"She has also been injured... her leg is broken.. I've been taking care of her..." Michael said and Karin sighted and blinked her eyes. She had felt that there was something between Michael and Nikita, from when she saw that painting. Now, it was all there, but yet, still so unknown to her. Karin rubbed her hands together as Michael went into the other room, to help Nikita, who had happily started to use her crutches.

"Nikita!" Karin cried out as she looked at Nikita's face, seeing the sister that haunted her dreams for months now. Karin reached out for Nikita as her body seemed to push against Michael, resisting the need to go forward. Michael nudged her and then helped her sit down next to Karin.

"How are you?" Karin softly asked as Nikita looked up at Karin with eyes that were nothing like those she had seen on Nikita. Karin has seen Nikita when she found out she had a sister, and thought that was a breakdown. Now Karin saw the extremes of what their shared mother did to Nikita, and saw what pain she had been spared.

"Karin." Nikita said as she looked up at Michael. Michael nodded his head and looked at Karin with his green eyes. Karin could tell that it was a delicate situation, one that could explode in Michael's face if not handled correctly.

"Karin." Nikita softly said as she turned her head and looked at Karin with tears in her eyes. Karin nodded her head and touched Nikita's shoulder light. Nikita smiled and then allowed the tears to roll off of her face.

"My sister... my sister.." Nikita carefully stated as she looked down at Karin's rounded stomach, full with child. Karin looked at Nikita and slowly lifted her own eyes to look at Michael.

"Would you like to feel the baby kick?" Karin softly asked with patience that Michael was so relieved to see. Karin reached out for Nikita's hand and grasped it with a snug grip. She opened Nikita's palm and placed it on the roundness of her stomach. Michael watched as Nikita's eyes almost twinkled as she stared at amazement at the stomach. Michael observed as Nikita's entire body jumped backwards as the baby kicked. Michael smiled and nodded his head.

"Baby?" Nikita questioned as she lifted her eyes to look up at Karin. Karin nodded her head and reached out for Nikita's head, softly stroking it with a mother's care. Michael started to look around, nervous now what is going to happen.

"Your baby." Nikita said softly and Karin nodded her head up and down with a brilliant smile that was uniquely from those mothers's to be. It was crisp and refreshing as Karin pulled her own hand away from her stomach. Nikita's hand stayed there as she seemed to be focused on it intensely.

Michael licked his lips cautiously, ready for whatever what would occur next. He looked at Karin as she dropped her head and looked up to Nikita's face.

"What's wrong, Nikita?" Karin asked and Nikita pulled her head up and her hand away. She looked like she smelled her hand as she looked up at Michael.

"My baby." Nikita cried out and Michael nodded his head and moved to her. He hugged her tightly as the tears ran over her cheek and onto Michael's shirt. He looked at Karin's own shocked face and sighed lightly.

"Did she lose a child? Did she terminate a pregnancy?" Karin asked and Michael gently placed a kiss on Nikita's forehead and used his arms to rub her long muscles in her back, stroking up and down, as he looked to Karin.

"Karin... from what we know... Nikita, at age eight... was pregnant... and her mother.. her mother ended it." Michael said, starting out trying to sound tender, but as those last words spat out Michael lost all compassion for the statement. Karin started to tremble and cry herself.

"What can I do?" Karin asked and Michael reached a free hand out for a few seconds and pushed Karin's tears away.

"You have done enough... She may start to talk now..." Michael said and Karin pushed up out of the couch and looked around. Her sister, crying like a broken rag doll in Michael's arms as he was barely able to maintain his own composure.

"What else can I do?" Karin asked again and Michael lifted his head after running a few kisses on Nikita's head as her cries became louder.

"Make sure that Tanner believes you... she may come around.. and now.. there is an opening for her to see you.. and her niece or nephew." Michael explained and Karin blinked her eyes.

"Niece... her niece..." Karin said as she moved to the door and noticed that Michael was doing what he could. She rubbed her eyes and stepped out of the room, and Nikita's screams started and Michael rejoiced in that ear-piercing sound.

*

Michael sat there with the crying and screaming Nikita in his arms for minutes, just listening to the sound, making it part of who Nikita was now. The sound ringing in his ears as being good and he waited as he felt the tears soaking his shirt.

"It's ok.. Shhh..." Michael whispered out as he closed his eyes. His mind was starting the private prayer that Nikita spoke that the torture that he knew was in her soul and her heart started to spill out. That now, she trusted him with her torture and allowed him to bear some of that pain.

"Baby..."Nikita muttered as she pulled tightly away from Michael's grasp. Michael blinked his eyes a few times as he watched Nikita, as she held out her hand to where Karin had been sitting, as if trying to feel the baby too.

Nikita slowly looked to her hand and lifted her head to look up at Michael. She moved the hand over and placed it on her own stomach, with tears rolling down her face like they were endless.

"My baby.... Gone." Nikita whispered out and Michael nodded his head as he felt his entire throat contract in soreness in seeing Nikita's bare pain. Michael had lost a sense of how much he had learned to cry with Nikita around, seeing this pain, as it was his own pain. In a way it was, as it was for the one thing he used to give his life meaning.

"GONE!" Nikita cried out and Michael nodded his head as he rubbed his fingers through her blonde hair. She dropped her head and looked at her stomach and then pulled up, and Michael was almost afraid that Nikita was going to try to stand on her own. Instead she rolled off to the side.

"My mother took it.." Nikita whispered as she dropped her head down to the couch cushions. Michael saw the instant wetness on the floral print as she cried. Michael got off of the couch and lifted Nikita's legs up onto the couch.

"Can you tell me about it, Nikita?" Michael whispered and Nikita closed her eyes as her body started to tremble. Michael reached out, feeling the fear run through his body, as he did not want to plunge Nikita into an emotional hole that she could not surface from.

"It was after school..." Nikita started out as she pushed her eyes tightly closed. Michael sat back on his heels, barely touching Nikita's face, not wanting to change her focus, but also wanting to know that he was there for her.

"My mom... grabbed me.... Tied me to the table.... Opened like she did for the men..." Nikita said as she started to rock from side to side, but her facial expression did not change. She flinched and Michael could see that the images were running through her mind.

"Is that when she hurt you?" Michael whispered and Nikita shook her head back and forth. She rolled onto her back and opened her body up from the ball that she had curled it up into. Michael swallowed as she was going through the actions of reliving the experience.

"No... she told me that I was bad.... That I had a devil baby in me......" Nikita said as she pushed her head back tightly against the couch. Michael leaned up and touched Nikita's head.

"You did nothing wrong, Nikita..." Michael said and Nikita turned her head away from Michael.

"They came..." Nikita whispered out and Michael pulled his hands back and looked at Nikita.

"Who came?" Michael questioned and Nikita's entire body started to shake again. Michael gasped and waited as it passed.

"The men.... My mom said they might have given me the devil baby... but I wanted it... A baby loves its mother..... I did for a while..." Nikita cried out as the fat tears rolled down her face. Michael watched as Nikita's body flinches as he could tell the mental men beating her body to pieces were causing it. A crime the men in her past created... ended up being her ultimate shame. The horror of a child abused, being blamed for an outcome she had no choice about. There was nothing he could do until it passed. To force Nikita out of this now would be too damaging.

"Then what?" Michael softly questioned and Nikita's eyes opened up wide, staring towards the ceiling filled with a fear that he had never seen in Nikita's eyes. Michael felt his heart begin to race as he swallowed.

