There was a slightly sound that drove Michael to open his eyes in the early morning. Even as his eyes still half shut, his body reacted to his surroundings, realizing that Mia had retreated from the bed that she had been sleeping in for the past two weeks. Michael sat up abruptly, about to call out for his daughter when her heard the noise again.

Giggling.

Michael rubbed his large hands across his sleepy face and then ran them through his hair as the giggling continued. Now, new senses awoken for Michael, and he could easily smell food cooking in the kitchen. Michael leaned back in the bed and sighed. His mind had been jumbled with thoughts for the entire two weeks, and time did not heal. Time was making worse. Michael turned his head slightly to the side to look at the clock and pulled his head back quickly when he saw the time.

4:56

"Mommy, should I get my daddy?" Mia whispered as Michael heard the silverware spread across the table. He stood up and pulled the robe around his body and stepped out into the brightly-lit apartment. Nikita looked up from the skillet and the stove. Mia turned around and ran back to her father. Michael lifted Mia up for their traditional morning hug as he watched Nikita's eyes drop in sadness.

"Quite an early morning." Michael said as he moved towards Nikita and the kitchen. Mia slithered down Michael's firm body and skipped back to her chair. Nikita nods her head and pours the egg mixture into the skillet.

"We have a briefing soon." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head. Nikita had always been there in the morning, like she had promised that night two weeks ago. Michael had seen the videotapes from the room that she slept in, but Nikita would not approach the topic.

"Feta cheese and spinach, correct?" Nikita asked and Michael nodded his head as he watched Nikita place the ingredients into the skillet to make his favorite omelet. Michael tilted his head and placed an amused smile on his face.

"I didn't know you knew how to cook. You were always burning things." Michael said softly and Nikita lifted her head as she pulled the egg over to cover the cheese and spinach.

"I had to learn, Michael. You were gone for four years, and I couldn't have my daughter eating microwave meals." Nikita stated firmly and Michael stepped back and Nikita placed the lid soundly down onto the skillet. Michael stayed quiet as he noticed that Nikita had already made her ham and cheese omelet. He placed it on the table and retrieved the teapot to finish making Nikita's tea.

"No sugar." Nikita stated as she lifted the lid up and slid the omelet perfectly out of the pot. Michael turned and looked at Nikita until she turned around with Michael's dish in her hand.

"Yesterday you put sugar in my tea. I don't drink it that way anymore." Nikita explained quickly. Michael picked up the teacup and moved to the table. He reached for the plate and watched Nikita walk to the table.

"Mia... be careful. You are going to be spending sometime with Madeline today and we wouldn't want to look all dirty, would we?" Nikita asked and Michael dropped his fork to the plate. Nikita turned her head and looked at the evil look that had crossed Michael's face. Nikita's own jaw tensed up in reaction of Michael's stare, a stare that she had not seen in a long while from Michael.

"Nikita, how about someone else? Walter? Birkoff?" Michael asked and Nikita picked her tea up and sipped the liquid from it as her eyes held Michael's full attention. Nikita slowly watched herself set the teacup back down onto the table before looking at Michael to respond.

"George called me and told me that it is for my best interest to leave Mia with Madeline today. I trust George." Nikita said as she pushed back from the table, only have had a few bites of her own omelet. Michael finished chewing his bite as Nikita moved to the bathroom, getting ready for the mission, he had assumed.

"What's that green stuff?" Mia asked as she pointed to the half of omelet that was left on Michael's plate. Nikita had made Mia cheesy scrambled eggs, which were covered in ketchup.

"Spinach." Michael said and he watched Mia's nose wrinkle up, as Nikita's always had done when she would watch him eat this exact omelet. It was one of the last good memories that Michael could remember doing with Nikita before he left for Hong Kong.

There was a slamming of the cupboard door in the bathroom and Michael pushed back his chair and moved over to the small bathroom. He knocked on the door and then waited.

"Nikita, are you looking for something?" Michael questioned, but only got silence in return. There were continuous thumps and Michael pulled at the handle, to find that Nikita had locked the door. His mind was racing as he pulled at the door once again. He looked towards Mia and saw a brief moment of panic spread across his daughter's face. Michael pulled again and the door opened.

There was Nikita crowded on the toilet seat, squatting and covering her head. Michael swallowed and moved forwards in the cramp bathroom and touched Nikita's shoulder. She sprung up like a slinky that had been held by a rubber band and the rubber band had just broken. Nikita ran firmly into Michael's shoulders and the force threw her backwards.

"I need out of here." Nikita stated firmly and Michael looked into Nikita's eyes. He needed to break into the protective shield that she had placed up whenever he was around. He did not need to see the videotapes that he had been shown to know that Nikita was not well. She looked at Michael when he did not move and then stepped into the shower to get around his massive body.

Michael stepped out of the bathroom as Nikita moved to the table and pulled at her dish. He watched Nikita feed her almost untouched omelet down the garbage disposal. Michael looked to the couch, where Mia had started to sort her toys out to see which ones she would take.

"Nikita..." Michael said slowly and she did not even respond. Michael moved to her side and placed his hands on her shoulders. Nikita still did not look into Michael's concerned eyes until he squeezed them tightly.

"You are getting claustrophobic?" Michael half-questioned and half-stated. He was sure that it was part of the basis of what occurred in the bathroom, but was sure that other factors had triggered the feelings. Nikita turned her head and tried to step away from Michael.

"MICHAEL! NO!" Nikita said deeply and loudly.

"MOMMY! DADDY!" Mia screamed from the couch as she saw the two parents struggling against each other. Michael dropped his hands from Nikita's shoulders. Nikita moved over and grabbed her coat.

"We have to go. Madeline will have toys for you." Nikita stated as she picked up Mia's coat and headed for her daughter. Michael looked on, and saw the continuing difficult of getting into Nikita, Mia's presence.

*

"FIX IT!"

Madeline stared straight ahead, with her mind in a hundred places other than the computer screen that read off data. She had variables running through her head, that she never thought she would think about inside of Section One. George's words haunted her now, as she struggled to push forward with the plan to fix Nikita's fragile emotional state.

The most difficult aspect of this plan was the dealings that she was going to have to pull over Operation's eyes. She had told him prior to handing him the mission profile that George ordered to have completed that she had some intelligence in about Stephen. Madeline then handed the profile over and calculated left Operations to his own thoughts and ideas. She knew that Operations' mind would be twisted to the humane pain to the happiness a father could feel.

Madeline blinked as she looked at the computer screen as Nikita up loaded the completed mission profile into the Section mainframe. Madeline moved quickly as she went to read the strategy that Nikita had officially told Section of.

"Target Harry Meena will be subjected to an experience of finding a lost daughter in order to gain entry into his household." The profile started out and Madeline nodded her head as she scrolled the profile for some main points. Madeline was not disappointed and founded some solid and well formed thoughts.

"FIX IT!"

Madeline sighed and turned the screen off as the door slide open to her office. Madeline turned her head slightly, not surprised by the person who walked down into the heart of her office. Operations smiled and sat down at her desk.

"Interesting profile. I must say the briefing was quite volatile." Operations stated and Madeline nodded her head. She had the pleasure of walking past the tension filled briefing. And in classic Madeline style, she even pulled up the tapes that recorded the actual words and studied the interactions between the three that were her current worry.

