"No." Michael responded again and Operations sighed and walked behind Michael. He looked at the restraints and pulled them tighter, but knew for Michael, it did not increase his pain, as he had been trained to accept most of these forms of torture. Michael had never been on of the operatives that learned to like the torture, but he seemed to accept it.

"Is this some stalling technique that you and Madeline planned.... To keep me from finishing Nikita off?" Operations hissed out as he leaned his head down by Michael's ear. Michael again only blinked his eyes, but this time the door opened and Madeline stared as she entered the room.

"Paul, this does not concern you." Madeline announced as she walked towards the chair and Michael. Operations slowly pulled his body up and tilted his head off to the side and carefully smiled at Madeline.

"Is that so, Madeline?" Operations slowly drawled out as he rubbed his chin with the hand that the cigarette was dangling in.

"Yes, that is so, Paul. It is none of your business." Madeline said and Operations narrowed his eyes as Madeline looked straight at him and paid no attention to Michael. He didn't like it, but he was busy. There was a possible location on the newest target and he wanted to start in and find Nikita to end all possibilities of Michael and Madeline teaming up together to save Nikita's butt.

"I need him for a mission." Operations said and Madeline blinked her eyes and rolled her shoulders back with a smile on her face.

"That is an impossibility. Michael and me have some issues and he will be spending a significant time in behavioral modification.. And you know Michael... always have to use the extremes." Madeline commented as Operations dropped the cigarette and stamped it out with his foot. He looked at Madeline and then to Michael. He moved towards the door, with a warning on his face. Madeline kept her head up high as she waited for the door to be closed. Happily, Madeline turned on several devices to hide the happenings of the room from all viewing. Not even the developer of the devices would be able to view what was going on in the room.

"I am going to tell you what is going on, Michael and you are going to listen, without comments. Do you understand?" Madeline questioned as she moved behind Michael and released the restraints. Michael stood up carefully, taking advantage of the situation to stretch his body. He held his lips taunt as he waited.

"I talked to Elena two nights ago, as a therapist... she has the plan of taking Nikita into her house and helping her to get off of the drugs." Madeline said and Michael blinked his eyes. He had known that Madeline had posed as a therapist before with Elena, talking over the phone.

"She thought that since my number was given to her by Nikita, that I had been her therapist. She asked if I knew of Nikita's addiction, and I only stated that I could not divulge any information. It helps since we have no control over what Nikita will say." Madeline said and Michael lifted his head as Madeline extended her hand and handed him some water. Michael sipped at it and swallowed.

"Will say? Wasn't this two days ago?" Michael questioned and Madeline nodded her head and rubbed her hands against her clothing.

"Did I not say that you were to listen and not comment?" Madeline firmly commented and Michael nodded his head up and down as he looked away. He just wanted the information. He sipped more water and found it refreshing.

"Michael, I helped Elena and Nikita out. I sent Walter in as a specialist in drug withdrawal, but they haven't been able to locate Nikita. The detective lost her last position. She hasn't been to her hotel room in the past two days." Madeline reported solemnly.

"WHAT?" Michael exclaimed as his eyes began to look like the deranged psychopath that had helped to destroy her flowers the other day. Michael began to pace, as his anger started to build.

"Michael, sit down." Madeline ordered and Michael shook his head in denial. The order was against everything that Michael knew in his heart. He stopped and pondered that thought, trying to wonder when he started to think with his heart and not his mind. He did not want this to continue. He needed to get to Nikita again. He didn't see how Walter was going to help Nikita if they could not find Nikita.

"Michael... I will do it myself if you do not sit down." Madeline threatened loudly and Michael sat back down, and was restrained back into the chair. Madeline stepped in front of Michael and shook her head.

"I thought more of you, Michael. I guess I was wrong." Madeline said as she stepped out of the White Room, leaving Michael with no more information. It was his own fault and Michael knew that as he dropped his head forward. How was he going to help Nikita when he couldn't even get the information?

Michael didn't see how a known drug user, such as Walter, was going to help Nikita out of her drug induced, painless world now. He didn't see Nikita running away to get high while Elena's and Adam's life hung in the balance. Nothing made sense any longer and he was helpless, looked and restrained in the White Room. His punishment for caring too much.

*

The light was so bright in the middle of the day, and Nikita pulled the sunglasses over her face as she stepped out of Horns' car and onto the sidewalk, not exactly sure where he was leaving her off. She had spent three days having what Horns' called a 'Shoot-Up Party', and Nikita a few times lost a few hours here and there. During the drive back to the city, she tried to piece together what had been done and especially if she had done something that she had not planned on. It was a feeling of losing control that Nikita didn't like to have, especially since her time with Section. She had never realized how lucky she had been from her years on the streets and her previous exposure to heroin that she didn't catch a disease or two.

Nikita waited for Horns to pull away when she looked up to the street sign. She blinked her eyes, barely feeling her body being attached to her head. Nikita had never expected to spend the entire party with Horns. She had a true feeling that Frank would be walking in and dragging her away. Yet, Nikita had not realized that three days passed so quickly until Horns had said that the weekend has passed away. She looked at the street sign and raised her eyebrows. She was about seven blocks away from Elena's house.

She tugged at her shirt as she noticed the scum that had become caked to her body and that she desperately needed a shower, but she also needed Frank to take her away. At that instance, Nikita was almost scared. What if Elena didn't send Frank to look after her? What if Elena didn't want to take care of her? Nikita turned and started the long walk back to her apartment. She stumbled lightly and lifted her head.

There were two men standing in front of her, wearing all back. Big men. Nikita swallowed and blinked her eyes as she continued to walk, and realized that the men were walking straight towards her. Her mind started to race, wondering if they were from the splinter group.

"You.... Stop!" The tallest man said and Nikita swallowed. She looked both ways and sprinted back towards Elena's. She needed to save Elena from the splinter group and she ran as quickly as she could.

"STOP!! Nikita!" The men called out and Nikita tripped over the curve. She didn't feel the pain; she was still high on the heroin. Her knees were bleeding through the white pants that were yellow with assorted liquids and she continued to run.

"Leave me alone!" Nikita cried out as she turned around and saw the men barreling towards her. She stopped as Frank stood in front of her. She stopped and stared at him as he moved towards her. She looked to the approaching men behind her, who were too big to run fast like Michael could have, and she was jumpy.

"Come on.. Nikita... Stop and come with me..." Frank said and Nikita shook her head and moved, while Frank grabbed her. Nikita felt his arms circling around her and she kicked her right leg straight back, making a slight contact with his privates that caused him to let go of Nikita. She turned and started to run again, finding it hard that the splinter group actually placed Frank in with Elena. She ran, needing to save Elena.

"Stop her!" Frank said as he pointed to the big men. They nodded their heads as Frank jumped in a car and sped off to Elena's house. Nikita ran and ran, not caring of the pain. She twisted her ankle, but no pain ever registered into Nikita's mind, as she needed to get to Elena's.

The seven blocks went quickly and Nikita screamed as she saw Frank's car pulling into her driveway. Nikita stopped and looked behind her, frustrated. Nikita looked at Frank and gasped as he tried to reach out for Nikita.

"NO!" Nikita screamed out as she lined up the kick, and snapped the roundhouse kick into his face. Frank stumbled back and grabbed Nikita's arm and pushed her into the metal surface of the car. Nikita trembled as she saw the blood on Frank's face.