"She took a coat hanger..... And a candle..." Nikita said and Michael closed his eyes a Nikita started to bounce her legs around. They weren't tied down, but in her reality, they were. Michael waited and waited as Nikita continued to struggle, as she was paralyzed by the memories.

"She put the coat hanger.. Into the candle... Turned it red...." Nikita softly said and she leaned her head back.

"NO MOM!!! NO!!! I WANT TO BE A MOMMY TOO!!! I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU!!!" Nikita screamed out and Michael swallowed back the contents of his stomach. He felt the sweat pour out of his body, not sure if he could bear to watch more of this.

"Nikita.. What did she do with the hanger?" Michael carefully questioned, hoping that this would help bring it to an end.

"NO MOM!!! PLEASE! NO!!" Nikita screamed and Michael rubbed her face. He leaned down to her ear.

"Do you see her? Tell me what she is doing, Nikita? Tell me... I can't see her.." Michael tenderly whispered into the ear. Nikita turned her head to the side and looked into Michael's eyes, but he could tell that to Nikita that he wasn't there.

"She took a bottle of alcohol... and dumped it on the hanger... and she made the men.... Hold me... as she.. She..." Nikita said and she rolled her head back to the back position.

"Please mom.. DON'T!" Nikita screamed out, as her body became rigid.

"She put it in you, right, Nikita?" Michael whispered and Nikita nodded her head up and down. Michael swallowed.

"Tell me where, Nikita.. You have too... Tell me where." Michael quietly urged as he waited. Suddenly Nikita turned her head and looked directly into Michael's eyes.

"Between my legs.. Where the men put their... Michael.. Just hold me. PLEASE!" Nikita cried out as she rolled her body down into his arms. Michael sighed out as he held her and cried with Nikita. The pain of a child, abused past the brink for years, becoming their pain. Michael rubbed Nikita's back softly and swallowed.

"Nikita... that was the past...." Michael finally said after several minutes. Nikita nodded her head into his shoulder. Michael continued to rock, not wanting it to end.

"I can still feel it... that rush of emptiness.... The searing pain... worse than anything... anything that Section did to me...." Nikita said and Michael closed his eyes again and held Nikita. In that place, the two of them, emotionally drained, fell asleep.

*

"Ouch."

Michael lifted his head as he looked around the room and felt Nikita's body moving on top of his. Michael rolled his head to the side and glanced at Nikita as she tried to pull her body up, but was stiffen with the muscles that had tightened during the exhaustive sleep.

"Nikita.. wait.." Michael whispered as he pulled his own arms out and tried to move. Michael felt instantly that Nikita was not the only one in the cramped state. They had fallen asleep where Michael had held Nikita after she had rolled off of the couch. That spot, being the space between the hotel couch and a large and heavy coffee table. It was not a lot of room for two grown adults and Michael moved stiffly to roll out from Nikita's body.

"Hold on..." Michael said as he shifted and reached down for Nikita as he felt the strain of his legs. He pulled Nikita up onto the couch and looked at her.

"Thank you." Nikita clearly said and Michael raised an eyebrow as he looked at Nikita. He was afraid to say anything more, afraid that it was his mind playing games with him that Nikita sounded so much more like the adult she was. Michael was clearly afraid to do anything as he slowly sat down on the couch and turned towards Nikita.

"It is nothing, Nikita." Michael responded as he searched her blue eyes and found none of the fear that was plaguing them for days and even weeks. Michael leaned in as Nikita carefully lifted her hand up and reached out for Michael.

"Thank you." Nikita said again as those blue eyes stared into the endless depths of Michael's eyes, seeking out the clear and defined definition of what she was thanking him for. Michael numbly nodded his head, not realizing that he had done the movement until Nikita's hand moved up to his chin and lightly rubbed it.

"Are you fine now?" Michael questioned as he reached his hands out and touched Nikita's arms. He lightly held her as he watched the eyes move back and forth, seeking out the answer to his question.

"None of us are fine. I'm better." Nikita stated and Michael leaned his head down and placed his thin lips against Nikita's forehead, feeling the warmth of her skin and feeling relief rush his body and soul.

"It takes time." Michael commented as he lifted his lips from the surface and turned his head down to view Nikita's body. She seemed better already, although he knew the demons were just starting to show themselves, that the demons would still win on some days while Nikita won on others.

"But you are here." Nikita carefully said as she lifted her eyes and looked at Michael again. There was now silence, as the eyes spoke to each other. Comforting Nikita's blue eyes that had just cried enough for an entire school of children. Comforting Michael's eyes, knowing that the will to live and to battle again was reborn in Nikita's. The silence was different than in the past, when Michael wanted to run away from the silence, to grab anything to make noise. Now, he wanted to wait, and to stay in that moment. To wrap his arms around Nikita and be frozen in that one pristine moment for all eternity.

Although problems with Oversight loomed overhead, nothing could break the spell as Michael picked Nikita up, enchanted with the spell of having her back, his Nikita, back in his arms again. The hours of sleep found on the floor disappeared like the seeds of a dandelion drifting off in the spring breeze, and nothing was remembered of the aches and pains.

Now, what mattered was a new sleep and of a new beginning. One with Michael holding the Nikita he knew and loved in his arms, to hold her as she deserved to be. A magical sleep where Nikita's heartbeat would grasp onto the next closest thing and mimic it, not out of need, but out of love. In tune in every moment, holding and grasping to that moment, realizing how precious and few those moments were. The bodies beating, breathing, and vibrating as one whole entity, one soul that had been pieced together from many parts.

Michael slowly parted his lips and raised Nikita's wrist to them, feeling the lips tremble as the heartbeat jumped from the wrist to his lips. To touch that area, to be connected to that area, in that one moment, was heaven four times over. His light eyelids closed as he drank in the feeling of that heartbeat, being part of his own body. The connection, one that he felt he would never have again or never be allowed to touch again. He never wanted to move his mouth or her wrist as it was the first real thing that he had a hold of, the first time that he had held Nikita, as Nikita, in almost a year. Months of wondering and worrying, brought down to one connection tenderly held on her wrist. The bliss of feeling the heartbeat race, to feel the wrist tremble out a pulse that was so connected to his, and to feel the vibration of the pulse of life to the very ends of his lips, was enough to die happy with.

"Forever..." Michael lightly whispered out as he lips brushed against the smooth skin and then settled again. The puff of air expelled from his mouth rolled down the wrist and over the palm and fingers. Nikita's eyes lightly twitched as she heard the words and felt the tingling sensation cross over her entire body. To know, that after all that had been done with her, that someone still wanted her, forever, was like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. She always felt that somewhere in the vast world she would find a man, that could take the good and the bad, that could nurse her past and mesh it with her future, but never did Nikita think she would find him here. To find that man, in Michael, to find a patient man that he seemed to be in the years she knew him. To find that man, in Michael, to find that in his eyes, she had done no wrong and was only one victim in a crime committed by hundreds. To be touched, forever, by the one that in her attempt to save his soul, saved her own.

*

Nikita gazed out of the window as Michael drove down the highway. He glanced over and smiled as her hand slightly moved with the music he placed on. Michael pulled his eyes back onto the road as he lightly swerved the car off of the middle of the road. He cursed himself for becoming so entranced by Nikita's gaze, as she seemed to be lulling her head around with the smoothness of the music.

Michael looked ahead as the night seemed to stretch endless on in front of the car. Yet, it was a beautiful night, filled with stars, and Michael's head drifted to view Nikita as her eyes fluttered as she looked up at the stars and lost herself in the music. Michael licked his lips as he pulled his attention back, finding it so hard to look at the black road in front of him, grateful for the emptiness found on the highway.

