walter had refused to talk to Michael since he left. Michael did not know why, but Walter was protecting Nikita. Walter didn't know that Nikita could protect herself from Michael fine enough.

Michael wrapped his knuckle against the door and he listened to some laughter. Maybe she did have a boyfriend that he didn't know about. Maybe she had a girlfriend.

"Nikita." Michael called out as he knocked on the door again. Slowly the door opened up and Michael stared at Nikita and the small girl with blonde hair in Nikita's arms. There Michael was met with blue eyes like Nikita's.

"Michael." Nikita said and the girl dropped her head against Nikita's chest. Nikita leaned down and kissed her head.

"Mia.. shhhh... It's ok." Nikita whispered softly and she looked up at Michael.

"Is she yours?" Michael chokes out as he looked at the little girl who hid her face from Michael. Then he looked up at Nikita. Her face was drawn, but seemed younger and more relaxed than it ever had in all the years that he knew her.

"Yes." Nikita said as she stared back at Michael's eyes. She held onto her daughter tightly and leaned back. Michael continued to stare.

"I will see you... in.." Michael said as he stepped back and turned and looked at Nikita once more with her daughter. It wasn't supposed to be this way. She must have a boyfriend, god, and even a husband. Michael stared at her and dropped his head.

"Of course." Nikita said and looked at Michael stepped further down the hallway. Michael stopped and moved slightly back towards Nikita.

"It was good to see you, Nikita." Michael said, but he could not move. Nikita lifted her head and placed her hand on the door. She looked back at Michael and dropped her head slightly, but then stared back at Michael.

"As it was to see you." Nikita started out; "I have a mission in the morning, Michael. Goodbye." Nikita said and closed the door with a soft click. Michael moved back towards the door and looked at its texture, wanting to grasp meaning to what he had just seen, and then moved away abruptly, knowing that it may never come.

*

Nikita sat her desk, typing at the computer. She had inherited Michael's office when Madeline and Operations had promoted her. Nikita took her computer and her picture of Mia and steadily entered to office, and never mentioned it to anyone the fact that it had once been Michael's.

Nikita turned her head to the side and sipped at the water from the plastic bottle and moved her head back to the computer. There was an important mission pending, and she was just starting her second check of the Intel. Nikita glanced at her watch and realized that time was running out on her for this mission.

There was a tiny noise from the doorway, and Nikita instantly snapped her head up to establish a visual on the door. Nikita swallowed, and she almost winced as it felt as if she was swallowing nails. She did not move her gaze, until the figure moved into the office and shut the door.

"Does it bother you to work in this office?" Michael asked in his attempt to start a conversation. Nikita looks at him and then pulls the drawer out of the desk. Michael looked over the desk, and watched Nikita turn off all the surveillance in the room.

"No. It never has. There was nothing significant to this office. It is an office." Nikita replied with a cold tone that Michael felt rub his heart raw. Michael moved to the chair and sat slowly down. There was an odd feeling of magnetism as Michael sat down, sitting where Nikita had sat before him for numerous years. It was awkward having the things that were normal, to be reversed.

In a move to insert the power that Nikita had gained during Michael's absence, she turned back towards her computer to consult the Intel, as Michael had traditionally done. Michael folded his hands and pulled the chair closer to the desk to look at Nikita's features and that movement alone caused Nikita to take her hands off of the keyboard and back at Michael.

"What is it, Michael?" Nikita asks with a tone of annoyance and Michael looked around the office and then to her desk. Michael noticed the frame, but quickly moved his eyes away from it.

"Have you maintained surveillance on Lewis Sanchez?" Michael asked, as he looked to Nikita's blue eyes. He had calculated that the mention of this particular target would cause a reaction in Nikita's eyes. It became a way to put Nikita back to where she was before he had left. What Michael got in return was the firm blank stare of Nikita that could even compete with his own stare.

"No. He is on the green list." Nikita said and folded her arms up on the desk and leaned closer to Michael. Her steamy breath was felt on his face and he continued to hold the intense glare into Nikita's eyes.

"I would worry about revenge. Especially since you have a daughter." Michael said and Nikita sat firmly up from the desk. The blank stare of emotional void was replaced with blatant anger. Michael, himself, sat back from the desk, as Nikita's eyes of blue seemed to turn red.

"My daughter is of no concern to you." Nikita said sharply, accenting every syllable. Nikita tilted her head to the side and maintain contact with Michael's eyes. Michael ran his tongue around his mouth and stood up. He looked back down at the desk, and pulled the frame up into his large hands.

"Who is her father, Nikita?" Michael asked and Nikita smoothly stood up to her own elegant height and wrapped her hands around the frame. She took the frame and placed it back onto the desk. To Nikita, Michael had passed the line with the penetration of her personal space by daring to touch the photograph. Nikita looked down at the picture and then back to Michael.

"None of your concern." Nikita said as she started to move towards the blinds, but in reaction to the statement, Michael grabbed Nikita's wrist and squeezed. Nikita turned towards him, to face him with eyes drawn into tight slits. Michael dropped the hand and moved only inches closer, but it felt as if the room had shrunk for Nikita and Michael. It was space that Michael ached to make up, and it was what Nikita never wanted to feel again. It was too important to continue on, as if the comings and goings of Michael did not matter to her universe. Nikita felt they were two separate people, moving in to separate directions.

"Would she be safer with the father? Lewis Sanchez could retaliate at anytime Nikita. We took down a major part of his business, and his son died at your hands." Michael said firmly and Nikita looked at Michael and shook her head slightly from side to side, indicating no.

"She is safe with me. I am all that she knows, and that is the way it will be. Now, this matter is closed." Nikita said and walked back to her desk. Yet, Michael moved back to the desk to continue the confrontation. Nikita lifted her head straight up and stared at Michael. She did not back down, as she had in the past. She maintained the stare as it started to become uncomfortable for both, but she knew she could not give in to Michael. If she gave in now, she usurped all power to Michael. That would not do.

"Nikita, I hope you have your daughter protected." Michael said and Nikita placed her hands defiantly on her hips. Her eyes narrowed again, and focused on Michael's gray eyes.

"I have. That is why yesterday, Walter went away with her." Nikita says coldly and Michael can almost hear warning bells with the statement. There were questions swimming around Michael's mind as he took in the information. Nikita had sent her flesh and blood away with Walter. Michael stared at Nikita, and could almost see the hands of ice wringing all the humanness and compassion out of her body. Nikita had become a vessel in Michael's eyes and it shattered all images that Michael had of touching Nikita again.

"Why? Has Lewis Sanchez been a problem?" Michael asked. He stared at Nikita, but she remained quiet, as she pulled her rolling chair back from the desk. Michael could feel a sweat running down his forehead as Nikita sat down calmly.

"No. To protect her from you. Now, I have a mission, Michael." Nikita said and turned back to the screen. Michael stepped back physically with the statement, but emotionally; it felt as if Nikita shot him through the head. Michael looked at Nikita and then exited the room without another sound other than his shoes hitting the floor.

*

Nikita walked through the doors of van access and shook her head as she looked down at her injured team member. Nikita looked to the personnel and just turned to go back to her office. She took the black gloves quickly off of her hands and pulled her blonde hair out of the bun. Nikita was shaking her hair out as Birkoff ran into her.

