The morning light was just starting to peak through the windows as Mia slipped off the end of the bed and ran into the living room. Nikita turned to the side; to watch over Mia, but promptly elbowed Michael in the stomach.

"Sorry." Nikita whispered as she tried to move away from Michael. She pulled the blue comforter with her and Michael moaned as the cool morning air hit his bare chest. Nikita turned and proceeded to get smacked across the face with Michael's moving elbow.

"OUCH!" Nikita moaned out as her muscles react to cover the area of her cheek that Michael connected his elbow with a solid thud as tears sprang from her eyes. Nikita's legs kicked at Michael as she tried to move away from the tight sheets.

"Nikita, let me see." Michael said firmly as he moved his hands up to Nikita's face. He cups his hands around Nikita's chin to look at the damage that he had made to her cheek. Nikita tenderly pulls her hands away, only to jump back when Michael started to touch the tender area.

"You need to get ice on that." Michael said as he pulled at the comforter and tried to stand up. Throughout the night, the shared blankets had gotten severely tangled up, and with the pull, Michael falls off the edge of the bed and in his motion, pulled Nikita off the side along with him.

"I need a bigger bed." Nikita moaned as she continued to protect her cheek. Michael moved away and pulled a robe over his boxer shorts and looked at Nikita.

"We need a bigger place period." Michael stated as he moved out of the room. Nikita blinked her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed with the statement. Nikita never thought that Michael would be staying permanently in her apartment, and the statement of 'we' was bothering her. Not that Nikita did not want Michael to be an every day part of Mia's life, but it was too quick, and for Nikita it brought up many other issues that she did not want to face anytime soon. She had this feeling deep within herself that Michael was only here for Mia, which was fine, and Nikita could not allow herself to fall into some fantasy of her heart going back to Michael.

Michael stepped back into the bedroom and handed Nikita the package of ice, which she placed tenderly against her face. Michael sat down next to Nikita on the bed and looked around.

"I have been looking at houses. This place is just too small for the three of us." Michael stated firmly and Nikita pulled away the ice from her face.

"House? You want move Mia away from the only place she had known as home, now!" Nikita argued and Michael reached out and touched Nikita's chin softly, but Nikita did not allow the contact. She moved to the stairs and looked at Mia's room.

"I built her room by myself. I can't take her from here!" Nikita cried out and Michael stepped over to Nikita's side and placed his hands on Nikita's waist.

"I can give Mia everything that she deserves." Michael softly whispered and Nikita whipped her entire body around to stare at Michael. Michael placed Nikita's hand with the ice back to her cheek and smiled at her.

"She deserves so much more, Nikita." Michael said with a pleased look on his face. Nikita shook her head in disbelief. She was hearing the reasons why now. The reasons that Nikita never wanted to here.

"So, I haven't given Mia enough, have I? Have I been that bad of a mother? You can give her better, well that is so nice of you!" Nikita spat out in sharp words and moved to the kitchen. Michael closed his eyes and looked to the stairs. He was making a mess out of what he wanted to do, and what he wanted to do for all of them.

"Nikita, I am sorry. It's too early for this." Michael said as he moved to the kitchen and softly placed a kiss on the uninjured cheek of Nikita's face. Nikita smiled and started to pour coffee as the cell phone rang from the living room. Nikita felt relief, as the phone call would stop the conversation. She was shocked to find out that she had wrapped herself into the fantasy that she told herself that she wasn't going to fall in. Nikita was disappointed to find herself thinking that Michael really was in the apartment because he loved his daughter, but also because he loved her. Nikita dropped her head as Michael finished the conversation.

"We both have briefings." Michael stated and Nikita nodded her head and looked at her body. Michael looked to the bathroom and started to head there together. Slowly, they moved in the bathroom, keeping the door open to view Mia.

"Nikita.... You are on my toe." Michael said in his deep voice. Nikita tried to move, and ended up falling into the shower area.

"Nikita, we have to do something. This place is so small." Michael said as he tried to button his black shirt. Nikita stepped out of the bathroom and pulled the pale blue sweater over her black bra and stared at Michael.

"I never asked you to stay here! This is my home with Mia! I can't leave it. I have lived here my entire time here with Mia. I am not going to move her because you want to spend time with her!" Nikita screamed as she moved to the coats and started to bundle Mia up to face the four inches of snow outside.

"Nikita, I don't want to take her. We will all live in the house." Michael stated as he walked out of the bathroom and looked at the tears streaking down Nikita's face.

"I don't even know if you should even be near her anymore. She is my daughter." Nikita screamed as she picked up Mia and headed out of the apartment. Michael closed his eyes as the door vibrated from the loud slam Nikita had gave it. He pulled up the cup of coffee and sipped it. He felt guilty for the entire situation. There were so many things that he could have done to prevent this from happening. He could tell Nikita that he had loved her every second that he was in Hong Kong and that the fact that they had a daughter only made him love her more. He could have showed Nikita that he loved her, with roses or something. Now Michael wasn't sure if he could ever get Nikita and his daughter into the house that he saw three days ago in a dream and found yesterday in real life.

*

The doors opened to Madeline's office and she smiled as Michael walked slowly down the stairs. He briefly looked at the two bonsai trees that had gathered his attention before and Madeline stood up.

"They aren't doing so good. I might have to move them." Madeline explained as she walked over to Michael's side. Michael nodded his head and looked plainly into Madeline's eyes.

"You wanted to see me." Michael stated and Madeline smiled.

"Do you think that I need to give them more time to fix things themselves? Or should I take the matter into my own hands?" Madeline asked and Michael stood frigid and looked at the bonsai trees.

"We are talking about the trees, correct?" Michael asked with a lifted eyebrow. Madeline nodded her head and reached her hands out to touch the potted plants.

"Of course. Did you think I was speaking of you and Nikita?" Madeline asked and Michael blinked his eyes and studied the plants from left to right.

"They are dying. I would intervene." Michael stated and Madeline nodded her head and motioned Michael over to the chairs against the wall. Madeline watched Michael's long lines slide into the chair and she could see the minor aches and pains of sleeping on the small bed with Nikita and Mia.

"I came across your request." Madeline said and Michael nodded his head. Madeline looked at the gray-green eyes not waver from her own eyes and smiled. "You are ready to take this to the next step." Madeline stated and sat down. She folded her hands on her lap and waited for the response.

"I want to do what is right for my daughter. The apartment is too small." Michael replied and Madeline nodded her head. She turned to the wall and pointed to the map of the city that most of the operatives lived it.

"Nikita's apartment is here. We have moved all other operatives out of that neighborhood a good year ago." Madeline stated firmly and Michael turned sharply to look at the map. There were only a few reasons why Section One would move operatives out of neighborhoods. Michael swallowed and looked at Madeline.

"She doesn't want to move. I cannot push it." Michael replied and Madeline smiled and pulled up the pamphlet with a picture of the house Michael had finally found. Madeline knew he would find it appealing when she first crossed it the day after Michael took Mia out of Medlab and home to Nikita. Madeline had turned down ten requests from other operatives who wanted this house.

"I think I can help with it, Michael. She needs a reason to leave." Madeline said and Michael started to protest when Madeline placed the picture down on his lap.

"It's yours. You can start moving in tomorrow. After your mission." Madeline stated and Michael looked at the house and closed his eyes. He had dreamed of the house for the past three nights, and now it was in his hands. He looked at Madeline and then back to the picture.

"What are you going to do? I don't want Nikita hurt in this." Michael said and Madeline smiled and shook her head.