"Enjoying the music?" Michael softly whispered as he turned his head again, not able to drink enough of the sight of Nikita. He smiled, as she didn't even react to the sound of his voice, as her mind was so tied in with the crescendos and emotional paraphrases. Michael sighed as he allowed the music to drift into his mind.

Yet, being the driver, Michael pulled his mind out of it, seeing how Nikita could drift away with the sounds, letting her heart attach to the sounds and the rhythm. Michael looked off to the side and smiled as he saw the approaching overlook. Michael inhaled as he glanced at Nikita another time and slowly signaled to pull off to the side of the road.

"What is it?" Nikita softly questioned and Michael smiled as he reached out and touched Nikita's face softly. He looked around and made a long production of inhaling again, watching Nikita's eyes twinkle as she stared at him.

"Nothing.... Just needed a rest." Michael said as he pushed the car door open and looked around the dark night the couple found themselves in. Michael looked out over the little outlook at the valley below and then the stars above. He turned and pulled Nikita's door open.

"Come..." Michael, said as he reached his hand down to guide her out of the car. Nikita sighed as Michael nestled his arms around Nikita and moved her on the other side of the guardrail, the only light splitting the night from the dome light in the car. Michael placed Nikita down on the grass and turned back to the car.

"I'll be right there..." Michael whispered as he moved back to the car and pushed the CD on again, and the operatic music flooded the silent still night as Nikita looked around. Michael smiled and settled down behind her body.

"There..." Michael softly commented as he sat down and rubbed his hands down Nikita's arms. He smiled and leaned forward to view Nikita's eyes. Instinctively, Nikita leaned her head back and lightly sighed in time with the music.

"You like the music?" Michael whispered and Nikita turned her head back to view Michael as she took Michael's hands and folded them in front of her waist.

"I don't understand it." Nikita softly whispered out and Michael closed his eyes and felt the music lifting his soul, as his heart expanded being near Nikita, his Nikita.

My love che sei l'amore mio... Sento la tua voce e ascholto il more.. Sembra devvero il tuo respiro...

"My love, whoever you are, my love.. I hear your voice, yet I listen to the sea.. It sounds just like your breathing..." Michael softly whispered out into Nikita's ear. Her body relaxed even further, meshing with his in a way unfamiliar by both, yet, wanted by both.

L'amore che mi dai.. Questo amore che... Sta li nascosto...In mezzo all sue onde.. A tutte le sue onde.. Come una barca che...

"And all the love you want to give me.. This love.. That is there, hidden, hidden among the waves.. All the waves in the world... Just like a boat that..." Michael whispered as he glanced down at his hands and wrapped them around Nikita's. His fingers lightly rubbing the joints of her fingers, noticing the skin so soft and so smooth to his touch. To touch Nikita was a gift in itself, but to be with her, in that moment, Michael knew he found heaven on earth.

Guarda questa terra che... Che gira insieme a noi.. Anche quando e buio.. Guarda questa terra che.. Che gira anche per noi.. A darci un po'de sole, sole, sole...

"Looks at this world.. turning around, with us.. Even in the dark.. look at this world.. turning around, for us... giving us hope.. and some sun, sun, sun..." Michael whispered out as he leaned his head down and placed it on the raise of Nikita's shoulders. He closed his eyes as the music drifted off and he felt Nikita's entire body sigh in happiness.

No words could describe the peacefulness that found those two souls together on that grassy overlook in the middle of the night. A romantic image of lovers, wrapped in each other's arms, grabbing a moment to tender for the disenchanted to understand and grasp. Solace and healing growing like a vine, wrapping the being of Michael forever with the being of Nikita.

In the pause between songs, Nikita shifted and leaned her lanky body back further, finding warmth inside of Michael's arms unlike any other warmth ever found before. A place of security and a place of adornment were inside of those arms that didn't squeeze, but held comfortably snug around Nikita's body.

I pray you'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go.. And help us to be wise, in times when we don't know.. Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way.. Lead us to the place, guide us with your grace.. To a place where we'll be safe...

"I pray you'll be our eyes.." Michael tenderly whispered in Nikita's ear as she turned around and smiled at the joke. She smiled and looked at his eyes and then closed her eyes, not wanting to tell Michael to stop. Something in his voice, sooth better than any ointment or treatment found on earth. Michael smiled and placed his head back down near Nikita's, his head lightly touching hers.

"I love you, Nikita..." Michael softly whispered as he looked up and looked at Nikita's eyes, softly shut, finding sleep again. Michael smiled and pressed a kiss to her cheek, waiting for the song, The Prayer, to finish before thinking of continuing back to Nikita's apartment.

*

The numbers ran in front of Birkoff as he carefully scanned the numbers. He was looking for the missing money in a drug dealer's account, but so far, could not find the missing money. Birkoff rubbed his head and sighed as he dropped it down to look at the keyboard. His frustration was known to all about the area.

"Can I get some Mt. Dew?" Birkoff questioned as he lifted his head and looked about. His eyes stopped and his heart began to race as the figure moved closer to him. Birkoff felt the sweat trickling down from his head and swallowed as he tried to break his glare off of the man.

"I don't think that is necessary for the young man." George said firmly as he stared at Birkoff. Birkoff again swallowed, trying to get moisture back to his mouth, but his body had stopped all production. Birkoff blinked his eyes and then turned his head again.

"Why don't you tell me where Nikita is hiding?" George said as he leaned forward and over onto Birkoff's computer. Birkoff blinked his eyes and stared at George with an intensity that one often did not associate with Birkoff. He moved his hands over the keyboard in a practice, rehearsed, and automatic motion, the finger-strikes going unnoticed by George.

"I don't know where she is." Birkoff replied and George looked over his shoulder and nodded his gray head up and down. He had lost a significant amount of weight, due to the way Oversight treated him up until when they placed him back in his position. To everyone in Section One, it was the stupidest thing Oversight ever did.

George continued to nod his head and he turned back with his piercing eyes glued to Birkoff's head. In a movement made by surprise, George grabbed Birkoff over the computer and pulled him up from the seat.

"Don't lie to me, boy." George said and Birkoff continued to stare at the older man, knowing that he would never give up Nikita, not after knowing the details of what George did to Nikita. Birkoff raised his head, even with George's tight grip around his neck and winced.

"I do not know where Nikita is." Birkoff hissed out and George pulled Birkoff as he made his quick way around the computers, finding no game in Birkoff. He wanted the information and to be done with this little power struggle Madeline set up. To George, there was nothing Section One could do to prove that Nikita was no a danger to them and to Oversight. Nikita had used both of their computer systems do to what she wanted to get rid of Operations.

"I will take you to the White Room, boy. Now answer my question." George growled out and Birkoff only blinked his eyes, holding a blank stare that one day might be compared to Michael's.

"Put him down." Walter gruffly said as he pulled a gun out and pointed it to George. George looked to Walter and smiled as his hands retracted from Birkoff's neck and clothing. He allowed Birkoff to drop to the floor before smiling at Walter.

"I see we meet again, old friend." George said as he moved towards Walter. In a similar and firm fashion, Walter held the gun steady with eyes of stone as he narrowed his eyes on George. There was no love lost between the two, as their story of acquaintance goes back to a time before both of them even knew what a gun was.

"Let's get this straight, George... the day you become my friend, is the day Bill Clinton tells the truth." Walter hissed out and George nodded his head with a smile.