"Sorry, Nikita." Birkoff stuttered out as Nikita turned an icy glare at her. Nikita looked back as alarms start to blare from the medical equipment. She knew that the team member would not live. Nikita turned her attention back to Birkoff.

"Fine." Nikita said, and went to go around Birkoff's skinny body to continue back to her office. In a rare move, Birkoff reached out and grabbed Nikita's arm. Nikita snapped her entirely tense body down upon Birkoff's tiny frame.

"You might want to check your computer. I think it is something important." Birkoff said and Nikita narrowed her eyes and hunched down to look into his eyes. Birkoff lifted his head up to look at Nikita.

"You mean you didn't hack into private mail? I am surprised." Nikita slurred out in ignorance as she turned and moved down the hallway. She looked around at her, and with a precisely placed glare, looked up at Operations as he hovered in the Observation Deck. Nikita continued her glare until Operations shook his head back and forth and Nikita smirked. It was always the best way to get out of a debrief.

Nikita walked over to her computer and turned it on as she continued to take off her mission gear. Nikita turned her back around and undid the jacket slowly. Nikita was thinking about how she felt as if she was getting older when the computer started to run on its own.

"Nikita, Nikita. We have something you may want back." Lewis' vibrated voice said from the computer and Nikita's body quickly finished the three hundred and sixty-degree turn to look at the crystal clear image on the computer. Nikita sat down as she saw Walter tied to a chair and Mia in the hands of a woman. Lewis had dropped his voice vibrator, which he needed to talk, since Michael injured him, and picked up a syringe. He moved to Mia and pushed it into her small arm.

The tears ran instantly as Nikita started to pull up screens. Motherly instinct took hold of her body as her fingers moved quickly and effectively. She needed to know what Lewis had just injected Mia with. Nikita's heart felt as if it had been pulled out of her chest and was being hit upon with a hammer. Nikita closed in on the medicine and felt every inch of her very being shrink in horror. Nikita blinked back the tears and stood up from her desk. She took the rest of the field clothes off and pulled her hair tightly back.

Nikita stepped out of her office, like she always did. She looked both ways and then folded her hands behind her back. She moved slowly, not wanting to draw attention to her activities and actions. No matter who had Mia, Nikita would be told that Mia was acceptable collateral, yet, Nikita was not going to allow her daughter to die. Nikita would give up her own life trying to save her before allowing Mia to pass on.

Nikita stood at the computers silently as Michael walked into the area. He stopped and then looked at Nikita. They had not spoken in a good five days. Michael did not like the tension, but this time, Nikita turned towards him and walked towards him. Instantly, he knew that something must have occurred. >From the knowledge he had acquired about this new Nikita, from observation and talks with other operatives, Nikita had isolated herself for many years and only communicated to those she felt deserved so.

"Michael, I would like to speak with you in my office." Nikita said firmly, so that the passing operatives could hear her voice clearly, without a trace of the stress and pain she was going through. Michael narrowed his own eyes and looked up to the Observation Deck.

"Why don't we go to my office?" Michael said clearly and Nikita turned quickly away. She saw Michael's statement as being a play of power. She was deeply hurt, although no one, including herself, would know that.

"All I wanted was a consultation, Michael. Fine. I can handle this myself." Nikita said as she started to walk down the hallway. She did not turn her head back around to look for Michael. For Nikita, she was only going to ask once, and Michael had just bailed on her because of the office issue. Nikita opened her office door and closed it soundly. It would only be opened a few minutes later as Nikita rubbed her hands through her long blonde hair in frustration.

"Nikita, what is it?" Michael asked and Nikita moved her head slightly for Michael to view her computer. Nikita punched her code and turned away from the screen. Michael stared at the computer and then turned towards Nikita.

"Have you told Madeline and Operations?" Michael asked and Nikita turned and looked at him with a firm look. Michael was mildly shocked that there was no emotional reaction from Nikita. From what he had gathered from seeing Nikita with her daughter, is that Nikita cared for her unlike anything else in her life.

"Of course not." Nikita said as she sat down at her desk and Michael walked to the blinds and looked out. Michael hurriedly looked at the drawer that Nikita had yet to open up and turn off the surveillance. Nikita noticed the motion to show Michael that the system had already been deactivated.

"I am going to get her back, Michael." Nikita said firmly as her eyes moved up to look into his. Nikita stared and then looked back to the screen. Nikita touched her finger to the screen and felt the static electricity snap at the finger.

"Lewis Sanchez is green listed, Nikita." Michael stated firmly as he looked back out of the blind. Nikita stood up and walked over to the window and leaned into Michael's face. Michael lifted his head to look at Nikita's face. Michael was struck by how Nikita was holding herself, but then also disappointed that the Nikita that had captured his heart was washed away by a Nikita that was like the Section machine, Nikita use to compare Michael too.

"Section hasn't stop you from saving my life. Why should Section stop me from saving Mia's?" Nikita questions firmly and Michael looked at Nikita. Each time Nikita's eyes blinked, Michael could hear them brush against each other. That was how close Nikita was to Michael's body. Their eyes moved back and forth over each other's face at the same rate.

"What does Lewis Sanchez know about Mia that I don't?" Michael questioned. He had seen the video tape, and the treatment of Mia was done in a way, that seemed to show Michael that Lewis Sanchez knew more than just where Walter had taken them.

"I am not going to help you until you tell me, Nikita." Michael hissed out and Nikita did not flinch and did not even blink. The only response was a slight lift in her head and the broadening of her nostrils. Nikita seemed to be deep in thought.

"Mia is sick, and now, may be dying." Nikita stated without hesitation and then abruptly moved away from the window. Nikita walked over to the desk and enlarged the picture of the vial of medicine Lewis Sanchez had used. Nikita looked over her shoulder. She was not going to spoon feed Michael what he wanted to know. Michael placed his hand on Nikita's shoulder to look down at the screen. Nikita pushed the hand off of her shoulder sharply and moved away from the computer screen.

"That will cause renal failure. Does Mia have a kidney problem?" Michael asked and Nikita shut the lid of the computer down and placed her body against Michael's. Nikita outlined the shape of his lips with her fingertips and then dropped the hand.

"This never leaves this room. Yes. And now, she will have three to five days to live, probably no more than three." Nikita said and Michael looked at the strong woman. He moved towards the door and leaned against the cold metal and then looked at Nikita.

She hadn't changed much, not as much at Michael thought. She had toughened her outer skin in order to protect her daughter. Michael could not believe the hell that Madeline and Operations must have placed her through, and somehow, Nikita still managed to conceal the identity of the father. Michael rubbed his chin and looked at Nikita. If Mia was having kidney problems, it must also mean that Nikita's kidneys did not match Mia's. Internally, that must have been tearing Nikita apart. Nikita had been giving her daughter everything she could, and in reality, the one thing that Mia needed, Nikita couldn't give her. Michael's mind skipped over the thought of Mia's father. It was possible that they could find the kidney through him, but the problem now wasn't of getting a matching kidney, it was of freeing Mia.

"Plan an entrance and an exit. We'll take Lewis Sanchez down. Use Birkoff, he will keep quiet." Michael finally said and Nikita looked at him, and since Michael arrived back, he saw a sparkle of hope in Nikita's eyes. Nikita knew she had allowed the emotional reaction to reach the surface and pulled herself tightly back into her self-contained walls.

