"I love you, Nikita." Michael whispered out and he leaned his head down to look deep into Nikita's eyes. He felt the pillow expand as Nikita's grip lessened. She lifted a hand to her chin as she shook her head.

"You can't want me, Michael... I don't think I can ever..." Nikita said slowly and then drifted off as her eyes flooded with tears again. Michael shook his head as he rested his palm against Nikita's wet cheek. The tears rolled over his long fingers, but he would not move that hand.

"I love you, Nikita. You mean more to me, than I ever knew, until I thought I didn't have you. I love your being Nikita, not just your body." Michael whispered out and slowly Nikita's body curled forward, seeking out the love that she had started to heal with once, and the love that was sure to heal again.

In a careful manner, Michael wrapped his hands around Nikita's body, understanding for the first time the pain that Nikita had blatantly suffered through and knew that most of the time; she had done so to spare others. He felt a respect for Nikita that gone past anything he ever expected. Love was what he felt, but that word limited all the other feelings he had along with it.

"I'm so tired of being alone.. I just want to sleep...." Nikita moaned out as her body started to shift. Michael looked at the floor and shook his head. Michael cupped Nikita's chin before she slide her body down to his lap. Her eyes showed that she trusted him, and slowly, Michael lifted Nikita and the blanket up to his bed.

Instinctively, Nikita rolled to the very edge of the bed. Michael did not want to image what had occurred to her in all that time. Her pain must have been doubling each time Section One sent her out to seduce again. Michael stood beside the bed along time as Nikita's body curled up into the fetal ball that would only aid Nikita in getting a fitful sleep.

Michael moved onto the bed and reached out for Nikita's back. She was too scared to move backwards, yet she found the strength to turn and face Michael. His eyes did not show pity or disgust of her. Instead, she saw exactly what she had dreamt of day after day after day. Michael reached out with a hand and traced the path of Nikita's tears and then gently traced her lips. Nikita's other hand reached out for Michael's hand. The fingers curled up in the warmth of Michael's hand as she looked down at the connection. Carefully, Nikita made the move to be closer to Michael. She leaned her head in, and found a place next to Michael's face, where his breath tickled the skin of her forehead and the warmth of his chest warmed the cold wet cheeks. Nikita closed her eyes and drowned in the love that radiated from the man she had written off.

*

Michael walked down the back stairs to find Nikita standing in front of the freezer door as she pulls out a bag. Michael walked down the stairs and placed his hand on the freezer door and closed it as Nikita stepped away. Nikita jumped and then laughed half-heartily when she saw Michael. She stepped away with the bag in her hand and smiled.

"I got hungry." Nikita stated as she opened the bag and pulled out a frozen purple grape and popped it into her mouth. Michael smiled as Nikita turned to sit down at the kitchen table.

"You should still be sleeping." Michael stated as he took a chair and pulled it close to Nikita. He watched Nikita slowly take the frozen grape out of her warm mouth and traced the coldness over her lips.

"Old habit from being a mother. Not a lot of sleep." Nikita smirked softly before she chewed away the grape. Michael smiled at the sight and Nikita tilted her head, wondering what Michael was smiling at.

"You eat them like Mia does." Michael whispered out as he stepped up and crossed the kitchen. He pulled at the item and looked back at Nikita. She nodded her head and looked out the window. She was thinking and Michael crossed back in front of her and placed the disk in front of her.

"What is this?" Nikita questioned as she saw the black disk and then looked at Michael. She touched it softly and looked into Michael's eyes.

"It's a copy of the Directory." Michael hushed out and Nikita's hand snapped away from the disk quickly. There had been no further conversation about the plans on retrieving Operations, as Nikita's needs to Michael had come first. Nikita blinked her eyes and silently the next grape.

"Don't worry. I have twenty copies throughout the world." Michael said as he reached out and touched Nikita's hand that held the freezer bag. Nikita nodded and looked out of the window. Michael swallowed and looked down at the disk.

"Why the profile, Nikita? Isn't there another way?" Michael asked and Nikita shook her head. She set the bag down on the table and looked to the disk.

"No." Nikita stated and Michael licked his lips as he turned his head. Nikita knew exactly what Michael was protesting, as Michael knew he did not want to hurt her.

"Nikita, it isn't worth it to hurt you. We can just sacrifice him and no one would be the wiser." Michael said and Nikita shook her head. She reached out and grabbed Michael's hand.

"No. That isn't what is best for this family. I need to stay here in order to survive. If Operations is sacrifice, George will send me back." Nikita said and Michael nodded his head and turned his head. Michael stood up and looked at Nikita as she popped several more grapes into her mouth.

"Aren't you going to tell Madeline, set up the deal?" Michael asked and Nikita shook her head as she stood up and moved to the sink. For a long while, Nikita stared out the window, and to the crystal clear pool that was outside before she turned her head back to Michael.