"This is a deep cover." Nikita stated as she flung down the panel and stared at Operations. Michael dropped his head, as he did not want to leave his daughter with Madeline for an extended time, and he could only see Nikita's anger mounting each second.

"The mission was sent down by George, Nikita. I have no choice in the matter, and neither do you!" Operations stated firmly as the veins started to pop out on his forehead. Nikita pulled the panel up and then dropped it back down.

"It is poorly written and inconsistent with the strategies that we employee! The man would think it odd that his daughter moved in next door to him!" Nikita cried out and Operations slammed his hands down on the table, feeling the power of the briefing swiftly moving to Nikita's side.

"Then change it. You are a bright woman, Nikita." Operations roared. Nikita blinked and slowly sat down. There were tears almost forming in her eyes, but the anger evaporated them away.

"So you are sending me away from my daughter for god knows how long?" Nikita states in a question form, but all around knows it to be a statement of the truth. Operations nods his head and flips the screen on.

"Harry Meena will not wait for you to play house, Nikita. He will find the biological weapons and he will use them." Operations states and Michael looks to Nikita. He pulls at the panel and shakes his head.

"I will work on the profile." Michael states as he stands up. Nikita turns and crosses her legs as she stares at him.

"It's my mission. This is my team." Nikita states as she pulls at her panel and walks to Michael.

"I don't care who works on the profile. Get it done and get this mission on the pad." Operations states.

"You didn't handle your personal stress well. You allowed it to bubble over onto those in the briefing." Madeline stated as she blinked her eyes. Operations did not respond to Madeline's remark, sure that she had been correct.

"Yet, I feel the profile will work effectively. Although I wonder who will be caring for Mia." Operations stated and Madeline stood up. She took the clippers from her drawer and slowly moved to her bonsai trees. She slowly fingered the limb and then turned to Operations.

"I will. I don't want you snatching her again." Madeline stated with an evil smile on her face. Operations only nodded his head with the remark. It was the best way to protect Mia, although he had learned his lesson once. He slowly stood up and crossed to the wall Madeline stood at.

"You haven't mentioned Stephen yet." Operations said firmly and Madeline nodded her head as she clipped a branch away from a straggly tree. She tilted her head to the side before turning back to look at Operations.

"He is in love." Madeline stated simply and then turned back to the trees. She did not need to see the externalization of happy emotions from Operations. It was a father's ultimate pleasure to hear of an offspring's good fortune.

"Who is she?" Operations questioned with happiness in each word. Madeline dropped the clippers and turned away from Operations. She pulled the photo off of her pile of papers and handed it.

"That is the problem. She is Mary Foo to Stephen, but we also know her as Ling Pu Chu." Madeline stated, now looking at the face as it contorted to show the horror. Operations' fingertips almost dropped the glossy print as he saw his son wrapped tightly in an embrace with the woman that Section had known well for many years.

"Red Cell." Operations stated and placed the photo back on Madeline's desk. She did not turn her head as she felt his body moving towards the doorway.

"Do we bring him in or monitor?" Madeline questioned, leaving the decision supportively in his hand, or at least he would believe it was in his hands. Madeline controlled all of his thoughts about the boy, and if he chose wrong, Madeline would point out a rational line of thought to steer him correctly.

"I have to think." Operations stated as the door slide open. Madeline turned her head as she watched his back disappear behind the steel door. Slowly the smile spread across her lips as she looked at the cell phone on her desk, beckoning her to pick it up.

"FIX IT!"

Madeline pulled the cell phone up to her mouth. Her fingers drummed the surface as the buzz on the other end indicated the phone ringing. Madeline turned and looked at her bonsai trees. She looked at the two that she saw as Michael and Nikita. They had been thriving with the exposure to each other. Madeline could only hope that the real Michael and Nikita could do the same as the trees did.

"Hello?" George asked and Madeline tensed up as she turned away from the trees. She looked at her computer screen and then to the door. Soon she would be calling for someone else, if George wanted to proceed. There was still a chance to get out of this plan and escape without any knowledge of the happenings.

"All is set." Madeline stated. She listened to the deep silence on the other end. She could tell from the silence of the wheels of thought turning in George's mind. She could tell that he was weighing the pros and the cons, and weighing what he felt was necessary and what he thought was dangerous.

"Proceed." George commanded and broke the line. Madeline folded the phone up and sat down at her desk. She could feel this weight falling onto her shoulders, a weight that felt uncomfortable and overbearing. She had believed that once the plan that was tentatively constructed between herself and the ruling body of George, that the voice would stop.

"FIX IT!"

Now Madeline knew it didn't.

She needed some tea before she could progress.

*

The lights were on the plants that Michael studied as Madeline finished her work at the computer. She stood up and crossed the room, wondering what had gathered Michael's attention to the bonsai trees. The operatives around Section One believed Madeline's little hobby to be an expression of her increased insensitivity and shook with fear when the word bonsai was said.

"You have rearranged them." Michael stated as Madeline took a position next to Michael's side. She was very impressed with the observation from Michael. He had not been within the walls of her office often since his return from Hong Kong, but he had noticed. Madeline smiled and motioned Michael to move towards the chairs that were against the wall.

"There are some issues I want to discuss with you about this mission since Nikita is diligently changing the profiles." Madeline stated as she sat down and pulled at the finely decorated teapot that was placed on the small glass table off to the side of the chairs. Michael looked away from the teapot, indicating to Madeline that he did not want any. Madeline poured herself a cup and looked at Michael.

"The satellite problem will not be an issue for the mission. I thought it would be an issue for Operations." Michael stated firmly and Madeline smiled sweetly. Operations still did not know about as Madeline had been informed that he was still "thinking".

"Operations finds you and Nikita are not a threat to break mission protocol because of your daughter." Madeline stated coldly and Michael blinked his eyes. Madeline slowly lifted her teacup to her mouth and sipped as Michael's head dropped lightly down, indicating that the statement had been correct.

"That is not the problem I am concerned with. The problem is Nikita." Madeline stated and then placed the teacup down on the glass table with an echoing clink. Michael's head was now tensely staring into Madeline's eyes and she blinked.

"There is no problem with Nikita. She is continuing her perfect scores on missions." Michael defended Nikita quickly, trying to maintain composure in his voice. Michael could not understand what more Madeline and Operations could want Nikita to do.

"Yes, she has." Madeline stated as she folded her hands on her lap. Madeline tilted her head to the side and allowed a sigh to float out of her mouth. "Yet, we reassigned four missions in the past two weeks because of the fragile emotional state she has exhibited to me." Madeline finished out in a deep and cold tone that frosted over Michael's entire body.

"The Lancing mission was difficult. It will take time." Michael responded, confused that Madeline had not thought this over.

"We don't have time, Michael. You'll fix this." Madeline stated. Michael pushed his back harshly against the plush chair he was sitting in. The words were like flaming arrows slicing through his very being as he had been trying to help Nikita.

"A mission of being husband and wife is not going to fix this, Madeline." Michael said in a voice that was on the border of being condescending. Madeline stepped up and looked at Michael.

"As I said, you will fix this." Madeline firmly said as her eyes glared at Michael. After a long period of staring, Madeline turned and moved away from Michael. Michael closed his eyes, understanding the orders he had been given. He also understood that this was not a problem that was going to just go away. He needed to know more, and he would have to walk his way slowly into that conversation.