"She just needs some persuasion. Go home. Nikita will be on her way in from her mission." Madeline said and Michael nodded his head and Madeline stood up to look at the plants. She wasn't sure if she really was ready to commit to do this action, but Michael in his own unconscious gesture showed to her that he felt it was time.

"Leave Mia. Nikita will bring her home." Madeline said and Michael nodded his head and left quickly. Madeline turned to her desk and picked up the phone.

"Assemble Conner's team." Madeline said in a deep voice. She hung up the phone and stared at the plants. She had a feeling that she should call all of this off. She looked back to the chairs and sighed. She was doing this for the better of the entire family. Michael and Nikita didn't realize it yet, but they needed each other more than Mia needed them.

*

"That is the song that doesn't end.... It goes on and on my friends...." Mia sang out as Nikita drove the car. She turned her head to view her daughter who was bouncing her head from side to side, even in the darkness of night that Mia usually found herself asleep in.

"Mia... who taught you that song?" Nikita called out over Mia's loud singing.

"Walter and Birkoff.... Somebody started singing it.. . Not knowing what it was...." Mia answered and continued to sing the song. Nikita rolled her eyes as she made the left hand turn and smiled.

"Remind me to thank them personally." Nikita remarked, knowing that Mia did not realize that her mother was getting sick of the song. Nikita was pulling her eyes away from the rear view mirror when the cars moved quickly in front of her. Nikita looked about as she was only about three blocks away from the apartment.

Nikita sees the gun being pulled on the young boys that were backed up against the cars in front of her. Nikita blinked and drove quickly ahead and heard the guns blast as the front seat area covered the boys. Nikita blinked as she felt the instant pain.

"MOMMIE!" Mia screamed from the backseat and Nikita squealed the car around and drove quickly away. Everyone in the street scattered and Nikita gasped in horror. Nikita glanced to see that her right arm had been wounded and that Mia was fine.

"MOMMIE!!!!" Mia screamed again as Nikita drove quicker. Nikita pulled her cell phone out and dialed the number quickly as Mia continued to scream and cry.

"Nikita, what is going on?" Michael answered as he heard Mia's screams.

"Get into Section." Nikita said in a rushed voice and Michael's heart feel through to his stomach.

"What is wrong, Nikita?" Michael demanded as he heard the car wheels squeal.

"There was a shooting. I have to get in. Michael just get out of there!" Nikita screamed and slammed the phone shut. Nikita looked at Mia and tried to take her own mind off of the pain from the shoulder.

"Mia... lets sing that song.... And we will be safe.... This is the song..." Nikita started out and Mia nodded her head.

"That doesn't end... Mommie... I'm scared. You are bleeding." Mia said and Nikita turned quickly, seeing that she was not being followed.

"It goes on and on my friends.." Nikita sang out as she moved quickly. She was getting dizzy and it was not a good combination. She went against her Section protocol and pulled the car into the parking lot. The Section One attendant came up to Nikita as she pulled her daughter out of the car quickly.

"Destroy it." Nikita hurriedly said as she ran to the elevator with Mia. She would not feel safe until she was inside. The elevator doors closed in front of Nikita as Mia cried into her non-injured arm. Nikita bit her bottom lip as the pain swelled in her arm. She would not cry in front of her daughter. Not now.

"Come one... the song... Somebody start singing it.. Not knowing what it was.." Nikita sang out hurriedly but saw that it was not going to help Mia now. The door opened and Nikita looked around. She sat Mia down on the floor and looked into her eyes.

"Mia... I want you to go to Walter. I have things I have to do." Nikita explained firmly to Mia, who shook her head.

"Mommie... I am scared." Mia said and Nikita kissed her forehead. Nikita sucked in a breath of air, trying to maintain her own composure.

"Mia... you will be safe with Walter. I will make sure that nothing like this will happen again." Nikita said and Mia nodded her head as she tried to hold her own tears back for her mother's good. Nikita nodded her head and patted her behind as Mia turned. Nikita watched Mia slowly walk. Nikita saw Mia turn back around, and the turned and ran down the hallway, screaming for Walter. Nikita turned in her own way, headed towards the office, with tears running down her face.

"DAMN!" Nikita screamed as she slammed her door shut and slid down to her knees, not so much out of the pain from the gunshot, but from the pain of exposing her daughter to this side of life.

*

"WALTER!!! WALTER!!!" Mia screamed as she flew down the hallway, past Birkoff's workstation. Birkoff lifted his head and watched the small body run down the wrong hallway with her arms flailing in all directions. The operatives who just continued to walk sickened Birkoff by her, and quickly he moved away from his station and after the little midget girl, as Birkoff liked to call her.

"Mia!" Birkoff called out as she circled in the hallway. He watched as the little girl's face lit up and ran towards Birkoff with opened arms. It was not normal behavior for Mia to do so with Birkoff, but Birkoff picked Mia willingly up, knowing that something was wrong.

"Take me to Walter. Mommie is hurt." Mia cried out and Birkoff wrinkled his nose back and touched Mia's head softly.

"Mia, are you alright?" Birkoff questioned as he studied the girl. She nodded her head as Birkoff turned and walked quickly off to Walter's station. He looked at her as Mia hid her face down into his shoulder and worry succumbed to Birkoff.

"Mia, what about Nikita? What happened to your mother?" Birkoff asked as he sat Mia down on top of Walter's table. Walter poked his head out and found a crying Mia connected to Birkoff like he was a life preserver. Walter dropped the gun and walked to the gate and found his way to Mia's side.

Michael pulled his car into the parking lot and looked around. He instantly noticed that Nikita's car was not in the parking lot. He stepped out of the car and frowned. He moved towards the booth and tapped the window to gain access to the Section One elevator.

"Has Nikita been here tonight?" Michael questioned the operative and he nodded his head.

"She was bleeding pretty bad. And that pretty daughter of yours was crying pretty hard." The operative said and Michael looked at the elevator, unhappy that it was taking such a long time to reach the parking lot. Michael looked to the operative and sighed.

"Only Nikita was hurt?" Michael asked and the operative nodded his head.

"Looked like she got stuck in some sort of drive by. We had to destroy the car." The operative said as the door opened up to the elevator. Michael stepped into the elevator and punched the code, so that he would move quickly down to the main floor and find out what was going on.

Madeline sat in her office when the door opened and Operations stepped in. He looked to her and then frowned.

"What is going on, Madeline?" Operations said and Madeline shrugged her shoulders and blankly looked up at Operations. He pulled the chair to the side and sat firmly down.

"I have reports that I have a screaming Mia running down the hallways until Birkoff picked her up. I have no visual on Nikita, but a report that her car has been destroyed. What do you know about this?" Operations asked and Madeline stood up and shook her head.

"I know nothing, but I would deduce that her neighborhood has finally caught up to Nikita." Madeline said and Operations stood up to continue to show that the conversation was not over.

"Oh, if I only that it was that, I wouldn't be standing in this office with you, Madeline." Operations stated firmly as he stared into Madeline's eyes.

"BANG! BANG! And then really fast. Blood." Mia cried out in broken words and Walter looked at Birkoff and then back to Mia.

"Mia, your mother. Where did she go?" Walter asked and Mia shook her head and cried harder. Birkoff looked at Walter as Mia wrapped her tiny arms around his neck again. Birkoff rubbed her back and shook his head.

"Nikita was shot. You would think she would go to medical." Birkoff stated and Walter shook his head and frowned.

"No. She would have called Michael first and she would avoid medical at all costs." Walter said as he touched Mia's head softly. Mia looked up with her red eyes and Walter kissed her forehead.