"No. Madeline won't be notified." Nikita stated and Michael touched Nikita's shoulders to turn her around. The statement was cold and momentarily bothered Michael. Nikita looked into Michael's eyes and turned back to the table with a sigh. Michael stood there, watching Nikita, waiting for an explanation.

"Look. The Section One computers will still have me in San Francisco, which means that the dealers will trust me. I don't want anything to tip these guys off. That is why we must be found in a compromising situation." Nikita stated bluntly out and Michael walked over and touched Nikita's shoulder and looked down.

"I am worried about you." Michael said and Nikita snorted a chuckle of laughter. She dropped her head and then looked at Michael. Michael rubbed her cheek and Nikita took the hand and kissed it lightly.

"Operations will react to our names. He won't deny the possibility that we would turn against Section One. We have to have everything controlled, and this is the only way. We can't worry about communication units being found on us or anything." Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head. He knew the profile and although it was weak in the fact that someone from Section One was inside dealing with Red Cell and Freedom League, it was strong in the details. It made Michael and Nikita the perfect people to trade information in order to spare their lives.

"I'm so hungry. What do you have to eat?" Nikita snapped up as she read Michael's eyes. Michael smiled and stopped Nikita's progression to the refrigerator. He looked at the disk and then to Nikita.

"Shouldn't Birkoff work on that?" Michael questioned and Nikita sighed and looked at Michael. She reached down and held the disk. It amazed her how easily Michael turned it over to her.

"Now, set up the meet, and I'll make dinner." Michael said and Nikita blinked her eyes. Nikita grabbed the bag of grapes and winked at Michael.

"That sounds like a deal, but I am running when you set the smoke alarms off." Nikita said as she headed off to the computer. Michael turned and looked out to the pool. He knew what would be occurring out there the next day, and he didn't want Nikita hurt, and hurt by him. Michael was feeling the clock tick down and he knew that only a good dinner could start things rolling the way he needed them in order to mend some deep wounds that festered on Nikita's heart and soul.

*

Nikita pushed her long blonde hair back slowly with her hands as Michael reentered the living room after taking their small plates from dinner back into the kitchen. Michael had not been pleased with Nikita's request to eat in the living room, but he gave in, not wanting Nikita to have a reason to be defensive to him. Michael slowly sat down on the couch next to Nikita and turned to her.

"Neither of us will have guns on us, but I am sure we can place them somewhere." Nikita said as she stared at the mirror, deep in the last minute thoughts of the mission. Michael knew that she was avoiding the conversation that she didn't want to have. Michael nodded his head and swallowed.

"We will have communication units somewhere, just in case." Michael whispered and Nikita nodded her head and she smiled.

"Damn, I could use a good drink." Nikita said with a nervous laugh. Michael frowned and touched her hands as they moved through her hair again. He held one lightly until Nikita turned her stricken face towards him again.

"Not with the mission so soon, Nikita." Michael warned and Nikita nodded her head and turned her face away from him, now looking out the large bay window. She seemed entranced with the vision as Michael moved closer to Nikita's warm body.

"Of course Operations will probably be fighting the trade." Nikita finally commented and Michael squeezed Nikita's hand. Talking about all the variables about the mission, that both of them had been over ten times was not going to help Nikita on this night or for the fact tomorrow. Michael looked at her as her head turned towards him, as he expected it too.

"Nikita, lets not talk about the mission. We know it." Michael said and Nikita lifted an eyebrow and slid her hand out of Michael's in mild shock of Michael's words. He waited for Nikita to settle back down.

"So I guess you can tell me all about my daughter." Nikita sadly whispered and Michael closed his eyes. There was not going to be an easy way to get through this night, and he did not know what was correct to do. He wanted to comfort Nikita, so that she might be comfortable with him in the morning. Yet, Michael was sure that he shouldn't allow the morning to happen at all, and he couldn't consult his feelings out with someone who would know the truth. Michael never had wished before he could talk to Madeline, but somehow Michael was worried about what if his actions were wrong.

He had to speak from his heart. Michael knew that, but it was paining him. He was sure that his anger at Nikita in the past day was not going to be forgotten, yet, she had reached for him again. He wasn't going to allow the opportunity to slip away from him. The silence was growing, and Michael was sure if it continued, Nikita would break down crying again.

"I never thanked you." Michael finally breathed out, the words just hanging in the silence as Nikita turned her head with confusion mixed on her blue eyes. Nikita blinked her eyes and then looked at Michael one more time before her own words met with her voice.

"What? Why? I don't understand." Nikita softly said and Michael smiled and took Nikita's hand back into his own. He outlined the fingers and then ever so slowly, lifted the hand to his lips and kissed the palm.

"For Mia." Michael whispered out as he kissed the pinky with his lips and then looked at Nikita. She was staring at his lips and her hand. Michael moved to the next finger and looked up at Nikita as he grazed his lips against it.

