6

"Of course she needs us. Walter called us for that reason." Michael said as prepared to leave the elevator and to start up the other set of elevators. Mia turned and looked at her dad.

"What if it is what Walter wanted?" Mia questioned with her full eyes, reflecting what Michael's eyes looked like, a storm that had pushed against shore and wasn't leaving. Michael looked into those eyes too long, allowing the tears to form in his own eyes.

7

"BING" the elevator vibrated and the kids automatically stepped forward, before the metal doors had parted their metal teeth to allow them onto the floor. Michael swiped away the tears and followed behind them. He found the pressure going further up in the hospital getting more and more painful. It was growing in his chest. It was anxiety. It was worry. It was grief. It was sadness.

"Dad... are we all going to go in together?" Mia questioned and Michael stared at her and then looked at the other elevators.

"I think it is best that way, Mia." Michael admitted. He didn't want to expose his children to Nikita without his support. They hadn't seen her in a long time and they had rarely ever seen her hurt or sick like this. Nothing could prepare them for this, nothing.

"But I have to see her, Dad. I can't stand this waiting." Mia said and Michael swallowed. He didn't like waiting either. He reached for Mia, but she wrenched her body away and stormed off a few feet. Aubrey looked at Michael and swallowed.

"We are waiting for the elevator... It shouldn't be long." Michael said in a voice that shook him. It was almost like he was trying to be happy, when he knew he couldn't be. Why even force the voice when his children were scared stiff along with himself. Michael wasn't sure if the support of Nikita's family would change her mind.

"What room is she in, Dad?" Mia questioned and Michael rolled his eyes. That was the question he heard too often on this trip.

"1078.. its in the corner..." Michael stated and Mia nodded her head. She looked to the numbers and sighed, the elevators had yet to move. Waiting for Mia was not a virtue... exactly the same way her mother behaved. Michael turned his head away at the thought, knowing that everything was so much like her mother and that seeing Mia only reminded Michael of Nikita.

"I don't want to see her if she is asleep." Aubrey declared and Michael shook his head, confused. He felt like he was underwater and his children were on the deck, speaking to him through the water. Things just seemed so muddled together with no lack of sense anywhere.

"Aubrey? Why?" Michael finally questioned as he stepped forward and pressed the up button again. Michael turned to find Mia sprinting up the stairs, taking matters into her own hands. Michael tired not to scream, feeling that his daughter had things to sort out with her mother either way.

"Because.... She may never wake up... and until she can look at me... I don't want to see her." Aubrey stated and Michael tilted his head to the side and reached for his son. He stepped back and looked at Michael. "You said nothing would happen to her while she was gone, Dad." Aubrey accused as he pointed to Michael. The doors to the elevator opened and Michael stepped forward.

"No... dad... You said she wouldn't get hurt!" Aubrey shouted in the hallway, causing some of the nurses in the white uniforms turn to stare at the site of the fight. Michael reached for him again and Aubrey avoided his arm.

"Aubrey.. She is sick... she has cancer... there is nothing I could have done, son." Michael said as the tears broke over his face. He wondered how he could comfort his son. He wondered how he could get upstairs to Mia. Nikita didn't know they were coming, Michael wasn't sure what she would do with a surprise attack from Mia occurred. She had told Michael to leave; would she do the same thing to her children?

"Make her better...Daddy... Please!" Aubrey cried out as he stepped onto the elevator and hung onto Michael to the very short ride up the floor that Nikita was staying on.

"WALTER! Is my mom in there!" Mia screamed as she ran down the hallway, seeing her Uncle Walter pacing back and forth outside a room. There is a nice nurse standing with him and Mia smiled at her. Walter hugged Mia briefly as Michael stepped out of the elevator and swallowed. Aubrey was now running down the hallway, in the same manner that Mia had.

"Nikita... You have a visitor..." Norma softly said as she opened the door and the light spilled into the darkness that Nikita had plunged herself into. She tried to lift her head to protest, but she was too tired from the continuous crying, as Norma suddenly refused to give Nikita the pain medication that she was requesting.

"Norma..."

"MOMMY!" Mia cried out as she stepped into the room and saw her mother's bald and pale face. She looked at her mother for a split second and then rocketed her body across the room and onto the side of her bed. Before Nikita could blink her dry and sore eyes, Mia had her hand tightly around her entire chest, squeezing her like a little girl frightened in a haunted house.

"Mom... I love you... I love you..." Mia chanted as her tears began to flow again, now against Nikita's shoulder, only to be soon met with Nikita's tears as she finally placed her hands around her daughter's body.

"Mia..." Nikita rasped out, her voice showing the torment that she had placed on her throat by screaming at Norma when she refused Nikita's requests. Nikita splayed her hands into Mia's hair and reached to kiss Mia.

"I need you mom.... I love you soooo much... You are going to beat this, Mom... For me... for Aubrey... For Dad..." Mia argued out and Nikita closed her eyes with even more tears. This wasn't the way she wanted to see her daughter again. She wanted to see a happy daughter, smiling at her. This was tearing at Nikita's heart even more, even though she knew it was being done out of love.

"Mia..." Nikita said again, finding it impossible to think of another word to say. She was beyond words, holding her daughter in real life. Feeling her back moving back and down with each sob that went straight to Nikita's skin. It was a contact that wasn't done justice in the dreams. All those dreams that Nikita said were enough weren't.

Months without seeing her daughter.

Months without holding her daughter.

"Ah.. There is a handsome gentleman here to see you..." Norma announced from the doorway as she turned on the light and Nikita turned her head way from bright light. She was sure that now Mia would bolt in the other direction once she saw the monster Nikita had become. The ugliness didn't seem to phase Mia as she leaned up and kissed her mother's lips.

"MOMMY!!! MOMMY!!" Aubrey yelled out as he ran across the room and onto the other side of the bed. He ran just as Mia did. As quickly as possible. He wrapped his hands around his mother's body and started to cry with everyone else.

"I want you to live, Mommy..." Aubrey cried out and Nikita bounded her knee in pain. She never knew that her kids would hurt this much from her illness. She didn't want anyone to hurt other than herself. She wanted to protect everyone from this pain and someone, she still couldn't do that.

Mia lowered herself onto the bed, almost lying on her mother, holding her arm, not letting go of it. Nikita looked at the gesture. It was as if her own disease-ridden body had become some sort of life preserver device for her own daughter. Nikita turned her head to find the redness of crying on Aubrey's cheeks.

"Can I kiss you?" Aubrey questioned and Nikita nodded her head and Aubrey touched her cheek softly and then pulled away.

"I won't hurt you, will I?" Aubrey questioned, very afraid of what he saw in front of him. He was young, only nine, but he knew that she was sick. Skin and bones, as Madeline would often state about the newer operatives. There was nothing like his mother left on this woman, other than her eyes. The eyes of a mother never change.

"You won't hurt me, Aubrey..." Nikita finally said, finishing a sentence that she never thought she would have to say. She closed her eyes as Aubrey trembled as his quivering lips touched her cheek. He was even afraid to kiss her lips.

"You can't catch cancer, son." Nikita whispered out and Aubrey relaxed in his mother's grasp. He held onto her and continued to cry.

"My kids..."

"Mom... you have to fight this... I need you to see me graduate!" Mia exclaimed, hearing the sadness in her mother's voice as she whispered her words. There was a lost quality to each word. As if there was no meaning behind them for Mia's mother any longer.

"And you have to come see me play baseball... You promised!" Aubrey demanded out and Nikita dropped her head and continued to sob. She didn't have the strength to tell them she couldn't do this any longer. She was worn out. They had broken her spirit. The cancer was winning and Nikita didn't have anymore outs or good hitters.

"Mia... Aubrey..." Nikita moaned out as she cried, unable to say anything else. Unable to think good and happy thoughts.