"Stop it....." Frank said as he was about to started to explain what was going on when the two men were less than a block away from the house. Nikita looked at Frank and then to the two men. She knew that she needed to get rid of Frank so she could handle the bigger men that were definitely going to be a problem.

Nikita looked at Frank and snarled. She resorted back to her lessons, one of her favorites when Michael taught her to do a fumikomi, and she struck out against Frank before his eyes even blinked. Her arms held still as her legs started to kick. Nikita knew where her escape laid in all the men. She quickly pushed Frank's light hold of her and turned him against the car. She dropped her arms and snarled as her fist connected in the center of his privates. She stepped back, not watching him double over in pain as she turned to look at the charging men. She felt her body got knocked half over the car, and she slid over as the men continued after her.

"STOP!!!" Elena cried out from the porch, but the men continued as Frank coughed and sputtered on the ground. Nikita snapped around, throwing a punch to the temple of one man, as the other roughly grabbed her and squeezed his hands around her waist. She felt the lack of blood to her legs and held her head up. She looked to the man and swallowed. He did have a thick skull. Nikita grunted and then brutally forced her head down onto his, in the old fashioned WWF head-butt. Nikita fell to the ground and tried to run up the grass as the first man grabbed Nikita's left leg. She didn't notice the blood running down her forehead from the knock over the car and the head-butt and she felt no pain. She used her right leg to apply her heel between the man's eyes.

She couldn't move far as the other man leapt onto her body. Nikita struggled and struggled that she didn't feel the pain in her chest. She rolled over, and punched at his breastbone. He backhanded her as the pain washed through his body.

"JUST STOP! She is high! She feels no pain! You are hurting her!" Elena cried out as she watched Nikita struggle to stand up. She snapped quickly as the two men approached her. Spinning in wild circles, kicking and punching quickly. She fell to the ground as the men punched her in her stomach.

"Nikita.. Enough!" Walter said as he stepped forward from Elena's side. Nikita turned her head and looked at Walter and dropped her head. Walter moved to her side as the two men, moved towards Frank, who was still choked up in pain. Walter pressed his hand to her neck and shook his head as he looked to Elena.

"She is still high.... Her heartbeat is irregular..." Walter said and Nikita dropped her head to the side, knowing that someone had come to save her. She relaxed in Walter's arms and he looked to Elena.

"We should take her to a hospital....." Elena said and Walter shook his head as he picked up Nikita's featherweight body and moved towards the house. He looked over to the three men that Nikita had easily picked upon. Walter pressed his lips together.

"Better get Frank inside, in the guest room, there are no stairs... Where do you want Nikita?" Walter asked and Elena looked to Walter and then to Frank. She was going to be running a first aid house, as all four people were bleeding.

"Adam's room." Elena said quickly and Walter moved easily into the house, protecting Nikita's body as he walked. He looked to it and sighed, as he did not know what she had done in her fight. He knew that withdrawal was painful enough, but he was sure that Nikita and incurred some serious injuries during the fight.

*

Walter wiped at the blood that was drying on Nikita's face carefully as he looked at her thin body sprawled out on the small racecar bed of Adam's. She opened her eyes and stared up at Walter. He sighed and turned his head away as he reached for another clean rag and a few bandages for Nikita's cut. She had one on the middle of her forehead, one up on her eyebrow, and one across her cheek. Walter sighed as he looked at the damage, knowing that they men were probably worse off than Nikita.

"I really messed up this time." Nikita softly stated before Walter turned his head back to Nikita. He looked down at her cheek and his heart went out to the girl. At first Walter found it hard to see that Nikita was willing to do this to her body for Elena and Adam, but he had spent the past two days with them, hoping that Frank and his men would find Nikita. They were nice folks and Walter could now appreciate Nikita's action, even though it was misguided and brutal to her already weakened body. He also knew that what precious self-esteem that she did have in Section One had easily washed away. Madeline had told him about the scars on her chest and stomach, and it made a lot of sense. He knew that the biggest challenge fell on Madeline, to make Michael understand it.

"Fell off the track a little... but I'm here to get you back up, sugar." Walter said softly as he looked at her body. She was bruising so quickly and he ran his hands down her ribs and was pleased to see if anything, they were bruised. He leaned up and looked up at Nikita.

"You are almost off the high... and the detoxification is going to be the worse... But you had a hell of a fight.. Are you hurting anywhere else?" Walter asked as he looked to the bag of medications that Madeline had sent with him. He spent hours in Madeline's office, going over which one to use on which thing. He had already given Nikita a few, trying to make the physical withdrawal off of the heroin as easy as possible. He knew that easy could not even be used to describe what Nikita would go through in the next 72 hours. And Walter was sure that Nikita was aware of that when she went on the drugs. He hated to think that Nikita wanted to hurt in the end, but she was easily laying back and accepting that it was time to end now, and he was almost sure that Nikita felt as if she deserved to hurt again.

"My ankle." Nikita softly said and Walter got onto his knees and moved to the foot of the bed. Nikita's long body wasn't going to fit on the bed, but she had rolled up on the side and he started to pull at the shoes. Quickly he saw the rebel ankle and rubbed it tenderly until Nikita screamed out in pain.

"Ok, you are just a bit hypersensitive... looks like a bad sprain... Hurts like hell, though, right?" Walter asked and Nikita nodded her head and then dug it into the pillows. She was becoming aware of all the pain in her body and Walter stood up.

"MOM????" Adam cried out as he walked into his room and stopped. He looked to Walter and then to the figure on the bed.

"NIKITA!!!" Adam yelled as he leapt to the bed and over into Nikita's arms. Nikita's thin appearance and the bandages on her face didn't frighten him. Adam, in some way didn't register that as he tightly hugged Nikita and Nikita looked up at Walter, pleading for help.

"I missed you, Nikita!" Adam said as he held his head to her chest and Nikita started to cry, and Adam just held Nikita tighter.

"Adam.... Please.... I need some sleep...." Nikita whispered as she turned her head away, the emotional and physical pain getting mixed up. Walter saw the confusion on Nikita's face and reached his hands out to the young boy. He grabbed the young boy by his waist and pulled him from Nikita's body.

"NO!" Adam cried out as Walter held the little boy squirming in his arms and Elena ran around the corner and stopped in the room. She looked out of breath and swallowed.

"Adam, I told you to stay in the kitchen while I helped Frank." Elena said firmly and Adam looked up with sad eyes. Nikita lifted her body up and looked at Elena.

"He wasn't a bother, Elena." Nikita softly defended the boy and Elena looked at Nikita's bruising face. She placed a hand on Adam's head and helped him out of the room. She was going to explain everything a bit later. She closed the door and looked at Walter as he pressed Nikita back down into the bed. She pressed her hands together and sat down on the edge of the bed and took Nikita's hands with tears in her eyes.

"Did Walter explain..." Elena whispered and Nikita looked at Walter and then to Elena. She saw the Elena was searching Walter's eyes for an answer and then she looked back down to Nikita.

"We are going to help you, Nikita... You need to stop." Elena softly said in a hesitate voice. She was afraid that Nikita was going to run away, to say that there was no problem. Nikita swallowed and looked at Elena.