"You never had to have her." Michael said and Nikita gasped in a ragged breath of air and looked at Michael. They never had this conversation before and Nikita squirmed lightly in her seat, but did not pull her hand away.

"There was no other choice." Nikita finally whispered back to Michael. Michael blinked his eyes and kissed Nikita's middle finger and looked at Nikita.

"There was another choice. I don't think I would have been brave enough to go along with your decision." Michael stated with his gray-green eyes that sought Nikita's own blue ones. Nikita blinked and swallowed.

"I cannot worship you enough for that decision. You and Mia are what is right with my life." Michael said and Nikita then pulled her hand away. She wrapped the arm tightly around her body and started to rock back and forth. Michael tilted his head back and looked up at the ceiling. He had said the wrong words, but they weren't wrong to him. He would hurt Nikita with lies, but he was seeing now that even the truth was hard for her to process. Yet, he was not going to give up, because he wanted Nikita to know that he never intended on hurting her.

"Nikita, please look at me." Michael whispered out as he reached for her again. The words had done some damage as Nikita recoiled from Michael's touch. Michael swallowed and looked at Nikita, and was pleased when Nikita turned her head towards Michael and licked her lips.

"I don't want to hurt you, ever Nikita." Michael whispered out and he watched as the tears formed in her eyes. Nikita reached out for Michael with her own hands and nodded her head up and down slowly.

"I know. I just get scared. That's all." Nikita fought to say in a controlled voice. Michael moved quickly to the floor and fought his way to look at the curled over Nikita. He waited for her eyes to lift up and look into his. He reached out and touched Nikita's cheeks, one hand on each side, not too firm, but a gentle hold.

"Nikita, you have to be strong. And you survived all that time with Mia without me, that you can get through this with me." Michael begged out as he looked into Nikita's eyes. He watched them, as there seemed to be waves of emotion. He rubbed lightly at her tears and swallowed.

"You have the strength. Trust me, because I trust you." Michael said and Nikita swallowed and surged her head forward, to press her lips against Michael's. Michael fought the deep urge to lift her body into his arms and take her all the way to the bed. He wanted to prove that he loved her, but that was not the way. Michael waited as Nikita pulled her head back and started to cry softly, at a steady rate. Michael slid back onto the couch and pulled Nikita down onto his lap. He held her and rocked their two bodies together.

"I love you, Nikita." Michael whispered out as he rubbed her neck softly. He felt the tension in her neck and blinked back his own tears. He continued to rub, not wanting to stop ever. Michael felt fear when he realized he didn't want to face what would have to occur tomorrow, and he could not image the pain that Nikita was feeling.

"I love you, Nikita." Michael repeated, sure that he was going to repeat them over and over again this night, until both of them realized the truthfulness in the statement and understood that it gave them strength.

*

The whirlpool was bubbling as the men turned the corner into the backyard. Both men stopped as they watched the scene in front of them. They had knocked on the door and found nothing. They had orders to complete the trade or to kill the two that were trying to trade.

Michael looked into Nikita's eyes and saw the tears, even if the water from the whirlpool stopped him from seeing the trails that led from her eyes. Michael was amazed by her strength when she had slipped into the whirlpool and moved towards him. He had stopped her three times from going any further than groping. He didn't know if Nikita would be upset at his own movements, but he knew that the time was not know to do what Nikita did not want to do.

Her body was so tense, but as soon as Michael's eyes briefing noted the men in the backyard, her body tensed even further, although the men would have never known. Michael wrapped his hands around Nikita, and turned her in the whirlpool, as to block her body from the men. It was then that Nikita saw the men and gasped. Michael held her tightly as the initial fear ran through her body, and then he felt her slip into a motion that showed that at least for the time being that she was going to be all right. Michael was sure as Nikita reached for the robe that all of these events would haunt her in the nights and days to come.

"Sorry." Nikita murmurs as she stands out of the whirlpool, with her back to the men and slipped the robe around her body. Michael sat up in the whirlpool and reached for Nikita's hand. She smiled and leaned down and kissed Michael softly.

"You two interest us." One of the men said and Nikita walked towards him with her robe firmly tied in front of her. Michael slipped up from the whirlpool, not gaining attention as the men were focused on Nikita, as Nikita told Michael would happen.

"Where is Ivan?" Nikita questioned and the men looked at each other and smiled. Michael listened to the tight words of exchange as he swiftly placed the towel around his body, then a robe, and then picked up the gun. Nikita turned around and walked to Michael at the very second that Michael covered it up. Nikita curled her hand around Michael's head and sucked on his lip.

"Ni-ki-ta." Michael hissed in a warning tone. Nikita turned and flashed a smile to the men. Michael leaned down and whispered into her ear. "They don't have Operations."

It was then that the gray haired man came into view between two more gunmen. Nikita smiled as she recognized the man off to the left of Operations. Michael trained his view on Operations, hoping that he would have figured this out as being a mission to retrieve him. Yet, Operations turned his vision on Nikita and Michael started to fret. In the back of the woods, two more men appeared.