"You shouldn't be here..." Nikita finally said and Mia lifted her head and wiped at her mother's tears.

"I wouldn't be anywhere else, Mom. I belong here with you!" Mia announced and Nikita turned her head, trying to hide her tears from her children, although everyone was crying equally hard. Aubrey got on his hands and knees and leaned over his mother's body.

"Me too! I'm not leaving you! I missed you, Mommy!" Aubrey said as he finally attached himself to her neck. Nikita gasped as the sudden weight on her chest, but when it adjusted in just a few seconds, she felt fine. In fact, she felt a bit better than she had in a long while.

"Children..." Norma softly called out from the doorway, but her voice didn't reach them. She realized that the children weren't leaving their mother's side. Walter was chatting to Michael in the hallway, Michael showing more wear and tear than even Norma had expected.

"Mom... can't we go home? They can make you better there." Aubrey said and Nikita shook her head back and forth. She was overwhelmed. She wanted to be the mother, to be strong for them. But something else was happening to her.

She wanted to be weak.

God help her, Nikita wanted to be weak. For once in her life, she didn't want to have to fight for things. She even started to wonder if this was only a preview of what she was going to get when she passes on. Were things only going to get worse?

She wanted to be more than weak.

"Children..." Norma said as she stepped further into the hospital room and paused. Nikita had finally curled her hands around both of them, looking like a mother that had her children kidnapped from her and they had finally be returned.

Norma looked at the image on the bed. It was beautify and yet painfully sad. The children hadn't gotten Nikita saying yes to the surgery. Norma had to wonder if in her own odd way, she was starting to say goodbye to them, which was not what was attended. Nikita was a fighter deep within herself, so Norma hoped to rediscover that.

"Mia..... Aubrey..." Walter said as he stepped into the room, right behind Norma. They lifted their heads and looked as their father walked in and stared at Nikita. Nikita closed her eyes. In her heart, she knew he would return in some form. She had just wished to be better off.

"I want to stay here!" Mia shouted out and Nikita closed her eyes in pain. The tears had caused it to form; too much pressure from everything was making for a splitting headache. She rolled her head to the side, avoiding Michael's eye contact.

"Me too!" Aubrey cried out in the same sort of tone. Norma stepped forward and touched Nikita's forehead, seeing the tears had overheated her face again. She looked to Michael and the basin that was close to him. Michael nodded his eyes, telling Norma that he would take care of it.

"Kids.. I want you to go with Walter and Norma..." Michael said and Mia trudged off of the bed.

"You can't leave me mom!" Mia said as she turned as Walter tugged at her teenaged hand. Michael stepped forward and pulled Aubrey off of the bed and then turned him into the capable hands of Norma.

In minutes, it was Michael and Nikita.

Alone, with each other's tears.

*

Michael stood at that doorway for an unknown amount of time. He watched as Nikita hiccuped with tears, pushing her head towards the pillow, trying to hide from him. The display from his children and his wife showed how much everyone loved each other, but Michael was sure that even though his children loved, Nikita, no one could match the love he had for her. She was his second half of his soul, of his heart. He was afraid of what might come and that held him to that spot for longer than he wanted too.

"You shouldn't have brought them." Nikita finally settled as she pushed her hands into the bed, and forced her body further up into the sitting position. The tears continued to flow, but she had given up on them ages ago. They would fall regardless of Nikita's wants.

"You need them... You need all of us." Michael said as he slowly took that first step forward, much more tentative in approaching his wife than the children were. He wished he could fling his large body onto the bed with Nikita as the children had, but that was not Nikita needed and it was not what Nikita needed. She looked out to Michael and he knew that she had accepted that she was weak, but it didn't seem as if she was ready to accept all of their help.

"It's just going to hurt them more," Nikita announced and Michael sighed and reached for the bed. He slowly rubbed Nikita's foot and looked around the room. It was slow progress, no more words being said as Michael inched closer and closer to Nikita's side, to Nikita's head, so that his hands could cup her face and try to rid it of the tears.

"Let me worry about the children, Nikita. You have enough to worry about." Michael said and Nikita sobbed at the words, finally rescinding her strict orders to herself and rolled her head towards Michael. She felt his warmth and knew now, the words she wanted to scream and say, could be said and yelled.

"Michael... this is wrong.... They are wrong..." Nikita started to chant out and Michael at first, didn't even hear the words. Michael was stuck in the repetition of trying to calm Nikita and rocking her head against his chest.

"Michael.... They are wrong... I don't have this... I can't!" Nikita screamed again and Michael leaned back and looked at Nikita. Her eyes looked up at him and Michael tilted his head to the side.

"What?" Michael softly questioned as he leaned his body onto the bed and took Nikita even more into his arms.

"I don't trust them, now." Nikita said and Michael nodded his head and rubbed her head.

"Why?" Michael questioned and Nikita turned her head away. She couldn't explain why. It sounded irrational to her and she was sure that it would sound crazy to everyone else. Michael paused and looked around the room. "Who do you trust here?"

"Norma." Nikita stated flatly and Michael looked to the door and devoured one long deep breath, knowing that this might all be part a big denial on Nikita's part. The likelihood of this world-renown oncologist being incorrect were very slight. Maybe between doctors there would be disagreements over what type of mastectomy needed to be done, but surgery was what was needed.

"Nikita... I know this is hard... but you have to get this surgery..." Michael urged her and Nikita shook her head back and forth with vicious tears rolling down her face, hotly staining the white cheeks with some color.

"No.. Michael... You don't understand the hell I have already been through.. This has been worse than when I started Section... I have wished that one day, the medicine would just take me away... I can't fight anymore... I can't!" Nikita exclaimed as she pulled back, wishing that Michael would leave. She extended her arms and with what muscles was left, tried to push him, but Michael stayed.

"I'm not leaving, Nikita. I am your husband... You have to tell me, Nikita!" Michael urged out and Nikita leaned her head back and gasped for air. She hated the fact that Michael was right. That he always seemed to be right.

"This is my life, Michael! I have probably had every damn side-effect one can have with the chemotherapy! I've had infections, I've had no salvia, I have been throwing up from the first day, I have no ability to rest, and I'm sick of it! This isn't life!" Nikita said passionately out as she touched his face. Michael took that hand and looked at her.

"You made it into something too difficult Nikita. I could have been here for you, this entire time!" Michael stated and Nikita dropped her chin. She knew that was what she wanted all along. But then it was what she didn't want.

"You shared your life with me, Nikita... and the children... You can't give up because you are tired.... Because we haven't even tried yet." Michael issued out and Nikita closed her eyes and turned her head on the pillow.

"Michael... they are wrong... I know it..." Nikita barely whispered as she rolled her hands to the pillow and pressed it to her face. Michael looked down at the scene, swallowing his own emotions back, sensing that he had to give Nikita this benefit of the doubt. Yet, he didn't want to call in someone that wasn't really needed if this was a cut and dry case.

"Nikita, please explain to me why you think this?" Michael pursued with a soft voice. He looked down to Nikita, almost sure that she had given into the tiredness that was written across her face and when her eyes had looked at him. Her mouth parted and she sobbed lightly, before pulling herself together once again to speak.

"Because... It doesn't feel like it.... I would feel it, Michael." Nikita murmured quietly as her lips grazed the white pillow. Michael nictitated his eyelashes, seeing again, the sight of his beautiful wife, in the bed. Something deep within his soul lamented to him, that maybe this feeling, that something more was going on, needed to be ventured into.

"Sorry... I have to give Nikita some blood... the chemotherapy has made her anemic," Norma said as she pushed the door slightly open to walk in with the bag in her hand. Nikita rolled over and parted her lips. "Again."