"So the satellite problem, doesn't exist." Michael stated as he stood up. He turned his firm body towards Madeline's direction, and he did not need the confirmation. Michael swallowed and moved towards Madeline.

"What if I told you I was part of the problem? That what Nikita is going through roots back to the Sanchez mission and my departure?" Michael questioned. Madeline blinked her eyes and lifted her chin.

"You wouldn't be surprising me, Michael, and you wouldn't be influencing me to change my orders. You don't see her at night." Madeline harshly said as she stared into the young man's eyes. Madeline felt fear in her stomach, because of Michael's questions. He wasn't sure he could help Nikita, while Madeline knew no matter how strong Nikita's love for her daughter was, Michael was Nikita's last hope of ever returning to the state she had been prior.

"What if I cannot do it?" Michael questioned. He needed to know the consequences if he could not break through to Nikita, as he had not been able to do so at that apartment. He needed to know whom he was going to fail if Nikita continued to protect her emotional well being.

"Do you want your daughter to grow up motherless?" Madeline questioned with a voice that dripped with icicles. Michael's glare froze on Madeline's strict face and then turned away.

"Heal her or cancel her." Michael stated and Madeline moved in front of Michael. She placed her hand on his chin to draw his eyes to look into hers.

"You will do this Michael because you wouldn't be able to handle the guilt of Mia's lost her mother." Madeline threatened. Michael swallowed and pulled away. No more words would be spoken, as Madeline knew her point was taken. She watched Michael look at the bonsai trees briefly before moving quickly out of the room that always made Michael feel as if his blood had been frozen.

Madeline watched the steel door close before she moved back to her table. She looked at the teacup and turned away. Suddenly she was going to need something a bit stronger to get through the next few days of hell that George insisted upon.

*

"Michael, start moving down the street." Birkoff ordered as Michael stared ahead at the residential street. He glanced at Nikita who only stared straight ahead, both wanting this 'accident' to be over quickly. Michael shifted the car into motion and gripped the steering wheel.

"Nikita, are you awake?" Michael asked as he kept his attention on the road ahead. There was a slight curve in the bend and Michael moved the car smoothly through it. Two hours ago, the two of them had gone through the motions of unpacking the moving van.

"Yes, I am." Nikita commented firmly and without emotion. Michael backed off from conversation as he easily remembered the mission profile that had been set forth. It relied upon Nikita getting in touch with the emotions Michael knew she was having, and portraying them for this man, Harry Meena.

The door of the black car slowly opened in the sunny street. The bare leg with a long high heel stepped out of the plush car. Slowly, Madeline rose up from the seat and looked both ways at the sidewalk in front of her. There were two cars at either end of the corner, waiting for her cue to proceed.

An arm reached down to hold around Madeline's own arm, in a gesture of kind gentlemanly behavior. George watched Madeline gracefully stand up on the sidewalk and move away from the car. George turned and closed the door to the car, before turning and looking at the house in front of them.

The actual action of crashing into the other was not a difficult thing to do, and quickly, Michael had run the front of their blue sedan into the black sedan that was heading towards him. Nikita shook her head with slight whiplash as Michael took his hands off of the steering wheel. Both operatives then watched the driver step out of the car.

Michael could hear Nikita gasp as the man stood to his entire height, and something was revealed to both Michael and Nikita that had not been included on the mission profile or the photograph that had been provided to them. The Harry Meena that had been photographed was going bald, but now, the Harry Meena that stood in front of them looked ten years younger and strikingly like Lancing Ferris that Nikita could not erase from her mind.

With their arms linked together, Madeline and George walked forward with a power that could be visually seen from any distance. Madeline looked at George for another moment as they stepped onto the porch. George reached out and knocked on the wood door, knowing that the person inside was home.

"Yes?" Stephen asked as he opened the door and looked at the two people dressed in black. Out of the corner of his eye he could see two additional black cars parked on the road, with more people dressed in black. Stephen was suddenly worried.

Michael stepped out of the car, ready to perform the act that had been scripted for him to do so. Michael looked the part of a terrified husband as he looked at the damage and the incoming Harry Meena.

"Are you all right?" Michael questioned and Harry Meena nodded his head and tilted his head as he watched the younger man. Michael looked inside his own car and slide across his car hood and pulled open the passenger side door, where loud cries could now be heard.

"Nikita, it will be all right." Michael said and Harry Meena hurried over to look inside, afraid that the beautiful young lady was hurt.

"My name is Madeline and we are going to talk." Madeline stated firmly and Stephen looked from Madeline's eyes to George. He placed his hands on the door, ready to slam the door shut on the woman's face when George pushed at the door.

"This is about Michael and Nikita." Stephen stated and Madeline smiled sweetly as George stopped his pressure on the door.

"Can we go inside and talk?" Madeline questioned as she looked at the young man who had tried so much to turn his life around.

"We shouldn't have come here... we should... Michael... I don't like it..." Nikita cried out as Michael cradled Nikita's head. He reached down into Nikita's large purse and started to fumble with objects inside of it.

"Is she all right? Should I call an ambulance?" Harry Meena asked in a concerned voice. Michael turned his head and looked into the brown eyes of the man, and for an instance saw the man that Nikita had shot in the streets of Washington DC. What Michael saw explained a lot of trembling that Michael felt in Nikita's body, that Michael was sure was real and not part of the profile Nikita played forward.

"No..... Please, give me a minute." Michael said and Harry Meena nodded his head and stepped back from the car. Michael knelt down and pulled out a medicine bottle.

"I don't think I have a choice." Stephen responded back and Madeline smiled back, thinking in her mind that the boy was smart and had at least inherited Paul's witty humor. Stephen stepped back and allowed the door to open up. George waved his hand in front of Madeline as gentlemen did and waited for her to enter.

George stepped into the house and watched as two men moved up from the cars to take a position on the porch. The door then closed with a heavy click.

"God, he looks like Lancing." Nikita stated as she took the placebo pill from Michael's hand and swallowed it. Michael stroked her hair, wishing that the pill were real medicine and not the sugar pill. Michael glanced back and then at Nikita.

"We could abort." Michael stated and Nikita shook her head no. She wasn't going to allow this little physical feature bother her.

"He is interested in me already. We cannot chance a change now." Nikita stated as she leaned her head back. Michael kissed the top of her forehead as he reached for the insurance cards, getting ready for the second half of the accident, and more importantly, the part that would reveal to Harry Meena, the history of the girl they would make him think was his daughter.

"If you are looking for them, I don't know where they are, and I don't really know them." Stephen said defensively as he backed his way into his own living room. Madeline tilted her head to the side and then looked at George.

"We aren't looking to hurt Michael and Nikita. In fact, other than the fact that they used you as leverage, this meeting has nothing to do with them." Madeline stated and George looked around the living room.

"My, Madeline, you were correct. Paul's son has done something good with his life." George commented and with those words Stephen sunk to the chair behind him.

"I am sorry, my wife is a delicate woman." Michael said as he walked over to Harry Meena and extended his insurance cards. Harry Meena looked at the cards and then to the car. Nikita had dropped her head to the side and was asleep.

"Very beautiful woman. What is the problem?" Harry Meena asked concernedly. He had always had something with blondes around Nikita's age. He always saw them as his daughter, and this one was pulling at his heart and soul.