"Nikita." Operations hissed and Nikita turned and flashed a brilliant smile.

"Count your minutes, dear Operations." Nikita said and she moved to Ivan. Michael swallowed as the man touched Nikita's neck and laughed. Michael watched as he saw the changes in Nikita's posture. It would not have been noticed by anyone else, but Michael knew the factor of fear in Nikita's body. Michael wanted to tear that man's hand off of Nikita's neck.

Nikita had sensed the addition of men, but did not mention it as she stepped back. She looked to the man who trained a gun on Operations and held the computer. Nikita motioned him over to the table on the patio as she continued to step back.

"I have to get the file from the den." Nikita said and Operations raised an eyebrow. It was at that moment that he finally looked at Michael. He knew he was amidst a plan of some sorts, but he was starting to worry that it was as the men had told him. That Michael and Nikita wanted to exact revenge themselves.

Nikita stepped into the house as Michael moved forward, trying to get Operations released to his own power. The gunman would have nothing to do with that until he had the disk inserted in the computer. Nikita moved into the den and picked up the communications unit.

"Birkoff, I need back up to Michael's house." Nikita said as she opened up the drawer and took out the disk that had the virus infected disk in it. She tossed her hair to the side as she shivered. She kept on feeling the hand on her neck and she closed her eyes.

"Nikita, why?" Birkoff asked and Nikita looked out the window. They were outnumbered more that Nikita had thought. There were six of them, and she was starting to get worried.

"We have Operations in the backyard." Nikita stated and started to walk back to the patio with the disk in her hand. She had thought of picking up a gun on the way out, but she saw the way Ivan had looked her over. She reached the table when he pulled her tightly into his arms.

"Are you going to strip search me too?" Nikita questioned without blinking her eyes. She watched Ivan lick his lips when she tossed the disk down to the table. She started to motion towards the tub.

"I'm sure Michael wouldn't mind you cleaning up with me either." Nikita said and Operations turned and glared at Michael. Michael only blinked his eyes although his heart began to race. Ivan stepped forward and then looked at the disk. He laughed and nodded to his men to load the disk into the computer. The men pushed Operations out of their arms and towards Michael.

"Why don't you move to that wood pile over there, sir." Michael said and Operations swallowed as Michael looked at him with rage on his eyes. Michael looked at Nikita and then to one of the men.

"Can I borrow your gun and take care of some business?" Michael questioned him as he looked at Operations. The man smiled and raised the gun to Michael.

In a flash, everything came to life in ways that were planned and in ways that weren't planned. The computer started to crash as Michael took the gun that was handed towards him and brutally smacked the man across the face with the butt. He raised his other gun and started to shoot the other men, but realized Operations was not close enough to the wood pile, where there was a machine gun waiting for him. Nikita fell to the ground as Ivan stood up and pointed his gun to Operations. Nikita looked around and started to run. She turned towards Operations, facing her back to Michael and Ivan as he recoiled the bullet forward, striking Nikita in the back. She flew forward and Operations stumbled against the woodpile and found the machine gun.

Michael took out Ivan as Operations trained quickly on the other men. As quickly as it started, it ended and Michael turned his head as he looked down at Nikita's body on the ground. He was frozen, even as Operations dropped to the ground next to Nikita.

"Are you two insane?" Operations demanded as Michael finally made his way over to Nikita. He saw the blood soaking through the back of her white robe and saw that none came through the front. Yet, there was no movement from Nikita, and Michael choked back tears.

He reached out and transferred the communications unit that Nikita still warn, to hear Birkoff screaming.

"We need medical. Nikita's been injured." Michael said as he handed the unit over to Operations and picked up Nikita tenderly in his arms. She made no attempt to open her eyes and Michael made no attempt to keep his tears back.

"Your going to be fine..." Michael whispered out as Operations inspected Ivan's gun. He dropped it and turned his head away. Michael swallowed the gesture, knowing that something else must have been found that he did not like. Michael waited; holding Nikita, feeling like nothing else in the world mattered.

*

Madeline stood frozen in the observation deck as she waited for the door to open. In the past twelve hours, she had gathered all the information that she could about Michael's and Nikita's plan and she evaluated it. She tried to process it over and over again, until she started to dig back into the computer files. With the new files, that she had never been able to gain access to, she was able to make sense out of this extremely dirty situation.

The door opened and Operations stepped into the observation deck, cleaned up from his own ordeal, but showing signs of stress of the way and events of his release. He paced around the room and then stopped to stare at Madeline.

"Care to explain?" Operations asked and Madeline lifted her head and stared at the older man. There was no time for lies, but she did not plan on telling Operations that she had planned on Nikita making the decision to sacrifice him.

"I called in the operative that I believed had the best numbers. She worked out an excellent plan." Madeline blinked and Operations stepped forward to look at Madeline's eyes, knowing that he might never have the complete story of what occurred.