"Glad to see that you say abreast of the political situations. It had been your downfall in the past." George said and Walter nodded his head and frowned. He looked to the gun and then down the barrel to the moving George.

"Stand right there, George. Don't make another move." Walter said as his right eye closed, readying himself to take the shot, angling perfect to rip through the heart, and to cause death, several hours later.

"You can't do anything, Walter." George said and Walter lifted his head up and looked around. None of the operatives were going to stop him and he narrowed his eyes as he aimed again.

"I am the one with the gun." Walter firmly stated and George nodded his head.

"Enough." Madeline said as she appeared from the hallway. Walter continued to aim as Madeline approached. She stepped to the side of Walter and pulled the gun down out of his hands. Walter looked at Madeline and shook his head.

"We could be done with him, Madeline. You know who he wants." Walter said in a warning tone and Madeline blinked her eyes as she switched her focus to George. George sweetly smiled at Madeline and moved towards her. Madeline turned and looked at George.

"Why don't you leave, George? Before you get killed. I can't stop them all." Madeline said and George looked around and shook his head from side to side.

"I can't. I am to cancel Nikita." George said and Madeline smirked as she looked around. The operatives turned to look at each other and Madeline turned back towards George.

"Has anyone seen Nikita?" Madeline called out around the area. She slowly took a visual poll of the area, all of the operatives shaking their heads no, as she knew they would. Madeline smiled and stood up straight.

"She isn't here." Madeline replied and George swallowed.

"This isn't over." George said and Madeline smiled and turned to Walter, handing him the gun.

"If he doesn't leave in the next five minutes.. Kill him." Madeline said and moved out of the area. George watched as Madeline moved down the hallway, actually talking to operatives as she went. George looked at Walter and saw the barrel lined up on his body again.

"Till the next time." George said as he raised his arm to Walter. Walter looked around and snarled. Next time you'll have a bullet in your heart." Walter growled out and George turned his back and left. Walter continued to watch, before turning back to Birkoff.

"Pull everything we have on that bastard... I'll kill him myself." Walter said as he placed the gun down on Birkoff's desk and went back to work. Birkoff raised his eyebrows and emitted a low whistle at the comment before turning back to the cycling numbers, still looking for the mission money.

*

It was like coming home to a different place and a different time. To Nikita, it was like she had never returned to the apartment that was hers so long ago. The weeks that she had spent there with Michael were like dust on a shelf, and those memories had been cleaned away with one swipe of a cloth. There was no tension as Michael helped Nikita up the stairs.

Laughter had replaced that tension that once existed between the two. Michael's hands sliding up Nikita's side, nudging each tender spot that yielded only more of the infectious laughter that filled Michael's heart with something better than any drug of pleasure could offer. In fact, the laughter was contagious as he looked up at Nikita's flush face.

"You are beautiful." Michael commented as he held her waist, but her hands moved around to his neck and Michael slightly smiled, as he could not maintain his straight face. The small laugh, started as a slight upward trend in his lips, and only escaped like a small peep from a little chick following its mother. Yet, it's effect on Nikita only increased her pleasurable laughter, and in a hurried state, Michael didn't lift Nikita's body up enough and rammed the bottom of her cast leg against the stair.

"OWH!!" Nikita howled out in pain as Michael stumbled forward, now losing his own battle with the giggles. Yet, he had enough presence of mind to turn Nikita around and to set her carefully on the stairs before falling forward, surrendering to the giggle fit that trembled through his body.

"Michael..." Nikita giggled out as she leaned forward and placed a hand on Michael's leg as she tried to pull herself together. Nikita leaned up and then viewed her cast. It brought the reality back of what she was trying to forget. It was nice for the drive home, not to think about the pain, and it was nice for the moments like the one on the stairs, to listen to Michael laugh, because he wanted too. Nikita blinked her eyes, as she didn't notice Michael's own laughter ceasing as he turned and viewed her.

"What is it, Nikita?" Michael softly whispered as he reached out and looked at Nikita's eyes that had once been filled with the childlike merriment that he thought they would never have, now turned into the serious ones that now plagued her entire body. Slowly, Nikita knocked at the cast and looked towards the wall.

"It just hurts." Nikita softly commented and Michael nodded his head, grasping a meaning of what Nikita was saying. It was more than just the pain of the leg, and the pain of needing constant attention. It was the pain of everything. Although he tried to comfort Nikita about her long stay in her regressed state, she continued to degrade herself for being weak. Michael tried to explain to Nikita that it was needed, that the childhood memories needed to surface so she could grow into a better person. Michael was sure that the argument was heard on death ears.

"The leg." Michael softly stated as he reached out and touched the cast. He raised his eyes from the white cast and looked into her eyes. "Or your heart?"

Nikita blinked as she turned her head away from Michael. Michael, sensing the move before Nikita even started, reached his hand out and stopped Nikita's head from retreating away from his face and his look. Yet, her eyes moved away, avoiding him and Michael sighed.

"I should never have been that bad." Nikita softly stated and Michael looked at Nikita and stroked her face. HE then dropped his hand and took Nikita's hand.

"Your body needed you to admit it. What would be a mistake now, is to pretend that it didn't happen." Michael commented and Nikita blinked her eyes, wanting to stop the tears again, knowing that she had cried enough.

"It's hard, Michael." Nikita stated out as she closed her eyes again. "Damn hard."

Michael nodded his head, knowing the truth of the statement. He also knew that big step that Nikita had taken, to admit that it was going to be a hard process. "I'll be here."

"I know you will, Michael... I don't know why you want me... but I know it." Nikita softly said and Michael leaned in closer to Nikita. He tilted his head to the side and rubbed her arms and then her side softly, making her look into his eyes.

"You are going to stop that, right now." Michael commented and Nikita shook her head, pretending as if she didn't know what Michael was speaking about. She rubbed her hands together and looked into Michael's eyes.

"What?" Nikita questioned although it was clear that she knew the answer, from the tone. Michael leaned forward and lightly grazed her lips before settling back down. Nikita looked at the long lines of his neck as he swallowed softly.

"You did nothing wrong. You have to stop looking at what was done to you.... And realize the person you are now." Michael said and Nikita pusher her arms up, in an attempt to stand up and leave the situation. Michael leaned his body down onto hers and pinned her to the stairs.

"Please, Nikita." Michael said and she stiffly nodded her head. She swallowed and looked to the wall. Michael smiled and ran his hands down her side, finding the ticklish spots again and played with those spots as she started to giggle on the stairs.

"Ok.. Now that your white cast as cleaned the dirty stairs.. I think it is time we get you back into bed." Michael said as he stood up and reached down to Nikita's waist. Nikita stood up on the stairs and laughed as Michael as his hands held her waist, but continued to make her laugh.

"Only if you join me, Michael." Nikita naughtily commented as she leaned her arms up and jumped up the stair. Michael smiled as they reached the top of the stairs. He reached out and playfully grabbed Nikita from behind and moved swiftly down the hall.

"What's all this for?" Nikita questioned as Michael abruptly set her down by the door. Michael reached into his pockets for the keys as his mouth plunged Nikita's lips for the first searing kiss between the two.

"Well... you said you wanted to go to bed with me." Michael smiled as he winked his eye. His hand reached out and nimbly opened the door. Nikita giggled as Michael started to tickle her sides.

"I'm going to find were you are ticklish Michael... be it your feet.. your armpits.. or your..." Nikita said with an impish smile. Michael laughed as he entered the closed the door for the both of them.