"I know... I have to stop.. Again." Nikita whispered out and Walter nodded his head as he moved away from the bedside. He knew the next few days were going to be long and tedious, and was going to stretch both him and Elena to all lengths. He also wondered how the men were doing, knowing that Nikita could have easily killed them all.

"How hard is it going to be on her? Her body is almost shriveled away." Elena questioned and Nikita rolled her head to the side. It was a discussion that she did not want to have with anyone, and the emphasis was definitely on her body.

"Nikita... I gave you medicine to regulate your heart.. Since you had a massive amount of heroin in you... and I started some detoxification drugs. How did you come off it before?" Walter asked and Nikita turned her head to the side and shook up and down. He blinked and swallowed. Madeline had told him to follow the same way that Nikita had come off of the heroin before, but she wasn't going to give an answer. Walter sighed and looked to Elena.

"She is going to need food once she gets through these next three days. What food we give her, may process but more than likely, she will experience episodes of violent vomiting, cramping, hot and cold flashes, shaking, and definitely not aware of the world. Most of the things coming out of her mouth won't make much sense." Walter said and Elena nodded her head and stood up. She was shaking herself. She knew that coming off of drugs, when a person was an addict was hard, but she didn't think it was in itself, physical abusive to the body.

"Maybe she should have some soup soon." Elena whispered and Walter looked to Nikita as he pushed back her hair. He pressed his lips together and sighed. How he wished he could wave a magic wand and make everything better.

"That's a good idea." Walter said, so that Elena would leave him alone with Nikita again. He needed to have some time with Nikita before she lost control of her mind again, for a length of three days. Walter waited until the door closed and Nikita sat up in the bed, against Walter's wishes. He struggled against Nikita and then allowed her to sit up.

"Walter... things are complicated.... I need to be aware... get that splinter group.... How is Michael?" Nikita questioned and Walter shook his head. He was under strictest orders not to tell Nikita that Michael was still being held in the White Room until she was firmly away from Elena. Walter had no idea how Nikita was planning on breaking away from Elena, even after she stops the splinter group, but he did not want to worry about that.

"Nikita, you are coming off the drugs.. Those are my orders...And then we have the other issue of making you worth something..." Walter said and Nikita rolled her head back and sighed in frustration. She noted right away that Walter was not going to work with her on this.

"Just give me some... I'll spring the splinter group here.. And be out of here... then I can go through withdrawal.... I think Horns is in the splinter group.. Or knows the splinter group..." Nikita said and Walter frowned at Nikita and then stepped away.

"I'm not giving you drugs so you can work on this paranoid dream of yours. Who is Horns?" Walter questioned and Nikita sat up and held her stomach and swallowed back the pain. Walter waited and Nikita stared off to the wall.

"My supplier... We have to make the splinter group into drug dealers Walter... so when they get killed.. No questions..." Nikita said and she rolled over in pain, the start of the withdrawal was beginning. Walter sighed and looked at Nikita again.

"Sugar... how did you withdrawal before? What clinic were you at? What medicines did they give you?" Walter asked and Nikita looked at him with a white face as she started to break out in a sweat.

"What do you mean Walter?" Nikita softly asked and Walter got down on his knees, his hands rubbing the plastic of the racecar bed. He touched Nikita's face softly as the blood began to run out of the forehead cut again.

"How did you get off the heroin before?" Walter asked, knowing that he could not be impatient with her and Nikita closed her eyes.

"Honestly... I had overdosed... and couldn't afford to stay.. So I went cold turkey." Nikita said and Walter leaned back on his heels. He looked to the ceiling, suddenly wishing he were in the White Room with Michael.

"Damn managed care!"

*

Elena looked at the dishes as she waited for the soup to warm up. She had walked downstairs to look on in on Frank. He did not want to go to the hospital, as Elena had offered to take him and pay for it all. He said that he just wouldn't be moving much of anywhere for a few days and Elena nodded her head. Frank did not seem upset at Nikita at all, and even was concerned on how she was doing.

The one thing that Elena was concerned about was where Adam had run off too. She had to take care of Nikita, but Adam was not to see her before she got a chance to explain. She looked at the soup and waited, blinked her eyes with the emotional tension that she did not like. Yet, for the first time in a long time, she was doing more than just living for Adam. Elena pushed that thought out of her mind as she heard the running feet on the hallway above her. She wondered what was going on, as it was definitely more than one pair of feet.

The soup had begun to simmer and Elena snapped her head around to turn the flame off. That was when the footsteps started down the steps. She turned and looked at Adam with tears running down his face. Elena stopped and knelt down to his level.

"I have been looking for you." Elena said as she tried to wipe the tears off of Adam's face. He pulled away and stared at his mother. He looked up at her and frowned.

"I want to see Nikita." Adam said and Elena frowned lightly and rubbed his hair gently. He stepped back and looked at Elena with a look that told Elena absolutely nothing about how he was feeling. She knew that this all was going to be difficult to explain.

"Adam... you can't right now." Elena said as she stood up and Adam walked over to the chair and by the time he pulled his little body up onto the chair the tears were back on his face. Elena turned from scooping some soup into a bowl to look at Adam again.

"Why the tears, darling?" Elena asked and Adam looked up with his face glistening with the wet crystals and reached for his mother. Elena bent down and hugged him tightly, rubbing his back.

"She is sick, isn't she? Is Nikita going to die like Dad did?" Adam questioned and Elena pulled away in shock. She rubbed her young son's body with her hands, trying to comfort him as the words were stuck in her mouth and the pain of everything right there on the surface.

"No, Adam.. Nikita is going to be fine." Elena responded after some time and Adam looked up at the ceiling in a gesture that Elena had seen before, he was praying. She wasn't sure where Adam had gotten the habit; it wasn't one from her. She rarely did such a thing, even after Michael's death. It might have been because of her childhood, but she wasn't sure. Michael wasn't around enough to teach Adam about God, and Elena was sure that Michael did not do such practices either.

"I saw Walter... taking her to the bathroom... but she didn't make it... It was red, Mom..." Adam cried out and Elena's eyes opened and stared at the young boy. She looked up to the ceiling herself, wondering what was going on up there. She held her son tightly.

"She is dying!" Adam cried out over and over again, and Elena held him tightly not noticing what was going on around her. What mattered was her son and she didn't know how to explain to him what was going on, as she barely knew what was going on.

"Elena, you can forget the soup." Walter said softly as he appeared in the kitchen. Elena snapped away from Adam, wiping her own tears with her hands. She saw that Walter had heard Adam's screams as he looked at the young boy. Elena nodded her head and looked at Walter.

"I gave her something to sleep... for a while... But I won't be able to do it again." Walter said and Elena nodded her head, trying to pull herself back together again. Adam was still crying and Walter looked to Adam and walked to him.

"Hey, Adam.. Sorry about that in the hallway... I really wanted to get her to the bathroom." Walter whispered out and Adam turned to look at his mother. Elena blinked her eyes and nodded her head. She had no reason not to trust Walter. He had been great with Adam the few days that he had stayed there and now Elena had to hope that it continued.

"It was blood." Adam said and Walter nodded his head and rubbed the boy's wet cheek. He didn't realize how much Adam cared about Nikita and he sighed sadly. It was not a situation anyone wanted to be in and Walter had to do his hardest to make everything right. He knew that he would have to deal with Nikita and Michael in the future if something went wrong here.

