Walter to wonder how much Nikita was going to hate him for this one.

*

Nikita walked into the room with her hands trembling. All she wanted to do was stay in the bathroom, but Harrison and Mindy had arrived about an hour ago. Nikita moved against her body, working as she had to in order for this mission to work and be successful. She had caused Walter enough problems before he left, and Nikita wasn't about to fail on this part of the mission.

"I'm sorry for my husband's absence, but business called him elsewhere." Nikita said as she placed the glasses and wine down on the end table. Mindy stood up and gave Harrison as glass as Nikita pulled her glass of water away from the tray.

"Don't you like red wine? I could have brought a white." Harrison said and Nikita sipped at her water and looked away briefly. In the time that she admitted to Walter the situation she was in, she decided to protect instead have destroy. In fact, Nikita regretted what she had done and now had huge fears of what damage she could have already caused without knowing it really.

"My stomach is still upset." Nikita softly stated with a polite smile as she turned to pick up the PDA Walter left with the current deal that Birkoff worked out.

"My, my... if I didn't know the old man better... I would say you are pregnant." Harrison laughed and both women turned white. Nikita dropped what little water she had in her mouth back into the glass to stare at Harrison as Mindy grabbed Harrison's hand.

"Darling, what do you know about that?" Mindy questioned and Harrison laughed loudly.

"He was talking to me on the phone one day about the wonders of modern medicine and how he could make sure he had no more children. You do know of his three children, correct?" Harrison stated and Mindy glared at Nikita. Nikita turned her head. All of the communications made with Harrison was done with a computer voice that sounded like Walter. Neither of them were told what was said and only that a basic relationship had been formed.

"Ah... yes... I think they are.. Amanda, Allison, and Adam." Nikita said and Harrison laughed and poked Mindy.

"At least I didn't do what her old man did.... My kid is only 12... Walter's eldest.. Is two years older than her." Harrison laughed out as Mindy stared at Nikita, still not getting over the first statement. Nikita shifted in her seat and finally stood up.

"Here is the preliminary offer... Although we think there should be more exploration of your other activities... so we can be sure we agree with supporting it." Nikita said as she started perspire greatly, feeling the need to run to the bathroom and the need to hide away from Harrison before he said anything else to make her situation worse in Mindy's eyes.

"I'll allow it... If you do the searching." Harrison said and Nikita swallowed back as her stomach surged. Nikita steadied her body and shook her head.

"If you can excuse me... I need to get a file that Walter prepared." Nikita said as she pointed down the hallway. She exited quickly and heard Mindy following behind her.

Nikita tried to run and she tried to make it away from Mindy, but she knew that the woman was right behind her probably with a thousand and one questions and thoughts. Nikita knew she was going to get roasted alive and she didn't even care as she found the toilet and soon found the relief and release her body was asking for.

"So who is the father?" Mindy questioned as she stepped into the bathroom and locked the door. Nikita looked up from the toilet, needing to wipe her face off with a cloth, knowing she didn't want to confront Mindy's questions now.

"I'm not going to disgust that, Mindy." Nikita said and Mindy stepped forward and snatched the cloth away from Nikita before she could wet it. Mindy allowed it to dangle from her hand as she smiled.

"I can make it all go away.... And your husband will never say a word." Mindy said and Nikita arched an eyebrow, trying to figure out what Mindy was trying to do. Nikita swallowed and rolled her head from side to side, trying to gain an angle to take now but found that the morning sickness was grounded her mind along with her body.

"What do you mean?" Nikita inquired as she stared at the cloth. Mindy smiled and ran the cool water on the cloth and wiped Nikita's chin in a motherly manner. Nikita stood there, staring into Mindy's eyes wondering what surprise the woman had ready for her.

"Go to a swinging party... No one uses protection... We all know each other... and you can blame any of the men there... Your husband would be none the wiser." Mindy said and Nikita dropped her head and swallowed.

Swinging was out of question. There was no way that Nikita would survive a hell as such. There was nothing she could do thought to make Mindy believe that this was Walter's child, as conversations were done beforehand that they didn't know about.

"There would still be a problem." Nikita carefully stated as she dropped her head. Mindy stepped forward. As much as she wanted Nikita, she wanted the gossip, as it could force Nikita into doing things that she wouldn't normally do later down the line because of blackmail.