"Sorry, but that threat is going to have to wait." Madeline said as she stepped out of the bedroom. Nikita leaned back into Michael's arms, being snapped too quickly back to the reality of Section One, just after being brought back to the land of the living.

*

Michael looked to the bedroom and slowly moved his head to view Madeline as she paced back and forth in the kitchen. He was starting to feel split between the two people in the room, yet, in his heart, he knew that the loyalty laid within Nikita now. In that release of Nikita's pain, Michael's connection to her life and being was cemented in stone and nothing would be able to chisel it away.

"Nikita... We don't have time." Madeline said as she looked up from the sink and towards the same bedroom that Michael was looking off towards. Michael looked to Madeline and shook his head as he moved away from Madeline, finding her approach harsh and without refinement, so unlike the old Madeline he knew.

"Give me some time." Michael said as he turned his broad back to view Madeline. She placed her hands on her hips as she leaned her dark body towards him.

"We don't have that. George is on his way in, Michael. He is going to find her and kill her before we have the chance to even plan to defend her." Madeline said sternly, afraid that the seriousness of the situation was not getting cleanly across to Michael. Michael turned and walked up the stairs to view Nikita as she sat on the bed.

"Nikita..." Michael softly said as he sat down next to her, seeing the fresh batch of tears on her face. He winced and dried them. "You don't have to do this by yourself this time."

"I know, Michael." Nikita responded as she rolled her hands nervously overtop of each other, continuing the motion as if in an obsessive manner. Michael looked on, worried that of all things, the threat of George ending her life would throw her back to where she was only days ago. In that case, Michael was sure that death would be Nikita's only escape.

"I need a phone... a cell phone with a scrambler." Nikita softly said as she dropped her head and looked at her cast. Their joy, their playfulness was now just a memory, like it was another day and place. There would be no more laughter this day, and Nikita began to doubt if there would be laughter again. She watched carefully as Michael moved out of the room and motioned for Madeline. Nikita knew that Madeline would have the identified equipment and was surprised at how quickly Michael returned with the items.

"Tell me what is going on." Michael whispered as he handed Nikita the phone. Nikita parted her lips, as she thought, and then pulled them back together. She glanced at the phone and then up to Michael.

"This may not work. You and Madeline should leave." Nikita said and Michael leveled his stern gray eyes onto Nikita and she smiled. That statement was impossible for Michael to accept and Nikita knew so. "I did warn you."

Nikita lifted the phone and started to punch the numbers as she looked up into Michael's eyes. The number had been memorized from the first time that she saw it, by accident. Sometimes, George forgot that Section one had trained Nikita extremely well. In fact, Nikita realized that other than the power, Oversight did not have the training and abilities as did Section One. It was one of the reasons why Oversight lured highly efficient operatives away from Section One.

Nikita lifted the phone to her ear and swallowed, hoping that she had been correct, that it wasn't a piece of dummy information that George gave her, knowing that it would fail her. She closed her eyes as the phone rang for the fourth ominous tone, now as fear ran through her body for her life. She wanted to live, and she wanted for Section One to live.

"Hello?" A deep feminine voice answered on the other end and Nikita caught her breath and licked her lips as she looked away from Michael. He was distracting her, making her nervous, making Nikita realize what she would lose if this failed.

"Maleficent." Nikita said slowly as she closed her eyes as if the word, the name was a poison that would now take her life as she spoke it. She felt ever muscle contract within her thin frame, vibrating with her revving heart.

"Yes. Who is this?" Maleficent responded with a deep voice that made Nikita's entire stomach lurched. She bit down on her bottom lip and gasped.

"Pray tell.. Who is this?" Maleficent responded again, almost sounding a bit nicer. Nikita dropped her head and rubbed her hands together.

"I was Foxhound." Nikita slowly responded and Michael stepped out of the room with the name. Nikita knew that his own ugly memories from months ago were resurfacing and she gasped, hoping that in what might be her last few hours, that Michael didn't hate her again for the past.

"Nikita." Maleficent said and Nikita closed her eyes, not able to stop her body from the continuing trembling that plagued the poor and tired body. Nikita's free hand clenched the sheet on her bed as she found it difficult to concentrate on anything. She looked to the side and saw Madeline huddled with Michael.

"Yes... Nikita..." Nikita slowly affirmed as she fought with her body, commanding it to give control back to her mind and her wants. Nikita stared at her hand as she clenched her mouth, preparing herself for battle.

"Dear child.. I thought you were dead... for some time now." Maleficent said and Nikita cringed and opened her mouth. Yet, again, nothing came out of the mouth, as Nikita gained the reigns of her immediate reactions and pretended to act like Michael. It was going to be the only way she was going to get herself through all of this.

"I will be soon if George has his way." Nikita commented forcefully, blinking her own eyes in shock of the voice that resounded its way out of Nikita's throat. She blinked those blue eyes a few more times, finding the strength again, a strength that had gotten her through the tortures of being dead, of finding her sister, of being on drugs, and facing her own hellish childhood. The strength never left here was just misplaced along the way. Now, it was found like a long forgotten Christmas gift, that Nikita eagerly pulled open and used without hesitation.

"No, child.. Now George is dead... I saw it with my own eyes." Maleficent said and Nikita suppressed a little laugh and then pulled on her head serious face.

"Then why did have a show down with Walter in the middle of Section One, demanding for my cancellation." Nikita hissed out, finding this game immensely a waste of time. She knew the longer that she stayed in this apartment, the percentage of George finding her and killing her went up.

"Listen... You need to get to Section One... go to Level 4.. There is a room there... the Cauldron room..." Maleficent explained and Nikita swallowed and listened intensely, knowing that there was only one time for directions.

"You'll find a bank of computers there... In it.. You'll find a file named Jade. You need to pull it up, and use it. I cannot get to Section One before the time George will find you." Maleficent said and Nikita swallowed and nodded her head, although the woman could not see her.

"Who are you?" Nikita questioned softly, wondering who she was trusting with all of the lives within Section One, and the life of Michael's.

"I am Oversight's boss, Nikita. Go now....." Maleficent said and Nikita started to pull her body up from the bed, looking towards Michael and Madeline. Michael saw the movement and slowly stepped his body towards the room, seeing Nikita's eagerness to leave her room. "What you may find is not pleasant."

"I didn't expect it would be." Nikita said as she hung up the phone. She threw it to the bed and swallowed as Michael walked up the stairs.

"Let's get back to Section One.. Before we are surrounded." Nikita said and Michael stopped as they all heard the noise. Michael grabbed Nikita and his gun in the same movement. Madeline snapped her gun out and shot through the door three times before kicking it open. Died on the floor were three men. Michael moved to Madeline's back and Nikita sighed and grabbed Michael's other gun.

"I may not be able to walk.. But I still can shoot." Nikita hissed.

*

The doors slid open as Michael heaved Nikita's body up into his arms and ran deep into the hallways. Nikita looked at Michael and motioned towards his office. Madeline waited as the doors shut and she pushed the buttons, trying to set a trap to slow George. She knew that he had the codes, but hoped that he would neglect to think she would set the device on.

Madeline pulled her heals off and moved down the hallway, issuing the operatives orders as she moved. She looked to the office of Michael's and moved in.

"What is going on, Nikita?" Madeline demanded as she looked at Nikita sitting in the chair. Nikita looked to the computer and sighed as she felt a headache filling her mind up.

"I have to use the computer for a while.... Just buy us time." Nikita said and Madeline's eyes narrowed. Nikita looked to Michael and sighed.