"I'm going to check on your mommie. You stay here with Birkoff." Walter said as he pulled out of the area quickly with a determined face that no one would stop him.

Michael stepped out of the elevator and did not see the furry of activity he would have expected if Nikita were caught in a drive by shooting by accident. He did not know who to look for first, and he turned down the hallway and walked to the office.

"DAMN IT!" Nikita hollered again as Michael pushed open the door. He walked to Nikita's side and saw the blood. It had been a bad shoulder wound, but not too bad. Michael pushed his hand against the wound as he looked at Nikita.

"Just go to Mia." Nikita murmured in her anger. Michael shook his head.

"You need this taken care of, Nikita." Michael replied and Nikita shook her head.

"Mia needs you." Nikita replied and pulled away from Michael. Michael looked at Nikita and turned. He would go find Mia and then tend to Nikita. It was what Nikita wanted.

Nikita watched Michael move out of the office and cried more as her heart broke. She was lost in a world that she no longer wanted to be part of.

"I don't know what you are trying to imply with that statement." Madeline systematically replied with a cold tone that she had usually reserved for those that she interrogated. Operations moved to her and smiled.

"If you did do something, it would be a great service. We have wanted Nikita out of that neighborhood for some time." Operations replied and Madeline smiled.

"And Michael has been looking for houses for his family." Madeline replied happily, which causes Operations to frown at the implication of Madeline's words. He did not want the word family discussed anywhere near the Michael/Nikita/Mia situation.

Walter turned the corner to Nikita's office to find Nikita pulling at the thread from her shoulder. Walter slammed the door shut and Nikita concentrated at the work on her shoulder.

"Michael, I told you to go to Mia." Nikita said without hesitation. Walter walked over and bent down to Nikita's side and looked at her.

"You are doing a good job." Walter said and he watched Nikita's entire body jump. Nikita nodded her head and looked behind her shoulder.

"It went clear through. I need help with the back." Nikita said and Walter looked and nodded his head. He took the thread and needle and sterilized it in the alcohol and started out the exit wound.

"Mia found Birkoff." Walter said and Nikita nodded her head and started to cry.

"Walter, I put her life in danger. I shouldn't even have her." Nikita said and Walter tried to continue his work as he allowed Nikita to cry. The event had to have been difficult on Nikita also.

Michael clamored down the hallway loudly and he stopped as he heard the noise he was listening for. Mia crying.

Michael turned he corner and found Birkoff carrying the young girl in his arms. Birkoff sighed in relief when he saw Michael and moved quickly to the older man. Mia turned and lunged for her father. Michael held her carefully in his arms, as he checked Mia himself to see if she was all right.

"Mia... it's all right." Michael said and Birkoff looked around and studied Michael.

"Birkoff, find out what happened near Nikita's house. I don't like it." Michael said and Birkoff nodded his head as Michael turned back to Nikita's office.

Nikita lifted her head as Michael opened the office door. She saw Mia grasping at her father a she looked at Nikita. Walter placed the bandage over the back stitches and looked up at Michael. There was silence as Nikita shook her head back and forth.

"I'm not going back." Nikita cried out and Michael set Mia down on the chair and looked at Nikita. The gunshot was taken care of, but it should have been done by medical so she would not have to go out with the mission in just few hours.

"We will discuss this after we all get some sleep, Nikita." Michael said and Nikita shook her head.

"I want a house. Michael... buy us a house. I am not going back to that side of town." Nikita cried out as the reality of what she had been through crashed down around her. Michael kissed Nikita's forehead and sighed.

"We have to notify Madeline and Operations. You can't go out with that injury." Michael whispered and Walter stood up and playfully nudged Mia's cheek. Mia laughed softly, and Nikita looked up. She was sure that she had destroyed her daughter with the events, but she was laughing with Walter.

"I will go on the mission." Nikita stated as she stood up and promptly danced with dizziness.

"I saw the house. It is very beautiful and perfect for them." Madeline said and Operations shook his head in disgust.

"George had you do this." Operations blamed and Madeline smiled as she turned to look at the computer. Birkoff was writing the report as she looked at Operations.

"No. George had nothing to do with this. I feel that strength can be grown from a weakness." Madeline replied and Operations shook his head and stormed out of the office. Madeline sat down and looked at the report and sighed. She had other problems than Operations to deal with.

Madeline pulled the drawer out and looked at the paper. A level Five Operative had to be transferred, and there were only two that George even suggested on moving. Michael or Nikita. Madeline could only hope that she could make George see the same error that Operations was making before it was too late.

*

The ground was wet, but everything else was hot. Nikita's hand dug into the ground as she tried to orientate herself of her surroundings, and in doing so, she had to go back and think about what she remembered.

Nikita pulled at the vest and grunted in pain. She felt the hot tears boiling right behind the closed lids of her eyes, but she willed them away as she opened her eyes. She stared at her face in the mirror and swallowed sharply. There was a feeling deep within her stomach that she should turn and announce to Madeline and Operations of her injuries. Nikita pulled the shirt over the shoulder with a muffled shout of pain and turned to the door.

Michael stood in the doorway. He shook his head as he dropped his gun down from his side. Nikita moved her head to the side as Michael reached out for her head. Nikita did not want this.

"Nikita, you are injured. You should not go out." Michael firmly reminded Nikita, but Michael also knew that for him to stop Nikita, he would have to physical restrained her from leaving, and Michael was not ready to do that. He understood Nikita's own motives for going on this mission, no matter how much he disagreed with them.

"Michael, you are going to move Mia's things while I am gone." Nikita said and walked out of the room.

Nikita moved her feet softly and then the longer lengths of her legs. She knew that she was not too badly injured, and so far, her legs were not broken. Nikita moved her hands to her head and held it as the headache erupted from behind her closed eyes.

"The house." Nikita softly muttered as she forced her thoughts back into what occurred prior to the explosion that she was sure that she had been in.

Nikita stepped out of the mission van and waited against the door as her team moved deep into the woods. Nikita nodded to the driver and slammed the door close. The van pulled away and Nikita started out behind her team. Quickly though, the injury held Nikita back.

"Nikita, team is entering the building." Birkoff reported and Nikita looked ahead and sighed.

"Have them halt." Nikita moaned out lightly, not wanting the rest of the team to continue on.

"Negative. Team will enter." Operations ordered and Nikita rolled her eyes. She was hoping that Operations had not been monitoring the mission.

"Pull back, Nikita. You are injured." Operations hissed and Nikita closed her eyes and continued on her way. She would speak to Michael about his big mouth when she returned to the station. Nikita would not allow her team to proceed without her at least attempting to help them. She never got the chance to complete the double and third check the Intel, like Nikita automatically did with any mission, no matter how simple it appeared.

"Do we have any contact with the site?" Operations asked Birkoff as he walked behind the young man. Birkoff turned with a face of a ghost and shook his head. Operations turned to find Michael entering the communications area with Mia skipping along his side. Michael stopped at the look of Operations and picked up Mia in his arms, not liking the intention of the look. It left Michael's stomach uneasy.

"Try again." Operations ordered and Birkoff nodded his head. Michael moved towards the station as Madeline walked down the hallway. Michael saw Madeline's eyes move from Operations to Mia, and then back again. She walked over and grabbed Mia from Michael's hands. Michael slowly turned to face Operations in apprehension of what the entire silent situation was about.

"There has been an explosion at the building." Operations said calmly and Michael turned his head abruptly and then back to face Operations and Birkoff.