"Lewis Sanchez is green listed." Nikita said firmly, knowing that if they did take out Sanchez, that the consequences may mean death for the both of them, Walter, and Mia. It would do them no good to go into the Lewis Sanchez's place, to retrieve them only to be killed when they returned.

"I will worry about that. Make plans and be ready to leave in an hour." Michael said and moved out of the office with only one more glance at Nikita. He could tell by his parting glance that Nikita had slipped back into the machine mode that she had once dreaded to become like. It hurt Michael's heart, but what hurt worse was that he had not been able to protect Nikita and her daughter from the likes of Lewis Sanchez. He should have been killed the first time, and now, was the time to do the job right.

*

Michael turned to the right and continued down the long dark hallway. He slowly pulled out the phone from his pocket and continued his trek down the hallways. Michael brushed his hand against the wall and noted the thick dust that had gathered from the area not being used. Michael turned to the diamond shaped doorway and stopped inside of it. He looked from side to side and smiled as he uncovered the transmission lines. Michael slid the cord of the phone into the lines. No one would know he had tapped in.

Michael punched the number 157, and moved the phone up to his head. He turned his back to the right hand side of the hallway. It was a dead end, but the other direction would take him back to the stairs and the elevators that he had used in various combinations to get to his current location.

"Hello." The gruff voice echoed out and Michael let out the supply of air that he had in his chest. Michael licked his lips and looked at the end of the phone to see that he still had the green light, meaning it was undetected.

"George, remember the favor I complete in Hong Kong with Madame Hurley?" Michael asked calmly as he looked down to the floor.

"Yes, I am grateful." George readily admitted to and Michael looked to his watch. He could not beat around the bush; Nikita would be waiting for him in twenty minutes.

"Remember how you said you owed me. I am calling it in." Michael said, again, notably calm and collective.

"Michael, you have only been back to Section One for a few weeks. Are you sure?" George asks, but Michael does not buy the note of concerned on the man's voice. Michael knew George too well, since more than often; he worked hand in hand with George in Hong Kong.

"I need someone taken off of Section One's green list." Michael said firmly and he turned towards the cords, looking at the various other lines that he could tap into if needed. Michael did not want to tap into the computer and destroy the green list, because Birkoff would have the problem solved to quickly. If he had to, Michael would.

"Who, Michael?" George asked and Michael felt his mouth slightly turn upward with a smile. George was very thankful for Michael saving his mistress. Michael turned and looked back towards the elevators as he started to hear noises.

"Lewis Sanchez." Michael said without blinking his eyes. There was some silence on the line and then an awkward moan.

"George?" Michael asked firmly, not liking the silence. Michael checked the phone line and found it to still be secure and working.

"Michael, we are still gathering vast knowledge from Lewis Sanchez. I hope there is a reason for this, and not a person vendetta." George said and Michael nodded his head. George, although he was Oversight, had become a confidant to Michael in Hong Kong. The mission that Michael and Nikita had completed was difficult, and then at the conclusion, Lewis Sanchez was deemed to valuable to cancel. Nikita had been crushed, and Michael did not feel the effects until he went to Hong Kong. George was there.

"No. He has some personal of Section One taken for revenge." Michael said, not knowing what George knew of Nikita and her situation. Michael waited and looked down to his feet.

"How soon do you need this done for?" George finally said and Michael lifted his head and placed his hand around the cord that connected the phone to into the line.

"Immediately." Michael replied with curtness, and he stopped his temptation on pulling the cord. He waited.

"I will do this, Michael, because I owe you, but I have I feeling this isn't for you." George said and hung up. Michael pulled the line and started to curl the cord into a thing ball and shoved the phone into his pocket as he jogged back up to meet Nikita.

*

Madeline walked down the hallway, with the hurried practiced grace. She turned the corner as the heavy door of van access was violently opened, with a stretcher only inches away from the door. Madeline stopped as medical personal swarmed around her and rushed to the stretcher. Madeline held a face of anger, as the notices of incoming were not even on a mission.

Michael walked down to the first stretcher and looked to the medical personal. He looked down and stroked the tiny face of Mia. Michael stood up and handed the bottle of medicine that he had found on site. Michael did not seem to care about what had occurred as he looked down at Nikita's little girl.

"She is in renal failure caused by that drug. You need to get her on dialysis immediately and do an all out search for a kidney. I want the state's donor list accessed and any other similar lists. Not location is too remote." Michael said and the medical personal nodded to Michael and started to jog the stretcher down the hallway.

Madeline had heard the words renal failure and looked at Michael and then down. She looked as the stretcher passed and felt the air in her chest get stuck as she saw little Mia on the stretcher. Madeline turned to look at Michael, to inquire what had occurred, when the next stretcher flew into the hallway.

"Mia... Mia..." Nikita was muttering, and Michael stroked her cheek softly. Her eyes were closed and her color was gone. Michael looked at Nikita and shook his head. Nikita had planned the most effective profile for a two-man team. She was precise on every detail, until she entered the room in which Walter and Mia were being held. Nikita rushed to her daughter, and although it was not the plan, Michael did not blame her.

Things happened quickly as Lewis Sanchez exited his office closest to Michael. He raised his gun and started to taunt Michael and Nikita. Nikita looked at her sick daughter and then to Sanchez. Michael could see Nikita fighting with the demons and the memories of the mission with Sanchez. Usually a mission would emotional hurt one operative, and the other would be fine or at least prepared for the emotions they would feel. This one had left emotional entanglements on both operatives. Lewis Sanchez smiled at Nikita and Michael moved towards her. It was the first time since Michael had returned that he saw Nikita's firmly placed emotional shell cracking.

"Mia.. Mia..." Nikita moaned out and Michael stroked her cheek softly again and rubbed her neck softly, were the bandages started. Michael tried to avoid looking at the bloody bandages and in doing so, maintained his own emotional shell up. He had almost lost it when he first saw Nikita with Mia, but now, seeing both mother and daughter in such dire straits hurt him. He wanted to protect them both.

"They are taking care of her, Nikita. I promise." Michael whispered out and he looked at Nikita and rubbed her hand. She squeezed it and Michael remembered back to what had made her this way. Sanchez had some men in the office with him, and they rushed both Michael and Nikita. In the frantic fighting the five men, Nikita had lost her gun, and Michael turned the gun on Sanchez to find that it had jammed. Michael stared at Sanchez as Nikita turned around to see Sanchez turn the gun on Michael. Nikita looked to her daughter, and then leaped in front of Michael and took the four shots to the shoulder and chest. Walter had staggered out of the chair and gathered Nikita's gun and shot Sanchez in between the eyes.

"She has four bullet wounds, concentrated in the shoulder and chest. She was also given a good butt in the head with a gun while in the fight. She needs surgery to remove the bullets, immediately." Michael issued out as he stepped back from the gurney.

Madeline watched as the medical personal took off along side Nikita's stretcher. Madeline started to move closer to Michael, to inquire what had occurred, when the next stretcher rolled in, this time with a patient that was more coherent and a lot louder.

"How is Mia? Nikita? Michael, Tell me something! I have looked out for them these past four years while you were AWAL! I want answers Michael! You can't waltz in here and take over!" Walter was shouting and Madeline moved to the stretcher.