"Her childhood was difficult. She used to live in this town, on the other end, by the lake. She doesn't talk about it much." Michael said and he looked back at the cards.

"I use to live over there. I know most of the people. I don't remember her." Harry Meena said and Michael looked back to the car. Michael could sense that the process of believing was occurring.

"Her mother Ida finally stopped contacting Nikita when she decided to come back to this town. I thought it would have been when Nikita officially changed her name, but it took coming back here." Michael said and then pulled his attention back to the cards, and saw the look of shock on Harry Meena's face.

HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER.

"You know my father?" Stephen asked and Madeline smiled as she placed her own body down on the couch. Stephen looked at her like a child starved for knowledge.

"I work with him." Madeline stated and Stephen stood up.

"He is alive! Then take me too him!" Stephen pleaded and George looked to Madeline and then back.

"That is not in your best interest." George replied and Stephen stepped back from the tone. It was almost like he had stepped on nails and only now was feeling the pain for the instant reaction of jumping forward.

Madeline slowly raised up from the couch, seeing that the progression of this meeting was not going to take long. Although both Michael and Nikita had informed Stephen to lose his interest in his own father, he had harbored those questions for years too long. Madeline would not have to do much to get Stephen to cooperate and George knew of her actions as she smiled at him.

"Why don't you come for a ride with us?" Madeline said as she extended her arm to Stephen. Stephen felt the room shrink as Madeline wrapped her arm around his and moved back towards the front door. George fell in behind Stephen. Stephen knew he was now going for a ride.

"She changed her name? Maybe that is why I don't remember a Nikita." Harry Meena said in a bad attempt to sound happy and cheerful. Michael pulled the cards back to his body and looked to the car.

"She use to be named Cynthia." Michael responded and took a step back. Harry Meena blinked and then shook his head.

"Sorry, I don't know any Cynthia's." Harry lied and Michael nodded his head and looked back to the car. Harry watched as Michael pulled the car away from his and drove down the street to the corner house. Harry Meena could not believe that is daughter had arrived back in town, and now all he had to do was reach out and reveal himself.

*

Operations looked at the computer screen and then dropped his head back. His mind was not on the Michael and Nikita mission, although it had been of topic of the phone call that George had made an hour ago. Operations reported the information that the contact had been made and that Michael and Nikita were now waiting for Harry Meena to make the next move. Yet, Operations did not care about the phone call. He did not even think about the implications of sending Michael and Nikita out to play the role of a husband and wife. Only one thing mattered.

Stephen.

Operations stood up and moved to the glare-less glass and looked down at the operatives below. None of this mattered anymore for Operations. Section One as a whole did not matter as Stephen mattered. The survival of the world no longer mattered if Stephen wasn't part of it. Operations was ready to throw it all in as his worries multiplied.

"Sir." Birkoff said as he entered the office and saw the leader of Section One glaring at the world below. Birkoff held in his hand the panel that proved what Operations had felt had happened. Birkoff was not sure if he could be the one to break it to this man. A man that with all the power of Section One, and not enough to help his son.

"You can't keep me here forever." Stephen said and Madeline looked up from the tea that she sipped at. She looked at the tray of food that Stephen had not touched yet. She did not want to reveal to him the horrors about his father that she was willing to display. That was the last move she would use.

"You should eat." Madeline stated and Stephen looked at the food and then to Madeline. He lifted the fork to his mouth and then dropped it back down to the plate.

"How do I know it's not poisoned?" Stephen questioned in a demanding tone.

"What is it Birkoff?" Operations asked with a stern tone. Birkoff blinked and moved closer to the window to continue. A heavy line of sweat broke over his eyebrow as he thought of the news that he was going to deliver to Operations.

"Our operatives have lost the location on Stephen Wolfe." Birkoff reported slowly as he dropped his head down to his chest. Birkoff heard the tight constriction of Operations' entire body as he processed the words.

"Where are the operatives that lost him?" Operations demanded. Birkoff looked over this shoulder to view Operations. Although Birkoff knew it was not physically possible, Operations had aged ten years in just a few minutes. His face was no longer one that scared Birkoff to the core, but rather, Birkoff started to feel pity.

"They are trying to relocate Stephen." Birkoff reported. Operations turned and looked sternly into Birkoff's eyes.

"Cancel them. All of them." Operations stated as he moved to his desk. Birkoff looked up in surprise, as Operations just cancelled ten operatives without a blink or hesitation. There might be something that they know that could provide clues to where Stephen was.

"Stephen, you may think that I am a bad person, and most of the time I am. Now, I am not." Madeline stated firmly as she moved over to his plate. She picked up the fork and shoveled a piece of meatloaf into her mouth.

"It's not really good, but it's not poisoned." Madeline commented as she moved back to her chair and sat down. Stephen watched Madeline and then slowly ate a piece of meat.

"So, how are you a good person?" Stephen questioned with a spark of curiosity. Madeline narrowed her eyes and studied the man.

"What about relocating Stephen Wolfe?" Birkoff queried and Operations looked up from his desk. He shoveled through some of the files on his desk until he found the photograph that Madeline had showed him.

"Start with her." Operations said and Birkoff looked at the face. He had seen a lot of this face of late and looked to the wall.

"She is part of Red Cell." Birkoff said slowly and Operations' head snapped up with the comment. Birkoff instantly saw the throbbing veins and cursed himself for making such a stupid remark without thinking. It was not like Birkoff to comment without thinking, unless it was around Nikita or Walter, and now it might have just pushed Operations over the edge. Birkoff didn't want to be the next one added to Operations' long list of cancellations on this day.

"Tell me something I don't know Birkoff. SHOW ME YOUR WORTH!" Operations bellowed out and Birkoff swallowed, sure that soon he would find his name on that cancellation list.

"You ask too many questions. That is what got you into this entire mess to start with." Madeline said firmly as she hoped that this conversation would cease with the comment. Stephen looked up at her and she saw the veins that he had inherited from his father flare up with anger.

"I got myself into this mess? I was a young boy looking for his father, and then I was a man who wanted to help a friend who had spared my life get her daughter back. I don't see how I started this mess that I am currently in!" Stephen argued back and Madeline pressed her lips together. He also knew how to make a good argument like Operations could.

"You are like your father." Madeline stated.

"I hope that is good." Stephen retorted as he easily remembered the stories and innuendoes he had heard from Michael and Nikita about his father.

"Birkoff, sorry." Operations whispered out as Birkoff started to turn to leave. Birkoff dropped his head as he turned around to face Operations.

"I understand." Birkoff said as he allowed his younger eyes connect with the younger man. Operations did not need to question what Birkoff understood. Operations knew that Birkoff had more knowledge than he should, but that was to be expected.

"We have to find him." Operations stated and Birkoff looked to the wall.

"What is the priority? Do I bring Michael and Nikita back in?" Birkoff questioned and Operations turned and looked at Birkoff. The answer was made with the eye contact and Birkoff left the room quickly.

"I meant it in a good way. Your father isn't all bad, he just never relates to that side of himself." Madeline stated and Stephen looked around and dropped his head. Silence rang out between the two and Stephen began to eat again. It was not good that he had trusted Madeline. Madeline stepped forward and held his body from hitting the hard concrete.