"Mia..." Nikita moaned out as she pulled her body off of the cold ground. She looked up and found pain as she tried to open her eyes. Tears quickly started to run as panic over took her body. Soon, all the events of the past minutes were real to Nikita, as she struggled to form something in the darkness that Nikita had found herself swimming within.

Nikita pulled at her jacket, as her mind raced with the possibilities. Maybe it was just too bright out for her to open her eyes, and quickly Nikita slid her black sunglasses over her eyes.

Nothing.

"Franco, I am about 400 yards out. Wait." Nikita whispered through the communications until as she came to the edge of the woods. She saw the building in front of her. It was state of the art and she could see the entrance point. Nikita lifted her body up from the crouch and found the pain in her shoulder almost forcing her backwards against a tree. Nikita forced her body forward, and before she could step forward, the building exploded bright red.

Nikita screamed out as she tried to shield her eyes from the heat and the brightness of the explosion, but the suddenness of the actions took her body by storm. The force blew her body backwards and away from the building. Nikita could still hear herself screaming as she was being propelled through the air with the force of the explosion. She felt the heat and was sure that the field blacks that she wore would melt and adhere to her skin.

"I need a van." Nikita moaned into the communications unit in desperation. There was no way she was going to find her way to the main road in the darkness that she suddenly found herself swimming within. She struggled to her feet and started to move away from the source of the heat.

"The target building exploded unexpectantly." Operations informed Michael and he dropped his head slightly as he processed the information.

"Was Nikita in the building?" Michael questioned and Operations looked to Michael and then to Birkoff. Operations slowly stepped away from Birkoff and the computer and looked around.

"I ordered her to pull out. She was injured. She continued, but we do not know if she was inside the building or if she was inside, how close to the explosion she was." Operations said and he turned back to find Birkoff standing up.

"Nikita, I read you. Sending in a van to your position. Just stay right there." Birkoff said and he smiled to Michael.

"Nikita just reported in. Seems as if she is the only survivor." Birkoff said and Michael nodded his head and moved off down the hallway. He would have to finish the moving, knowing that Nikita would not want to spend the night within Section One if she had the choice.

Nikita leaned against the tree as she waited. She heard the van behind her and in those moments she had the choice. She could allow them to approach her and expose everyone to the knowledge that right now she saw nothing, or to spare her life temporarily as she made her next contingency plan.

Nikita turned and waved in the direction of the van that was approaching her. She listened to the van stop and started to step towards the general direction of the van. She heard the distinct noises and smiled as she felt the operative approaching.

"Man, that was an explosion!" Canns said to Nikita and she nodded her head and smiled.

"It sure lit up the sky. Let's go find out why it happened." Nikita said as she stepped into the back of the van, happy to find out that it was unoccupied, but in other ways, sad that there had been no other survivors. Nikita sat down on the chair as the realization swept over her dark world. She should have been inside, and she would have been dead. Nikita pulled the sunglasses off of her face and gasped lightly. She was living on borrowed time, again.

*

Nikita pushed down the sunglasses as the van pulled to a stop. She carefully stood up and opened the sliding door of the van. She felt the metal in her hand as she stepped down and carefully walked forward. She heard the operatives around her as she made up way up the ramp to the main hallway.

"Nikita, are you ok?" Michael asked as he stood in front of her. Nikita nodded her head slowly up and down as she turned to the left. She had one objective, to get to her office and type the report. There was a heaviness deep in her heart, and she knew to admit she could not see would be penning her own name to her cancellation slip. She would have to do things like she normally did, and worry about her eyes at another time.

"Nikita, I saw the report on the explosion. Are you fine?" Michael asked and Nikita turned her head to the side and saw the faint light behind Michael's head. She stared at him and then turned her head back to face forward.

"I don't like losing my entire team." Nikita remarked sharply as she pushed off with her foot to continue walking down the hallway. She was concentrating hard on making sure that she could make it to her office without running into anything. She slowly turned to the right and continued down the hallway, pleased to find out that she hadn't run into a wall yet.

"I know! That is why I am asking you if you are fine. You aren't acting it!" Michael said firmly as he grabbed her arm and pulled her to face him. Nikita tilted her head back and prayed to god that it looked like she was staring into his eyes. She wished she knew where those eyes were.

"Why don't you finish moving to the house, like you want? You have everything you want, don't you?" Nikita remarked sharply. Nikita stood still for a while and she could almost hear the sad face of Michael's. He slowly turned to the right and walked away. Nikita waited until she could not hear a footstep and reached her left hand out to find the wall. She moved quickly down the side of the wall until she felt the door. She slipped the door open and slide into the hole of her office.

Nikita moved straight ahead and ran flush against her desk with a loud thud. She held back her groan, but the tears ran to her eyes, which made the pain double ten-fold. She reached her hand out and carefully found her way around the desk. She was thankful that she never allowed Mia's toys in the office. Nikita was thinking about Mia when she sat down in the chair.

"What if I can't see her again?" Nikita sadly thought to herself as she pulled herself closer to the desk. She stopped and became one with the darkness for a few moments. Her soul felt like it was shriveling up and dying, as Nikita wanted to see her daughter again, and she wanted to see Michael again. The rest of the world could stay dark, as long as she could see the two people that meant the world to Nikita.

Nikita lifted her head from the thoughts, knowing that the report needed to be typed. She reached out her thin fingers and nudged the keyboard softly. The first thing her fingers hit was the spacebar and she quickly found her way to the keys, hoping that she was right. Nikita never use to look at her fingers as she typed, and sometimes she would be watching Mia sleep as she typed, but now, Nikita felt stupid and unable to do what she once was able to do.

"Damn!" Nikita moaned as she started to type slowly. It was as if her entire body had just short-circuited on her for no other reason than her eyes. Nikita could not accept it, and she continued to pound away at the keys, hoping that she was writing correctly. It was listening to the keys that Nikita soon concentrated on, so when the door opened up, Nikita jumped from her seat.

"Sorry, Sugar. Didn't mean to scare you." Walter said and Nikita nodded her head and she turned her head back towards where the computer screen was. Walter tilted his head to the side and moved closer to the desk.

"Operations wanted me to find out what you knew about the explosives." Walter said as he continued to stand. He looked to the screen and then to the sunglasses that covered Nikita's pretty face. He could see the slight redness around the glasses and he turned to the screen again.

"Sugar, what's wrong?" Walter asked as he moved to her shoulder. He reached out and touched Nikita, as he knew what was happening. Nikita looked up at him and tried to smile. She used a hand to push back her hair as if nothing was wrong.

"I'm fine, Walter." Nikita said and Walter looked to the screen again and swallowed. He waved his hand in front of her eyes and saw no reaction. Walter swallowed quickly as he gathered the bravery to continue with looking at the screen.

"Nikita, this makes no sense.... Middion rtyu was a vomp'tr faulure." Walter read off the screen and Nikita dropped her head with the words. Walter got down on his knees and took Nikita's face in his hands.

"You can't see, can you?" Walter questioned and she turned her head violently from Walter. She shook it back and forth as the tears started to sting her traumatized eyes even more.

"I can see. How do you think I got to my office?" Nikita asked and Walter touched her hair softly and pulled at the glasses. Immediately, Nikita recoiled her face from the bright lights. She was seeing light, but it was painful. Soon though, she fell back into a darkness that scared her. Walter touched her chin and leaned in.

"You can't see." Walter stated again and Nikita's chin began to tremble in a style that Walter had long forgotten. It was like the times that Nikita would walk to his area and cry for hours for no reason, but Walter had known. Walter knew that in those four years, that when Nikita cried in his station, it wasn't about Mia and it wasn't about what happened, it was about the pain of being alone. Now, Nikita was alone in a way that she had never even thought about and she had fallen back on old ways.