"Sorry, Nikita..." Norma stated and Nikita only placed her arm out. It was something that Nikita was use too. The line went in quickly and Norma was going to leave the solemn scene. She wanted to say something to Michael, as she had Walter, Mia, and Aubrey in the small waiting room, but the supervisor was not being very emphatic about the situation. Michael saw Norma hesitating and went to the door and stopped her. Nikita seemed to have been sleeping again.

"What do you think?" Michael questioned and Norma blinked her green eyes and looked at Michael. She didn't even know what the question was asking. Michael turned his head and looked at Nikita, now from the distance, and still got that same feeling that he was trying to deny. He wished he had confidence in the doctor. A day or two here, playing around for another opinion could mean life or death. "Do you think the doctor could be wrong?"

"Michael... He is a very well respected doctor. He has pioneered several cancer-beating treatments..." Norma started to rattle off, startled by the question, because it was something that she had been thinking. This was so sudden; usually there were little signs of this occurring. Plus, the doctor still had not specified what type of cancer this seemed to be now. The chemotherapy seemed to have done nothing but spread the cancer.

"That isn't what I asked." Michael stated, stopping the ranting of Norma. She paused and moved closer to the door, pulling Michael with her. She didn't want Nikita to hear this; she didn't want to raise the girl's hopes on just a silly little feeling.

"I don't know, Michael... This was really sudden... More than I'm comfortable seeing." Norma said and Michael shoved his hands into his pockets. Again, he studied Nikita from the distance, feeling a ringing in his ears. He had a pounding headache and soon he was going to have to return to his children.

Operations' words returned, with an eerie thought. There was something deep inside of Michael's mind that he didn't want to think about, but it was there, making Michael entertain the possibility of asking for a second opinion. The thought went beyond that and right to the matter. He didn't know if he could waste his time on doctor's here.

"Norma... is there another doctor here that would run new tests, and not use the ones that are in Nikita's file that Dr. Garrison viewed?" Michael inquired as he turned and looked at the nurse. She dropped her head, her eyes showing the extra hours of being there for Nikita.

"I can't see any of them going against his decision... even if the files said something else." Norma quickly exclaimed. It only went to making Michael's decision final.

"Then, I'm having a personal specialist sent here to do the tests again in the morning. I would like you to be here." Michael said and Norma nodded her head and walked out of the room. There was something about Michael that made her stop from asking more questions. He knew exactly what he wanted and what he was going to do to get it.

"You want a second opinion too?" Nikita softly questioned from her bed, lifting her head off of the pillow. Michael moved to the side and kissed Nikita's forehead carefully.

"Better... I'm bringing in a Section One doctor." Michael said and Nikita nodded her head and closed her eyes. He did not want to bother her sleeping any longer. He looked to the door and kissed Nikita on the lips.

"Go, be with our children." Nikita said and Michael touched her hand as he backed away. He was doing what she wanted down. Michael closed his eyes and then opened the door, finding the hallway much more uncomfortable. He walked down the hallway and noticed the room that Walter was huddled in with his still crying children.

"Its going to be ok, Mia." Michael softly whispered as he rubbed her hair. She looked up and wrapped her hands around her father's waist as she continued to sit. Aubrey moved to Michael hand hugged him also. Slowly with some adjusting, Michael pulled out his cell phone and handed it to Walter.

"Call Section.. Get our best doctor here for the morning." Michael ordered and Walter moved out the room as Norma walked in. She held a piece of paper and handed it to Michael.

"It's the hotel across the room. Just give them this code and they'll set you and your family up for a few days." Norma said and Michael nodded his head in appreciation. Norma hugged Mia briefly and left the area, leaving the father with his daughter and son.

*

Nikita tossed her head to the side as Michael walked into the room as the sun just started to lighten the sky outside. He moved to the bed and looked down at her as Norma walked into the room. She stood her body next to Michael's. It was obvious that the nurse that had been the only support for Nikita during these past months did not go home.

"You look exhausted, Norma. I can't ask you to stay away from your family for the sake of my wife.... I can handle this," Michael whispered as he touched the sheet that was around Nikita's body. He had only a few hours himself, as the children clung around his body like they had several years ago. Not one eye was dried that night, even Walter who relegated himself to sit in the small living room the suite had that Norma arranged for them.

"I don't have a family." Norma softly stated as she moved to the other side of the bed, looking at the second unit of blood as it was almost out. Norma started her activities to get Nikita ready for another round of tests. Michael knew that the test ran at the hospital would be only be for show. The doctor from Section One arrived with his own equipment, declaring the hospital's ways as being archaic.

"So is that why you tend for Nikita so well?" Michael questioned as he looked at her profile. She looked younger than her years and had already made a great impression on Walter. Michael was sure that if push came to shove, and she was exposed to too much of Section One, Walter would make sure to take care of Norma.

"She didn't have anyone... and the way she had this image before... Everyone from the outpatient clinic told me how she went out and had her wig made with her own hair... I wanted to know her... but I never seemed to gain that knowledge." Norma explained and Michael reached out and touched Nikita's chin softly with his rough thumb. Nikita didn't even move in her sleep, but as Michael read about cancer, breast cancer, and chemotherapy, it wasn't too odd.

"She is extremely private... I'm sure you realize that she hid this from me." Michael said and Norma nodded her head and moved to the drawer next to Michael. Michael tilted his head to the side as Norma shuffled through a few things and then pulled out the framed picture.

"But she never forgot you." Norma said and Michael sighed and nodded his head. She leaned forward as Michael's doctor walked into the room. He nodded to Norma and she touched Michael's shoulder.

"He wants to get started." Norma said and Michael elevated his head up and only briefly hit his eyes against the operative's eyes. He turned and moved out the room, knowing the unspoken communication.

"I want to speak to Nikita first.... And Norma... What about Dr. Garrison?" Michael questioned and Norma winced.

"As soon as your doctor signed in, he was notified that he was consulting on Nikita's case." Norma informed Michael as she moved to the bottom edge of Nikita's bed. She looked at Michael, expecting him to be worried, but then he only nodded his head, as if he had expected so. She didn't want to know what was going on in Michael's mind; it was as if Norma already knew it was evil. "I'll make sure to keep him away.... And I'll give you some time alone."

"Thank you." Michael stated as he turned his head over his broad shoulder to look at the pressed lips of Norma. She slightly moved her head, indicating to Michael that she was flattered by his thanks. Michael knew that she would have done it either way, as she turned and exited the room.

"Nikita... Nikita..." Michael called out as he leaned down over the bed and looked into the area of her eyes. It was like he wanted her to open her eyes from just knowing that he was there. Slowly the eyes fluttered, but the movement stopped quickly and then ceased.

"Nikita, it's time to wake up." Michael said and she moaned and turned her head to the side. He had stolen a glimpse of Nikita's chart overnight. She had a slightly raised fever, which was treated, but it had kept her awake for several hours. He didn't want to wake her up now, but he had a lot of things going on that Nikita needed to know. It was possible that Nikita even knew some of the answers to his questions.

"Nikita..." Michael chided again, more exasperated that Nikita wasn't responding to his words. She opened her eyes and smiled peacefully at the sight in front of her. For months she had the dream of waking up and seeing Michael right there. She dreamt of feeling his breath on her face for some many months, that Nikita was almost tempted to believe that this was a dream again.

"Mi..."

"Shhh... No need to speak yet..." Michael ordered in a gentle voice. To anyone listening, it would have sounded like concern, not wanting Nikita to strain herself to speak. Although that was a partial motive to the sound, it wasn't all. Michael wanted to explain things before Nikita would protest out at him.

"We are going to get some tests done.... You will know Austin from Section... and just call him doctor," Michael slowly explained as he took Nikita's hand and noted the coolness of the skin. He rubbed it, hoping that he was giving her the heat that she needed, or at least the heat that Michael believed that she needed.

"What aren't you saying, Michael?" Nikita finally questioned. It sounded like the very healthy Nikita. Michael struck that thought and replaced it. It was Nikita. Right now, it was the Nikita trapped in her mind, but he was sure that it was the Nikita that would come back to him.