"Start from the beginning, and explain to me what has occurred in my absence, particularly in the Michael and Nikita situation." Operations stated and Madeline swallowed and moved towards the window. She looked down and turned her head. It always happened that whenever Nikita was hurt or in trouble that either Walter or Birkoff would be playing with her in plain sight. Sometimes Madeline swore they did it on purpose, and this time it hurt just the same.

"I called her back, without George knowing. I told her to come directly here, but you know Nikita." Madeline said as she turned to Operations.

"She went to Michael's." Operations stated and Madeline nodded her head.

"I don't know what they talked about, but it was Mia's birthday." Madeline said and she watched Operations eyes blink. She internally smiled, knowing that the comment burned Operations. She had spotted the birthday gift he had bought the young girl a few days prior to his capture. Madeline waited and saw that Operations wanted her to continued.

"Yet, George found out. It seemed as if he blackmailed Nikita into leaving for San Francisco." Madeline said and Operations turned and sat on the railing that overlooked Section One. He smiled and looked at Madeline.

"We all knew that. But what did he have on Nikita?" Operations asked out of curiosity and Madeline moved forward.

"He dubbed a tape that had Nikita in a compromising situation with Delano." Madeline said. She paused as she waited for the surprised look to wear off of Operations' face. She blinked her eyes and viewed out over Section One herself again.

"Michael and Nikita had a fight, when I told her that I wouldn't give her the Directory in order to trade for you. She ended up coming back to Section One, and I decided to test her." Madeline said and Operations stood up and looked at Madeline. She could tell that a more detailed explanation was going to be needed in the future, but she wanted to get through the initial report and return to medical.

"Why would you test her? And how did you test her?" Operations stated and Madeline nodded her head, as she predicted that this would be the question he asked.

"I had a feeling from her, that she was hiding a lot from us. I sent her on a Valentine mission. She completed it, but she never finished the profile as I set forth." Madeline said and Operations rubbed his chin and smiled.

"We know of her talents." Operations stated and Madeline swallowed and turned away. She stared out over the glass again, not being able to face Operations.

"I found the proof a few hours ago. Nikita never finished any of those Valentine missions, and I am sure if we had video at Michael's house, that we would find that she is suffering from years of it. She faked all of her files and never completed one mission with a sexual act." Madeline bluntly stated as she stared at her own reflection in the glass. She hated to admit to it, but when she found this information out, she blamed herself. It was not Section One's goal to hurt operatives beyond repair, especially when the operatives proved to be talented in many other areas. The only reason why Nikita continued with Valentine mission is because she appeared to be unaffected by them.

"Also found, was the reason why Nikita achieved level 6. Weigner come onto her strongly, and she retaliated, and Weigner felt by raising her status, that she would stay quiet." Madeline said before she turned around. She was surprised with the confused; glassy eyed state Operations was showing.

"That does not compute with what I saw when I entered their backyard. Nikita was being fondled by Ivan, and even offered to jump into the hot tub with him." Operations stated and Madeline sadly smiled and nodded her head.

"They were also found in a compromising situation, but from what I know, it was just looks, and nothing happened." Madeline said and Operations blinked and moved to his computer. He flicked it on and sighed as he saw that George had made his way into Headquarters. Operations looked at Madeline and then sat down.

"So, that still doesn't explain why Nikita would have jumped in front of a bullet for me. We know she hates me." Operations stated and Madeline moved to the desk and swallowed.

"She doesn't want to leave. She is seeking the time to heal her emotional and sexual wounds with the one person who can do that. You now want to keep her, because she didn't sacrifice you, when I was planning on doing that." Madeline said and Operations stared at Madeline. He felt the sweat rolling down his face and he looked away.

"Her medical status?" Operations inquired and Madeline swallowed. It was now her turn to feel the sweet rolling down her head. She sat down and placed her hands down on the desk.

"She is a fighter." Madeline stated as she turned her eyes up to Operations. Madeline abruptly turned her head and continued to think of the words.

"The bullet was a hollow end bullet. You knew that. It did major damage to her right shoulder area. She is lucky, it came close to her heart, and she lost a terrible amount of blood." Madeline stated and she could feel Operations' eyes making holes into her head from his intense stare.

"The doctors said that it is up to Nikita now. I even have a doctor suggesting to let Michael and Mia visit Nikita now." Madeline said and Operations stood up and walked to the window.

"Make it happen. They deserve it, if it could possible be the end." Operations stated and Madeline nodded her head and stood up. She felt heavy as Operations turned around. He looked at her and Madeline swallowed. The message was sent, Madeline would go down with her gun in hand, and threaten the doctors. It was rare for Operations to do so for any operative, but he did always feel something for operatives that spared his life. Nothing less than a miracle was expected from the doctors now.