"Walter, let the medical personal look you over and we'll find out about Mia and Nikita. They were just placed in our medical hands." Madeline said as she pushed Walter back against the pillow. There were various bruises, burns, and contusions. Madeline looked up at Michael and then to the medical personal.

"To make this easy on all of you, do a full body x-ray, and then x-ray any trouble areas. Clean him up, and find a way to keep him calm." Madeline ordered and she held onto Michael's arm as Walter was moved down the hallway.

"Care to explain, Michael?" Madeline said firmly and Michael started to move down the hallway. Michael did not want to waste the time on explaining things to Madeline.

"Mia and Walter were captured by Lewis Sanchez, Housekeeping has his body, and Nikita and I went to reclaim them." Michael said as he turned into the hallway and Madeline firmly pulled him by his right arm. Madeline looked at the arm and saw the blood that was caked onto it. Madeline turned her look up to Michael's eyes. She would not allow her emotions to get involved.

"Lewis Sanchez is on the green list, Michael." Madeline said and Michael turned to Birkoff and looked back at Madeline.

"Maybe you should recheck your green list, Madeline. Now, Nikita took four bullets that were meant for me, I will leave you with the computer." Michael abruptly said and turned away from Madeline's hold. Madeline watched Michael's field clothed body, with Nikita's blood caked onto it, saunter down the hallway with a hurried pace that she had not seen since he had returned.

"Birkoff, is Lewis Sanchez on the green list?" Madeline asked loudly from her position. She turned her body and Birkoff stood up and looked at Madeline.

"George had him taken off today." Birkoff reported and Madeline nodded her head and sharply turned to make her way to her office. She was going to have to find a way to explain all of the developments to Operations.

*

Michael stood in the middle of the medical area. Nikita had been out of surgery for a few moments, Walter was still being cleaned up, stitched, and then hopefully a cast and Mia was still with doctors. Madeline had arrived as soon as Nikita was rolled out of surgery, but did not stay long in the room.

Michael moved closer to the room that the doctors swarmed in and out of. In the middle of the busy bodies and the numerous machines, was Mia, thankfully asleep. Michael caught a glimpse of Mia's face and then turned to look at Nikita's room. Nikita would die if Mia died.

"Michael, I have the updates on conditions." Madeline said firmly as she stepped out of Mia's room. Michael turned and looked at her. He held his hands in front of his body and nodded his head.

"I know of Walter's." Michael said and the comment allowed Madeline to allow a tiny smile out. It was the good news that she had.

"Nikita is out of surgery, and we have been keeping her sedated. That may change." Madeline said and Michael tilted his head to the side and looked at Madeline. She turned and walked to the window of Mia's room. Michael looked at Madeline and saw an emotion that he rarely saw in Madeline. Michael dropped his hands from in front of his body and looked into the room.

"Mia desperately needs a new kidney. We haven't found a match. We need to find her father." Madeline said slowly and turned her attention from Mia to Michael. Michael lifted his own head to find Madeline staring at him.

"I am going to have them bring Nikita off of the sedation." Madeline said and Michael shook his head with Madeline's plan. It would not work. Madeline was hoping that there was still a connection between Nikita and himself. Maybe Michael was still playing the role of protector, but Nikita's trust in Michael had died long before his transfer.

"Madeline, she had to have confided in someone. Walter?" Michael asked and Madeline shook her head and folded one of her hands into Michael's. Michael looked at Mia again, and Madeline watched the eyes. Madeline started to move Michael away from the room to make sure that she would have his full attention.

"Michael, I was active in Nikita's pregnancy when she told me she was four months pregnant. I did not push her for answers on whom the father was, and I did not want to know. What I was concerned with was her mental health, and it amazed me what she had turned into. We never spoke again of the Sanchez mission. Never. I knew of the pain and hurt she had felt from the humiliation that was caused. From that mission, she has not been the same Nikita, but with the pregnancy and then birth of Mia, part of the Nikita we had lost and the part we needed, returned. She will not entrust anyone with the information, of whom the father is, unless she trusts that person. She hasn't told Walter, because Walter would have broken, by now." Madeline said firmly and Michael turned and looked to Walter's room. Michael looked at Walter as the nurses struggled to make a cast on his forearm. He was staring at Mia's room. Madeline was speaking the truth.

"Michael, you are our last hope. Mia will die, and die soon if we cannot find the father. You have had a way with Nikita in the past, and we can only hope that you have the way again. I know if Mia passes, that it will cause a chain reaction, one that I am not ready to face." Madeline said and turned around from Michael and headed back to Mia's room.

Michael swallowed and started to turn in a circle slowly. The chain reaction was a theory that Michael knew could happen. If Mia died, Nikita would no longer have a reason to live. That was Nikita's one reason for living. Michael had no doubt that Nikita would find a way to meet her maker. From there, things would multiple. Walter and Birkoff would have lost their friend. Although they might not take their own lives, although, Michael was sure that Walter would not hesitate, it would have serious ramifications on everyone. Michael stopped and looked at Nikita's room. Michael felt his heart being twisted and knew that he had to include himself on the chain reaction. He would be destroyed. He would not have anyone to protect any longer, and he would not have his reason for living. It did not matter how far away Nikita was from his body and soul, there was something there that Michael had denied too long. Now it was time to face it, and face it for the good of a dying child he barely knew for a day.

*

"Nikita..." Michael's voice drifted in and Nikita smiled. It was a dream she always had. Michael would be sitting in the living room, calling her name out in the nice house. Nikita would walk down the stairs and smile broadly at her. He would stand up and kiss both of her cheeks, the top of her nose, and then to gently nestle his mouth against her own hot mouth. Nikita could feel his arms holding her tightly, giving her warmth.

"Nikita..." Michael's voice squeaked in, louder and clear, and changing the surrounding. Nikita flinched as she saw the room that Michael stood in. There were three sides to it, all made out of plexi-glass, and the back wall made out of brick. Nikita looked out of the plexi-glass and gasped as she saw the cameras and the men around the walls. Michael moved to her and stroked her hair.

"Nikita. You need to wake up..." Michael said and Nikita tried to sit up in a bolt, as she was fighting to get out of the nightmare. Nikita felt the pain instantly and fell back against the pillow and soft bedding. Michael touched her face, and pushed away the tears that Nikita was not aware that had squeezed out of her eyes.

"Mia.." Nikita voiced and Michael nodded his head and pulled a stool close to the bed. He took Nikita's thin hand into his and rubbed it softly before looking back up to her blue eyes. Michael felt his heart stop, as this might be the hardest things he ever had to tell and do to Nikita.

"She is alive for the moment." Michael said and Nikita pulled in a sharp gasp of air and started to choke in pain. Michael rubbed her face and shook his head. Nikita turned her head to the side and allowed a loud scream out which caused Michael to close his own eyes.

"Nikita, there is hope." Michael said and Nikita turned her head and forced out a wearily smile. She squeezed her head and started to nod it.

"They found a donor." Nikita said and then started to cry as Michael's eyebrows dropped down, only to be followed by the rest of his face, and then the drop of Michael's chin.

"Nikita, we need to know who the father is." Michael said plainly and Nikita shook her head.