"Yes... but she is asleep now.. And I am taking care of her." Walter said and Adam stared at him and looked to his mother.

"You can trust him, Adam." Elena whispered out the support. Walter looked around the kitchen and smiled as he moved to a cupboard and pointed at the ugly green circle.

"You know who Mr. Yuck is, right?" Walter asked as he pointed to the symbol, the green face with his tongue sticking out. Adam nodded his head up and down.

"Well... Nikita didn't know that something she was using was bad... There was no Mr. Yuck symbol on it..." Walter carefully explained as he moved back to Adam. Adam was nodding his head up and down as Walter smiled at him.

"And she has to get all this Mr. Yuck stuff out of her... so she can be better again..." Walter said and Adam pushed his hands up to dry away his own tears. He looked to his mother with his serious face and then to Walter.

"I want to see her." Adam said and Walter sighed. He knew the young boy would not be happy until he did, and that now was probably better than in a few hours when the withdrawal would get worse. Walter had tried to get Elena to take Adam out of the house, but she didn't trust anyone enough. He was going to make sure that Frank understood and hopefully get Frank to keep Adam playing games or something.

"I can take you now, but she won't talk to you. She is sleeping." Walter said and Adam nodded his head up and down and reached out for Walter's hand. He looked to Elena and she nodded her head in approval, hoping it was the right thing for Adam. Walter hugged the boy to his body and started up the stairs quickly.

Adam looked at the mess on the floor and Elena turned her head away from it. When Walter had said some blood, Elena didn't even image this much. Walter opened the door to Adam's room and allowed Adam to slide down from his arms.

"It's not from the drugs... probably from the fight... They crushed her ribs pretty good... I'll watch it, but she should be fine.. Her ankle thought is pretty bad... I hope to keep her off of it." Walter said and Elena nodded her head, mentally jotting down that she was going to have to bring ice up for Nikita's ankle. Elena also took note of the ominous tone of his voice, as if Walter was expecting Nikita on getting out of bed in the next three days. Elena did not see that happening.

"Nikita... I love you." Adam said as he pushed Nikita's hair out of her face. Walter smiled as he looked down at Nikita. She would have cried at that statement and Adam softly kissed her cheek. He turned his head up to the ceiling and closed his eyes. Walter nodded his head, noting that with a prayer from a boy that sweet, Nikita was definitely saved.

*

Michael lifted his head as the door opened and he heard the footsteps of two people entering the White Room. He almost raised his head but kept it dropped. He was feeling regret for allowing himself to get in this situation. Michael never lost control like this before and now someone he cared deeply about was destroying her life when if he had just maintained his cool, he could have stopped it.

"I think if I ask Michael the reason why he is in here, he would give me a very different explanation, Madeline." Operations said as the door shut. Madeline walked in front of Michael and stared at Operations has he continued to puff on a cigarette.

"Are you trying too kill me and Michael along with yourself on those things?" Madeline questioned and Operations dropped the cigarette to the floor and stamped it out with his foot. He carefully looked at Madeline's legs as he lifted his head and smiled at Madeline.

"Why are you in here Michael?" Operations asked and Michael lifted his head and sighed as he rolled his eyes.

"Behavior modification." Michael replied coldly and Operations leaned into him and stared into his eyes.

"Then why haven't the twins been in? Why hasn't the equipment been use, Michael? Why are you looking healthier than I am and you have been in the White Room for days?" Operations questioned and Michael felt the light coat of his salvia being splattered into his face with each hard syllable.

"She is using a new technique." Michael replied and Operations swallowed and looked at Madeline as he stood up.

"And you understand this technique, Michael? How much did Madeline tell you about it?" Operations questioned and Michael lifted his head and leveled his eyes with Operations.

"Enough." Michael replied and Operations looked over his shoulder to Madeline and then pulled out another cigarette. He lit it quickly and took a long drag as he looked again at Madeline and then Michael.

"I am sick of the games. I know you both are helping Nikita." Operations said and Michael blinked his eyes.

"I am not helping Nikita." Michael replied quickly as it was definitely the truth, plain and simple. In Michael's eyes, as long as he was locked in the White Room, he was not helping Nikita. Madeline stepped towards Operations and grabbed the cigarette and dropped it to the floor. She slowly smashed out the offensive odor and looked at Operations.

"You have your answers. Now let me continue. This is between me and Michael." Madeline said and Operations snarled as he looked from the one operative to the other. There was something definitely going on here, he knew it and he just couldn't prove it. Then, even if he did prove it, he could not do a thing and Madeline realized that too. He could not cancel Madeline because the situation with Oversight had yet to resolved, but he could cancel Michael. That was always an option. He thought about using it to bring back Nikita, but Madeline advised Operations that Nikita probably thought that Michael had tried to cancel her.

"This isn't the end of this, Madeline." Operations huffed out as he moved to the door and Madeline contritely smiled at Operations.

"I know it isn't." Madeline rudely replied as the door started to slide shut. Michael lifted his head as Madeline turned off the devices and unhooked Michael from the chair. She was seeing that he was getting weak now from the sitting position. She would be moving him into a different containment area, where he could more around and do some exercises to keep his form in shape.

"How is Nikita? Where is Nikita? What is going on?" Michael rapidly demanded and Madeline coyly smiled as she moved towards Michael and helped him sip some water to wet his parched mouth. Madeline turned her head to the side.

"She is currently with Elena... going through withdrawal..." Madeline replied and Michael shook his head as he dropped his head into his hands.

"She will hurt them!" Michael exclaimed and Madeline smiled and waited for Michael to start pacing. It was so easy to see that his worry was not for Elena, that it was for Nikita. She knew that all this time, but she was sure that Michael didn't exactly see it that way. She was sure that Michael could never compare the feelings he had for each of them, but if he ever had the chance to save one.. He would save Nikita.

"That is why I have Walter posing as a psychiatrist specializing in in-home detoxification. Yet, we ran into a problem with Nikita, and it was due to your training." Madeline said and Michael lifted an eyebrow and stared into Madeline's eyes.

"My training? By now you know that Nikita is an independent woman. We have Operations calling her a renegade!" Michael said smartly out and Madeline chuckled lightly. Michael knew his influence on Nikita; he just didn't realize how much Nikita had influenced him. That was why he had lost control when he found out that Nikita was taking heroin for sake of some quasi-mission.

"She was high.. And the men were chasing her to take her to the house... She did a real number on them.. But they also in return did a number on her." Madeline said and Michael sat back down in the metal chair and shook his head from side to side. He didn't know how any of this was supposed to make him feel better. The image of Walter as a drug therapist just didn't fit.

"What I need from you is that item that you wanted Adam to have." Madeline said and Michael shook his head. He felt the tears of the pain of never seeing Adam again filling in his eyes.

"I can't do that, Madeline..." Michael warned and Madeline smiled and looked at Michael.

"This may be the last change he may get it... Don't worry.. I'll find it while you sit in here." Madeline said as she turned on her heal and moved towards the door. Michael waited.

"It's in Nikita's apartment... I hid it in a book named Clocks." Michael said and Madeline nodded her head and moved quickly out, leaving Michael released from the chair, locked in the White Room.