*

Madeline stepped out of Nikita's sterile room and saw Michael holding Mia in his arms. Madeline blinked her eyes as she crossed to them and tried to maintain her own composure. Even with the threats of doctor's lives, she was not guaranteed anything more than what state Nikita was currently in. Madeline saw the fear in Mia's eyes, but she also saw it in Michael's eyes. Madeline knew that Michael had stayed by Nikita's side until they ran her into surgery.

"Mia... Michael... We all know how strong Nikita, your mother is." Madeline said as she looked at Mia wrapped tightly around Michael's chest. Mia nodded her head as the young girl was on the brink of tears again. Madeline looked at Michael's eyes and then looked back at Mia.

"You need to be strong like your mother, Mia. She would want you to be strong." Madeline whispered and Mia nodded her head.

"Daddy always says I'm like mommy." Mia replied and Madeline watched Michael's own eyes close with the pain of the statement. Madeline swallowed and touched Mia's hair. She was so much the image of Nikita.

"Ok. So when you go in there, you can't be scared. You have to be strong." Madeline said and Mia nodded her head as Michael swallowed. Madeline could tell that Michael was conflicted about Mia seeing Nikita like this, but Madeline had insisted. Madeline stepped to the side and started to lead the duo towards Nikita's door.

There was a lot of equipment in Nikita's room, but it could have been a lot worse. Madeline rubbed Michael's shoulders as he stood on the doorway. Madeline swallowed as she waited for his eyes to turn.

"I'm going to be right here for the both of you." Madeline stated and Michael stepped into the room. She was not sure who was going to prove to be the strongest, but she knew that both Michael and Mia had to be strong.

Michael moved to the edge of the bed and held Mia in his arms. He looked at Nikita's pale face and cringed. He hated seeing anyone in a position like this and it brought him back to the time before he knew that Mia was his daughter. Only now, Nikita was a lot worse. Michael did not have to ask the doctors and Madeline what they felt about Nikita's health. It was all said when Madeline ordered Michael to bring Mia down with him.

"Dad, what's that in mommy's nose?" Mia asked as she reached out and touched the tubing that looked like it was barely staying in Nikita's nose. Michael was thankful that she wasn't on a ventilator and he took Mia's hand slowly away from Nikita's face.

"That is helping her breath. You had one when you were sick." Michael said and Mia looked up at Michael and nodded her head. They had rarely talked about Mia's own illness, now that she had no ill effects, but it was the easiest way Michael could explain to Mia about Nikita's own body and condition.

"Is she asleep?" Mia asked and Michael swallowed and looked at Mia. She raised her own blue eyes to Michael and he swallowed again.

"It's like sleeping, Mia." Michael said as he pressed a kiss to Mia's forehead. He watched as Mia reached out for Nikita's gown. It was cut in the front, so that the bandages could easily be assessed, but Michael wasn't sure what was covered and what wasn't. Michael reached out and pressed the side of the gown down again.

"No, Mia. Keep your mommy covered." Michael whispered and he watched as Mia moved her hand to the wires that were running from Nikita's chest. Michael closed his eyes and looked up to the computer screen that ran her vital signs constantly.

"Dad, is this how she is sleeping?" Mia asked and Michael shook his head. He took Mia's hand away from the wires and pointed to the computer screen.

"See those lines, Mia. That is what those are showing. That is how quickly her heart is beating." Michael said and looked as Mia nodded her head. Michael looked at Nikita's face as Mia moved again, this time, reaching for Nikita's hand.

"Daddy, I remember that thing, but what is it giving mommy?" Mia asked and Michael pulled Mia's hand gently away from the IV site. Mia looked at Michael harshly and then he brushed her hair back with his free hand.

"That is giving your mommy food and medicine." Michael said and Mia nodded her head and then looked at the clear bag.

"It doesn't look like food. Wouldn't it be colored stuff? Wasn't mine red?" Mia asked and Michael nodded his head and sighed as he fought for an explanation.

"Mia, when you were sick, they were giving you blood. They have already given your mommy blood in her other hand." Michael explained as he pointed down to her right hand that still had the IV in case she would need more. Mia nodded her head and looked at Michael for him to further his explanation.

"And the food is clear because it is going right into her stomach. It doesn't need to be tasty or anything. It is like when you were a baby, and you had a bottle. It didn't matter what it tasted like." Michael explained and he was pleased that Mia nodded her head and turned back to look at her mother. Michael was proud of her strength, but saw that diminishing as Nikita's head rolled towards them.

"Daddy, she is waking up!" Mia exclaimed loudly and Michael closed his eyes as he tried to calm the squirming body of Mia's. Michael kissed her forehead and looked at her.

"Your mommy needs to sleep, Mia. You know how you move around in the sleep, and you get twisted in your blankets. Your mommy is just doing that." Michael explained tenderly. He looked up as he heard the beeps start to get louder. He watched the monitored for a few seconds.