*

Michael lifted his head from the computer as the bathroom slammed shut and Nikita scurried away from the bathroom as if she had just found a dead body within. Michael pressed his lips together and rolled his head back on his shoulders. The past three days had been difficult, as Michael slowly became aware of the multiple symptoms of the madness that Nikita was going through. He noticed the bouts of claustrophobia the easiest and first.

It wasn't until the first night was almost over that Michael started to hear the cries from the guest bedroom that Nikita insisted in sleeping in, since they weren't being visually monitored. Michael had stirred out of his sleep as he heard the screams. He closed his eyes and listened to the pain, not exactly sure what to do. Now Michael was sure that Nikita had not slept at all the night before, and Michael was sure she was preparing for another sleepless night.

Michael stood up as he looked into the dinning room that Nikita had dashed through. He had been waiting for an opening to enter into Nikita's psyche, but Michael was sure that it was never going to occur. The longer he watched, the more often Nikita ran out of small rooms and the more often Nikita would retreat outside to be by herself. Nikita was too proud to allow Michael to see her like this.

Michael found the downstairs empty as he looked outside to see that night had settled down into the community they now were immersed into. Michael slowly locked the door and walked up the stairs, leaving a few lights on downstairs, sure that he would be back down during the nightly vigil of watching Nikita.

His feet sunk into the plush carpets as he moved down the hallway. Off to the right was the room that Nikita had been staying in and he was almost surprised to find the door open and the room unoccupied. Michael continued down the hallway to the left, to the master bedroom and found Nikita holding onto a pillow softly crying. Michael sighed and entered the room.

"Tell me, Nikita." Michael allowed the soft whisper to escape from his lips as he gracefully moved his body close to her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and could fee the mounting tension.

"Please, don't touch me." Nikita whispered out in a broken voice that sounded even more childish than Mia's own voice. Michael pulled the arms away from her neck, but continued the physical contact with her shoulders. He needed to break within her shell and cup her soul in order to save her.

"Nikita, you have to talk about this." Michael whispered and Nikita nodded her head. She knew this herself, but she had had four years of being basically by herself. Of course Madeline would offer some parenting skills and suggestions and Walter had helped out in anything he could, but no one had been there for Nikita emotionally. Not even George, really. George was worried about Mia, and that was what Nikita wanted. Nikita didn't realize until the Lancing mission that she had gone four years without anyone telling her that she needed to have her own emotions.

"I just miss Mia, Michael." Nikita stated and Michael pulled his hands off of Nikita's shoulders, realizing whatever break in Nikita's emotional shell had just closed up for the time being. Michael leaned down and kissed Nikita's blonde head and stood up.

"Do you want to sleep in here tonight so you have some company?" Michael offered and Nikita shook her head as she stood up and whisked her hair out of her face. Michael tried to understand the motives of Nikita's actions but all of them were difficult.

"Actually, I'm going to take a shower and go to bed." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head. Nikita dropped her head and walked out of the room. Michael stood frozen until the water started to run in the shower. Michael rubbed his hands through his hair and across his tired face. Quickly, Michael turned and padded back down the stairs.

Once downstairs, Michael moved to the liquor cabinet and unlocked the doors. He pulled out the bottle of vodka and walked into the kitchen. He prepared the drink, thinking of the night ahead of him, listening to the private battles in Nikita's dreams. Michael lifted the glass and felt the burn of the liquor sliding down his insides, and for a moment, Michael was almost in peace.

Until Nikita began to scream.

There was no other reaction but to fly up the stairs in a full out sprint. The stairs were easily taken three at a time and the bathroom door provided not to be a problem, as Michael strong-armed the door open with one shove.

"NO! NO!" Nikita screamed out, as many of the sounds were no words but just babbles of screams and moans. Michael swallowed as he saw Nikita's damp body clawing into the corner of the bathroom closest to the toilet, trying to escape some imaginary monsters that were chasing her. There was no notice of the firm body and the luscious lines, as her entire body was in a full-blown panic.

Michael turned and pulled at three towels and moved towards Nikita as her screams continued to grow in intensity. As he first approached Nikita, she tried to fend him off with violent punches and other then the word no, Michael heard Nikita screaming at Sanchez and Lancing.

"Nikita, it is all right." Michael said as he stepped back and looked at Nikita, preparing his second approach. Nikita's screeches continued and Michael could feel tears building into his own eyes. Section One had finally drove Nikita to her last nerve of sanity and Michael didn't know if he was going to be able to grab hold of it, or if it had already floated away a long time ago.

The pure physical exhaustion of Nikita's body because of her lack of sleep worked in favor of Michael as Nikita's strength started to wean, but not her screams. Michael covered Nikita in the many towels and moved her out of the bathroom and towards his room.

Nikita dropped to the bed, with her head down on the pillows, but her knees keeping her upper half of the body up. She did not care for comfort as she continued to scream with no sign of stopping. Michael swallowed and sat down on the firm bed. He placed a hand on her side and stroked it lightly.

"That's it, Nikita... Let it all out." Michael said slowly, knowing that Nikita needed to cry. He didn't have to tell Nikita that it was all right, but he knew that the unconscious was a funny thing and maybe the words would help Nikita accept the help that Michael was willing to contribute in order to reclaim her.

"WHY? WHY? WHY?" Nikita screamed out the questions and Michael dropped his head. She slowly moved and the long beach towels moved, exposing her body. Michael, still sitting on the bed, pulled towards the drawer and pulled out a white T-shirt and moved to Nikita's head.

Through Nikita's screams, Michael pulled the T-shirt down of Nikita's body, providing a nightgown of sorts. By now, Nikita's screams had almost ceased by the tears continued to pour out of her eyes. In haste, Michael stripped his clothes off and moved and turned the light off.

"It's ok, Nikita. I have you. Cry all you want." Michael whispered as he snuggled his body up close to Nikita's. Michael was shocked as Nikita turned her body around, so that she was facing him. She dropped her head down to his chest and continued to cry. Michael stroked her hair as he whispered soft comforting words into her ears, ready to stay like such throughout the night.

*

"Sir, I have some visual scans to show you." Birkoff said as he walked into the office the next morning, showing the wear and tiredness of staying up all night. Birkoff dropped the panel down onto the desk and stood still.

Operations lifted his head, showing the same effects of the lack of sleep. He wanted to know that his son was safe before he went to sleep. From the tone of Birkoff's voice, that was highly unlikely to occur now.

"Madeline, she cried all night. I take it as a good sign." Michael said as he looked towards the stairs as Nikita still slept in the morning. Michael pulled at his cup of coffee and gulped some of the scolding liquid down, trying to shock his system back to the state known as awake.

"Crying is not going to bring forth the healing Nikita needs. She needs to talk it out." Madeline said firmly as Michael sat the cup back down on the countertop. He rolled his head forward when there was noise from the above. Michael knew that Nikita was now awake, but he did not expect to see Nikita flying out of the house two minutes later in a state that appeared to be panic.

Michael closed the phone and ran out the door, following Nikita.

"I want to go home!" Stephen screamed as he fought off the effects of being drugged for the past three days. George blinked from the chair he was watching Stephen from.

"I think you would be interested to know where you have been." George said as he stood up and started to show the tape. Stephen shook his head as he saw his body walking into three different airports, but the days showed them to be the same day and at the same time.

"Pipe it down, and relax. You will be here for a while." George said and Stephen stood up shaking his head.