*

Nikita abruptly sat up in a bed and tossed the covers off, as her body became alive. She moved around and looked at the ice on her ankle. She grabbed it and moaned as she dumped the ice down her shirt. It only cooled her off momentarily.

"WHY IS IT SOOO HOT!" Nikita screamed out as she pulled the shirt up and off of her body. She thrashed around as the door opened and Elena entered. She blinked at Nikita's naked body and swallowed. She walked over to the basin with some water in it and tried to towel Nikita's sweating forehead off. Nikita dropped back against the pillow.

"Michael..." Nikita moaned as she rolled her head off to the side. Elena studied Nikita as she continued to tend to Nikita's body, as it continued to trash around the bed, although her head stayed off to the side.

"MICHAEL!!!!" Nikita screamed out so loudly that it caused Elena to jump back and almost knock the basin off the bed stand that Walter had moved in for this use. Elena reached out and touched Nikita's face lightly.

"It's ok, Nikita... we'll get you through this... we have to get you through this..." Elena whispered and Nikita sat up and stared off to the wall. She seemed to be looking at something that Elena could not see.

"Where did you go, Michael? Why did you leave?" Nikita questioned and Elena looked at Nikita's wild eyes and swallowed. It pained her to hear Nikita like this. Elena turned away as Nikita jumped up from the bed and stood up; reaching out to a figure that was not there. Elena winced as she looked at Nikita's bruised and swollen ankle that Walter had been concerned about.

"NO! NO! NO! You can't leave me! You can't leave me! I never meant to hurt you, Michael! I did it for you!" Nikita cried out and Elena stood up and took her hands and placed them on Nikita's shoulders. She pressed Nikita back to the bed. Nikita looked at Elena and tilted her head to the side.

"Do you know where Michael is?" Nikita asked carefully and Elena swallowed back her sob of pain as she looked at Nikita's crystal blue eyes, clearly having no concept who she was at this moment.

"He asked me to help you.. Me and Walter." Elena said as she tried to lay Nikita back in the bed. Nikita rolled her head back and then curled her body up in pain.

"AH! NO!! NO!!" Nikita gasped out as she rolled around in a tight ball. Elena looked at her as she had been instructed that Nikita would have terrible cramping as part of the withdrawal. She swallowed and picked up the rag again from the basin, and touched Nikita's sweaty forehead and sighed. Her body was trembling as she held the body in the cramping.

"I'M DYING!!! I'M DYING!!!" Nikita cried out in horror and Elena swallowed as she heard the screams. She knew that Adam was sleeping in her room, right next to this room. She had taken the night shift, and Walter had hoped that Nikita would sleep most of the way through.

"You aren't, Nikita.. You are going to live." Elena said and Nikita hunched over and Elena jumped back as the contents of Nikita's stomach surged forward. Elena caught of whiff of the smell and turned her head. She had thought that with the purging of her stomach that Nikita's cramps would easy, but if anything, they continued to get worse.

"I'm in HELL! MICHAEL!!!" Nikita cried out as she rolled to the side and she seemed to have no control over the emptying of her stomach again, with no warning it came out of her mouth. Elena wiped Nikita's mouth softly as there was a knock on the door.

"Who is there?" Elena called out as she tried to keep Nikita from lying back down, not knowing if she was going to throw up again or not. The door opened the crack and she saw the dark hair of Adam's and swallowed.

"Adam.. Go downstairs and get Walter. He is in the den." Elena said and Adam nodded his head as he dashed off. Elena struggled to stop Nikita's body from rolling about. She rubbed at Nikita's back, not knowing were her pains were.

"The pain... I'M DYING!!!" Nikita cried out as she rocked back and forth like a little child that had been abused. Elena leaned back and continued what she was doing as she noted that Nikita had no control over her body now. She was shivering now and she was trying to pull the soiled blankets around her body as she Elena swallowed.

"NO! MICHAEL!!!" Nikita gutturally screamed out with an intensity that Elena was taken back by. Elena dropped the cloth and started to cry. She missed Michael so much and she was sure that Michael would know exactly what to do. Elena sat up and moved onto the bed and cradled Nikita's head to the side. It allowed the surging stomach to come out, without it rolling back down into the windpipe. She was so weak in Elena's arms as the door slammed open.

"Elena... let's get her to the bathroom..... That stomach isn't going to stop for a while." Walter said as he surveyed the scene in front of him. He had led the crying Adam into Frank's room, who had wakened up with Nikita's screams. Walter was sure that Adam was being cared for as he dashed up the stairs.

Walter swallowed as he noted the mess that had already been made, and the attempt that Elena had done in helping Nikita. Nikita continued to moan out of Michael. Walter struggled to pull the sweaty Nikita up into his arms, as she was wet from various sources and to carry her to the bathroom.

"What can I do?" Elena questioned as Walter helped Nikita to lean over the toilet. He looked to Elena and then down to Nikita's body. He had no clue how long he was going to be in here with Nikita, but he could almost tell Nikita was nervous and anxious with Elena's presence. He knew that it had to be because Nikita couldn't stop screaming for Michael, which was something that Madeline had mentioned probably, would happen.

Walter reached out and turned on the water in the shower, noting that he couldn't tell exactly what coated Nikita's body now. He looked to Elena and rubbed Nikita's head as her body continued the process of ridding the toxins.

"I would clean up the room.. This may take a while..." Walter said and Elena nodded her head and closed the door as she moved back to Adam's room to the fine mess that had been created. Walter moved Nikita's body lightly, taking pressure off of her ankle and rubbed her head.

"Thank you." Nikita moaned out as her body became even looser in his arms and Walter looked to the wall, hoping that he could continue on with this.

*

The water ran loudly in the bathroom as Walter sighed and looked at the mirror. It had been hoped that between him and Elena, that one could be able to sleep while the other one watched Nikita. Walter had known that it was a hopeful thought, and Nikita had proved to be a terrible patient, not to say that the withdrawal was a normal one. At one point, even Walter was about to call it in and take Nikita to a hospital, feeling as if it had gone past anything he could handle. That was about six hours ago, after the first two days of torture.

Walter splashed some water on his face as he rubbed it. Finally, less than an hour ago, Nikita just fell asleep. More importantly, a peaceful sleep, and Walter was sure that everyone in the house needed that right now. He rubbed his drawn face and sighed as his stomach growled, he was going to have to eat before he tried to sleep.

Nikita had been out of control for days, mostly screaming for Michael and throwing her body around. Walter was sure that Nikita would not remember any of it, but it was six hours ago when she had a minor seizure that things seemed to get better, and from that point on, Nikita wasn't thrashing around as much. Walter was concerned about the ankle, as he was sure that Nikita had fractured it by now, since she was doing jump jacks on the bed for a little bit after getting some food.

Walter stepped out of the bathroom and check in Adam's room, happily finding Nikita curled up in a ball, sleeping soundly. He turned to the stairs and saw Elena looked out the window before the stairs. Walter sighed and moved towards her.

None of them had noticed Adam for a few hours, and had assumed that he was sleeping in Elena's room. For a little bit he had fallen asleep, but his concern was for Nikita. He heard his mother and Walter screaming at Nikita and that scared him. He peaked out of the room and looked at Walter moved to Elena and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"She is resting now. The worse is definitely over." Walter whispered as he looked out the window as Elena did. She lightly nodded her head up and down and sighed loudly. Walter pressed his lips together and waited.