"HER EYES OPENED!" Mia exclaimed as she pointed down. Michael looked down but saw nothing. He felt his heart being ripped into pieces with a paper shredder as he looked at Mia continuing to point.

"It was your imagination." Michael whispered softly and Mia started to cry. Michael looked down at Nikita's face and saw a twitch and covered Mia's mouth before she could scream again.

"Mi....." Nikita moaned out softly and Michael felt his heart explode at the sound. Mia squirmed in his arms, eager to throw her arms around her mother.

"cheal..." Nikita finally finished and her eyes shut again. Michael looked at Mia and gave her a look that allowed Michael to remove his hand from her mouth and reach for a little piece of ice in his hand. He turned and waited. Nikita was fighting to wake up.

"Mi...." Nikita started to saw, and Michael lifted the ice to her lips and traced the dry lips with the wet cube. He watched as some of the water slid down Nikita's parched throat and she winced slightly. Mia continued to squirm and her wants overwhelmed her.

"MOMMY! I AM HERE!" Mia screamed and Nikita closed her eyes lightly and then opened them up, focused on Michael again.

"cheal..." Nikita moaned out and tears ran down Mia's face. She looked at Michael and started to kick.

"Why can't she see me, DADDY? I am here, why is she calling for you? DADDY!!! MOMMY!!" Mia cried out and Michael felt the tears forming in his eyes as he looked at Nikita's forehead cringe at Mia's screams. Michael turned and set Mia down on the floor as Madeline stepped into the doorway.

"Mia, your mother is not feeling good. Go with your Aunt Madeline, and you can see her when she is better." Michael said and Mia stomped her feet down and sat down on the floor. Michael knew the girl just wanted her mother, but Nikita was in no condition to have Mia nearby.

"Mia, you have to be strong for your mother, remember?" Madeline whispered from the doorway as she bent down. Mia looked at Michael and then to Madeline. She stood up and ran towards Madeline.

"BUT I DON'T WANT TO BE STRONG!" Mia cried out as she wrapped her body around Madeline's legs. Madeline slowly moved away as Michael moved back to the bed to look at Nikita's eyes, still bobbing back and forth.

"I'm here, Nikita." Michael whispered as he reached out and touched Nikita's face. She moved her uninjured arm up to her face and rubbed Michael's hand back.

"Don't leave." Nikita moaned out and Michael tilted his head and allowed the tears to run freely from his face. He nodded his head and kissed Nikita's forehead.

"I'm not going to. I'm staying with you." Michael whispered back. He moved his head away, as he was about to pull a chair over, but it was grabbed by a strong grip from Nikita.

"Please." Nikita whispered out and she closed her eyes again, falling back into the unconsciousness that she had fought against. Michael looked at Nikita's bed and saw the open spot on the side of her body that was not injured. He slipped his shoes off and climbed up on the opposite side and carefully surrounded Nikita with his arms.

"I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving." Michael whispered over and over again as he watched Nikita.

Operations turned from the monitor and looked at George. George raised his head and smiled.

"I see that she is in good hands. When she gets better, she will be going back to San Francisco." George said and Operations moved forward.

"You only have an opening for a level 6 operative there." Operations said and George stared at Operations.

"We found the truth, and we are watching you George. She may have trusted you before, but she may have found another reason to trust me and Madeline again." Operations said, dismissing George with no further words. Operations turned back to the monitored and frowned as the sight. It was going to be a long recovery, if she made it through the next week.

*

Michael rubbed at the beard that had formed on his face in the days that he had spent in the room with Nikita. She was still tittering back and forth on the line of life and death and improvement and seemed hinged on his own presence. Michael looked at Madeline entered with Mia attached her hand and Michael smiled.

"They just started some new medication." Michael informed Madeline and she nodded her head. She had tried to get Michael to at least shower, but in the times that Michael had moved to use the bathroom, there had been changes in Nikita's condition to the worst. There were a few theories on why, ranging from emotional to physical. The most recent was that Nikita's body temperature was fluctuating and that Michael kept her warm. That was what the new medicine was given to Nikita for.

"Isn't mommy up yet?" Mia whined out and Michael closed his eyes. He had been so patient with her in all the pat times, but now was not the time. Michael snapped his head around.

"NO! SHE ISN'T! SHE MIGHT NEVER!" Michael screamed and Mia ran to Madeline's arms. Madeline took Mia's hand and walked the girl out of the room. Madeline had been concerned about the girl, as she had started to slip back in old habits that she use to do when she was younger. She had stopped sucking her thumb before Michael even knew her, and now, Mia had started that back. Madeline moved down the hallway and carefully heaved Mia up onto a table.

"We have to talk." Madeline said and Mia allowed the tears run down her face. She looked back towards the room as some alarms blare. Madeline waits as the medical staff ran into the room. Moments later, the alarms are silent, either because the situation was over, or because they had manually turned them off.