"Why should I even help you? Why shouldn't I fight you?" Stephen screamed and George smiled and pulled a picture out of his pocket.

"Because we have your girlfriend. Mary Foo?" George said and Stephen turned white as snow.

"Nikita!" Michael called out as he chased Nikita down the street. Nikita turned her head and then shook it as she continued to jog in the early morning that had coated everything with heavy dew. Michael sprinted down the road and pulled at Nikita's arm.

"We have to talk, Nikita." Michael said and Nikita shook her head again, and Michael saw the fear that he had hoped would have been washed away with the tears that she cried last night. Madeline's words were so true as he looked at Nikita.

"You can't stay outside for the entire mission, and I am not going to let you be, Nikita. You have a daughter, and you owe it to her to get better." Michael pleaded as he pulled Nikita to a stop and saw the tears that were brought to her eyes.

"That is Ling Pu Chu leading him in handcuffs, sir." Birkoff said as he watched Operations drop the panel back to the desk. Birkoff pulled at the panel and cradled the expensive piece of technology in his arm as Operations pulled out a cigarette and lit up.

"Do we know where that plane was heading?" Operations asked as he exhaled the long expanse of smoke. Birkoff swallowed the smoky air and dropped his head.

"I haven't been able to track it, sir." Birkoff replied and waited for the threat that he was sure was going to come out of Operations' mouth.

"Michael, there are something I am just not ready to talk about." Nikita said as she saw the house of Harry Meena. She didn't even realize that she had run in this direction. Nikita stopped as she turned and started back to the house she had ran from. Michael moved over and wrapped his arm around Nikita's shoulders and dropped his head.

"Then we don't talk about those, Nikita. But you have too." Michael said and Nikita shook her head in protest. Nikita blinked back another round of stinging tears from falling down her raw cheeks.

"I will be fine, Michael. I just need some room." Nikita said and Michael dropped his hand from Nikita's shoulders and stared at her.

"You call yourself fine! What about the claustrophobia, Nikita? What about the running from the house? What about the entire night of screams and tears? Do you call that all right?" Michael said angrily. He didn't know how much more time Madeline was willing to give them on this issue. Michael had heard from Birkoff that Operations' son had just disappeared and that it didn't look good. What would happen if he had to pull them in to rescue Stephen?

"What do you call fine, Michael? If you are looking for me to run into your arms and kiss you in order to classify me as fine, then you might has well have me committed!" Nikita spat out and ran back to the house. Michael pushed his hands into his face in frustration. Communication did not seem to be happening between himself and Nikita anytime soon.

"YOU HAVE MY GIRLFRIEND?" Stephen screamed in horror after the initial shock started to wear off. George walked over and placed the picture into his lap.

"That is me in the picture, now isn't it?" George questioned and Stephen shook his head.

"God help you if you hurt her!" Stephen screamed and George started to laugh with a sound that could only be classified as a sinister Santa Claus 'ho ho ho'. Stephen held back his tears as anger filled his very core.

"If she is going to be hurt, it is because you aren't cooperating. You just have to listen to me and Madeline." George said and Stephen swallowed hard. He looked to the room, seeing that it had no windows and only one light bulb in it. He pounded his hands into his side and moaned.

"All right!" Stephen finally agreed.

Michael pulled out the cell phone and dropped his head in as he dialed the number. He knew who was on the other side and he started to walk.

"It didn't go well, did it, Michael?" Madeline questioned without the normal hellos and greetings. She did not have time for such things. It was difficult providing appropriate therapy to Nikita, threw Michael, via a long distance. Yet, there were some things that Madeline absolutely knew about all individuals involved. Nikita in the four years of providing all the internal emotional support from herself, was not going to open up to Michael so easily, even if she had cried the entire night away. Michael was not going to give up either, and Madeline hoped that Nikita would lose it soon. The sooner the better. Madeline was sure that George was having difficulties with Stephen.

"Michael, something has to trigger Nikita to an emotional state like none you have seen before." Madeline stated and Michael swallowed, He had been there through some of Nikita's darkest times, and Madeline was stating that Nikita had to get worse than those do? Michael could not believe his ears.

"So, I am suppose to walk around the house as a baby sitter hoping that an everyday object is going to make Nikita turn into some sort of deranged psychopath so she can finally talk to me?" Michael questioned as he started towards the house.

"That is exactly what I need to happen, only I was going to give such in nicer terms." Madeline said and Michael folded the phone and entered the house, sensing that he was going to have to wait for the storm to hit before he realized what was going on.

"Red Cell has him." Operations stated and Birkoff dropped his head still. Birkoff folded out the print out and swallowed.

"I ran the scenarios through the computers. The likelihood that Red Cell picked Stephen up for his dealings in the past, are very slim, and even more unlikely with the method that they had taken him." Birkoff said as he dropped the paper to the desk. Operations looked at the paper and then smashed the cigarette into the ashtray as he stood up.

"So Stephen was taken because of me." Operations stated and he looked to the window. He walked slowly over and sighed.

"I want all missions not under orders via George ceased until we find him." Operations stated and Birkoff nodded his head and moved quickly out of the room. Operations pressed his hand forward onto the glass and found it cold. He looked at his hand and wondered to what extent Red Cell was torturing Stephen and how much he was willing to see his very son go through.

*

Madeline walked down the hallway and stopped as she stared at the steel door. She moved towards it and tapped lightly. She heard the large bolts being opened and then the friendly face of George. Madeline walked into the room and looked away from Stephen.

"It may take longer than first expected." Madeline said slowly and George's entire body tightened up. He looked around the room and began to pace.

"That is not acceptable." George responded as he tried to ignore the fact that Stephen was sitting in the room. Madeline moved over and placed her hands on George's shoulders and stopped his movement.

"I am not there and it is more complicated than I first thought." Madeline stated and George lifted his head and shook his head. He could not listen to the words of Madeline, as they were unacceptable. They were working on a limited time frame and he could not hold all the current scenarios for longer than first planned.

"What are you two talking about?" Stephen demanded and Madeline threw a look at Stephen that almost bolted him from his chair. Stephen swallowed; sure that all of this was about Michael and Nikita, even if neither of his captors was going to say so.

"Trigger the memories, Madeline!" George growled and Madeline blinked her eyes and moved closer to George. She was so mixed up with fears of what she was going to say. Madeline knew that it had to be said, but that she didn't want George to believe that Nikita was a helpless cause.

"Look. She has spent four years with no one like that relationship. Four years of trying to do everything for herself, and you can't just expose your heart and your soul to a person that once was everything in them!" Madeline growled back in an equal fierceness and Stephen rolled his eyes. The conversation was getting confusing because Madeline wouldn't say the names of the two he knew were involved.

"Ok... You both can drop the act. It is getting quite old. I know this goes back to Nikita crying in my house!" Stephen said and Madeline turned and stared at Stephen. She moved to his chair and he looked up in eyes that Madeline could see screamed of Operations' genes.

"How do you know this?" Madeline questioned and Stephen rolled his eyes. He looked to George and smiled softly.

"You forget that I knew both of them before. That Nikita saved my life. I noticed the difference between the chemistry. It's still there..., but very hidden." Stephen said and Madeline turned around and smiled at George. George continued to shake his head.

"Madeline, we need this over quickly. Much further and Operations will be bringing in every single Red Cell person we could get our hands on." George said and Madeline dropped her head and moved back to face George. He saw the fire in her eyes when she looked up.