"Then Mia will die. If they knew... they would never keep her, Michael. Never." Nikita cried out and Michael reached out and stroked her chin. Michael was relieved that Nikita admitted that she knew who the father was, but this assistance that Mia would still die had Michael worried to the core.

"Nikita, you have to give everyone a chance. Mia won't have a chance if you won't tell me who her father is." Michael argues and Nikita continues to shake her head from side to side.

"I can't. With this knowledge, I protect." Nikita cried out and Michael took both of his hands and cupped Nikita's face. He saw the pain and confusion. She was in physical pain herself and needed to make one of the hardest decisions in her life on the spot like this.

"So, it is someone inside Section. I will run all through all of our medical files." Michael said, bluffing his way, hoping to scare Nikita into telling the truth. Michael turned towards the door, and Nikita rolled her head away from Michael.

"No, Michael. Please. I have to protect my daughter. They may still find a donor. How do I know you aren't doing this just to find out!" Nikita cried out and Michael turned and looked at Nikita. Nikita stared into Michael's green eyes and her entire body ran with chills. There were tears glistening right on the surface, and Nikita turned her head and shook it violently no again, just to find that Michael moved closer to her with the same emotional stare.

"Nikita, Mia will die. She doesn't have a lot of time." Michael said as he firmly held Nikita's head, not allowing her to move her too much away from the look of his eyes. He stared down, ready to wait all night if he had too. Nikita pulled her head away from Michael's hands and Michael stood up. He was too close to the verge of tears himself. Michael turned away from the bed and looked to the wall.

"I am trying to save you and your daughter, Nikita. I need to know." Michael pleaded, without looking at Nikita. He heard her sobs increase and then she started to let small screams out.

"You are." Nikita finally said and Michael turned back around, with the color of a ghost on his face. It felt as if a current of pure electricity had been shot through his body and he trembled as he tried to hold his emotions together. He moved to the bed and Nikita started to cry loudly and shake her head back and forth.

"She is going to die. All the things I have given up. And they were done to save her life. Are gone. They are never going to allow her to live. No matter who I have on my side." Nikita cried out and Michael grabbed her hand, as he looked at the medical staff ready to rush in and re-sedate Nikita.

"She is mine?" Michael asked again, and Nikita nodded her head, as the tears burst from her eyes and covered her face wet. Michael leaned down and kissed Nikita's cheek.

"I promise, Nikita. No one is going to die." Michael said and Nikita looked at Michael and then looked away. He turned and allowed the medical staff in. Michael watched at they pulled in the cart of medicines. Michael watched as they administered the medicine. Michael turned out of the room, when alarms and loud voices started to echo around Nikita's bed. Michael turned in horror as he saw Nikita's body in the arms of a seizure.

"She is having an allergic reaction to the medicine!" A medical personal shouted as more personal pushed past Michael and into the room. All Michael could do was wait, with the truth just freshly known to his mind.

*

"Hurry with the saline!" a loud voice boomed from Mia's room as Michael looked around the hallway. Madeline had moved into Mia's room, and now Michael's mind was in a tailspin. He looked from Mia's room, back into Nikita's room.

"She is still seizing!" another loud voice boomed from Nikita's room. Michael moved further and further away from both rooms. He could lose it all in the next several seconds. Michael turned and looked into Walter's room to see the tears running down Walter's face. Michael turns away and moves back to the center of the area.

Michael had to formulate a plan. Nikita's worries were true. Operations would easily kill Nikita and Mia if he felt that it would bring down Michael's performance in any arena. He had to plan a contingency plan he never had expected.

"Madeline, find the father, NOW! We may only have a few hours left!" the first loud voice boomed as Madeline walked quickly from Mia's room. She glanced at the medical personal crammed into Nikita's room and then to Michael.

"She is having an allergic reaction to the medicine." Michael said calmly, but not turning to face the stern face of Madeline. Michael closed his eyes as alarms rang out from Nikita's room and then all was silent. Michael felt his heart stop as a member of the medical personal walked towards him. Michael looked at him and then felt Madeline step up closer to Michael's side.

"She is in a coma and on a respirator." The man said and Michael swallowed and lifted his head, trying to pull of the blank stare that he never had problems holding onto before. He shifted his weight to the side and ground his teeth together.

"She will live?" Michael asked calmly as he grabbed his shaking hand. The man nodded his head and turned back to Nikita's room. Michael turned and looked at Madeline. She looked at Michael's grim face and shook her head.

"You didn't find out who the father was." Madeline stated and she turned away. Things were moving in slow motion as Michael turned and touched Madeline's shoulder.

"I know." Michael said crystal clear and Madeline raised and eyebrow. She stopped and looked at Michael and then abruptly moved her head to view Mia's room as more personal dashed into the room to be part of the massive medical team.

"Who? We need to gather him." Madeline said and Michael nodded his head and started to move towards the exit of the medical area.

"I know him personally. I will get him." Michael said before he activated the door and walked out of the area. The door closed behind him, and not caring who saw him, or what would happen if he were caught, Michael broke out in a break neck sprint down the hallways.

*

"Madeline.... We are making her suffer." A medical personal pleaded with Madeline as she paced back and forth between the daughter's and mother's room. Madeline looked at the personal and turned to go back to Nikita's room. The message was clear. Keep Mia alive.

"George." Michael said firmly as he looked down the hallway he had slide into. It was not the same unused hallway. This hallway was often used when misguided operatives felt they had moved far enough away from Section's eyes to enjoy some joys of the bodily flesh. Michael did not have the time to run for the hallway he was on the last time. His heart now pounded in his throat as his hand shook that held the phone.

"Michael. Calling back so soon?" George asked calmly, with almost an amused and playful quality to the voice. Michael swallowed and checked to see if the line was still secure. He would not risk Nikita, and he would not risk his daughter. He could not lose them.

"Her lungs filled up with liquid and the surrounding tissue is inflamed. She is only breathing now because she is on the ventilator." A medical personal said firmly as Madeline leaned over the rail to Nikita's bed and stroked her blonde hair softly.

"But her heart is beating on its own, correct?" Madeline asked and she watched the slight nod of the head before removing her hand from Nikita's face. Madeline looked at Nikita for the last time of this current visit and headed back to Mia's room.

"How far away from Section are you?" Michael asked in a rushed down and he closed his eyes, hoping that George had understood him. Michael could remember back to times that Nikita would look at him and start to laugh after he rushed orders to her. Michael would stare back at Nikita blankly until her laughter would end with tears rolling down her face, before he would realize that his accent had slurred all the words together.

"About a half hour, Michael. Why?" George replied, this time losing his playful tone. Michael closed his eyes and swallowed.

"I need your protection. For Nikita and..." Michael said and then stopped. His mind started run through the pros and cons of telling George about Mia. It is possible that George would agree with Operations and has all of the little shattered family cancelled either way. It was possible that George had no clue of Mia, and would have to wait for both Michael and Nikita to recover to discuss options, options that would mean Mia would be pulled from Nikita's loving arms, and before Michael got to know his daughter.

"And Mia." George finished and Michael leaned back against the wall, almost losing the connection with George. Michael rolled his head around as this twisted game just got knotted.

"Madeline, we need the donor!" the medical personal yelled from Mia's room. Madeline turned away from them and moved towards Nikita's room. She had told the medical personal to be on standby for the donor, that Michael had gone to pull in the donor into Section One.