"We have some tests from Section that are going to run... and Birkoff is going over your entire file with a fine tooth comb." Michael stated and Nikita rolled her head to the side and tried to blink her eyes. She stopped, as she wanted to stare at Michael forever. She had missed him so much.

"Why?" Nikita questioned and Michael shrugged his shoulders. Birkoff had questioned the same thing. Michael was able to order Birkoff just to do what he wanted done, and Birkoff, worried that Michael would take away his honeymoon time with Mary, did exactly as Michael ordered. Nikita was very different. He couldn't lie to her, but she also knew when he didn't have the words to describe what he was feeling.

"I think we shouldn't worry about what Birkoff is doing, and worry about getting you healthy, so you can come home with me and the children." Michael swiftly announced in a smooth voice. The charm slightly worked, Nikita knowing that Michael was still repressing something, and she wasn't sure if he was doing it on purpose or not on purpose.

"She will be healthy if you would allow her to have the surgery today." Dr. Phil Garrison announced as he walked into the room and stared at Michael. Michael slightly curled his head to the side, something about the man rubbing him wrong. A muscle underneath the doctor's eye was twitching, and it was drawing Michael's attention.

"I wanted a second opinion." Michael stated out and the doctor pushed at Michael and moved to Nikita's side. He pulled at the chart and shook his head.

"She is getting more ill... Anymore time is a waste of time. You are going to cause her death. She doesn't want more testing." Dr. Garrison professed as Austin walked into the room with Norma.

"Dr. Garrison, I believe that Nikita had some say in this decision." Norma pointed out as she saw the battle that was going to start. There already had been some fights with Dr. Garrison, especially when he had honored Nikita's request for chemotherapy for the medullary other than the lumpectomy.

"You forced her into this decision!" Dr. Garrison said as he slammed the chart down onto Nikita's legs. Nikita opened her eyes and stared at the doctor. Now she had finally noticed the twitch underneath his eye. It was starting to bother her more until she moved her eyes away from it to Michael's, seeking out balance.

"I want the second opinion." Nikita finally said in words that Dr. Garrison heard. He stepped back, almost looking guilty. Michael shifted his weight, looking at the man's awkward stance and manner. It was like he wasn't use to standing in a patient's room with others in there. It was almost like he wasn't a doctor.

"I must insist we move now. The sooner we finish my tests, the sooner my opinion can be made." Austin said as he looked at Norma. Norma moved quickly, disconnecting the one IV line that was still running into Nikita's body, replenishing her with fluids. It wasn't necessary because of the chemotherapy; it was necessary from the extraordinary amounts of tears Nikita had in the past few days.

"NO!" Dr. Garrison stated out firmly as he blocked the door with his outstretched arms. Michael looked into the man's eyes and sorted the hundreds and thousands of thoughts that burned. It was like Michael had seen this man before. It was definitely something that Michael was going to mention to Walter when he arrived in an hour and Birkoff when he called out the search on Nikita's file.

"Please.. Michael... I want these tests... But I'm scared..." Nikita said as she reached her hand out to Michael. Michael reached down and took her thin hand and kissed it. Norma moved to the door and physically pushed Dr. Garrison out of the way. The world-renowned doctor turned and trudged off in the opposite direction. Norma turned around and started to pull Nikita's bed.

"You are still tired... Close your eyes..." Michael said and Nikita shook her head back and forth. Her traditional defiance was still there and Michael smirked lightly. "You never change."

"I didn't think you liked changes, Michael." Nikita joked back, forcing out an overwrought smile that Michael knew was not real. He reached out and touched the corners of Nikita's mouth and the smile melted away as the tears began again.

"Sleep through the tests.... We'll talk later..." Michael stated as he tried to pull his hand out of Nikita's. Her fingers wouldn't let go she held him with a grip that Michael was surprised to feel from Nikita.

"I don't want to be alone." Nikita stated and Michael looked to Austin and then Norma. He would order Norma to get some sleep once Austin started the tests. It was best that way. It would allow Austin to use whatever he needed without exposing Norma to them.

"I'm not going to leave you. I'll be right by your side, Nikita." Michael confirmed as he touched her forehead. That statement, that promise, allowed Nikita to shut her eyes and rejoined the sleep that she had wanted to stay in, but she was glad that she had seen Michael again. Just in case it was her last time.

*

The need for sleep had passed by the time that Austin administered the last test, digitally scanning her breasts or something along those lines. Neither Michael nor Nikita knew about the new medical technology that Section One was using. Instead of wasting time in finding out the results, Michael assisted Norma in pushing Nikita back to her room.

It was a silent trip, Michael pushing at Nikita's feet, looking straight at her blue eyes as they studied him. Michael tried not to notice them too much, as he was sure he would end up injuring Norma if he allowed those emotions to control him. He steadied himself by looking past Nikita's eyes, up and over the pillow, at the hallway in front of them. Every once in a while, Michael would reach out and squeeze Nikita's foot.

"Ok.. Slow down, Michael." Norma said as she opened the door. Michael's green eyes spotted the mischief in the room as Norma started to pull Nikita's bed. The bright colors could have only been the handiwork of three people Michael knew. He barely could walk forward; realizing that Nikita hadn't even seen it yet.

From Nikita's view, Michael stayed in the hallway. She was worried, wondering why he would do that. She wondered if she had disappointed him some, as she had demanded to be covered up during the one test, feeling that everyone was staring at her breasts that seemed to have mutated on their own. Then as Norma pulled her back more, Nikita saw the white banner paper with artistically colored and drawn letters proclaiming, 'Get well, Mom', and the sign brought tears to her eyes.

She turned her head to the side, even as Norma pulled her flush with the wall to see Aubrey smiling at her, and Mia holding onto the huge batch of balloons. Walter stood behind, holding a rose, representing the almost five dozen roses that were in every window area he could have placed them in.

"Mom.. This is for you." Mia said as she tied the main string of the balloons to the bed. Nikita laughed and cried at the same moment, noticing that Michael was walking back into the room. She hugged her daughter, as Norma seemed to have disappeared herself.

"Aubrey... you made the sign?" Nikita questioned, sensing that her shy boy was now worried about approaching her and showing what he had done. He slowly nodded his head and Nikita extended her hand. Aubrey took it and Nikita shook her head.

"Give me a hug and a kiss." Nikita demanded and Aubrey leaned over the railing and administered what Nikita demanded. Nikita looked to Walter and said nothing. That was their relationship. Walter knew that Nikita welcomed the gesture and that was all that he needed to know.

"The kids wanted to do something special... and we had all those extra hours..." Walter started to explain as he looked between the colorful balloons as Michael's staring face. Michael walked passed the balloons and smiled. He reached out and clamped a hand over Walter's shoulder. It was the first time he saw a real smile on Nikita's face.

"Ok... Nikita didn't get a chance for lunch... and I just happen to have a picnic for five here... Anyone hungry?" Norma questioned as she pushed through the door and waited for it to close. She held a huge wicker picnic basket in her hands and it seemed to be filled quite heavily.

She sent Aubrey out to get some sodas for everyone as she hand Nikita the can of apple juice. Nikita smiled and waited for Michael to move her table in front of her. Nikita placed it down on the table and started to cry, uncontrollably.

"Nikita?" Michael questioned as he moved to her, and cupped her face. Norma looked over her shoulder, wondering if this was too much for Nikita. Walter had insured her that Nikita would be touched by the gesture. This wasn't the reaction that Norma wanted.

"It isn't suppose to be this way... it's so odd..." Nikita whimpered as she flinched at the touch of Michael's hands on her cheeks, again. It was like she was stuck in her dream. She didn't know if this was real. She didn't know if somehow she had lost herself in one of her dreams and that she would never wake up. Nikita roughly thrashed her head from side to side until Michael caught her chin with his fingers.