"Is that a bad thing?" Madeline asked as she studied the man that stood in front of her as a man that had showed his paternal instincts when it came to Nikita. George looked away and then sighed.

"No. Yet it cannot be easy on other operatives that work directly with Paul and it cannot be easy on him." George said as he looked at Stephen. Stephen shook his head, as now he was no longer being threatened.

"I don't know what will trigger it. We have no Intel about what occurred inside Ferris Lancing's house. I don't know what object will bring Nikita to the brink." Madeline said and George sighed and turned away. Madeline watched the firm shoulders hunch forward in a gesture that Madeline did not like. Madeline circled the room and looked at George again as she stood behind the chair that Stephen graced.

"You are holding something back from me." Madeline stated and George lifted his head as he stared at a wall.

"I have a tape of an event in Lancing's house." George said as he pulled out the key from his pocket. Madeline shook her head in disappointment and grabbed the key as she walked out of the room with tears rolling down her face.

*

There was a feeling inside of Nikita that she had not felt in a long time. She lifted her head up from the computer she tried to work at. She lifted the bottle of water up to find out that it was empty. Now the feeling over took her body, and Nikita mumbled as she stood up.

She was hungry, and it was something that Nikita did not miss. In the past, Nikita would gain weight through missions that pinned her in a suburban house with Michael, as she finally got the three square meals that was normal. Yet, now Nikita's stomach screamed for some nourishment. She flipped the computer screen down and started out of the little den.

Michael was no where to be found in the living room and the dinning room as Nikita moved. It had been a good day after her jaunt outside. Michael had left Nikita some distance, and for once during the entire mission, Nikita glimpsed herself in the mirror, smiling.

Nikita stepped into the kitchen and moved to the refrigerator and opened the large white doors. She scrutinized the contents, knowing now that she should have insisted on doing the shopping herself. Michael was a health nut, and the organic foods that Michael had stocked up on were healthy, but that wasn't what Nikita was looking for. She closed the door and turned to look into the cabinets behind her body when her eyes caught something out on the countertop.

A measuring cup. A glass measuring cup glistened in the harsh florescent lighting of the kitchen and it looked harmless, for only a split second. Nikita's lip started to tremble as she closed her eyes tightly. She wanted to rid herself of the memories, but this one, was just too difficult. Nikita swallowed and pushed her hands out to hold her weak body from falling.

"No.... Not now...." Nikita said, but it was already too late by the time she said the words. She started to cry as the memories flooded back her conscious world. There was nothing to do that was in Nikita's control, as her eyes could not move away from the measuring cup.

"Nikita... darling...." Lancing had said when he entered the room with the measuring cup dangling in his hand. Nikita had barely noticed it until he slammed it down on the dresser.

"I have a challenge for you this night." Lancing said as he crossed the room and pulled Nikita up and out of the bed with her hair. Nikita whimpered and felt the stinging of a slap across her face. Lancing laughed as he started to paw off the clothing that he had selected Nikita to wear.

"It's going to be a long night.... And you will have to show your results." Lancing laughed and Nikita looked at him in slight confusion. Slowly he pointed to the measuring cup and Nikita started to realize what Lancing was going to force her to do.

"The next lady likes a good drink, and so, I can't leave you until you get me to fill the cup." Lancing said as he threw Nikita down on the bed and pulled out the handcuffs. Nikita swallowed and started to screaming, knowing that Lancing was in her room for some long-term abuse of her body.

"Lancing... No......" Nikita sobbed out in a choked voice. Nikita pushed forward and smashed the measuring cup onto the floor. It shattered into thousands of shards of glass. Nikita pushed her palms deeply into her eyes, but the images would not leave.

"Michael..." Nikita whimpered out as she shook her head. She no longer wanted to live like this. She didn't feel like she was even alive. She felt like she was a puppet that was being led through the acts of life on strings that pulled her arms and legs. Nikita moved, trying to get out of the kitchen. She tried not to notice anything.

"MICHAEL!" Nikita screamed out for reasons that she did not know. Yet, it was the silence that had occurred when she called out that threw her into a panic even more. Nikita bent over the kitchen sink and moaned.

"No body will ever care for you like I do." Lancing yelled at Nikita as he held a knife up to her throat. He smiled and slammed his hand down into her stomach.

"Where are you, Michael! Help me!" Nikita screamed out as she held onto the side of the sink, trying to keep her body upright. She didn't want to fall backwards. It was her last fight, and if she fell, she was sure that she would not continue to live. She closed her eyes, but the memories only came back.

"YOU ARE NEVER HERE WHEN I NEED YOU MICHAEL!!! NEVER!!!" Nikita screamed out with a piercing cry that echoed through the house. Her bottom lip trembled like china during an earthquake. Images were so mixed up that she could not make reality from the nightmarish images. There was no sanity here for Nikita.

Michael picked his head up as he heard screams from the house. He dropped the basket that he was using to pull the massive amount of weeds from a garden and moved towards the house. It was then that he heard Nikita's sharp words and he felt his entire soul drop.

"You are never here when I need you Michael!!! NEVER!!!" Michael heard Nikita's voice echo over and over again in his mind. The pain he had caused her was real, finally.

"I know you like pain, Nikita....." Lancing said as he dropped the knife down to the side of her exposed breast. Nikita bit her lip and tried not to pay attention to the pain as the knife cut through the skin. Not deeply, and not enough to leave scars, but enough to cause pain, and enough to leave blood for Lancing to rejoice in.

Nikita closed her eyes as Lancing moved down on her body. When she opened them, she saw the knife. How she wished to wrap her hands around it and finished her life. She could not live like this and it was time to end what Lancing would never end.

Nikita opened her eyes to see a long steak knife in the dish rack. She moved without a thought to grab the knife out and roll it into her hand. She looked at her wrist as she continued to cry. Her body was heavy and the pain was past the point of bearable.

"I don't want this! I want it to stop!" Nikita cried out, as if explaining to herself all the irrational reasons why she was even holding the knife. She pointed the knife downwards and pulled it away at the last second. There was a force that stopped her at that moment, or it was just another memory that wanted it's chance to torture her before she passed out of the life that she was ready to give up.

"You have no one, Nikita. You hate yourself. You are no good. You whore! You worthless bitch!" Lancing screamed as he abused her body with the knife, making little incisions down the sides of her body and the inner thighs. Nikita could not move as she was pinned down spread-eagle.

"Michael... Michael... Michael..." Nikita repeated to herself as she tried to forget the monster that had her body at his will. She tried to picture his face, but was frustrated with the lack of progress. In the four years that Nikita had lived by herself, how she told herself that she had to forget Michael, and she couldn't. Now she needed to remember Michael and he was like a vague childhood memory, not really there.

"MICHAEL! MICHAEL! MICHAEL!" Nikita screamed out without conscious awareness of her own actions. The only action that had Nikita's focus at that moment was that of the knife as it inched closer to her wrist. She was moments away from an action that could end her life. She was so close to escaping the pain.

"Why aren't you here? Why can't you see I need you?" Nikita sobbed out as she collapsed more against the kitchen sink and the knife slowly moved away from her body. Her blonde hair dropped in front of her face and into the sink with the dirty dishwater that had not been cleaned out.