"I know what I am talking about. Just get some defensive forces ready.. Because if he is coming in her to take me out.. He is coming in here to take down Section One." Nikita said to Michael. He looked at Nikita and swallowed. He didn't know whom Nikita had talked too, but that was not the concern right now. Nikita was right, they needed to bring the operatives up to speed and to man the posts before George had the masses of Oversight swarming down over Section One, again.

Michael sighed and turned out of the office. Nikita waited as she heard Madeline's protests, claiming that she knew that Nikita was up to more. Michael continued to walk, just for that fact, that Nikita was up to something that she didn't want to involve Michael with. He knew that in that moment to push the issue would be counterproductive. If Nikita needed to complete something before accepting his help, so be it. Michael was going to circle back in a few minutes, after he made sure that Section One was ready to defend Nikita and the world they created now with Madeline.

"I'm going to get that bastard... wrap my hands around his neck.. And slowly pull at his.." Walter hissed out as he jammed a clip into the gun and shoved it into his jeans. Michael stared at Walter and his mouth ceased before he went into further graphic detail of the torture he wanted to inflict on George.

"I want you to help the front line, Walter." Michael said and Walter lifted his head and growled.

"Shoot to kill, right?" Walter growled out and Michael turned to the side and rubbed his neck. He wanted it to be shoot to kill; yet Madeline had not specified that. Michael blinked his eyes.

"When we are under attack, is there another way of handling it?" Michael questioned and Walter nodded his head as he pulled out a rifle and clicked it quickly, his eyes starting to grow in a powerful rage that Michael knew stemmed back to other personal issues with George.

"I want him, Michael... I will take care of George..." Walter hissed and Michael moved forward and leveled his eyes to Walter. Walter's glare didn't move as Michael's matched his intensity.

"Personally, I think Nikita could inflict more damage... If anything, we want George alive." Michael said as he stepped back out of the area. "Yet, it doesn't mean you can't injury, threaten, and pound him."

"A man after my heart." Walter commented as he turned around as operatives marched into his area. He was bringing out the good supplies, the stockpiles of weapons. This was his Section One and he'd be damned if George thought he was going to destroy it again while he stood inside of it.

Michael moved down the hallway as a muffled sound of gun battle started from some distance. Michael moved quickly to his office and pulled the door open. In there, was a sight to be seen. Nikita had pulled out a knife, and had been sawing away at the cast that held her leg. He could see if anything, she had stabbed herself pretty well, instead of breaking free from the cast.

"What are you doing?" Michael hissed as he pulled the knife out of Nikita's hand. She lifted her head and looked towards the door.

"I have to get somewhere... and I can't risk you." Nikita said and Michael leaned down and stared into Nikita's eyes.

"Do you think you have a choice in this, Nikita? George is entering the building." Michael warned out and Nikita's throat clenched and she tried to shake her head. There was never enough time for Nikita and she swallowed. "Whatever your great plan is, I sure hope you do something soon."

"I have to get to Level 4.. To the Cauldron Room." Nikita said and Michael swallowed and emitted a hiss, indicating that he had heard some of what was in that room.

"Even you can't go there... That is the failsafe of the world, Nikita.... That is..." Michael said and Nikita lifted her head and stared at Michael.

"I tried to access the file I needed, Michael.. I need to be in that room.. And George won't be looking for me in there." Nikita said and Michael swallowed as he reached out for Nikita, as the gun battle seemed to be getting closer. Nikita stood up on her good leg, the chase about to begin.

"DAMN! SUGAR! GET OUT OF HERE!!! HE IS RIGHT THERE!" Walter hissed as he stood at the door that Michael flung open. Walter stared and shot three men as Michael pulled Nikita's body quickly down a hallway. Luckily for both Level 4 was not far, and Michael seemed to know where he was heading.

Walter turned as the couple disappeared out of sight and swallowed. That was when George turned the corner. Walter aimed the gun and frowned.

"Don't move." Walter hissed and George tilted his head to the side.

"Just tell me where Nikita and Michael went, and you can live Walter..." George said and Walter looked around and frowned.

"I think you have that wrong." Walter hissed as he cocked the trigger and looked at George again.

"KILL THE LIGHTS!" Madeline screamed, and suddenly, the gun battle stopped, as everyone on that level, was plunged into a darkness, that would take minutes for the eyes to adjust too, and minutes for Michael and Nikita to make their escape to wherever Nikita needed to be.

*

The room was not that different from other rooms found in Section One. It was not difficult to gain entry into, and Nikita looked around as she looked at the computers.

"They aren't locked into the mainframe." Nikita commented as she moved to a computer and lightly pressed on the buttons. Michael stood off in the distance and looked out the door, as if being a guard for Nikita's life. Nikita rubbed her cheek and looked at Michael.

"What if this is a trap, Michael?" Nikita questioned and Michael turned and looked at her. He could feel her worries and he could sympathize with her. It was a distinct possibility. "Do we have anything to lose?"

"It is what Maleficent told me to do, Michael." Nikita whispered as she punched in her Oversight access code. The whole room began to buzz as another door slid across the opening that Michael had been protecting. Nikita arched an eyebrow at Michael, who still was reeling from the events.

"Who is Maleficent?" Michael questioned and Nikita frowned as her eyes started to study the files. Instantly, Nikita got a rush of feeling that she couldn't be alone, and she turned her head back around to look at Michael.

"Come sit with me." Nikita stated as she looked at the chair not far from the one that she sat in. Michael pulled the chair close to Nikita and looked at the computer screen. There were files there that he had never seen of and never heard of.

"Maleficent has some power over George... who she believed until I called, was dead." Nikita stated as she used the cursor to locate the file named Jade. Nikita took a deep breath and entered the file.

Project Jade: Producing and maintaining a population suitable for recruitment into Section One

"That doesn't sound good." Nikita commented as she looked at Michael. Michael leaned into her body, feeling the same thing overcome his system also. Protectively, he wrapped his arms around Nikita as she leaned into the computer screen and depressed the enter button.

There is a significant population class that can be harvested and used to produce offspring into a bag social context, where as, will create a recruit by the time the age of adolescence occurs.

"They wouldn't do something like this..." Nikita said as her heartbeat began to race. Michael looked at Nikita's face as her eyes narrowed down, focusing on the screen. Michael's own jaw tensed up.

The social context will breed the deviant behavior needed to commit the crimes and those in subject group can be monitored until harvest can be collected and used within the Section One context.

"Nikita... let's stop.. We know enough.." Michael whispered as his body trembled out, feeling a fear of what else would be revealed. His hand covered Nikita's but her head shook back and forth.

"Maleficent said I had to use what I found.. And that it wouldn't be pleasant." Nikita hissed out and Michael shook his head and rubbed Nikita's back.

"I don't think she knows what you have been through... I can't stand looking at this." Michael commented firmly, but he could feel Nikita's arms move, and click on the profile they called incubators.

Incubators will be known women of promiscuous behavior. Due to new medical knowledge, new drugs can be introduced into the women in a drink, which will enhance the percentage of the incubator to conceiving and maintaining a pregnancy with the next sexual partner. Those sexual partners will be men currently inside Section One, as they have the wanted skills and characteristics of a Section One operative.

"No.... No..." Nikita started to mutter out as she stared at the computer screen. Michael could not stop Nikita's movements as she hit the list of donors. Nikita's mouth started to tremble as she saw operatives that she actually used.

"They used... Operations..." Nikita whispered as she pointed to the name. She felt her heart pounding against her chest. She closed her eyes and scrolled down the screen.