"Nikita.... Tell me." Michael said as his entire focus was on Nikita's. Walter reached out and held Mia, knowing that she had never seen anything like this between her parents. It was something special that Walter was sure didn't happen between other couples. Even in its sick state, Nikita's body knew Michael and knew that he would not hurt her. She was safe and it was something that she hadn't felt in a long while.

"I dreamt this, Michael..... I don't know if this is real... Because I had the dream for so many nights in a row..." Nikita continued to sob in her strained voice. Norma nodded her head to Walter and he allowed his hands to loosen around Mia's body. The young girl stayed away from the bed and went to the basket and helped Norma unpack what she had prepared. Mia only briefly looked at the bed, as her father whispered to Nikita and she nodded her head back and forth.

"So, what kind of chocolate do we have?" Nikita questioned and Norma snorted. The door opened and Aubrey entered. It was a blessing that he wasn't present during this current display, as he was still reacting harshly to everything that was going on.

"You can't have chocolate... so no one is going to have chocolate." Norma announced and Mia and Walter's mouth dropped. Nikita laughed at the sight; both important people in her life shared one food obsession. CHOCOLATE.

The time continued much like Nikita's dream. She finally had food that seemed to agree with her stomach and this time, Norma wasn't helping her eat. Michael and Walter took shifts, but towards the end, as Walter had Norma in a corner, laughing at his jokes and stories, Michael took over. It was kind of the way they had to feed Aubrey when he was young. One bite for the parent, one bite for the baby. Now it was one bite for Nikita, one bite for Michael.

"Mommy.. Will you play me a game of checkers?" Aubrey questioned as he pulled the board up off of the floor, where he had been playing with Mia. Mia smiled at her mother as she reached out and messed with Aubrey's hair. Nikita knew it was going to feel just like Michael's hair. It took her sometime before she removed her hand from his hair and placed it on the bed, indicating that he should sit on the bed and set up the board.

"Here..." Michael said as raised the last of the juice to her lips. Nikita sipped at it and smiled at Michael. Their eyes connected, and Michael started to express to Nikita all the love he had for her. Nikita stared at those eyes and found it odd that he wasn't even mad that she had withheld her illness from him for such a long time. The moment was cut off as Michael's cell phone rang.

Norma was going to protest the use, they weren't allowed in the hospital, but Walter had explained that Michael's phone didn't run like other phones, and that it might be for important reasons for Michael to be disturbed now. Nikita tried to focus on the game as Aubrey moved first, but Michael moved towards the bathroom.

"Michael... Walter is there with you?" Birkoff questioned and Michael looked to the corner and raised an eyebrow. He wasn't one for the round about conversations that this instantly sounded like.

"Yes, he is." Michael stated in a strict voice that made Norma straighten up and Mia to raise her eyebrows. Michael was pacing now, getting annoyed by this phone call.

"Have him go get that man known as Dr. Phil Garrison." Birkoff directed and Michael looked to Walter and then licked his lips. He didn't like the tone or the words that Birkoff had said.

"The man known as Dr. Phil Garrison. What do you mean by that?" Michael hissed out, feeling his stomach with all the good picnic food that Norma had prepared, churning with his own question. The air in the room seemed to have grown hot as Nikita dropped her checker to the floor.

"We did some more checking... feeling that it was odd that a world-renown doctor... who is most likely going to get a Nobel Prize in science or medicine, would come out of retirement to treat only Nikita..." Birkoff started to drown on. Michael straightened his body, feeling every time he knew he didn't like the doctor known as Dr. Phil Garrison boiling in his blood.

"And?"

"Madeline got in contact with the REAL Dr. Garrison, Michael.... You need to get that man... He isn't Dr. Garrison..." Birkoff said and Michael folded the phone. Surprised with the words, but not too surprise. He looked to Walter and licked his lips.

"You have to go see Dr. Garrison, Walter." Michael issued out in a flat voice as he looked to Nikita. Things just seemed to have gotten more complicated. Walter moved away from Norma and looked at Michael.

"Why?" Walter questioned as he almost tripped over Mia. Mia moved to the side and looked up to the two men. Michael shifted his weight and looked at Norma, knowing that she was getting exposed to materials that could compromise them all.

"Things aren't what they seem." Michael stated as he looked into Walter's eyes. He knew that Walter registered exactly what he meant when the older eyes expanded. He wasn't sure if Nikita registered what was going on, but Walter did. He moved to the door, to find it opening before he got his hands around the knob.

"I got some results." Austin said and Walter looked at Michael. Michael nodded his head, knowing that Walter could stay here for this. Michael knew that he might need him here for this.

"And?" Nikita rasped out before Michael could question. She reached for Michael's hand and squeezed it as his other hand wrapped around her shoulders.

"There is no cancer."

*

"What?" Michael and Nikita sputtered out together as the kids ran for Nikita, hugging almost instantly to death. Walter shook his head, looking at Norma, who seemed to have collapsed onto the bed. Everyone was finding the news shocking and everything seemed to spiral out of control from that point.

"YAAAAAHOOOOO!" Walter hooted out as he stomped his food to the ground, looking like a cowboy after riding a raging bull.

"MOM! YOU ARE BETTER!" Mia yelled as she kissed her mother's neck and Aubrey, the sweet boy, just cried happily. Nikita was crying, but she stared at Michael, as she needed answers. Everyone needed answers.

"What?" Nikita questioned again and Michael shook his head, not able to form words.

"MOM! I get to keep you!" Aubrey happily stated as he cried into her shoulder. Nikita, in shock, rubbed at his shoulder, knowing that he needed comfort too.

"I'll be damned, Sugar.... I knew that you were too sweet to do anything too bad too!" Walter exclaimed and he reached over and grabbed Norma. He swung the sweet and shocked nurse around and placed her down on the ground.

"MOM!!! You can see me drive my car!" Mia happily realized as she lifted her head. She looked into her mother's eyes, seeing tears, but not caring. Mia just knew that now she didn't have to think about her mother dying. Her mother was going to live.

"Walter... go get that man." Michael hissed out, starting to put the startling and hateful pieces of this puzzle together. Austin stepped out of the way and looked to Nikita as she didn't know what to do with herself. She wanted to jump. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry out in pain.

"I don't understand.... How can we have two different diagnoses... It isn't possible." Norma was muttering as she shook her head. She wanted it to be true and she looked to Nikita and knew it was true. It was what both women had thought, but this was unreal. She wanted to be part of the happiness that was going on, but she was confused. How did this man, who Michael called for, have more power over the world-renown doctor that had come out of retirement to treat Nikita.

"Now you can come home, Mom.... Be with us!" Mia gushed as she wouldn't leave go of her mother, even as Nikita was almost hysterical. Michael jumped as his phone rang again. Undoubtedly it was about what they had just found out.

"Birkoff?" Michael said as he opened the phone and reached out for Nikita's extended hand. He was happy, but it also perturbed him some with what was going on now. He needed to know the truth behind this entire mess.

"Ok.. Michael... I got the time line for you... Nikita did have cancer." Birkoff said and Michael nodded his head. He looked to Nikita and she blinked her eyes. They both knew that at the beginning there was truth to all of this. Michael squeezed her hand tighter and Norma moved to the children. Aubrey was kicking and screaming as Norma tried to remove him from his mother.

"You're going to live, Mommy... You're going to live..." Aubrey chanted and Mia smiled at her brother and then moved to hang her hands around Nikita's neck again.

"You are going to go home with us.... Back home!" Mia declared and Michael looked to Nikita. He could barely hear Birkoff and what he was explaining and it was important.

"When the out-patient chemotherapy was done.... The films were switched... It was really hard to tell, but there is a difference in size and location..." Birkoff said and Michael turned white.