"Madeline.... We want Michael to sit in with Nikita!" the medical personal yelled from Nikita's room. Madeline turned away from the two rooms and looked directly into Walter's eyes.

"Take my kidney." Walter said and Madeline felt something on her cheeks that she had hardly felt before. Tears.

"Yes, and Mia. She needs my kidney." Michael said calmly, but on the verge of losing control of his emotions. Michael did not want to discuss to George about the particulars of why he had to give his kidney, and Michael was sure that George was smart enough to figure it out for himself.

"I know, Michael. Nikita came to me when she was two months pregnant. Go and get prepped for the surgery, I will be in." George said and hung up. Michael pulled the cord and haphazardly threw it into his coat pocket. There were two operatives walking with their hands in each others clothes as Michael dashed down the hallway.

"By god, Madeline, you care." Walter cried out and Madeline turned to face Walter and nodded her head. She had tried to understand Operations ways and had tried to be all that he wanted her to be. Yet, how could Madeline neglect all of the emotions in her heart and soul, when Operations would protect those that he directly cared about, and showed all the emotions he wanted?

Michael waited for the door to open up and walked into the hallway and saw Madeline with her hand up to her face. The medical personal from both rooms swarmed out and around Michael. Michael pulled off his top and looked at Madeline and then to the medical personal who were waiting to prep the donor.

"Do you want to put that IV in, or should I?" Michael asked calmly and the medical personal moved to Michael and methodically established the IV line. Michael watched and then hindered the injection of the medication that would knock him out.

"Michael?" Madeline asked as she moved towards him. Michael looked behind him and sat down on the gurney that waited to wheel him into the surgery room. The medical personal that belonged to Mia scurried into her room, pulling quickly to move her own gurney to the surgical ward.

"Yes. I am Mia's father." Michael said and Madeline blinked her eyes as Michael turned to look at Walter. Walter's mouth was dropped open, and tears were glistening on his face. Michael turned back to Madeline as a member of the medical personal approached the IV line again, with the syringe of medicine.

"Not until George arrives. I don't want Madeline or Operations deciding to cancel Nikita or Mia while I am sedated." Michael said firmly and Madeline shook her head as she stared at Michael. She took stock of the facts she knew. If Michael was the father, it meant all the information about the pregnancy that she had learned from Nikita was false. It meant that as Madeline paced the hallways back and forth as Mia was born early, it meant that Mia was born late. It meant that Nikita had completed a fine cover up story, and it would easily be the best ever completed in front of Madeline and Operations. All of these developments changed everything for those standing in the medical area at that time.

"Get him to surgery." George boomed as he walked into the area and looked directly at Michael's eyes. Michael slightly nodded his head and leaned back against the pillow. George turned and looked at Madeline, before directly heading for Nikita's room.

*

There was a bright light right in front of Michael as he opened his eyes. All the stories about lights like these caused Michael to push his half drugged and half sour body up off of the bed. George stood up from the chair in the corner and used a little push of his hands to stop Michael's upward thrust. Michael though did not fall back against the bed; instead, he stubbornly stared at George.

"Mia?" Michael questioned as he looked at the white eyebrows of George. Michael felt fear sticking inside of his throat, almost cutting off his breathing, until George smiled. Michael relaxed slightly, but was still in a half upright position.

"She is fine. She will live." George said and Michael nodded his head. He looked briefly around his room before looking back at George. Michael moved his fingers to the bed rail and raised the level of the bed and then leaned back.

"I want to see Nikita's daughter." Michael said and George pulled in his smile and circled around Michael's bed, leaving his hand on the center of Michael's stomach. George looked outside of the door and then looked at Michael.

"You mean, your daughter." George corrected and Michael turned his head away and George nodded his head. It was hard for Michael to firmly grasp the reality of his relationship. George looked to the side and moved the wheelchair closer to the bed and looked at the small pile of pictures that George had selected to show Michael. It was about time that Michael knew more about Mia, and therefore, the knowledge, will protect him.

"My daughter." Michael choked out and George nodded his head and pulled down the bar. Michael started to move slowly, but as he moved, he made the personal commitment not to return to this room. Although Michael did not ask about Nikita and her condition, Michael felt dread pushing in on his stomach at the thought. George would have told Michael that Nikita was in with Mia if Nikita was. Because Nikita was absent from both Mia's bedside and Michael's bedside, Michael was worried if Nikita would even get past her own bedside.

George moved over and firmly wrapped his older arm around Michael's to support him as Michael moved to sit down in the chair. Michael tried to situate himself in the chair comfortably as George flipped through the pictures again. He knew them off by heart and could describe each one to detail. George opened Michael's fists and dropped the pictures into them.

"What is this?" Michael asked as he looked at the picture on the top. There was Nikita lying on a hospital bed, with George by her side. Michael looked up with a face crossed with confusion and panic. George was sure if Michael was still feeling the effects of the pain medication and the sedation. George began to push the wheelchair slowly, making sure not to go to face to jar Michael's surgery wounds.

"That picture was taken the day Nikita showed up in my private office. She told me that she was pregnant and I took her to my private physician." George said as he looked down over Michael's shoulder. If Michael were aware enough, he would have noticed the tears of joy, pain, suffering, confusion, and wonder on Nikita's clear face.

"Did she tell you?" Michael asked softly as he looked at the picture. From it, there was no indication of pregnancy. Michael lifted his head and looked around the long hallways. There was a slight spin to them and the whiteness and sterile setting was starting to make Michael nauseous.

"Her exact words as she marched herself from my office door to my desk, Michael, were 'I am pregnant with Michael's baby from that damn mission. What the hell are you going to do?' I knew from the first sentence that you and her had been connected with that child." George said and he smiled. It was a move of gumption, and in all that George read about Nikita, the move exposed more to her personal psyche than anything that Madeline had ever written.

George pushed his own thoughts of Nikita's entrance and turned back to look at Michael. George looked to the back of the wheelchair and stopped. "The next picture is the picture from the ultrasound." George said and Michael flipped to the next picture. George looked down at Michael's face and nodded his head. He did not need to point to Michael were his daughter was, as George saw Michael's finger outline the tiny speck.

"The next picture was taken when Nikita was five months pregnant. It was when Paul had found out about the pregnancy. I was surprised to find out that Madeline had hidden it from Paul herself." George commented and he started to push the wheelchair again. George looked down over Michael's shoulder to see that Michael had continued on with the discovery of his daughter. It was another ultrasound picture and George nodded his head in approval.

"This?" Michael asked as he lifted up a picture of a small baby girl and looked back at George. George held it softly in his hands and then handed it back to Michael. George had slowly moved out of Nikita's pregnancy once he knew that Section One had followed his orders. Paul had been George's biggest worry, and he was easily controlled.

"That was Mia's first and only visit to my office. She was about two weeks old. Of course I had seen photos of her prior to that one." George said slowly. He smiled as he thought about it. He must have looked like a child in a candy store the day that Paul sent the report that Nikita had given birth to a girl. George had already known the name and the sex of the baby before the report was lying on his desk. It gave George great joy to call Paul with the orders for Nikita to care for the child, and for Walter to be her assistant for help. George saw the lasting effects for a long time, with quick hang-ups from Paul after a discussion and the snide remarks.