"And Geoff from medical." Michael commented as Nikita lifted her eyes, knowing the age of the men. Nikita gasped along with Michael as the next name appeared.

Walter Williams

Michael reached out and shook his head, trying to turn off the computer. Nikita pushed forward and continued down the screen.

Donors will not be told the name of their incubator and the nature of the drugs they will give to the incubator, so that in years when the offspring enters Section One, as they are harvested, no biological link will be known.

Michael saw the next link and shook his head. He reached out and pulled the chair around and stared at Nikita.

"This can't be about you, Nikita.... I know it is awful.. But no reason to continue on with this..." Michael said and Nikita looked at Michael and continued to shake her head.

"But I can... I have to know.. If Section One maliciously produced me in my mother.. And threw me to wolves... so they I become a precious operative that they needed." Nikita hissed out and Michael looked into Nikita's eyes. He wanted to spare her pain, but also knew that if she did not look in the rest of the file, that she would be haunted by it for the years to come.

Nikita's hands pushed the button and she swallowed as she started down the screen.

Roberta Wirth

"NO!" Nikita screamed as she collapsed forward. Michael's own mouth dropped as he held the screaming Nikita in his arms. She rocked back and forth, shaking her head.

"No.... Please.. I know my mom did awful things to me.. But this is worse... How could they...." Nikita hissed out and Michael tried to focus out on the screen. There was one more link. Michael wanted to know that if they linked the fathers up with the mothers, and he hit the link, sure that Nikita was not paying attention to it as her body started to dry heave.

Experiment started by George... stopped with the successful induction of one hundred incubators.

Michael read the last line and held Nikita, as she tried to gain a balance. Gone where the words that George was going to attack her, and kill her. Gone was the fact that she was to save Section One with this information. Michael didn't see how this could help Nikita in that crusade. She was emotionally distraught, even after Michael's own care to bring her back, the betrayal now, done and initiated by Section One, was worse than her mother savagely ripping Nikita's baby out of her body.

Michael shot up, thinking for a second that maybe Nikita jumped to the wrong conclusions. Maybe Karin was the baby that Section One produced inside of her mother. Michael looked at the dates and side, knowing with one look, of the situation and planned nature of Nikita's own existence.

In those moments, it did not matter what George did above. Michael could see the questions running through Nikita's mind, wondering which one of the men where her father. He could see her trembling with the thought that Operations was her father. He didn't know what to do, but to hold onto her, and hope that she didn't regress back. He felt that if she went back now, that there would be no rescue of Nikita.

*

Walter stopped in his tracks finding the darkness a friend in his battle against George. A friend to which he would get the upper hand. Walter closed his eyes and waited as the adjustment to the lack of light occurred, trying to become one with the dark.

"Don't stop. Find Nikita and cancel her!" George ordered out to his men as Walter got down on his knees and started to move in the dark.

"You won't find her." Madeline's voice echoed in the darkness as Walter crept towards George's voice.

"I can bring the lights back up, Madeline. You aren't the only one who knows the codes." George rudely commented as he moved towards the computers. He knew that he was exposing himself as he moved, his voice giving off a general location of where he was.

"Stop George." Walter said as stopped and leveled the gun. He knew where George was, just on the edge of the computer desk.

"I doesn't matter if you have the codes...I destroyed the power lines." Madeline commented, trying to maintain an upper hand on the conversation. She looked into the dark, knowing of the game of strategy and tag that was playing out on the floor. She silently prayed that when Walter did take a shot, that he was correct in his assessment of his victim.

"Put your gun down, Walter.... Little boy.. Put down your gun.. Well... this little boy goes to play with your mommy." George taunted out and Walter dropped his head, closing an eye, feeling the presence of George only feet from where he knelt, knowing that he was aiming correctly.

"Madeline..." Birkoff whispered softly as he could feel George's breath on his legs. Birkoff looked around, never one that liked the dark, and he still slept with a nightlight on. He jumped into the air as the hand wrapped down onto his shoulder.

"What is it?" Madeline whispered into his ear, as she could feel the deadly tension in Birkoff's body. She looked off to the side and swallowed and could barely make the outline of George.

"Someone is on level four.. In the Cauldron room." Birkoff whispered and Madeline stepped back as the outline of George sprung out.

"NO!" George screamed as he ran towards the computer. He tripped and continued to move, until the gun was pressed firmly into his spine.

"YES. Now, don't you move." Walter said as he moved around to aim directly at the man as his body trembled. Walter glared at him and slowly looked around and freed his one hand.

"Don't feel that powerful now, do you?" Walter whispered as he leaned into George's ear. He spat into the ear and dove his hand down into the man's crotch, twisting the area ruthlessly, knowing that no matter how much George suffered; it would not be enough.

"Madeline.. You have to stop her!" George cried out as the tears ran down his face. Madeline could see the man now, seeing his pain and seeing his panic. It worried Madeline, the tone was not revengeful, but out of pain. Madeline swallowed and continued to stare as the lights began to flutter back on.

The situation was easily assessed and those men from Oversight dropped their weapons as George was pinned against the computer desk. Madeline leaned forward and stared at his gray hair before looking down to his eyes.

"Why do I have to stop her?" Madeline questioned and George shook his head. Madeline looked around and then down to Birkoff.

"Who turned on the lights?" Madeline questioned as Birkoff typed quickly. He rubbed his nose lightly as he turned his head up to view Madeline.

"That would be Nikita." Birkoff replied. Madeline tilted her head to the side, almost feeling that the action indicated a rage from inside of Nikita. The problem was not knowing what it was about, and what the Cauldron room was about.

"Tell the lady what you know." Walter hissed as he used his hand to twist again. George shook his head from side to side, he knew the information and knew that it did not only involve Nikita. There were other operatives inside of Section One right this very moment, who were also involved. Nikita's case had been the extreme, but George knew that to say it would certainly sign his death warrant.

"You can hurt me as much as you would like to Walter..... I can not and will not tell of what is in the Cauldron room." George pronounced and Walter pulled his hand away from the back and instantly snapped a bullet into his upper thigh.

"That's my job." Nikita firmly hissed as she entered the ear, a shotgun directly pointing at George's head. The operatives all ran in different ways, as did Walter, Madeline, and Birkoff. George turned and looked at Nikita and swallowed. The secrets of the room were about to be found out, and it would be hell to pay for everyone that was directly involved. George trembled as he noticed Michael slowly entering the scene, but showing no resolve Nikita from her actions. George swallowed and smiled at Nikita.

"So good to see you my dear." George commented and Nikita nodded her head as her eyes narrowed.

"Shut up, George." Nikita spat out and George dropped his head, rescinding the power to Nikita, as the shotgun ruled Section One.

*

There was a tense silence as Nikita, with a leg still on a cast, willfully walked towards George, not caring what occurred to her body now. She lined the shotgun up to his head and grounded her teeth together, looking like a bear about to attack a person that had taken its cubs.

"Kill her." George grunted out and Nikita lifted her head, as if to dare anyone to kill her. If she didn't tell the truth, she knew that Michael would. She was on the verge of her own breakdown, again. This time, Nikita knew it. She shook her head back and forth and looked at George, not willing to break her own silence, knowing that once she started, the end result would end with George dead.

"What is it, Nikita?" Madeline whispered and Nikita swallowed. It was in that moment that Michael turned his head and Madeline looked back at Nikita. Something had plunged Nikita deeper into a hole that she was trying to tread water in. She was on her last gasping breaths from what Madeline could tell.