Nikita for the most part was thinking on her feet. It was difficult as her mind was jumbled with enough thoughts about being pregnant and how she was going to tell Michael. In honesty, Nikita crossed her fingers and hoped that whatever lie she said was good enough to get her out of Mindy's own devious mind for a few days, until she had a chance to possibly deal with her condition and to listen to all the tapes that were made before the mission.

"What would that problem be?" Mindy questioned, intrigued by the tone and infliction of Nikita's voice. She knew that Nikita was going to reveal something deep and interesting. It was already interesting enough that Nikita was pregnant with another man's baby. Mindy couldn't ask for much more.

"Because Walter's son... Adam... Well..." Nikita said and drifted off as she turned away. She felt her stomach flip back over as Mindy shrieked in delight. Nikita dropped her head and grabbed onto the toilet, feeling the world against spinning in a way that she would never get use to. Nikita right now didn't care what happened to this pregnancy, as long as the morning sickness would go away, she would be happy.

"YOU ARE HAVING YOUR HUSBAND'S SON'S CHILD!" Mindy exclaimed as she clapped her hands together and then noticed the sudden paleness of Nikita's face and body. She reached for Nikita before she collapsed again and realized that everything wasn't that simple. Mindy couldn't remember a time she had seen a woman with such bad morning sickness and knew it couldn't be hidden much longer. She was surprised that Walter hadn't caught on yet, but then, he was an old man.

"Here... sit down..." Mindy said as she directed Nikita down onto the tiled floor. Nikita leaned her head back, trying to concentrate on stopping the world around her from spinning. She felt like a kid that had ran around in circles in order to fall and stumble. Nothing brought the world back to a steadiness that she desperately wanted again.

"Honey... you really need a doctor." Mindy said, truly out of concern for Nikita, as she pushed Nikita's hair back from her face. Nikita shook her head and then started to cry.

"It isn't suppose to be this way... It isn't suppose to be this way..." Nikita cried out and Mindy tried to hush her cries by holding her. It was apparent though; Nikita's grief went much deeper than crying about the morning sickness that told hostage of her body.

"Ok... Ok... I'll help you..." Mindy whispered out and Nikita closed her eyes. How she wished it was as simple as hiding the father from everyone. Her life has been turned upside down and she knew what needed to be done. Nikita struggled against Mindy's hands and arms, standing up quickly.

"Nikita... You should stay down..." Mindy said and Nikita tossed her head from side to side, not caring about what was going on. She knew that she couldn't allow the mission to falter, as it would only cause more pressure on Nikita as they asked why it happened.

"I need to complete the deal with your husband. Walter would be upset if I fail him." Nikita said as she stretched for the handled to the door. She pulled the door open and turned back to look at Mindy, who was an expression of denial. She wanted to deny that she cared for Nikita and the child within and she wanted to deny that she was going to use Nikita's unfortunate position against her.

"Don't worry... Harrison really wants this deal... I'm sure it will go through." Mindy said and Nikita nodded her head, again wishing, she could stay in the bathroom. It was going to be a long day.

If the wrong people found out about her health, it could be a long last day of her life.

*

Night had fallen around the forest several hours ago and the animals of night scurried in every direction as Walter drove down the driveway towards the mansion cabin that he knew was there. It was even hard to tell where the house was from the distance as it looked as if there were only two lights on in the house, which both Walter and Michael knew were unusual for Nikita. In a strange house and given a chance, Nikita would have all the lights blazing.

"She might have finally been able to get some sleep." Walter commented dryly, hoping not to give Michael more reason to be concerned. He looked over to his side as he pulled towards the garage to find that Michael had opened the door.

"This isn't Nikita... Not if she has been sick." Michael said and Walter threw the car into park and pulled the keys out as Michael moved quickly to the house. Walter knew that Michael would dive through a window to get inside, but that was out of the question right now. It would like either give Nikita a heart attack or if he scared her enough, Nikita could easily shoot Michael for his lack of thought.

"Wait..." Walter said as Michael tried the door, pushing at the lumber that was stronger than what he thought. Walter pushed at the door as he opened it up, seeing the darkness that seemed to be even darker inside than outside.

"Nikita? Sugar?" Walter called out as Michael flicked the hallway light on. Walter looked around as he tried not to panic, but with no response, even Walter was starting to act more like Michael, fearing for the worse. Maybe it was because he had given Michael the worse image of how Nikita was the past few days.