"They gave her six months of chemotherapy for no cancer!" Michael shouted and the children instantly let go of their mother. Austin looked to Michael and stepped forward for Mia and Aubrey. Mia pulled her hand away from Austin and grabbed Aubrey and then followed down the hallway. She wasn't going to trust him, even if he did work for her father and told them the good news.

Nikita looked at Michael as he was stricken with grief. Michael slammed the phone and shoved it hastily into his pocket. He moved instantly to Nikita when the door opened and Mia reappeared.

"I'm not leaving." Mia announced as she propped herself up on the chair. Michael shook his head and looked to Nikita, not having time to deal with Mia's minor outburst. Nikita kept shaking her head, not allowing Michael to get close enough to her.

"Nikita... the good news... once Walter has him.... There is nothing else to destroy... He was part of the terrorists that took down Section Two." Michael said and Norma jumped off of the other side of the bed. Michael lifted his eyes and swallowed.

"Terrorists? Section Two? What the hell are you talking about!" Norma shouted and Mia opened her mouth and lightly laughed.

"Going to punish her, daddy? She said that bad word you don't like." Mia pointed out. She waited and waited until she saw her father's green eyes glaring at her. She dropped her head in shame and then lightly smiled as Michael turned his head away and looked at Nikita.

"They did this to get rid of Section Two?" Nikita questioned as she clutched the sheet over her body, finding this all a nightmare. She didn't know if this was better. Yes, she was cancer-free, but she had ten months of chemotherapy, six of which was unnecessary.

"I think it was to get to me.... By making you sick, makes me seek you out.... And when you didn't tell me, they cancelled all of Section Two to make me find you." Michael explained and he stopped. It was horrid what they had done. He was sure that even Madeline, in her prime, wouldn't do something like this. It was extreme and dangerous. They could have continued to kill Nikita with the chemotherapy when she didn't even need it.

"Section Two? WHO ARE YOU!?!" Norma cried out, but Michael and Nikita were staring at each other. Nikita bit her lips and dropped her head. She didn't want to think any longer.

"I can't believe this..." Nikita moaned out and Michael nodded his head. He saw that this was all too painful. He was sure that in a few hours, when he had time to digest what was going on and what had happened, that he would also be overwhelmed.

"Nikita... It is the lowest thing..."

"THEY GAVE ME CHEMOTHERAPY AND ALMOST KILLED ME!" Nikita screamed out as her entire body trembled with a movement that actually brought Norma back to Nikita. She reached out for Nikita, scared by the movements, still knowing that Nikita's body was weak and prone to other attacks.

"Nikita... we got them... and that man who was the doctor... Walter is getting him..." Michael tried to pacify Nikita, but she continued in the same manner, finally expressing things within her, because Michael's presence made it possible.

"THEY WERE GOING TO HACK OF MY BREAST, MICHAEL! THEY WERE GOING TO MAKE ME LESS OF A WOMAN!!!!" Nikita screamed and then rolled to Michael fully. Michael rubbed her back and kissed her head.

"Don't think about that now, Nikita.. We are going home today." Michael announced and Nikita turned her head up to look at Michael. Slowly his lips touched Nikita's and they both smiled at the simple contact.

"TODAY? We are going home today? Can we have a party there too?" Mia happily questioned and Michael reached out and messed with his daughter's blonde hair.

"You can't go. She still has had ten months of chemotherapy!" Norma stated out and Michael looked to Nikita. The world of happiness seemed to have stopped between Michael and Nikita. The ugly truth was that Norma was more than exposed. Neither one wanted it to happen, nor it was part of the reason why Nikita had insisted on not telling her family, because it could have exposed themselves even more.

"I know that." Michael stated as he turned and held onto Nikita's hand. Mia jumped off of the chair and moved to the end of the bed, sitting on the end, Indian style.

"Then you aren't taking her. She is open to infections, diseases, and she already is anemic... She needs to stay until we get some of the side-effects taken care of!" Norma protested and Nikita turned her head to the side and swallowed.

"I can get all of that at home, Norma." Nikita flatly stated, hoping that it would help Michael in his cause.

"I don't understand you two! First, I have Nikita for six months without a visitor... Then her entire family shows up. Suddenly, no one is who they seem to be and just now you were talking about Section One and terrorists! WHO ARE YOU!" Norma demanded and Nikita rolled onto her back and swallowed. She looked to Michael and shook her head. She still wanted to lessen Norma's pain for her.

"You have no family, correct?" Michael questioned, his voice deceptively soft and caring. Norma nodded her head and looked at Nikita.

"Why do you ask?" Norma softly asked, not liking the way Michael was approaching this.

"It helps to know this information. We won't have to do much for you." Michael stated and Norma blinked her eyes. That statement was more cryptic than the ones that she had heard from Nikita. Norma turned and looked at Nikita's frail body, free from cancer, but still sick and ill. She was the same woman, but everything seemed different now. More dangerous.

"Then you will come with us and take care of Nikita." Michael avowed and stepped away, as the phone was ringing once again. Norma stood there with her mouth open, not sure how Michael thought he could order her around like she was nothing.

"I just can't leave!" Norma protested and then stopped as Nikita rolled her head to view the woman. Nikita was crying for Norma, never wishing this on the woman that had cared for her.

"It isn't a choice, Norma." Nikita softly said and Norma started to cry. She realized that she was into something deeper than she wanted to be in. Norma swallowed. She didn't know what scared her more, the fact that she didn't even know if she should trust these people or the face that she really wanted to go with them because she knew Nikita needed her.

Mia looked on in disgust. She couldn't believe her parents were forcing the nurse to do this. She looked at her mother, who just a few minutes ago, thought was going to die. Again, Mia hated her, for what she was. She was going to live, but she was going to destroy Norma. It was unjust. It was wrong. It was horrible. The happiness that Mia had felt for her mother was gone, replaced by all the feelings that were never really gone. She had hidden them while she thought that her mother was dying. Now, she could have them again.

"Yeah, Norma.... Just let my mom and dad take care of you, really good." Mia sourly stated with tears in her eyes. Nikita gasped and Mia shook her head.

"And I wish you still had cancer!" Mia shouted and left the room. Nikita gasped and then collapsed inwardly. She pushed Michael away and when Walter walked into the room, to see what was happening, he had a feeling that the troubled teenager was back again.

*

The door clamored open and Mia started to run up the stairs. She allowed the door to swing back on the massive amounts of people, trying to gain access to the same house. Walter was holding Norma protectively with one arm, trying to tell her that she was lucky it was now and not ten years ago. In his other hand, he held some medical supplies that they still needed for Nikita. Michael had Nikita. It was his only job, as Nikita was very weak and claiming that she could walk, which was no where near the truth. It was finally Aubrey who stepped forward and opened the door.

"I'm never going anywhere with you ever ever ever again! No more planes with you DAD!" Mia hissed and Michael looked up the stairs as he turned his head and motioned to Walter to enter first. Michael tightened his grip around Nikita's waist. He knew that she needed at least the couch, but he didn't want Nikita to hear anymore of Mia's vile words, as they were making Nikita upset.

"Aubrey, why don't you help Walter show Norma her room that will be next to the master bedroom." Michael said and Aubrey blinked his eyes and waited for Michael to step forward and take hold of the door with one hand as he held Nikita. She blinked her eyes and Michael saw the tears sparkling on her face. Mia was hurting her so badly.

"Do you want to go upstairs?" Michael questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth, the hairs of her wig swinging back and forth. She leaned her head back and looked up at Michael's face.

"Been in bed too long." Nikita dryly stated as she tried to lick her lips again, to place some moisture on them. Michael nodded his head, knowing that soon, if Nikita didn't stop crying, more IV fluids were going to be needed.