"And the seizure?" Elena softly questioned and Walter sighed. He had made a phone call to Madeline and questioned about it. From her end it didn't sound like Madeline knew exactly what she was talking about. Walter rubbed Elena's shoulder tenderly and waited a few moments.

"It wasn't that long. We have to wait and see." Walter responded and Elena dropped her head and softly cried her tears rolling down her face and neck and Walter felt them with his fingertips. He knew he needed to say more about it. Walter looked to the window and sighed.

"Her body is very weak, sleep is the best thing to happen to Nikita. And once she wakes up we need to feed her." Walter said and Elena laughed gently as Walter's stomach growled with that last comment. She smiled briefly and leaned back into Walter's firm arms, as she had needed his support as much as Nikita did in these past few days. Walter knew it was difficult to hear Nikita crying out for Michael almost the entire time. He was sure that Elena had thousands of worries about that.

"Walter.. May I ask you something?" Elena softly whispered out and Walter felt his heart get stuck on his ribs, as he knew that Elena was heading in a direction he wasn't sure he wanted to think about. He didn't feel like lying to Elena, but he had to protect her too. Walter could only hope that whatever answer he did, that Nikita didn't counteract it.

"Of course, Elena." Walter said with a tired smile, although Elena was not looking at him, he used it as a way to sound as positive as possible. Elena turned around and took Walter's hands into hers.

"Why was she crying for Michael so much?" Elena whispered out and Walter sighed and rubbed Elena's dark hair off of her face, knowing that the young woman needed sleep too. He sighed and looked out to the window.

"I can't answer that. Only Nikita knows that." Walter replied and Elena nodded her head and tugged at Walter's hands as she stepped back down a stair. Walter tilted his head off to the side and Elena smiled.

"You need food." Elena said with a soft smile and Walter nodded his head, as his mouth automatically began to water with the mentioning of food. He walked down the stairs with Elena as Adam opened the door from his mother's room and stepped out into the hallway. He tiptoed his way to the top of the stairs and listened to his mother making the food for Walter. Adam slowly turned his small body and moved to the door of his room. He pushed it open lightly and gasped as he saw Nikita sleeping in his bed. She didn't look that good.

"Elena.. I forgot my file upstairs..." Walter said as he started up the stairs. He turned the corner and thought that the door to Adam's room was opened more than he had left it. Walter did not want to find out that Nikita was not done with the withdrawal and roaming around the house. He had placed a heavy splint on her ankle and was sure that Nikita would not be able to walk with it on. There was a purpose for the splint.

Walter was about to push into the room when he stopped and saw Adam sitting on the edge of his racecar bed. The young boy pushed back Nikita's damp hair off of her face and then started to look around the room and the blankets that had been tangled around Nikita. Adam worked quietly as he pulled the blankets out and straightened them.

"Nikita... Nikita..." Adam softly said and Walter watched in silence from the hallway as Nikita opened her eyes, very groggy with the need to sleep.

"Michael?" Nikita whispered out and Adam leaned up and looked down into Nikita's face. He smiled at Nikita and touched her face again with his tiny hand.

"No. Adam." Adam responded and Walter turned his head to watch Elena walking up the stairs. He placed a finger to his mouth and motioned her to the side of the door with him and she gasped as she saw Adam with Nikita. She did not want Adam bothering Nikita at all, but Walter held her back.

"Sorry.." Nikita whispered out and Adam sat closer to Nikita and allowed his young body to yawn.

"You cried for my dad. You miss him a lot, don't you, Kita?" Adam asked and Nikita opened her eyes as wide as she could as her entire body felt as if it had been blown to pieces and put together with school paste. She rubbed Adam's hand softly as she looked at him.

"He used to call me that." Nikita whispered out, as too much sound was painful to her head. Adam tilted his head to the side and yawned again.

"What? 'Kita?" Adam asked and Nikita nodded her head up and down as her eyes fluttered back down, but she fought to keep them open.

"When he called me that... I felt like I was worth something.... And felt that there was something for him to protect." Nikita whispered out and Walter swallowed at the statement. It just went to prove how much Nikita was aware of in the relationship between her and Michael and how much she had tried in it. He looked to Elena and swallowed.

"You are worth something." Adam said and Nikita shook her head from side to side and Adam started to lean down next to Nikita.

"No, I am not." Nikita said bitterly and Elena looked at Walter with tears in her eyes. She knew that Nikita was in pain, but she did not want to hurt her son anymore. Walter held his hand onto her shoulder and held her back from rushing in and stopping what was happening.

"You are too me. And I will protect you, 'Kita." Adam claimed out and Nikita opened her eyes at the brave little boy as he kissed Nikita's cheek softly. Her heart felt like breaking but also felt like healing.

"What are you going to protect me from?" Nikita innocently asked and Adam puffed out his chest, even as he yawned.

"Mr. Yuck." Adam claimed and Nikita nodded her head and closed her eyes. She opened them again and saw that Adam was yawning.

"How rude of me... why don't you get some sleep... seems as if I took your bed over..." Nikita said and Adam looked at Nikita with raised eyebrows.

"You want me too? Don't you need to sleep too?" Adam questioned and Nikita nodded her head as she pulled the blanket over Adam's legs.

"Yes.... And I need you to stay here and protect me from bad dreams... like your Dad used to do..." Nikita drawled out as the sleep took her captive again, and Adam was not long afterwards. Walter stepped forward and pulled the door closed. Elena looked at him as he moved her to the stairs.

"I'll get the folder later.... They need their sleep." Walter said and Elena stopped herself from protesting. She had never known how much Adam was like his father.

*

Nikita stared at her ankle as she rubbed her hands through her hair. She was slowly piecing together things, as time seemed to be so distorted for her. It felt like a week had past since Elena had picked Adam up from the bed and carried him to the other bed, while it was actually only four hours. It felt as if she had been sleeping for a month and in ways she felt like she only slept two minutes.

"Nikita.. you are up." Elena said as she entered the room with a tray with some tea on it. Nikita nodded her head and looked to Elena and then away. Although Nikita knew that she had done everything as a plan, it didn't change her heart. She didn't want Elena to have gone through all of this.

"I'm sorry, Elena... I should have never brought my problems here." Nikita said slowly as she pushed her hands away from her face and Elena smiled and handed Nikita a cup of tea. Nikita sipped it and placed it back down on the tray.

"I'm just glad you did." Elena said and Nikita nodded her head as her eyes filled with a bit of tears. She looked to Elena, trapped in thoughts and then cleared her mind.

"I will pay you back, Elena... It might take some time..." Nikita said as Elena shook her head and tried to stop Nikita's lips with her fingers. Nikita stopped and looked up at Elena with her blue eyes.

"All I ask is that you get better.. and that you answer.. two... no, three questions..." Elena said and Nikita nodded her head up and down happily, while inside she started to panic again, knowing that the questions were going to hit low and she could only hope that she could contract lies that Elena would believe.

"Nikita.... Why were you crying out for Michael all the time? I miss him, but not like that. Can you explain?" Elena asked and Nikita pushed her body up in the bed and chewed on her lip lightly. Nikita sighed and grabbed Elena's hand tightly.