"You want to go up the stairs... down the hallway to the right and the first door on the left is the bathroom... She has spent a lot of time there." Walter said as he pointed to the stairs. He didn't have to wait long to see Michael taking the stairs two at a time, before he told himself to check the bathroom on this floor before following Michael.

"Nikita?" Michael called out softly and frowned as he looked at the empty bathroom. He looked around the hallway and found nothing but too many pretty drawings and paintings and no Nikita. He felt like his heart was clamping down on everything that he was doing, that he needed to find Nikita before his heart gave up on his search.

"Nikita? Sugar?" Walter called out as he turned into the kitchen and sighed, frustrated with not finding Nikita and hearing from Michael's calls that his luck had not been anything more than what Walter had found.

Nothing.

What was even scarier, there seemed to be no sign of Nikita at all. There weren't glasses still sitting out from dinner and that started to cause Walter to panic. He feared that Harrison took Nikita off to one of the parties he desperately wanted to get into Nikita's pants and Walter was starting to believe that Mindy had thoughts about Nikita too.

"Nikita! SUGAR!" Walter cried out as he turned and glanced at the pool briefly and then stopped. His heart started to pound as Michael ran down the stairs heavily. Walter stepped in and looked off to the side and saw the body on the ground.

"SUGAR! Michael... SHE IS IN HERE!" Walter screamed as he pulled up Nikita's head, seeing that she was still breathing, but not doing well at all. He felt some sort of liquid substance oozing from her mouth and Walter shook with fear as he sat there in the dark.

Michael flicked the light on to the huge pool that was inside the room that Walter had yelled from. It was only seconds until Michael saw the sight of Nikita in Walter's arms and he trembled with fear. Michael moved to her side and reached for a towel that it appeared Nikita had carried with her. Michael wiped at the liquid, knowing more than likely it was vomit and swallowed as he checked her body.

"She is dehydrated again.... Do you have IV fluids like Madeline suggested?" Michael questioned and Walter nodded his head as he still had the emergency pack that Madeline told Walter to take with him, in case there were complications due to the electrical shocks and burns. Walter ran out of the pool area as Michael moved to a lounge chair with Nikita's body draped along his legs.

Michael shook his head as he stroked at Nikita's cheek, hoping for a soft moan or a response. Yet, he didn't get anything as he looked over her body, finding her thinner than he had ever seen her and extremely pale. He was afraid to think what all of this was doing to the baby.

To their baby.

"Nikita... Nikita..." Michael called out to her with a whispering voice as he remembered everything that Walter had told him. He had described the horrendous headaches Nikita had been having and Michael didn't want to cause anymore pain. He just wanted to see Nikita's eyes. He stroked across Nikita's eyes and felt the evidence of tears having been there. Michael shook his head.

"Oh, Nikita... I'm here... You'll be fine..." Michael softly whispered out as he looked to the door, wondering what was taking Walter so long. He would have tried to move her to the living room if this was going to take so long. The humidity that was in this room was too much for Nikita, and it probably drained Nikita's body of the precious moisture that she did have.

"Here... Here..." Walter said as he jogged around the corner with the two IV fluid bags and a small kit with him. Michael easily took control as Walter heaved in the air, showing evidence of running to and from the location of these bags.

"We need to move her to the living room... Cool her body off... Get some liquids down that throat." Michael said and Walter nodded his head in agreement. He took the bags, as he knew that for the time being, Michael had decided to become the protector and knight in shining armor. Michael held Nikita carefully and protectively to his body as they moved.

It was when Nikita's body felt the difference in air temperature and humidity that her mouth parted with a moan that was music to Walter's and Michael's ears. Michael hurried to the couch and sat Nikita down on the length of the cool leather and waited for her to turn her head towards him.

"Hey..." Michael softly whispered and instead of getting a word back from Nikita's mouth she started to cry. Walter reached over and touched her head, shaking his head.

"I had to tell him, sugar... He had to know..." Walter said and Nikita started to shake her head back and forth. Walter looked at Michael and knew that Nikita was going to react this way and he knew that Michael believed that Nikita knew he was going to get him.

"You lied, Walter." Michael said and Walter looked down at Nikita as she fought to keep her eyes from closing, fought to keep her contact with the men now she didn't want to see. It was totally irrational to feel afraid and angry with the two men that just saved her yet again, but Nikita did.