"You can't tell anyone, Walter. I am sure I just need to sleep." Nikita said in broken words. Walter kissed her cheek softly and rubbed his hand down to Nikita's arm.

"Nikita, let me take you to Medical" Walter said softly and he watched the girl protest. Walter sighed and hugged her tightly.

"They aren't going to cancel you for this, Nikita." Walter said and Nikita turned her head to where Walter's voice was coming from. In a sign that she trusted Walter, Nikita slowly stood up from the chair. Walter wrapped his hand around Nikita's right forearm in a gesture that showed that he would guide her. Nikita lifted her head high as she stepped forward in the trust she had of Walter.

It was a long walk down to the medical section and Walter looked around. Most operatives did not even look at the two. That was until Walter crossed towards his station on the way. On the right, Michael stood with Madeline and Birkoff. He looked towards Walter and Nikita and stopped. Walter noticed that Nikita's head stared straight ahead, still covered with the sunglasses that protected her from the bright lights. Michael stepped forward with shock covering his face. Madeline pushed a hand out, stopping Michael from making the scene in public.

Walter saw the emotions from the three operatives and continued on his way, never indicating to Nikita that they had seen her and now knew. Walter pushed the door opened and moved to the first room of the medical section and sat Nikita down on the bed. He kissed her forehead in a loving manner and held her hand, waiting for them to be noticed.

*

Madeline stepped into the Observation Deck and looked at Operations as she walked towards him. She looked out of the window and almost felt pain as she saw Birkoff walking Mia down the hallway. For one split second Madeline worried if Nikita would ever see her daughter again. Madeline swallowed and smiled at Operations.

"Paul, we have a situation." Madeline said firmly and Operations tilted his head to the side. Madeline looked at Operations and then folded her hands in front of her.

"Nikita is in Medical." Madeline stated and Operations turned with a puzzled look on his face.

"I heard that she was fine." Operations counterstated and Madeline nodded her head and Operations stopped. Madeline looked almost sad for what she was carrying with her.

"She can't see." Madeline finally stated as she turned her head away from Operations. She looked out over Section One to find Mia dancing with Birkoff. Madeline tried to move her head away quickly, but the impression still burned in her eyes.

Nikita sat still until she felt a presence near to her that she could not identify. She turned her body violently away from the presence as they moved silently towards her.

"Stop!" Nikita cried out and Walter squeezed her hand. She reached out for Walter, but another hand touched her. Suddenly, in her dark world, Nikita felt surrounded. Nikita threw her free hand up and out towards the mass that she felt was moving towards her.

"Nikita, they just want to help you." Walter said tensely and Nikita shook her head.

"Stop.... I don't want them! Talk to me, you fools!" Nikita screamed out and Walter let go of her hand. Nikita moved her head from side to side, not knowing who was standing to her left and to her right. She felt someone in front of her and someone behind her.

"Just relax." A deep voice said and Nikita shook her head. She moved in fear, in fear of falling back into the nightmare that she had just pulled her life out of. There was a panic deep inside her that flooded her body and her actions. Nikita pulled her arm back and flung it forward. She felt the fist connect with the skin. She curled her body into a ball.

"NO! NO! NO! NO!" Nikita screamed as the hands touched her body. She started to throw more punches. They weren't talking to her. She didn't know who was touching her and why they were touching her.

"Nikita.. What do you want?" Walter called off from an area that sounded so far away. Nikita curled her head down into a ball as the hands snapped off of her skin and body.

"I want Michael." Nikita sobbed out tenderly.

Birkoff watched as Mia danced next to his computer. He laughed, as the little girl finally seemed to bond to him. In the time that Birkoff had known Mia, he was afraid of her, but now, she was just cool to be with. Birkoff turned his head as the phone started to flash.

"Hello." Birkoff said as he took the relaxed posture that Mia had made him bring into the conversation. Birkoff then snapped as the orders from Medical were given to him and Birkoff nodded his head. Slowly he placed the phone down and made sure that someone could cover communications as he moved to Mia.

"Mia, do you know where your dad is?" Birkoff asked and Mia smiled and nodded her head up and down, thinking that this was game Birkoff was playing.

"He is in Mommie's office!" Mia cried out happily as she danced around in a circle. Birkoff smiled and picked up Mia and let her hang upside down from his arms.

"Boy you are heavy." Birkoff commented as he crossed the hallway. Mia laughed happily and Birkoff smiled as he entered the office that was Michael's first, and now Nikita's.

"Michael..." Birkoff said as he entered the office. He looked and saw Michael holding the photograph of Mia. Birkoff used his other hand to pull Mia right side up and looked down at the desk.

"Yes, Birkoff." Michael said as he placed the photograph down. Mia waved to her father and Michael nodded his head. Mia reached over and tried to tickle Birkoff under the chin. Birkoff ducked his head away and giggled softly.

"They want you in Medical." Birkoff said and Michael blinked and stood up. He looked to the desk and then to the hallway.

"Nikita is calling for you." Birkoff said and Michael nodded his head and moved quickly out of the office. Birkoff turned and ticked Mia's stomach and she giggled happily. Birkoff turned to go back to his computer not really worried that Mia was still with him.

"Temporary?" Operations asked as he observed Madeline. She blinked her eyes and Operations dropped his head. He had never seen Madeline exactly like this, not even when in discussions about her mother.

"Medical just started the assessment." Madeline said and Operations nodded his head and moved towards Madeline. He reached out and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"You are wondering what I will do if it is permanent." Operations stated and Madeline turned and looked at him with a fierce stare. He closed his eyes and looked off to the side.

"We use what talents our operatives have in conditions like that. We would assess her and see what can be done." Operations stated and Madeline nodded her head and then looked back up with her intense eyes.

"What about the transfer? We have to transfer either Michael or Nikita. This effects that now." Madeline stated with an air of caution and Operations nodded his head. He dropped his hands from Madeline's shoulders and moved back to his desk.

"Nikita would need to know her surroundings. Therefore, we are transferring Michael, even if this is temporary. Nikita still has the better numbers." Operations stated and Madeline gathered her firm emotional shell and moved back to Operations.

"Her first mission in over four years that did not succeed. I wish half of our operatives had numbers like that." Madeline stated and Operations smiled at the statement. Maybe there was reason for allowing Nikita to keep Mia after all.

"NO! Get them out of here!" Nikita cried out as she felt the bodies moving back towards her. She didn't want anyone touching her and Walter looked at the animalistic ways that Nikita was willing to protect herself until she got what she wanted.

"Get out of the room until Michael arrives." Walter hissed as he took the bag of ice and placed it to his eye. He had been the unfortunate punching bag that Nikita's fist had connected with the first time. Nikita shook her body back and forth and Walter stared at her. He never knew the entire story of what had happened to Nikita in the past few months, but he was sure that most of it wasn't good. He was seeing a shell of the person Nikita use to be before Michael's return. Although it was good to see Nikita having emotions again, Walter wondered how much of it was caused by Michael's direct presence.

Michael opened the door and walked in. He looked at Walter and then to Nikita.

"Nikita... I am here." Michael whispered out as he slowly made his way to Nikita. Walter watched Nikita's body relaxed as Michael touched her hand and then her arm. He sat on the bed next to Nikita and she dropped her head to the side.