"Nikita!" Michael called out as he started up the wooden deck that had taken him out to the backyard. He skipped up the last few stairs as he heard Nikita questioning him still. Michael walked towards the screen door and violently ripped the door back as he saw Nikita at the sink.

"Nikita... drop the knife!" Michael screamed and he moved slowly into the kitchen, and he felt his entire body explode with sadness as Nikita's eyes turned and looked towards him. She could not hold contact with his eyes and she turned back to the knife and the wrist.

"I don't want this.... I can't live like this." Nikita moaned out as she twisted the knife around, and then lightly grazed the skin. She doesn't notice Michael's body jumping out with the movement and holds the knife in front of her face.

"All my problems would be over." Nikita stated as she dropped her hand back down. Her head throbbed with pain, but to hold it to stop the throbbing would mean dropping the knife.

"Nikita, it will only create problems. What about Mia?" Michael questioned as he could not stop his own tears from rolling down his face. The pain was written across Nikita's face like black ink on a white sheet. Michael watched as the pain intensified in Nikita's face, but the hand that had gripped the knife so tightly was starting to twitch.

"Please Nikita. We need to talk. I am here now." Michael stated and he looked back to the knife as he slowly dropped from Nikita's hand. Michael finally drew in a comfortable breath of air and moved to Nikita's side and held her up as her entire body collapsed.

"What have I done? What have I done?" Nikita cried out as Michael held onto her strongly, but it felt to Nikita as if she was floating.

"Nothing. You have done nothing... You will be fine, Nikita. I am here now." Michael said in a soft voice and he leaned his head back as Nikita continued to cry. Michael was sure that he was not going to be leaving the kitchen anytime soon.

*

Michael held the cup of tea carefully in his hand as he turned out of the kitchen. He looked forward to the couch that Nikita was sitting on. She had curled her legs up tightly near her body so that her chin was resting on her knees. Tear still continued to roll down her face, but now the fear and determination to end it all was lost out of her eyes, and Michael saw the opening that he had been waiting for.

"Here is your tea, Nikita." Michael said as he reached forward to hand Nikita the cup of tea. She carefully extended her arms to grab the cup and keep her legs bent inward, as if trying to still protect herself. She sipped it lightly and smiled and dropped her head.

"There is no sugar." Nikita commented and Michael shook his head lightly. He smiled and stroked Nikita's hair back. He had tried to remember that Nikita said she no longer took sugar and he knew better. He produced the two packages of sugar and stirred it into the cup for Nikita. Michael sat back as Nikita sipped the tea, as he was willing to wait for Nikita to continue what had just begun.

Operations rubbed his eyes harshly as he stepped away from the desk. He walked away a few paces and looked out over Section One. He felt separated from them again, as his life seemed to be crumbling in around him. Operations walked over and tapped harshly on the glass.

Birkoff turned around and looked up. Operations blinked and Birkoff took a cleansing breath, knowing as he stood up what was going to be discussed in the room as he entered. Birkoff turned and walked towards the stairs to confer with Operations.

Operations saw the young man's movement as he moved back to the computer. He didn't know if he would have the strength to ask Birkoff for help on this. It was not a Section One goal to get his son back, but he could make the argument that it could threaten Section One security. Yet, Operations knew the only way it threatened Section One security was if he admitted that Stephen was his son.

Madeline dropped her head as George walked over to her and placed the cup of tea down next to the glaring computer. George turned his head and touched Madeline's shoulder. He felt Madeline trembled at his touch and swallowed.

"She shouldn't even be alive." Madeline stated and George lifted his head. He had seen that Madeline had more strength than he did, as he could not have watched the entire tape that showed Lancing with Nikita for four days.

"Emotionally, right?" George questioned softly as he dropped his head and saw Stephen asleep in the corner. Madeline slowly stood up and closed the computer screen.

"Alive, period." Madeline stated and George turned and took Madeline's hands into his.

"I think someone is underestimating the strength of love." George stated and Madeline pulled away to be with her thoughts. She had seen enough of the tape to find it hard that Nikita had not reacted to anything yet while in the house with Michael. Madeline could think of about twenty different household objects that would bring the young women a shock of terror with no control over its occurrence.

"Michael, Lancing hurt me." Nikita said slowly and Michael closed his eyes with the pain that sang out of Nikita's soul with the words. Michael reached out and placed a hand on Nikita's knee as she dropped her head back.

"I know, Nikita." Michael said and Nikita turned her head towards Michael as the rivers of tears started to flow heavier again.

"I don't know how you can look at me. I shouldn't ever be close to anyone.... But Michael..." Nikita started to explain, but started to retreat as the words started to pull at the being of her heart again.

"What, Nikita? You can tell me." Michael said and Nikita turned her head and looked into Michael's eyes.

"I know I can heal if I run to you now, but I won't be able to do this again if you leave me." Nikita said and Michael dropped his hand from Nikita's knee. Her words had stung his heart, as he could not believe. He sucked in some air before he placed his hand back on Nikita's knee and squeezed.

"Nikita, You need to do what you need to heal. Don't worry about things you might not have any control over." Michael said softly and Nikita shook her head.

"I thought I was over Sanchez, but Lancing, he brought it back. I handled it before... and Now I am disappointing myself." Nikita cried out and Michael moved his body closer to Nikita's body. He tentatively wrapped his arm around Nikita's shoulders and held onto her.

"You aren't disappointing anyone, Nikita." Michael whispered into her ear. Nikita dropped her head down to Michael's shoulder and reached her hand out for Michael's. Michael stared at the interlaced fingers that Nikita had arranged and felt a comfort hit his heart, like he knew that the healing was starting.

"I am not underestimating the power of love. I am just reevaluating how it is going to play with Nikita. We may have chosen wrong." Madeline said and George pulled the tape out of the equipment and dropped it to the floor. He looked at Madeline and smashed his foot down onto the tape.

"Why did Nikita keep Mia? You know now, don't you?" George questioned and Madeline turned her head and looked at Stephen. She was sure that he was awake, but just pretending to be asleep.

"Madeline, answer me." George said firmly as he moved closer to Madeline. It was about time that Madeline understood this point as clearly as she could. George knew Madeline wanted this to be true, and probably used an argument that Nikita was connected to Michael when she threatened him.

"Because it was a part of Michael." Madeline stated as she looked to the foot that had crushed the tape of Lancing torturing Nikita.

"Because it was a part of the man she loved and still does." George said and he bent over and pulled a piece of the tape that he had just broken. Madeline swallowed and George looked to the computer.

"Why don't you call Michael?"

"Birkoff, I have a message from a faction associated with Red Cell." Operations said as Birkoff walked into the room. Operations moved away from the desk as Birkoff moved over and looked at the computer. He raised his head and looked at Operations.

"That is odd. There are no factions of Red Cell. They don't have rebels of their cause. Their cause is to destroy us." Birkoff replied and Operations nodded his head. That knowledge had bothered him a bit too. He wasn't sure if this was Red Cell trying to play with their minds, if Stephen had finally gathered the knowledge of Operations, or if someone was trying to pull one over Section One.

Birkoff looked at the message to find Stephen tied to a chair and a hand. The hand lifted the head up so the face could be seen and then dropped it. The voice was modified and could not be identified and Birkoff ground his teeth together as nothing seemed right.

"Do I give into the demands?" Operations asked and Birkoff looked at Operations and shook his head.