George turned the wheelchair into a room and went to Michael's side. He pulled up on Michael's elbow so that Michael could stand and view his daughter. George held onto Michael's elbow as he reached out with his free hand to touch Mia's forehead. She was still asleep, but that was to be expected. Sleep for Mia was the best thing to happen.

"Nikita had struggled with a name. She swore to me that she was going to name the baby after you, but I felt it would expose her hand too much. She settled with the first letter and vowel. I expressed that it was a beautiful name." George said softly and Michael looked at Mia and touched her face tenderly again.

"Mia." Michael spoke out with his slight French accent and George smiled. Maybe now he knew the real reason for the name. It must have sounded like magic to Nikita for her to hear Michael to say her name. The name rang out in the room like a musical note and Michael turned and sat back in the wheelchair.

"Nikita?" Michael spoke out again and George closed his eyes softly and turned to look at Michael. George moved the visitor's chair over so he could hold onto Michael's hands as he spoke and explained what was occurring.

"The medicine that Nikita had an allergic reaction to, was an experiment drug they had been working with. Her condition has not changed in the past five days..."

"Five days?" Michael questions and George nods his head and looked to the door.

"I needed a way to access the Section cameras and turn them off so that I could show you the pictures. I want you to keep them, and they will keep you protected." George said and Michael nodded his head and looked to Mia again and looked to George.

"Will she ever get better?" Michael asked and George nodded his head.

"Yes. It is just slow going now. I spoke to the doctor and he said that Nikita could come out of this with nothing else holding her back. We just have to wait." George said and Michael nodded his head.

"I'd like to stay here." Michael said and George nodded his head and moved out of the room.

*

Madeline looked up from her desk as the metal door slide away from the closed position. She looked as Michael's slow moving body moved towards the stairs and carefully walked down them, still showing signs of pain from the surgery. Madeline walked over to the chair and carefully placed a pillow to make Michael's sitting more comfortable. Michael did not refuse it.

"How are you feeling, Michael?" Madeline asked as she walked back around her desk and sat down to study Michael. He had been visiting Mia everyday, but she was acutely aware of his disappearance from Nikita's bedside.

"I have felt better." Michael admitted and Madeline nodded her head with his comment. Madeline slowly turns the computer screen towards Michael so he can view it. Madeline leaned back and folded her hands.

"You have visited Mia often." Madeline said and Michael blankly stared at her. He felt the tension in her words create little folds of tension in his head.

"Yes." Michael replied and Madeline briefly sighed and then looked down to the keyboard. She punched the code and looked towards Michael again. He had not turned towards the computer screen yet, and Madeline smiled at the sight of the power struggle that Michael was trying to maintain, even in his lower physical state.

"I want you to view this video tape that I saw this morning." Madeline said firmly and Michael turned his head towards the screen. Madeline looked at Michael and studied his drawn face. It had never seemed this tired before. Some of that could be assessed to the surgery that Michael had been through to save Mia's life. Some of it could be assessed to the stress of learning he had a daughter. Madeline wondered how much of this tiredness could be assigned to Nikita.

Michael turned to find the tape cued up. There was Nikita lying in bed, with the machines filling her lungs up with air. Michael fought to maintain his composure. He never liked seeing those he knew in situations like this, but this time, his heart hurt more. It felt as if his own lungs were being filled with the same air that Nikita's own lungs were being filled with, only with hot, burning air. It was because he loved her.

Suddenly there was movement in Nikita's arms. Michael moved carefully forward to watch the movements, and that was when he was aware of the fully opened blue eyes. He looked into the eyes and could see the marvelous wheels of Nikita's mind working quickly. Michael arched an eyebrow as she wrapped her hands around the tube down her throat. Michael leaned back in horror as Nikita violently pulled it out with one quickly and defined move. She swiftly moved her body to turn off the alarms.

"She pulled out the tube?" Michael questioned as he blinked his eyes. There was no way that this was the Nikita he knew. Michael stopped and reflected. The Nikita he knew had died a long time ago, and this Nikita did exactly what she needed to do to achieve what her goal was.

Michael turned his attention back to the screen without Madeline confirming that Nikita had pulled out the tube. Nikita moved methodically, removing alarms and then removing equipment. Michael pressed his hands together in a fashion that seemed like praying and leaned them against his mouth as he watched Nikita slip out of bed and stand next to the door.

A nurse walked in and Nikita chopped her behind her neck. Nikita caught the girl, even with her injured shoulder, and pulled her to the bed. Quickly Nikita moved to remove the clothes, place the nurse into the bed, and place the clothes on her body. Nikita pulled her blonde hair up and walked out of the room.

Michael leaned back in the chair and winced with the slight pain. He looked at Madeline and then looked to the wall to his right. What he had seen had disturbed him. Michael took the hands that were still resting against his lips and pushed them through his hair and the brought them down to his side.

"Did she see Mia?" Michael asked and Madeline shook her head no slightly back and forth. Michael nodded his head as he drifted deep into thought. He could not reasonably think of a reason why Nikita would not visit Mia, but then stopped. It was possible that even thought Nikita looked different in the nurse's outfit that Mia would recognize here. If that was so, there was only one thing that Nikita would be planning to do. Get outside of Section One.

"So she left Section?" Michael asked and Madeline nodded her head and stood up. She folded her hand and diverted her eyes slightly from Michael to his chair and back. She needed to call George with Nikita's condition in a few hours, and she did not want to feel the pressure if they could not locate Nikita.

"She needs to be in the medical section, Michael." Madeline stated and Michael did not move, except for three quickly blinks of his eyes. "Yes, I know. She won't come back for her treatment. But we don't even know where she is." Madeline said and Michael pushed against the handles of the chair and erected his body.

"I will find her." Michael said softly as he turned and started to head out of the office. He felt anger building in his stomach. Madeline did not need to beat around the bush on this issue. He would have looked for Nikita, with or without orders. There were many things that needed to be sorted out amongst them, and then there was Mia to look out for.

"Michael, do not get use to this arrangement. We rarely allow operatives to have children. We never allow operatives to have other operatives children. Something will occur here." Madeline warned and Michael turned and looked at Madeline. In that instant, Michael saw Madeline for what she was at that time. A witch. There was nothing good about the message she was sending to him. It was almost like she was handing him a present, hoping that he wouldn't go and talk with Nikita.

"Maybe it is time we change things." Michael hissed out as he shoved his hands deep into his pockets. He was frozen in his spot as he looked at Madeline. There was no movement between the two until Madeline raised her chin.

"No, it is not time for change. We can not allow bonds between operatives. More than likely, we will not cancel your or Nikita. Both of your numbers are too high to depart with, but do not get caught up in the fantasy of taking Mia home someday with you to be with Nikita. It will not occur, Michael." Madeline said sternly and Michael lifted his head.

"I have to go find, Nikita." Michael said sharply and carefully walked up the stairs as the door slide to the side and allowed Michael out into the hallway. Once there, he started to narrow down the small list of places Nikita would venture out to. Michael stopped and looked down the hallway as Operations entered Madeline's office. Michael rubbed his chin and started away quickly. George must have tied Madeline's and Operations' hands on this issue for the time being, but Michael knew that it would not matter if Nikita had finally lost it. For once, Michael had found a use for the tough shelled Nikita that still turned his stomach sour.