"He helped me before...." Nikita said and Elena nodded her head as she pulled a chair to Nikita's bedside and looked at her. Nikita watched as Elena wetted her lips, and focused on that movement before blinking herself off of the image.

"Walter said you went cold turkey last time." Elena said and Nikita rolled her head back and blinked her eyes a few times.

"It was about six years ago... Michael found me... when I had overdosed." Nikita started off and when Elena nodded her head she knew that Elena could believe Nikita.

"He took me to a hospital, but they couldn't treat someone without insurance... and so, they sent me home... and I went cold turkey.... But Michael showed up.. and helped me through... and I guess that was what happened... He said I had called for him the entire time.. so.. My body just reacted that time over..." Nikita said and Elena nodded her head. She stood up and circled around the room.

Elena was not about to give Nikita some of her wild ideas and theories on why Nikita was calling out for Michael. This one made sense and she threw away the others. Elena knew now that Nikita was Michael's cousin, and not some imposter. For a while, when Nikita was crying like a baby, calling Michael's name over and over again, Elena swore that it was Nikita that was in love with Michael and not herself. Elena turned, about to dismiss all of those thoughts when she saw the necklace glistening in the light of the room.

Elena had seen it, and had wondered why Nikita didn't pawn it off for money to buy her heroin instead of making Elena think that she had lost money. Elena looked at the necklace before, and thought nothing of it, until after the seizure. It hung right in line with her heart, and Elena blinked her eyes away. Her mind had run away with her again, and Elena had elaborate stories for the heart necklace too. One that Michael gave it as a token of his love for her, even though he was married. Elena moved back to the bed, and touched the necklace.

"Who gave you the necklace? It is exquisite." Elena said softly and Nikita looked down at her chest and shook her head. She had forgotten all about the necklace and she felt a chill run down her spine.

"Michael." Nikita responded and Elena dropped the necklace and stepped away from Nikita. Her nightmare was coming true as the tears rolled out of her eyes. She had known when Michael cried out for a Nikita in his sleep that it was more than just a cousin, and when Nikita showed up doing the same thing, grieving more about Michael's death than his own wife, Elena had known. Something had told her.

"Elena.. No! Not like that!" Nikita cried out as the tears ran down her face. Elena blinked and stared at the scared women in the bed, the women that had scared Elena for the past week to her last nerve.

"He gave it to me... so that I remembered that in this crazy world.. wherever he was.. that he loved me.. and that someone did care for me.... My cousin loved me.... And I lived on that for years... until...." Nikita said as she gave in to the tears, not because of what Elena thought of, but because how much she wished to have Michael there. To let him know that she understood how much she had hurt him, but that she had never meant to hurt him and she had never stopped loving him.

Elena looked at Nikita and felt sick to her stomach. She could not believe she had thought such a thing. She knew her husband loved her to his last day and that Nikita was just a lost soul now that felt she had no family. She was grasping onto everything that she could hold onto, and Elena reminded herself that she was not that thing Nikita needed.

"It's ok.. Nikita... We are family... family loves family...." Elena claimed as she reached out and hugged the trembling Nikita. Elena felt Nikita's tears ceased and took a long breath herself to clear her mind.

"Why the drugs, Nikita?" Elena whispered, although Walter had warned Elena not to approach the subject. She couldn't help herself. She wanted to hear Nikita say why and she felt that was the least she deserved. Nikita licked her lips and looked down to her fingers.

"To stop the pain.. the pain of having the world running around you.... To take control of the one thing you can control.... To stop others from making plans and ordering you.... It's like being stuck underground your entire life.. and breaking free.. seeing the sun for the first time... with no pain... and never wanting to see that you need that underground..." Nikita whispered out and Elena blinked her eyes, losing whatever the point was to Nikita's words. Elena was sure they made sense to Nikita, but she stepped back to the tray and pulled out an envelope and handed it to Nikita.

"That came for you." Elena said and Nikita placed it on the bed and smiled at Elena.

"It's for Adam...." Nikita whispered out as Elena turned and headed towards the door. Nikita rubbed her hands together and sighed.

"Elena.. Did Walter tell you... about my troubles?" Nikita whispered and Elena turned her head and nodded her head. Walter had run downstairs about two hours ago to make some phone calls and to talk to Frank. It seemed as if the men, no, drug dealers, that had cut Nikita's stomach into shreds, were still after her for money. Elena listened as Walter worked quickly and secured the house as quickly as possible.

"Yes, Nikita.. Don't worry about it." Elena said and moved out of the room. Nikita nodded her head and swallowed. She looked to her ankle and sighed. At least one thing was going right. Nikita picked up the envelope and opened it, as Walter had told her that it would be coming. Nikita looked to the letter and swallowed. It was in Michael's handwriting.

*

"Nikita..." Walter said as he moved into the room, to find that Nikita had pulled the brace off of her ankle and proceeded to have cleaned herself up. She looked at Walter as she finished pulling her hair up into a tight ponytail. She had moved quickly since she read Michael's letter and knew that Michael had accepted that he would never see his son again. Nikita intended on doing something for Michael that he should have done himself.

"Frank's men just got confirmation." Walter whispered and Nikita nodded her head and looked around the room. Things were going to move quickly now and Nikita could only hope that she could drag her body through this. Walter had protested her involvement, but there wasn't much he could do. Nikita knew the splinter group and the only hope for Nikita to continue living was if she brought down the splinter group.

"I need a gun, Walter." Walter shook his head and Nikita frowned at him. Walter looked at Nikita as she picked up the envelope and swallowed.

"Then I better start making my good-byes." Nikita softly said and Walter pressed his lips together. Although it was not going to be said now, and probably never would be said as good-bye, Nikita was correct. Before the night was over, Nikita would leave Elena's house as quickly as she had arrived. Walter could only hope that Elena had gained something over this and he could only hope that Nikita would find a place to heal and recoup before finishing her task at hand.

Walter snapped as his cell phone began to ring and Nikita turned around with wide opened eyes, filled with horror. They did not need Section One deciding it was time to run to Elena's to check on her. Nikita covered her mouth as Walter raised the phone to his ear.

"Walter.... Operations is active." Madeline's voice said and he closed his eyes, shaking his head. Cutting it close was exactly what was going to happen.

"Who is on the team?" Walter asked and he looked at Nikita and nodded his head up and down. Nikita looked down and swore silently and grimaced in pain as she leaned on her ankle.

"Michael has been released from the White Room... he is the only friendly on the team." Madeline said and Walter slapped the phone down. Nikita swallowed as he moved out of the room. Nikita turned and moved down the stairs, hopping to keep the pain off of her foot.

"Adam..." Nikita softly said as she stepped out into the backyard. It was also a strategic point for her and in a few minutes she would have to get Adam to go inside. She sat down next to Adam and he looked up at Nikita.

"You aren't to be walking." Adam claimed and Nikita smiled and messed with his hair lightly. She was going to miss Adam. He was so innocent and so charming, elements that she had rarely seen in Michael. Nikita chewed on her lip lightly before answering.

"Well... I had to come see you." Nikita commented and Adam puffed out his chest and sat up straight.

"You aren't to walk. I have to protect you!" Adam said with pride and Nikita smiled and slide the item out of the envelope. She lightly looked at it and turned towards Adam.