"Tell them, George... Tell them about Project Jade." Nikita hissed out and George turned his head, as he knew exactly what Nikita knew. It would either split Section One into pieces, or unite it in a way never seen before.

"How many of us exist? How many of us are in Section, GEORGE." Nikita firmly continued, her words gaining momentum and emphasis. George sighed and looked away from the shotgun that was now only inches from his face. He did not doubt that Nikita would use it, yet he was sure that Nikita was seeking out information that he didn't even know.

"I don't know, Nikita. We stopped tracking the project." George said and Nikita shook her head in short jerks.

"You stopped....... YOU." Nikita stated firmly and she waited as George nodded his head up and down, indicating that he alone was the force behind what happened. "Who is my father?"

"WHAT?" Madeline exclaimed and Nikita looked directly at Madeline, her eyes appearing as cold as frozen glaciers.

"George.... Project Jade... tell Madeline what was to do... TELL HER!" Nikita hissed as she pushed the shotgun a fraction of an inch closer to his face. She could see the sweat rolling down his face, but that didn't give her enough pleasure. She wanted this man to hurt like she had... to feel every ounce of pain that she had in her life. She wanted George to live her life, to know how he destroyed it.

"Project Jade was a way to procure recruits for Section One, using current operatives and rather... ah, women with loose moral codes... in order to produce and spawn a recruit." George said and Madeline looked to Nikita and shuddered herself. The words echoed in Madeline's own head, over and over again, feeling the hatred and evilness of the words. Sensing that nothing good ever came of the project as the evidence stood in front of her today, as Nikita.

"Who is my father?" Nikita firmly questioned again, and George did not budge. "Was it Operations? Geoff from medical? Walter?" Nikita hissed out and Walter turned and stared at George, feeling the hatred for George boil to a point again.

"No man... you told me... you told me when those missions were going on that it wouldn't do anything.. That nothing would occur.... Do you know how many men did those?" Walter hissed out and Nikita inched forward, at this point, beyond the counter conversations that were occurring.

"I don't know who, Nikita... We did that on purpose." George said and Nikita's entire body trembled and Madeline was sure that she would pull the trigger in that second.

"Not good enough." Nikita spat out heavily as her eyes darkened, almost looking black to everyone around.

"Did you know what my mother would do to me?" Nikita questioned.

"I didn't track after you were born.... The project wasn't liked by Oversight.. And discontinued." George replied and Nikita nodded her head.

"Yes.. It was discontinued... and you gave the wrong numbers to Oversight too.... You reported one hundred human incubators..... But we found the real number.... I wasn't in the reported number, was I?" Nikita firmly said, knowing that her words were the truth that nothing George could say to make them go away.

"Yes... You were one of the two thousand I didn't report." George said and Nikita felt the tears running down her face. She cursed herself for being weak again, feeling that her run away almost over, knowing that the mental reality of what was going on, was now finding her physical weaknesses.

"You knew what my mother would do to me!" Nikita hissed out, losing that hold on the thread of sanity. Michael pushed away from his frozen position, sensing the end was near. He looked over Nikita's shoulder and connected with Madeline's eyes. Hers were filled with fear, knowing where Nikita's hatred and rage was heading her too.

"I don't know what you are talking about." George bluntly said and Nikita gasped in and out, almost hyperventilating in a few gasps.

"YOU MADE HER HAVE A CHILD SHE DIDN'T WANT! A CHILD SHE HAD MEN RAPE HER! A CHILD THAT SHE MADE SURE WAS PREGNANT AND THEN VICIOUSLY RIP AND TEAR IT OUT OF HER BODY!" Nikita hissed out, so focused on George that all others in the area went to the wayside.

"Who is my father?" Nikita whispered out, as the tears would not stop rolling. She had no control as she stepped forward and pressed the shotgun to George's forehead, her body off a sudden, stopped twitching.

"I don't know." George said with just a tinge of regret. Nikita shook her head, finding nothing in the man to like, to spare his life. He deserved to die. Nikita's fingers started to pull on that trigger.

"Stop, Nikita." A voice from the far hallway said. Nikita pulled her finger away and continued to stare at George, still feeling the need to rid the man that set her up for a life of pain, hurt, and abuse. A man that had her signed up for Section One before she even was born.

"Nikita... look at me." Maleficent said and Nikita pulled her arm and head away, and then the gun went off. Nikita turned to find Madeline dropping her gun and George on the floor. Nikita dropped the shotgun and screamed as her heart, that Michael had so tenderly and slowly pieced back together, shattered again like glass on cement, and her body dropped to the ground, finding no need to have control again.

*

Maleficent raised her long red hair up with her hand and placed it behind her shoulder. She slowly looked to the floor, that George's body still displayed on, with a black tarp covering it. Her eyes slowly met Madeline's as she walked away from the telephone.

"How is Nikita?" Maleficent asked and Madeline stopped and looked at the woman. Maleficent was sure that it was going to occur sooner or later and she stood tall as she looked at Madeline. She was a fine creature, taller than Nikita, and in all of her yeas fighting the good and bad of terrorism, had yet to find one gray hair, looking decades younger than her years.

"Who are you?" Madeline firmly stated and Maleficent softly smiled and tilted her tall head down, knowing that Madeline had a right to worry about her presence. Yet, all Maleficent was worried about was procuring that Nikita would be fine, both physically and mentally.

"My name is Maleficent." She responded and she watched Madeline's face gray a bit, to the shade of ashes and she Maleficent moved closer to Madeline.

"I do exist.... I know the rumors..." Maleficent stated as she took in Madeline's expression, knowing that the emotions that cross her face were not because of the stunning statement, but because of emotional toll of seeing and feeling Nikita's pain. Maleficent also knew better than to mention it, as it would throw Madeline for a loop, and right now, Section One needed a strong and able leader that Madeline had proved herself to be, yet, Maleficent saw that she had a motherly quality to her.

"I am the boss that runs Oversight... I have never been a member of Section One, but have heard both good and bad things about you. To further show my interests, I have known of Nikita since she was being watched as a possible recruit.. Because I did know about the real files that Nikita found today." Maleficent said and Madeline blinked her eyes and raised her head.

"I don't trust you...." Madeline commented forcefully and Maleficent nodded her head. She didn't come to Section One to be anyone's friend. She didn't come to make enemies either. Madeline had completed Maleficent a huge favor, by killing George before Nikita did herself.

"I don't need you to trust me... I never want to be directly involved with Section One again... but this time was an extreme case." Maleficent said as she folded her hands and viewed Madeline again. Madeline turned away from the tall women, trying to see what the real situation was. Madeline had spent to many years trying to figure out the real motivations behind the actions of people. Yet, for once, Madeline almost believed the stated motive her, although it went against her nature.

"What do you want?" Madeline questioned with precise words and Maleficent smiled again.

"How is Nikita?" Maleficent questioned again and Madeline rolled her arms back and sighed.

"She is sedated, for her own good." Madeline stated as she moved her eyes away. Maleficent nodded her head as she looked down at her hands.

"Is that good with a person who willingly went on heroin to save a family?" Maleficent questioned and Madeline looked up into her eyes with a strict look on her face.

"She also has stab wounds to her leg as she tried to cut the cast off. To allow those wounds to heal.. We have to create some elaborate structure without plaster." Madeline continued, not even listening to Maleficent's comment. Madeline stepped back and took a breath, suddenly feeling better.

"It wasn't that difficult, Madeline. You shouldn't make it a production." Maleficent commented as she saw Madeline's face loose some of the tension. Madeline stepped forward again.