*

Michael stepped out of his car and turned to push the door close. He looked up at the apartment building and shrugged his shoulders softly as he allowed a sigh to be released from his body. It was a cold day and Michael looked to the side and saw a few children running in towards the apartment building. Michael smiled at the image. He had a daughter, and she was getting better.

Michael turned away from the car and looked off to the left of the building and stopped. There was a bench there, and there sat Nikita. She was rocking back and forth, like a little child crying in a corner. Michael swallowed back the bile that filled his stomach and started to reach for his throat. The sight of Nikita was enough to kill him.

Gone was the strong and confident Nikita that had been showed to Michael since he returned. There was no emotional tough shell around her as her hair whipped around her face, becoming knotted and tangled. This wasn't the Nikita that Michael had known before he had been transferred to Hong Kong. Although the former Nikita was weaker in a sense, Michael had never seen her like this before. No care for what the outside world saw her as, and no care for her own body.

Even after the grueling Sanchez mission, Nikita was not like this. She had curled her hurt, bruises, and distraught body into the corner of the display room as operatives walked around taking apart the organization that Lewis Sanchez had built. Michael remembered walking over to the corner and handing down a shirt and Nikita lifted her head and smiled. The smile, although small and painful, showed her spirit. She not cried, but it did not mean that she would not cry. She would, for many nights as Michael held her tightly on her couch. Yet, Nikita never lost control of herself totally.

"Nikita..." Michael said as he stepped up onto the sidewalk and moved slowly towards her. The first reaction was a jerk of Nikita's head that showed a frightened and scared Nikita, that was even more scared than what Michael had seen when she had arrived at Section One. Michael slowed down as he looked into her eyes and saw the redness that seemed ready to burst from both of them. Michael sat down on the other end of the bench, carefully thinking of what he should saw next.

"Nikita, you should be inside. It is cold." Michael said slowly and Nikita started to retreat back into her rocking emotional shell. It was frightening to see Nikita like this, as he moved slowly closer to her. He touched her hair softly and pushed some of the tangled hair out of her face.

"Nikita.... It is cold." Michael said again, hoping to get some sort of vocal response from Nikita. Nikita turned her head to the side to look at Michael and allowed a small gasp out of her mouth as dropped her head again.

"I didn't realize it was this cold." Nikita murmured as she continued to rock in the jarring motion, and now wrapped her arms tightly around herself as the new tears coated her face. Michael stood up and pulled off the heavy coat he wore over his traditional black jacket and blanketed it over Nikita's shoulders. He had hoped to see Nikita's hands to reach out and pull it closely to her body, but no such movement occurred.

"Nikita, you shouldn't have left the medical area." Michael said softy as he wrapped is right hand arm over her shoulders, and it effectively cut the rocking motion in half. Michael tightly pushed his fingers into the coat and into Nikita's far arm, hoping if the rocking was eliminated that the talking that Nikita desperately needed would ensue.

Nikita slowly turned her head to look at Michael. Michael almost pulled his arm off of Nikita's body as he saw the blunt expression of emotional pain and grief, yet most of its origin was still unknown to Michael. Mia was getting better each day, and now Nikita was on the road to her recovery.

"I have never been away from Mia for such a long time." Nikita said as her lips started to quiver and then her entire body slumped forward and Michael tightly wrapped his other hand around the front of Nikita. Michael did not know what strength it was that helped him maintain the hold on Nikita as she slumped. He was crying with Nikita and leaned down and kissed the top of her blonde head. He stayed bend over and finally pulled his head back once he controlled his own emotional outburst.

"It is going to be fine, Nikita. Mia will be home soon, and you can go visit her." Michael said slowly as he rubbed the freezing skin of Nikita's clenched hands. He looked at Nikita, and then was concerned for her wellbeing. Michael stopped in his pause and the dawning of the truth crossed his face. Nikita had been the only person that Mia had in the world, and in the end, Michael had saved Mia. Michael wasn't sure how Nikita knew the information of exactly what occurred, she did.

"She is going to die! They are going to kill her!" Nikita cried out in frustration as she started to pound her weak body against Michael's. He broke his grasp and leaned back to observe Nikita as she vented the emotions, terrors, and nightmares that had become the real life Nikita was living.

"I found a way to protect my daughter. Because you weren't here for us. You change everything. They will not keep her, with you and me around. So who gets to die? WHO? I will make that choice. I will." Nikita said firmly and Michael started to shake his head immediately. The words had stung his face and his heart, but Michael realized that all the statements were fueled by the state of confusion in her heart and soul.

"You are not going to die, Nikita. We will make this work." Michael said firmly and Nikita shook her head and then collapsed forward. Michael did the same thing. His own emotions getting the better of the fragile hold of sanity he had held during the entire conversation.

*

Time did not matter to Michael as he held Nikita in his arms. Their tears blended together and ran over each other's face and body. It was the chill in the air that brought Michael back to the reality of the world going around him. He lifted his body slowly and took his ungloved hand down to stroke Nikita's face to find that she had fallen asleep. The emotional drawn of the day and her body still healing from the effects of the experimental medication had slipped Nikita back to the dream world. Michael wrapped his hand softly against her cheek and pressed a hesitant kiss to her cheek.

"Sweet dreams, Nikita." Michael said softly with a puff of hot air. He shifted slightly in his sitting position and slid his arm underneath Nikita's body and started to pick her up. Michael felt a slight pain, as his own weakness from the surgery screamed back at him, but that did matter as much as the frightened creature in his arms mattered. Michael lifted up and held Nikita carefully as he paused for a moment. She looked so calm now and peaceful. Michael looked down and sadly smiled. The picture of Nikita in his arms now was the same way he had remembered Nikita.

Michael moved up the stairs to the apartment building to confront a smaller elderly woman. She saw Michael and held open the door for him. Michael felt the warmth of the heater in the hallway jet across both of their bodies as the elderly woman continued to stare at Michael.

"Thank you." Michael said to the woman, trying to place a warm smile on his face. He began to walk down towards the stairs, when suddenly; the heavy purse slapped Michael in the side. Michael held onto his strength, as he could not drop Nikita. He turned and faced the woman.

"What is that for?" Michael questioned and the elderly woman connected again with the purse to his arm. Michael stared at her.

"Let sweet Nikita down. She has a daughter!" the woman yelled and Michael perilously held onto Nikita. Michael turned and looked to the woman, allowing his blank stare to fall. That was the only way he was going to instantly gain her trust and assistance on this day.

"She is sick. She needs her rest. She has been by her daughter's side for days upon days, now." Michael passionately begged to the woman. The purse fell to the elderly woman's side and she stood up to look at Nikita's body. She pushed a strand of Nikita's hair off of her face and smiled at Michael.

"What is wrong with her daughter. My grandson James loves little Mia like a sister." The woman said and Michael looked at her and smiled. Nikita turned her head slightly and Michael looked up the stairs.

"Mia needed a transplant, but she is fine now." Michael said slowly and he watched the shock of the new wash over the elderly woman's face. Michael again looked up the stairs and then to the woman.

"Her keys are in my pocket. Can you get them and help me into the apartment? I don't have enough hands." Michael said and the woman smiled and quickly pulled the keys out from Michael's front pocket in his pants and started to carefully walk up the stairs.