"They wouldn't talk to me, Michael. I kept on thinking of Lancing, when he blindfolded me. They were just touching me, not telling me anything." Nikita cried out and Walter looked at Michael in horror of Nikita's words.

"I'm here, Nikita. Now, they have to check your eyes, which means they have to touch you." Michael explained calmly and Walter blinked. Michael didn't produce the pain that Nikita was showing. It had been produced by Section One. More specifically, Madeline and Operations. It was different than before and Walter watched, as Michael seemed to be the other half of Nikita. Slowly, Michael nodded the medical staff in.

"Nikita, they are going to tilt your head back... and put some drops into your eyes." Michael explained to Nikita as the doctor approached Nikita with the bottle in hand. Nikita tilted her head back and she hissed as the drops hit her eyes. Nikita bit back the screams of pain and Walter nodded his head and exited the room. Michael had the situation entirely in hand.

*

Nikita leaned her head down and picked up the file of papers. In the one day of being stranded in Medical, she had slowly regained her sight from a bad case of flash burn. The lights around the Medical area were so bright, that Nikita still donned the sunglasses to protect her eyes. She would continue wearing them for some time as her eyes would begin to heal.

Inside the folder were the various pictures of the house that Michael had bought Mia and Nikita. She held the pictures softly in her hands for the third time that day. Michael had taken them the night before, when he had taken Mia home to bed. Mia's room was almost twice the size of the living room at Nikita's old apartment, and would easily become filled with toys and stuffed animals. There was only one other picture of a bedroom, but Michael promised that there was a guestroom, but Nikita was sure that she would be having no problems.

In fact, in her darkness, she found she lacked the sleep the medical staff wanted her to get. It was the first night in a long while that Nikita found her lanky arms wrapped around her own thin body, and not around the warm and strong body of Michael's. She did not want to admit it at first, but soon was aware of it. Sleeping without Michael was strenuous and more fitful than she could remember.

"It's a beautiful house." George said as he entered the medical room Nikita was staying in. She turned her head and then turned it away, as the bright lights even glared through the sunglasses to her eyes. George turned and shut the door lightly before walking closer to Nikita. She folded the folder up and looked at it until George moved it slightly away.

"I see that your vision is coming back." George said and Nikita nodded her head and then turned towards George.

"Why are you here?" Nikita asked and George pulled a stool over to Nikita's bedside. He unbuttoned his long black trench coat and touched Nikita's cheek softly. Nikita pulled her head straight back and away from George's wandering hand.

"I am here to talk about a transfer with Madeline and Operations." George said and Nikita nodded her head softly. They weren't as uncommon as everyone liked to think they were. George smiled at Nikita and looked at her.

"I think they choice Michael over you." George said and he watched the blood drain out of Nikita's already pale cheeks. Nikita started to shake her head and hold back the tears.

"Just don't get upset. The tears don't help your eyes!" The doctor said over and over again to Nikita as he turned off the shining bright light. Nikita felt a hand on her thigh and jumped and started to cry.

"Then tell me before you are going to touch me!" Nikita screamed out as the tears flowed down her face. She could feel Michael massaging her back muscles, trying to stop the waves of pain that bombarded her system with each wet tear.

"I told you to stop crying!" The doctor hollered and left the room and Nikita dropped her sore head to Michael's shoulder.

"He doesn't understand. He doesn't." Nikita whispered out and Michael kissed the top of her head softly. Michael looked out the door and smiled evilly. He was going to have a nice discussion with the fine doctor how to handle operatives that are blind in a few moments.

"They wouldn't do that." Nikita said and George smiled and nodded his head.

"That's why I am here. They chose wrong." George said and he watched the premature smile cross Nikita's face. She reached out carefully and squeezed George's hand.

"I want you to take the transfer." George said coldly and Nikita pulled her hand away as if George was hot coal. George stood up and took Nikita's shoulders tightly in his grasp.

"You are going to tell Madeline and Operations you want the transfer to San Francisco." George pronounced sharply as Nikita moved her head back and forth.

"NO! You can't want this for Mia! I don't want to move her!" Nikita cried out and George let Nikita's shoulders go as quickly as Nikita had moved away from him only moments ago.

"Nikita, Mia will be staying with Michael. He did just buy a house." George said and Nikita felt the tears flood her face and she shut her eyes in the physical pain and the emotional pain.

"Me and Michael can find a way to change this. We have our means!" Nikita threatened out and George laughed lightly as he sat back down on the stool.

"So, I guess you have told Michael about Delano." George said and he smiled as he watched Nikita's mouth drop wide open in shock.

"There was nothing between us, but friendship!" Nikita said and George nodded his head and pulled out videotape.

"Yes, I know. My son told me about every detail. But, will Michael believe you, or will he believed the dubbed videotape." George said and Nikita curled her legs up and held herself in order to stop her screams of pain.

"Why are you doing this?" Nikita questioned and George smiled and placed the videotape back into his jacket.

"Because I need you in the States. Michael is a far more capable parent than you are, either way." George said bluntly and Nikita felt her insides being cut opened and pulled out with the words. Nikita shook her head from side to side. She had to stop George from doing this.

"Why? WHY?" Nikita cried out, as the tears no longer burned her tender and barely functioning eyes. George stood up and touched Nikita's head softly.

"Because you, my dear, deserve more than what you have taken. Plus, Weigner in San Francisco will only develop your skills to the point that Michael and Madeline and Operations will just sit back and hand Section One over to you." George said and Nikita turned her head lightly and pushed her tears away with her hands.

"But they have chosen Michael." Nikita said and George laughed softly.

"Do you think if you asked to go, that Operations would fight to keep you?" George laughed sinisterly and Nikita looked to her blanket. George moved around the bed and smiled at Nikita one last time.

"Go to them in two hours, Nikita. Or I'll find Michael." George said and walked out of the medical room, pulling along on his coat strings, and Nikita's heart.

*

Nikita rolled to her side and slowly lowered her feet to the ground. Like always, she found that medical never watched anyone too carefully. Nikita moved quietly to the closet and found some clothing that Michael had placed for her, not to wear that day, but for the next day. Nikita carefully did her hair up, and looked into the mirror. The sunglasses would have to stay on, but other than that, Nikita looked healthy physically. Emotionally, she felt as if she was dying.

Nikita moved away from the mirror as she thought about Delano. She did not know he was George's son during the few weeks that she had known him. Now, the revelation of his relationship to George, made Nikita understand why George insisted that she go out with him. He wanted to have something to hold over Nikita's head. Now he was playing it, knowing that Nikita would never want Michael to think that she did love another.

Nikita knew in her heart that it was a friendship between Delano and herself, and that she had stopped the friendship because she felt that Delano wanted more than what she was willing to give him. It was only a year and a half after Mia, and the few times that she went out with Delano for coffee and a movie, Nikita rediscovered the outside world that she had been neglecting. All this time she thought that George had insisted on her going with Delano was for her own good, when in reality it was just getting blackmail material on Nikita.

Nikita turned to the door and slowly prepared herself for the bright lights that lead the way to Madeline's office. Nikita could feel her eyes stinging as she moved away from the darkened room that she had been staying in, and the motivation of George's threat kept Nikita from breaking down and screaming in pain.

"Michael, come in. Sit down." Madeline said as the door opened. Michael immediately saw Operations as he entered the office. Madeline watched Michael as he moved directly past the bonsai plants and to the only open seat in the room. Madeline smiled and Operations nodded his head.

"You have done some excellent work of late." Operations started and Michael turned his head and looked at Operations. Something was not feeling right in the situation and he looked to his hands. It was like a he had been in this position before, and then suddenly Michael remembered the last time he felt this way. It was right before they sent him away to Hong Kong.