"This belonged to your father... He would want you to have it." Nikita softly said as she looked at Adam. His eyes opened as he looked at the gold object in Nikita's hand and then looked up to Nikita.

"Why do you have it?" Adam asked and Nikita smiled gently. She extended her arm towards Adam, as he finally took hold of the round object.

"Because I was keeping it until you turned ten, that's when your dad got it... And well.. You proved yourself by protecting me so well from Mr. Yuck, that you deserve it now. Your father would want you to have it." Nikita said and Adam twirled it around in the sun and then turned back to Nikita.

"What is it, 'Kita?" Adam asked as he handed it back to Nikita. She showed Adam the little clasp and he jumped back as it opened up. Nikita looked to Adam as he looked at the glass and his reflection before looking back at Nikita.

"It's a compass.... It was your great-grandfathers." Nikita supplied and Adam reached for it again. Nikita looked to Adam and waited for a few minutes, just trying to soak in all the time with Adam, knowing that she would cherish them forever.

"See, that needle always points North.... Your father, Michael... used to tell me that no matter where you are lost in the world.. the compass will get you home." Nikita said slowly and Adam smiled.

"That's how you got here!" Adam exclaimed as he wrapped his arms around Nikita. Nikita nodded her head and sighed.

"Why don't you go show your mother?" Nikita said as she felt something in the area. Adam jumped up and ran back inside. Nikita sat there, staring off to the woods that outlined the huge backyard. Frank did not think that the dealer's would come through the back, but of course, Frank didn't know half of what he was up too.

"Walter..." Nikita tentatively called out as she pushed her body up, and instantly saw them. She swallowed as the men started to sprint across the yard.

"WE HAVE FOUR!" Nikita screamed out as she got off of the patio and moved forward. They didn't want to kill her, so they didn't draw their guns. They knew who she was and she waited and then collapsed forward. She gained the advantage quickly and kicked the two to the ground. She heard a few snaps of a gun from the front and she swallowed, knowing that her battered body might be the only one in the back to save Adam and Elena.

"WALTER!" Nikita screamed out as she punched the one man into the throat. It was planned that either Walter's gun or one of Frank's men guns killed all of the intruders. If she killed one of these men, it would be hard to explain off to the police, but soon she was not going to have the chance and then there would be no choice left either.

"NIKITA!" Adam cried from the window as he looked out towards her. Nikita looked at Adam and swallowed as the man jumped up from the ground and charged her. Nikita fell to the ground and forced her hands forward, reducing the man into a heap as he felt the impact in his stomach. Nikita closed her eyes as she had no choice. She wrapped her arms around the man's neck and snapped downwards. She opened her eyes and saw that Adam was no longer looking. Nikita could only hope that no one got to them.

Yet, three men soon circled Nikita. She looked as they slowly approached her weakened body. She was definitely outnumbered and not healthy. She was panting as she looked at them. Yet, they didn't respected who trained her, Michael.

"GET DOWN!!!" Frank screamed at Nikita and she dropped to the ground as he quickly shot the three men. Nikita lifted her head to find the three men on the ground and looked up at Frank. He was having a hard time getting around and now Nikita owed the man another favor. She forced her body up and frowned as she had been splattered with blood, something that she had not wanted to happen.

"We are safe inside." Frank said and Nikita nodded her head and tried to step forward. She winced and looked to Frank. She had so much pride, but Nikita knew her limits. She was sure that fighting the men weren't the smartest thing to do, but she was not going to let Michael down. To say that Michael would have killed Nikita if the splinter group got to her was putting it mildly.

"Sugar?" Walter called out as he exited the house and moved to the yard as he saw Nikita's figure down.

"I told you that you couldn't go out and play tag yet." Walter said and Nikita slightly laughed as Walter took her arm and slung it over his neck to help Nikita to the house, both of them knowing of the time that was missing. Walter stopped short of the house and moved Nikita to the car.

Elena ran out to the car and looked at Walter.

"What? Where are you going?" Elena cried out and Walter looked at Nikita and shut the door.

"First, her ankle her ankle is broke.. Second.. she needs to leave this house.... I think it is too close to Michael.." Walter said and Elena broke down to tears and Nikita turned her head away. It was better than planning their own death, which Madeline had preferred.

"But she needs family!" Elena cried out and Walter reached out and touched Elena's face.

"I think there is a lot more pain here. Elena, she relied upon Michael, and until she can learn to live without him, she will just continue the cycle." Walter said and Elena nodded her head.

"I understand..." Elena said and Walter smiled.

"I'll keep in touch.. and keep you updated." Walter said as he moved around the car and quickly left the area. Walter knew as he pulled away that Frank was going to be calling his friends in the police force and he knew that Nikita, for the umpteenth time in a matter of a week, felt as if her world was shattering around her again. She knew that Walter would be expected back that day and she had no where to go.

*

Michael kept his eyes focused on the computer screen as the van came to a halt. Michael lifted his head and looked at the corner house, with various flashing vehicles. Michael looked to the computer and lightly smiled, instantly knowing that Nikita had escaped, but he had to do as Operations had planned.

"Please put on your FBI jackets." Michael said and the operatives began to move quickly, most of them knowing what Michael knew, that Nikita was gone. Yet, there was the splinter group out and about and whatever information they could retrieve would be best.

"Gunther... find out if Elena and Adam are home. Contact me immediately." Michael said as the operatives started out of the van. Michael focused his eyes back on the computer, pulling up the frequencies from the police radios and relaying them back to Birkoff. Michael could see Operations now in his office, pacing back and forth with the sickening cigarette in his mouth. He would be blaming Michael, because he was too weak to hurry the van out of there, that the fact that Michael was human and needed food was enough for Operations to cancel him by.

Michael tried to piece together the conversations, but quickly realized that the drugs were used as a cover and he could only hope that Nikita had come off of them all the way, and not partially, which was a possibility. He saw no visual data that the police and authorities had kept Elena and Adam in the house, but he would never chance it.

"Michael.... Elena and Adam have been taken to a hotel by a private detective." Gunther reported and Michael stood up and started to shed his mission clothing and pulling at the black business jacket. Michael paused as he placed the thick black glasses over his eyes and swallowed. He had looked like he had aged years since Elena had last seen him, and it was all because of Nikita. Michael moved back to the computer and swallowed.

"I need to men back to the van.... Tell the authorities that Agent Ressler is coming in." Michael said as he pulled out the identification and the small bags and pushed it into his pocket. He waited until the two solid knocks on the van occurred and Michael stepped out of the van.

"I need the backup team to go to the hotel and secure that Elena and Adam stay there until the house is clean of all matters." Michael said as he moved down the sidewalk quickly and ducked underneath the annoying yellow tape, being flanked by either side by Section men. Michael looked straight ahead at the man who had two walkie-talkies and stood next to him, demanding his attention.

"I'm Michael Ressler." Michael said forcefully and then man turned to him, as he pushed the walkie-talkies off to other men. He reached out and shook Michael's hand.

"Luke Harris.... Fine mess we have here.. Low time drug lords." The man said as he looked at Michael and Michael smiled.

"No. Big time drug lords. The person who was cleaning off the drugs here was a witness for us." Michael said and the man shook his head.

"She left... we got the mother and the son..." Luke announced as he opened the door for Michael to walk into .