"Let me carry you." Michael stated and Nikita looked at Michael. He was sure that she was going to protest, but instead she nodded her head. Michael kissed her forehead softly and picked Nikita's frail body up in his arms. The door swung back and slammed loudly shut. Michael used his foot to push the heavy door closed before walking into the living room.

"Hello, Nikita." Madeline softly said as she stood up from the sitting position on the couch. Madeline bent down and arranged the pillows so that Nikita could be propped up on the couch.

"Madeline..." Nikita said as she tried to stop her tears. Madeline reached over her head as Michael settled her down on the couch. Madeline stroked at her tears and knew that something more was going on than just being a victim of some nasty terrorists.

"I'm going to get the twenty plus bags out of the car, Nikita. Madeline will stay with you." Michael said and Nikita nodded her head. She waited for Michael to leave, before she moved her head and stared at the back of the couch, allowing the tears to fall.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Madeline tenderly asked as she rubbed at Nikita's tears again, finding them too numerous. Madeline finally realized what real horror was when she discovered what had been done to Nikita. It was sick and inhumane, and it happened to someone that she cared greatly about. She looked down at Nikita's blue eyes as they stared at her.

"No." Nikita flatly stated and Madeline was almost stunned. Too much had happened to her not to talk about it. Madeline knew that somehow, Nikita had to verbalize everything that she was feeling.

"Nikita... I know it is hard... but we can talk about this... We should." Madeline urged Nikita with soft words. Nikita turned her head to the back of the couch again. It almost seemed as if Madeline was going to get what she wanted. For several seconds it appeared as if Nikita was trying to find the right words to start with. All of that changed as Nikita turned her head and stared at Madeline's face.

"No. Now, get out." Nikita stated bluntly and Madeline stepped back. She was shocked with the tone and the look. It was as if Nikita wanted to feel all the pain and that she didn't want to talk about it, because then it might make her feel better.

Madeline was going to protest, but she looked at Nikita and found herself lost. She doubted her judgement, wondering if maybe Nikita just needed a few days and she would be fine with this. Maybe Nikita just needed to adjust to the house again before she felt comfortable enough to speak about what was going on.

Soon, Madeline found herself out in the hallway, staring at Nikita from the distance as Michael walked in and placed some suitcases down. He paused and looked in the direction of Nikita as she pulled a pillow from behind her and started to hug it.

"She isn't doing well, is she?" Madeline questioned and Michael shook his head back and forth. Madeline looked at Michael's worried green eyes.

"No.. It was a difficult plane trip home." Michael admitted and Madeline blinked her eyes. She had heard Mia's screams, but didn't think that all of this was about Mia's behavior.

"Was Mia that evil?" Madeline questioned and Michael rolled his eyes.

"Remember when I stated that I thought that Operations had given back my little girl. It was far from the truth. She was going to be that little girl as long as she thought that Nikita was going to die." Michael stated and Madeline looked to Michael and blinked her eyes. It complicated everything that Nikita was going through. Not only did Nikita have and beat cancer once, and have terrorists keep her on chemotherapy for an extra six months, stating that she still had breast cancer, she had a little girl that had become a terrorist of her own sort.

"Is there something she said?" Madeline questioned and Michael again, rolled his eyes.

"It started out with her screaming that she wished that Nikita still had cancer..." Michael said and that was when the noise upstairs started.

"I DON'T CARE WALTER! If my mom is so healthy, why does she need a nurse with some nasty red hair!" Mia screamed as she started to stomp down the stairs. Michael stared at her, seeing that the eyebrow ring was back. She pulled up her shirt and flashed her father the belly button ring and then dropped the shirt.

"I'm going out." Mia announced and Madeline stared at the teenager.

"No." Michael stated as he moved and closed the door. Mia rolled her eyes.

"Am I going to have to shimmy down the drainpipe and pretend to be you and mom in order to go out, Dad?" Mia nastily questioned and Madeline looked to Michael and then to Mia.

"I think you should stay here, Mia. Your mother just came home. I'm sure that she misses you a great deal." Madeline said and Mia looked into the living room and snapped her bubble gum loudly in Madeline's face.

"She is the one that gave me the car!" Mia said as she turned and stormed out of the hallway, towards the back. Michael shook his head and went to the front door and continued to unpack the car.

"Michael?" Nikita called out from the living room and Madeline heard the voice being heavy with lots of tears. She turned and entered the room, seeing Nikita's eyes barely looking up from the pillow. Madeline sat next to Nikita and she slumped her body towards her.

"Nikita... please talk..." Madeline softly urged Nikita, knowing that anything more could be counterproductive.

"Why did this happen? I feel so out of control..." Nikita sobbed and Madeline nodded her head. She almost started to sob with Nikita, hearing her pain so clearly on her voice.

"You were at their mercy, Nikita. You couldn't have known," Madeline explained and Nikita clutched at her pillow.

"I don't want anyone to see me...." Nikita cried out and Madeline blinked her eyes. Madeline stroked at Nikita's face, even as she still tried to hold it hidden to the pillow.

"Nikita... you need people... You need contact." Madeline said and Nikita violently pulled away. Madeline blinked as Nikita moved quickly, her arms flailing around until the wig was pulled for her baldhead and thrown across the room.

"LOOK AT ME!" Nikita screamed and Madeline didn't. She waited for Nikita's screams to cease. She looked at the wig across the room, until Nikita grabbed her arm, her fingernails digging into her flesh.

"LOOK AT ME!" Nikita screamed again and Madeline turned and looked into Nikita's eyes. Nothing really matter. Hair, no hair, Nikita was suffering either way and if Nikita wanted to make this an issue, it was better to do it now than later.

"I am." Madeline stated and Nikita rubbed her hands compulsively over her head, a movement that she rarely did as it made her aware of what she had become. She pulled her hands down and stared at them and then licked her lips.

"I'm ugly! I fell like one of those rubber baby dolls that have been run over a truck and then burned!" Nikita screamed and Madeline nodded her head and Nikita pushed away and grabbed her pillow again. "You can't understand."

"But I can, Nikita.... This was a traumatic ordeal that you've gone through..." Madeline started to say, as she reached for Nikita. Nikita shook her head back and forth and lifted her pillow to her face, now totally covering her face.

"But I'm concerned Nikita... You were willing to give up your entire life to save your breast... And yes.. you don't have cancer.... But that says a lot about your mind.... And that not everything is right up there." Madeline said and Nikita turned her head, shutting down, pushing Madeline away. Madeline rubbed her hand across her face and stood up. She turned and found the woman that must have been Norma standing there with a bag of fluids.

"Nikita... let me get this started.... It should make you feel better..." Norma said as she pushed past Madeline. Madeline stood in the living room, watching as Norma easily found a hook on the wall and hung the fluid bag. Nikita turned her head and extended her arm, as she was almost programmed to do so. Norma established the line so quickly and then touched her head.

"I don't want you to worry about me, Nikita... I love my room... and Walter... He wants to take me out." Norma said, seeing Nikita's eyes in pain. She knew that part of that pain was due to the fact that they had to bring her alone. Norma had slowly been exposed to the truth and what she was going to be a part of now. Yet, her special assignment for sometime to come was Nikita.

"That's good." Nikita yawned and Norma looked around as Michael entered the room and stood next to Madeline. Norma watched as her eyes closed and she was sure that sleep would have Nikita for some time.

"I also gave her something to sleep... in case your daughter comes home." Norma said as she reported to Michael and then exited to explore the rest of the house. Aubrey was waiting in the hallway to do so with Norma. She smiled at the young boy and started to walk with him.

"This isn't better, is it, Michael?" Madeline questioned and Michael frowned and dropped his head.

"I hope Operations will stay.... Things are definitely not better." Michael graveled out and then turned his head and sat down on the couch with Nikita. He stroked her face gently and she rolled to him in instinct. Madeline nodded her head and left the house. Time to talk to Nikita would come soon enough.