"Thank you, sir." Michael said and Madeline smiled and leaned forward onto the desk.

"Frankly, we are concerned that you aren't getting enough work. Missions are not as massive as they once had been." Madeline said and Michael blinked his eyes and turned to look at the wall. Slowly his eyes moved to the bonsai trees and saw that the two trees he had been watching had been separated. Michael sighed as he heart sank.

Walter walked down the hallway and heard the laughter from Birkoff's workstation. Walter shook his head at a site that he never thought he would see the younger man do. Walter watched as Birkoff dunked the black and white cookie into the milk and turn to Mia. Mia would clap her hands and open her mouth. Birkoff would laugh and placed the drenched cookie into Mia's mouth. Birkoff would quickly pop one his is mouth. The scene was adorable, and was like she was Birkoff's little sister.

"Should you be eating those before dinner?" Walter asked as he approached the scene. Mia covered her mouth up with both hands and tried to duck away from him. Birkoff turned with a red face and shrugged his shoulders.

"She is a kid!" Birkoff exclaimed and Walter nodded his head and looked around. Walter got down on his knees and moved on the floor towards Mia. He peaked around Birkoff's legs and then slowly sniffed them.

"Smells like nerd to me." Walter grumbled as he turned and headed towards Mia. Mia squealed in delight and allowed Walter to grab her happily. Walter picked her up and started to tickle her stomach until she cried.

"Now, that is going to make those cookies sit really well in her stomach." Birkoff commented as he turned his head and watched George walk down the hallway. Birkoff watched the older man from Oversight moved down the hallway with a presence and then saw him looking at Mia. Birkoff leaned to the side and blocked Mia from his sight. Birkoff got a chill down his spine.

"Something is not right here." Birkoff said and Walter nodded his head as Mia tried to gather her breath.

"He has been here too long today. Do you know who he saw?" Walter asked and Birkoff shook his head and smiled broadly.

"But I am sure I can find out." Birkoff said as he pushed Walter and Mia away from his computer. He stretched his hands out and cracked each of his knuckles before he firmly pushed the glasses back on his nose. Birkoff turned his thoughts downward and gracefully started to touch the keyboard.

Nikita turned the corner and stared at the metal door that separated her from her life with Mia and the life without Mia. She stared at the door and turned away. Tears were eating away at her tender eyes and she felt her determination waning. Nikita was now facing a rock in her life. She either allowed the rock crush the relationship with Mia and Michael forever, allowing George to spread the lies of her relationship with Delano, or she could go around the rock, and miss years with Mia and possibly never have a chance with Michael again.

Nikita leaned her head against the wall and moved back towards the door. Her fingers lightly touched the pads as she accessed the code to open the door. She looked straight ahead as the door slid open. The three people stared at her as she walked down the stairs.

"Aren't you to be in medical?" Operations hissed and Nikita turned and looked at Madeline. She could not even look at Michael, who sat with his blank stare firmly implanted on his face.

"I want the transfer to San Francisco." Nikita stated firmly without blinking. Michael turned his head towards Nikita and held his breath.

"I am going, Nikita." Michael stated and Nikita looked at Michael and swallowed.

"I am the one who is making the careless mistakes since you returned, Michael. I need to refocus on the missions on hand, in order to achieve a perfect end game. I am going to San Francisco." Nikita said firmly in a prepared speech that she was ready to have to give. Operations stood up and clapped his hands.

"Fine. The decision is made!" Operations said as he moved out of the room quickly with a smile that spread wider and wider across his face with every step. Nikita watched the door close as Madeline stood up and shook her head.

"Mia will stay here with you Michael. You did buy a house." Nikita stated as if her announcement meant nothing. Michael shook his head and stared at Nikita.

"Your daughter needs you, Nikita." Michael stated and Nikita dropped her head.

"I was going to keep her in that little room. I'm not a good parent." Nikita stated and Michael stood up, hot with anger.

"Michael, I'd like to speak with Nikita, alone." Madeline said and she watched the beautiful worried face of Michael's turn to stare with hatred at her. Michael looked at Nikita and swallowed.

"Why don't you help Operations change the paper work on the transfer?" Madeline said and Michael stormed out of the office without another word.

Walter looked around the area, pretending not to see Mia hiding behind the large computer. He looked up and down and then dropped to the floor.

"Birkoff, I just can't find Mia!" Walter exaggerated as he looked up at the typing man. Walter pushed Birkoff's chair, as the young man did not respond.

"Hush." Birkoff firmly said as he stared at the computer screen intensely. Walter dropped his shoulders and started to pretend to cry loudly.

"I miss my Mia.... I don't know where she is hiding." Walter cried out and Birkoff stared at Walter again as Mia peaked out from behind the computer. Mia slipped back and then stood up and tackled Walter with kisses and hugs.

"HERE I AM!" Mia exclaimed as she continued to kiss and hug Walter, until Walter fought back by tickling the young girl.

"STOP! STOP!" Mia cried out in between giggles and Walter continued to attack her armpits with the soft tickles.

"Not until you say the magic word!" Walter exclaimed happily as Mia continued to squirm underneath his attacking fingers.

"UNCLE! UNCLE!" Mia laughed out and Walter pulled his hands away from Mia and looked up at Birkoff. Walter tilted his head as the young computer genius looked at Walter with a solemn look.

"What is it?" Walter asked and Birkoff swallowed.

"Well, George visited Nikita and totally cleared out all records of what happened in that room. But that isn't it." Birkoff said and Walter stood up as he placed Mia up on his shoulders.

"I came across transfer documents, and they were for Michael, but they are changed." Birkoff said and Walter looked up at Mia and then back to Birkoff.

"Nikita?" Walter questioned.

"Nikita, who has something on you?" Madeline questioned as she stood up to look at the young mother. She looked extremely nervous in tremendous amounts of physical and emotional pain.

"What are you talking about? I want to go because I am faltering here." Nikita said and Madeline nodded her head and looked at Nikita. She decided to take another approach, because maybe there was another problem here that she was not seeing.

"Are you leaving because things between you and Michael are getting serious?" Madeline questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth quickly.

"No." Nikita sharply said. Madeline lifted her eyebrows, shocked with the statement. She thought that through the past few events, that Michael and Nikita had worked things out, but it was apparent that Nikita was not moving into the house because of her want to be a family, but because she was one hundred percent scared. Madeline bit her tongue, as she did not think of those repercussions.

"So, who got you to make this decision?" Madeline questioned as she motioned Nikita to sit down. Nikita lifted her chin and looked at Madeline through the dark sunglasses.

"George visited me." Nikita stated and Madeline shook her head as Nikita turned her entire body away. Madeline stood up and grabbed Nikita's body.

"What is he blackmailing you with, Nikita?" Madeline firmly asked, knowing that it had to be the answer. It was the way that most people in Section One worked, and George although not a direct part of Section One, was any different.

"He isn't." Nikita cried out as the tears rolled down her face.

"Tell me, Nikita. I can help." Madeline said as she saw the tears rolling down and out from the sunglasses. Madeline waited and waited as Nikita continued to step backwards. Nikita turned and ran her hand into the bonsai trees, knocking two of them down. Madeline looked down as she saw the trees she called Michael and Nikita spread across the floor, almost broken to no repair.

"He isn't blackmailing me. I'm sorry Madeline, BUT I WANT TO GO!" Nikita cried out and left the office quickly. Madeline felt her heart break as she looked down at the bonsai trees. She hoped she had not made the same mistake with the real Michael and Nikita, because she did not want to see them broken beyond repair.