"My daddy hates me." Mia said and Madeline rubbed the girl's cheek. It had been extremely difficult on Mia, as Michael had not left that medical room once. He had been so concerned about Nikita, and had openly showed his love for Nikita, that Mia was feeling neglected. Nikita had also been in and out of it for days, and when she was speaking, she would whisper out Michael over and over again.

"Your daddy doesn't hate you. He is just tired." Madeline said as she turned and sat her body up on the table with Mia. She took Mia and rubbed her blonde hair softly.

"I'm going to teach you a new word. It is imago." Madeline said and Mia raised an eyebrow and it made Madeline laugh. It was the perfect combination of Michael's straight-lift eyebrow and Nikita's high arch. It was the perfect middle of the two, and so distinctly Mia.

"Imago? What does that mean?" Mia asked and Madeline smiled and looked at medical staff started to file out of Nikita's room. Madeline turned her attention back to Mia, knowing that Michael was even looking over Nikita.

"It is this perfect image of your daddy your mind has. You see him, and what he should be doing." Madeline said and Mia nodded her head and dropped her head.

"He should wake up Mommy and he should not yell at me." Mia muttered and Madeline smiled and nodded her head. Madeline touched Mia's head and waited for the little girl to lift her head.

"Well, that is the imago. It's a perfect image, but no one can be perfect, Mia." Madeline said and Mia shook her head and tears ran down her face.

"My daddy doesn't love me as much as he loves Mommy!" Mia cried out and Madeline slid back down off of the table and kissed Mia's cheeks.

"Mia, he loves you so much, but your Mommy is really sick." Madeline said and Mia nodded her head up and down. Madeline ached to walk down the hallway to know what was going on, but turned her focus back to Mia.

"When you were sick, your Daddy visited you everyday, and you weren't as sick as your mommy." Madeline said and Mia nodded her head as Madeline saw the young girl comprehend what Madeline was trying to point too.

"Is she going to die, Madeline?" Mia asked softly and Madeline felt the tears push to her eyes. She had asked the question to the doctors everyday, and no one had been able to give Madeline an answer. Madeline smiled and started to shake her head back and forth.

"No. Your Mommy is a fighter. She is just going to be sick for a while." Madeline said and Mia bravely smiled. Madeline played with Mia's hair a bit and looked at Mia with a grin.

"I have an imago of you." Madeline said and Mia tilted her head to the side with the use of the word. Madeline could see the curiosity cross Mia's face as it used to cross Nikita's own face. It was always hard to see the changes in Nikita until you saw the some reactions that Nikita used to do in her daughter. Even the two years of living with Michael alone could not erase the influence that Nikita had on her daughter.

"I see you coming with me, to Walter's area and making a big get well card for your mother." Madeline said and Mia reached her hands out to be taken off the table. Madeline helped the young girl off the table. Mia reached out for Madeline's hand when Michael walked down the hallway.

"Mia.... Your mother is calling for you." Michael said and Madeline looked up as Mia ran for Michael's stretched arms. Madeline looked at Michael as Mia climbed up onto his body.

"The medicine stopped her heart for a few seconds, but when it started again, she was fine." Michael said as he turned and walked back to the room. Madeline followed behind Michael, wanting to know more details of the situation. She looked into the room as Nikita's eyes lit up when Michael entered with their daughter. Madeline stood outside and watched as Nikita used her uninjured arm to caress her daughters cheek and even laugh a little.

"I heard that my sugar is awake." Walter said as he walked down the hallway, with other fellow operatives that included Birkoff and Operations. Madeline closed the curtain and stepped between the doorway and the operatives.

"She is still weak." Madeline said and she saw the look of the operatives that they gave each other. Walter moved forward and touched Madeline's arm.

"Hey, the doctors' have big mouths. They said it was a miracle. That the medicine stopped Nikita's heart, and that it was with Michael's scream of wake up that she started to live again." Walter said and Madeline blinked her eyes and looked at Walter.

"You are a hopeless romantic. Now, I must assist. Until I can assess her condition that only family is allowed in." Madeline said and the operatives started to turn away, knowing that no one was getting into the room soon. Walter looked at Madeline and then sulked away. Operations stepped forward and Madeline shook her head.

"That means you." Madeline said and Operations looked between the curtains and saw as the little family sat together. Operations blinked his eyes and moved down the hallway. Madeline sighed and looked up to the ceiling and felt relief that her words to Mia were correct. She never wanted to lie to that little child.

Madeline turned to view the family once more, and knew that it was exactly what they were. There was nothing official between them other than the biological bonds to Mia, but that did not matter. Madeline pondered how long it would take Section One to realize that there was something there was more than strength and something different from a weakness. Two years ago, Madeline did not want Nikita to leave, because she felt that that little unit could do some good. Now, Madeline thought that even though it had been a difficult battle to gain what they wanted, that it had to occur. Madeline stepped away at the happy sight as Michael and Mia kissed Nikita's glowing face, and hoped that the little family could stay that way.

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