*

The hair was just starting to grow back. There was about a solid inch now, and it was an inch that Nikita couldn't stop running her hands in. It just appeared in what had seemed like overnight and now, its length entranced Nikita, how it felt so much thicker than her hair. She had read many stories of how the hair could change drastically, that it might have come back a total different color. Nikita was relieved to see the blonde strands crossing her baldhead.

"You are up early this morning." Norma softly said as she padded down the stairs to find Nikita cuddled in a blanket on the couch. Nikita was still cold all the time, but that was still because so much of her head was still exposed. Nikita smiled and patted the couch for Norma to come sit down on.

"Michael had to leave early," Nikita stated and Norma nodded her head. Although, Norma was sure that Michael leaving wasn't the only reason why Nikita was up early. There had been a long fight last night before Norma grabbed the phone and found her escape with Walter. Mia was running around the house like a little five-year-old having a temper tantrum, yelling at anyone who came in her way. Michael chased after her and continued the argument and Mia soon found herself face to face with her mother, who she had been avoiding for sometime now.

"Did you get breakfast?" Norma questioned and Nikita smiled and touched Norma's hand. Now Norma was starting to see who Nikita really was. She was a generous woman who was willing to give up her feelings and her recovery, trying to reach out for Mia. Last night, while the fight was going on, Michael said enough was enough. He was ready to give up and sit down with Nikita. He was tired and Nikita looked at him and shook her head. She ordered him to go to their daughter, because Mia needed him more than she needed him.

"Don't worry Norma. Michael fed me." Nikita said with a laugh and Norma nodded her head. She was a terrible cook and would make anything that needed to be made, but often, it didn't get done until the third or forth try. Lately, for dinner, Nikita had found the strength to make it, if Norma was there to do the heavy stirring or whatnot. Nikita had progressed a long way in the past six weeks since her return home.

"How was the movie with Walter?" Nikita questioned and she watched Norma blushed as she turned her head away. She knew things between Norma and Walter were going good, and Nikita was pleased when Walter just knocked at the door, took Norma's hand, and pulled her away from the house as Mia chucked a shoe down the stairs.

"I don't remember most of it." Norma admitted and Nikita raised an eyebrow before Norma broke into giggles. She took Nikita's hand and smiled. "I never remember feeling this way with anyone Nikita... but then I talk to Birkoff and he tells me all about Walter's charm and all the women.. And I have to wonder..."

"Shhh... Norma... Birkoff and Walter both tell a lot of stories. Most of it is for show. The past ten years he has been around my family so often that I was sure that he forgot what a date was." Nikita said and Norma dropped her head and blushed again. Nikita was sure something more happened last night than watching a movie.

"They did the nasty. Probably in the car!" Mia shouted from the doorway, disturbing the peace as she so easily did. Nikita turned her head and looked at Mia. Mia shook her head and rolled her eyes, annoyed at her mother's look.

"Mia... Don't turn away from me." Nikita said from the couch and Mia sighed. She pulled at her hair and flipped it up, showing that she had the underneath shaved away, again, knowing that her mother hated it.

"I'll do what I want. I'm not a little kid." Mia stated as she turned and heavily slammed her combat boot covered feed down the wooden floor to the kitchen.

"Does she ever smile?" Norma questioned and Nikita frowned. She pushed at her hands, dropping the blanket to the arm of the couch. She was tired and didn't want to deal with this now, but Nikita was losing her patience. Norma placed an arm under Nikita's arm and steadied her. Nikita looked to the stairs as Aubrey ran down them and slapped his body into his mother's.

"What is it, Aubrey?" Nikita questioned as she looked down at her son, his tears soaking through the pink T-shirt that Nikita wore along with the gray sweatpants. Aubrey lifted his head and then dropped it back to the same spot it had come up off of. Her son was so emotional, so much like her in that certain way.

"The model fortress..." Aubrey sobbed out and Nikita nodded her head. She took her hands and placed them in Aubrey's hair, hoping to see her son's tears. He lifted his head and Nikita looked down to his blue eyes.

"The one that you build with your father last week?" Nikita questioned and Aubrey nodded his head. Nikita knew exactly what Aubrey was talking about. To be exact, it was a model of an aircraft carrier that Aubrey had called the fortress, because it was bigger than his desk and had to be assembled in the last spare bedroom, on the floor. Nikita found it enjoyable watching Michael and Aubrey gluing the pieces together for hours at a time. Michael joked that Nikita just liked the glue fumes.

"Mia destroyed it!" Aubrey sobbed out and Nikita looked to the hallway as the refrigerator door slammed. Nikita leaned down and kissed Aubrey's head. She rubbed his back as her anger grew. Nikita wasn't one to live with a terrorist running her house. It was only worse that it was her own daughter.

"I'll make sure to get you another one, Aubrey... Why don't you go watch cartoons...." Nikita said and Aubrey nodded his head. He turned and looked at the sister in the kitchen. He was sick of her himself, staying as far away from her as he could stay away from her.

"Mia..." Nikita said as she walked into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. Mia lifted her head and licked her lips that were covered with black lipstick.

"Yeah?" Mia finally said as she cocked her head to the side and stuck her finger into the syrup that was on her waffles and sucked it into her mouth. Nikita swallowed and knew that only a fight was going to come.

"Do you have plans for today?" Nikita questioned as she used her hands to grip onto the wall. She felt suddenly weak, but she wasn't going to allow Mia to see that. It was what Mia already saw in her mother that caused this problem to get out of hand.

"I'm going out." Mia answered and Nikita looked to the clock and swallowed. Nikita rubbed her hand to her cheek and then looked at Mia.

"No. You aren't going anywhere. You are punished." Nikita stated out and Mia pushed up from her chair with a growl. Nikita felt her throat tighten up. She had never seen her daughter like this. This wasn't the little girl that she raised.

"You aren't going to tell me what to do, MOM." Mia hissed as she took the dish and slammed it to the sink, with food still stuck to it. Nikita stepped forward, nodding her head. Nikita wasn't going to back down now.

"I said you are punished and you are." Nikita stated and Mia threw her hands up in the air. Norma was looking in from the hallway and swallowed. She didn't like the looks of this.

"Oh... is this back to me being with Frank last week?" Mia shouted and Nikita swallowed. The pain entered her chest. Michael had never told his wife that Mia had grown up in the sexual life, and then last Friday night it all came to a head. Michael was almost afraid that Nikita was going to have a seizure when they walked into the house and found Mia on the couch with Frank, very exposed to her parents.

"Mia... You don't know what you are doing. You are still a kid and you still have parents! But you are punished!" Nikita exclaimed, trying to push away that hurt and that pain. Nikita shook her head of the image, but it was stuck there as Mia narrowed her eyes. It was the same way Mia had narrowed her eyes when she noticed her parents on that Friday night. When Frank knew that Michael was about to kill him, Mia yelled at her parents for not letting her to climax.

"So... I'm not allowed to screw around... But your Sally Sunshine nurse, Norma, can bang Walter every way in the book??? I don't think that is fair!" Mia shouted and Nikita licked her lips and shook her head. She couldn't even see how this was her daughter.

"Mia.. She is almost 50! She isn't MY DAUGHTER!" Nikita shouted back, and then steadied herself, as she almost fell from the force from her lungs. Nikita swallowed and shook her head. Her words meant nothing. She didn't know if she was ever going to get through to her daughter.

"You can't tell me what to do, NIKITA! You gave that up some two years ago when you left us with dad to go play, I have cancer!" Mia screamed out and Nikita looked at her and blinked her eyes. Each word sliced at Nikita's heart, making her more aware of all of her mistakes that she already was beating herself up about.

"Mia... this isn't a democracy. You are punished. You broke something of your brother's out of spite and have been acting like you rule this house." Nikita announced and Mia shook her head back and forth. She went to the sink and looked at the dish.