*

Nikita picked up the photograph and turned her head from it. She looked at the windows that she had become accustomed to looking at as she worked on a profile. It was only one of the thousands of things that she was leaving for an unspecified amount of time. She turned her head back and placed the photograph back down as she knew Michael was staring at her from the doorway.

"I'll leave it for you." Nikita said as Michael moved into the office. Nikita plucked the panel out and secured the room as Michael closed the door. He dropped his head and touched the frame. He swallowed as he tried to gather the words he wanted to say to Nikita. There was something more he needed to say, but instead he stared at Nikita as she pulled the sparse amount of personal mementos off of the desk and walls.

"You are getting this office back, correct?" Nikita questioned and Michael nodded is head. Nikita smiled and showed the little doll in the drawer and closed it back up. She sat down in the chair and forced smile out on her face.

"It calms Mia down when she is in here." Nikita stated as she watched Michael uncomfortably sit down in the chair opposite from her. He blinked and kept his eyes away from her glare.

"Why are you going Nikita? You can stay here with your daughter." Michael said and Nikita shook her head as she tried not to look at Michael. There was the truth that she was running away from Michael because of George's threat, but that wasn't the only thing that Nikita now believed.

"Michael, you belong here. I don't." Nikita stated firmly as she folded her hands and placed them trembling on the top of the desk. Michael shook his head as he looked at her pale face, still covered with a pair of sunglasses.

"I just got us a house. We can fight this transfer." Michael said as he moved forward, but saw the look of determination on Nikita's face. She did not even flinch with his plead and Nikita leaned forward.

"Michael, whoever stays here, in this office, is in the line for the position of Operations. I don't want to be here when he goes away. I don't want that to even be a possibility. I would rather put my life on the line day in and day out, then making the decisions on hundred of operatives. I don't have the strength. You do." Nikita said firmly and calmly. Michael leaned back in the chair and was amazed. He had to reevaluate what he thought about Nikita. The Nikita he had known when he had left would have thought that if she had taken Operations' job that she could change things. Something had changed her heart to the point that she seemed to accept the rule of determinism in her life, but that change also now haunted Michael.

"Are you at least going to see the house?" Michael questioned with an uncharacteristically shaking voice. Nikita smiled softly and nodded her head. Michael stood up and turned to Nikita. She looked so different than the person he loved, but yet so much the same.

"Of course, I want to see where my daughter is going to live." Nikita said softly and Michael nodded his head as he stepped towards the door. Nikita turned her head and looked at the window. "I'll be out in a few minutes." Nikita finished off and Michael plainly walked out of the office that was soon to be his again, and it broke his heart.

Nikita moved to the blinds of the window and touched them softly. She remembered that when she was given this office how dusty they had been from Michael's neglect. Nikita touched them now, and knew that they would be clean, as Nikita cared after the office. She looked between the two slats and into the hallway outside.

A couple days ago, she would have thought her life was being put together in a way that she could live with. She was almost to the point of being content, even if Michael cared only for Mia. She was almost ready to keep things they way they were, and not fighting things she would have. She would have become dormant in order to spare both Michael and Mia pain.

"What does George have on you?" Walter asked as he opened the door and walked in. Nikita jumped away from the window and stared at Walter. She shook her head, but for some reason the lies stopped as she faced the man that had cared for her all those years that Michael was gone.

"Walter, I can't take the chance. I have to go." Nikita said and Walter shook his head as he moved forward and tightly hugged Nikita. She tried to pull herself away from the hug, as she felt her body about to give into Walter and beg for his help. She was not going to show George or anyone that she could not handle this. She could be separated from her daughter and live. She knew her daughter was safe with her father, and that was fine now.

"Nikita, what about Mia?" Walter questioned as he felt Nikita's pull. He gently unwrapped his arms from Nikita's body and kept his hands skimming the material of her black shirt. Nikita pushed her hand through her hair and closed her eyes.

"Mia has Michael." Nikita said and Walter frowned as he slid his hand down to take Nikita's hand.

"You can tell me anything, Nikita. I am not here to judge you. I am here to help you." Walter confirmed as he watched Nikita's bottom lip begin to tremble. Nikita swallowed and dropped her head in an attempt to stop the scene from occurring.

"I can't, Walter. It could destroy all of me." Nikita said and Walter backed away in disgust. There was nothing he didn't think he knew about Nikita that could destroy her. Walter walked over and looked at the picture of Mia and then back to Nikita. All but one thing.

"George has something he could tell Michael." Walter said as he watched the flinch cross Nikita's face. The truth was registered across her face and he moved back towards Nikita, in one more attempt.

"Sugar, tell me. I am sure that you can tell Michael anything." Walter said and she closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip.

"I can't, Walter. He is a different man. He cares for Mia, but where I fall into the plan, may be only as Mia's biological mother." Nikita said in voice that expressed how much Nikita really felt the idea was filled with not an ounce of truth. Walter understood how Nikita had to hold onto such a belief, as Michael had traditionally never showed his emotions, and even know, the emotions were not easily expressed.

"Walter... I just can't." Nikita stated as she stepped forward and curled her body up into Walter's arms. Walter held Nikita tightly as she cried upon his shoulder. He looked towards the window and saw Birkoff pacing outside the room. Walter closed his eyes and hoped that everyone could just wait a few more days.

*

The door opened and Nikita brushed past quickly and Walter looked at Birkoff. Birkoff motioned to the end of the hallway and he moved quickly to the spot he had selected. Walter looked off down the hallway, watching Nikita disappear into the maze of Section One hallways, that he could not believe that Nikita would soon be gone from.

"I came across something odd." Birkoff said as Walter moved to the other side of the wall to look at the computer expert. Walter dropped his head and looked at Birkoff.

"If this isn't about Michael and Nikita, and Nikita leaving, I don't want to hear it." Walter said tensely and Birkoff looked down the hallway and looked at Walter. That pause gave Walter the truth that this had everything to do with Michael and Nikita.

"So what did you find out?" Walter asked as he moved in closer, hoping that whatever knowledge he was about to find out, could help stop this huge mistake of Nikita's transfer from occurring.

Madeline walked into the Observation Deck and looked at Operations as he signed the last sheet of paper work. He looked up and smiled at Madeline.

"Well, at least things might get back to normal. Maybe she won't ever come back." Operations stated and Madeline swallowed as she forced out her own smile. She pressed her hand against the leather chair in front of her as she studied Operations carefully.

"We are losing our best operative, and you are happy?" Madeline questioned and Operations smiled broadly.

"We aren't losing our best operative. We are gaining the best operative back." Operations proclaimed and Madeline looked to the window before connecting her eyes with Operations.

"I have to tell you something." Madeline said as she moved to the windows. She looked out over Section One as Nikita crossed down the hallway, most likely for her last time.

"What is it Madeline?" Operations questioned as he looked out the window and smiled happily as Nikita left the area. He hoped that he never had to deal with Nikita again.

"We are going to lose Michael because of what I have to tell you." Madeline said and Operations turned and pulled Madeline's shoulders towards him.

"What did you do?" Operations demanded and Madeline looked out over Section One for a second and then turned to Operations.

"I planned the drive by that Nikita was involved with. There was no gang. I planned it, and Birkoff knows." Madeline admitted, hoping that somehow she could stop the plans of George and save Nikita some of the pain that she was trying to hide from. Madeline knew that George had played a hand of trumps, and Madeline only hope that she could find something to throw George's train off track before it drove Nikita out of town.