"Look at her, Michael... Does it matter that I lied?" Walter hissed as he stood up and threw his hands up in the air. Michael stroked Nikita's cheek again as she tried to pull away again. Michael frowned and sighed as her tears started to multiple.

"Nikita... you are dehydrated... We need to get fluids into you.. You really must calm down." Michael stressed as he looked over her body, wondering if anything else was wrong or if there was a danger at this point in time. It would be early for a pregnancy and Michael was worried about what effects this would have on the unborn child.

"Test... test..." Nikita muttered out and Walter looked at Michael as Michael shook his head. His first concern was Nikita's well being. Although it was also Walter's, Walter understood that until Nikita was sure of what emotional traumas and emotions were going to be happening, that she wouldn't calm down.

"Ok, sugar... But just because I have the blood doesn't mean this is going to be quick. I have to set up the equipment." Walter said and Nikita meekly nodded her head and extended her arm and Walter looked at Michael, as he couldn't stop touching Nikita to comfort her.

"Ok... this is going to sting some..." Walter said and both Michael and Nikita rolled their eyes and Walter would have smiled if under better circumstances. He pulled the blood out and looked from Nikita to Michael and back again.

"I want you to listen to Michael, sugar... Let him take care of you..." Walter said as he narrowed his eyes on Michael and gave a very clear warning of what he meant. Michael dropped his head lightly as he rubbed at Nikita's hands, wanting to touch her forever and to make everything fine.

"I have things under control. Run the test, Walter." Michael said and Walter looked from Michael to Nikita before he bent down. Walter placed a careful kiss on the top of Nikita's head and turned out of the room, reading to spend the night putting the equipment together to run the tests. It was going to take a long time for everything to get done, but Walter would work nonstop until it was finished.

Then he could yell at Michael.

Again.

Walter worked out the speech in his head as he left the room, knowing which things to highlight and which things to forget. He still couldn't believe that two competent operatives in Section One, and most importantly, one very French and top notched Valentine Operative, were now in this position of terror. Walter was sure that both didn't know what would occur next and neither of them wanted to know. There wouldn't be any time for any happy rejoicing for the creation of new life.

New life didn't exist in Section One.

*

Peace.

Happiness.

Joy.

Content.

Peace.

Michael slowly opened his eyes and looked around, feeling not like he felt when he first closed his eyes, but then aware that he didn't remember exactly when he did close her eyes. He looked around as he pulled his body up, finding it odd finding himself in a hammock in the middle of a large yard, and where he couldn't see any trees around him.

Peace.

Happiness.

Joy.

Content.

Peace.

Michael rubbed at his eyes as he shook his head about, trying to shake what was going on and trying to remember what had been occurring when he fell asleep. It was a struggle for Michael at the moment, but he was sure that Nikita had been in his arms. He didn't even see anyone around as he stood up from the hammock and moved away, feeling the need to stretch his legs, surprised that he didn't find the pain that always seemed to be associated with first waking up.

"Hi." A soft little voice said from behind Michael. He turned around to find the hammock that he had just stood up from gone and replaced with a tiny table, two small chairs, a tea set, and a little girl with blonde hair neatly placed into two equal pig tails.

"Hi." Michael said carefully, aware that something was wrong here, that something was quite right. He looked around, wondering who was playing the trick on him or who had given him the highly psychotropic drugs.

"Do you want some tea?" The little girl questioned as she raised the teapot up for Michael to look at. Michael looked around carefully and nodded his head as he moved to the table and looked at the little chair. Carefully he squatted onto the chairs, finding them way to small for him. The girl smiled at him and then giggled at the image.

Michael turned his head as the girl poured the teapot, as Michael was still seeking out the answers to what was going on here and what had happened to his memory. There was suddenly a chill down his body, like it was reminding him that he was missing something very important that was happening in the world that he had just left.

"What's your name?" Michael snapped as he turned his head around to look at the cup that was empty. Michael placed the cup down and pulled up the teapot and turned it upside down, finding it empty from any liquid. He shut his eyes tightly and wished that he would wake up someplace that he knew.

"I haven't been named yet. I'm not yet a baby." The girl responded and Michael opened his eyes to stare at the girl.

Baby.

Nikita is pregnant.

Michael stared at the girl and tilted his head to the side. She had Nikita's blonde hair and Nikita's smile when she was laughing at him. Michael waited and watched the girl lift her head up and saw the eyes that weren't Nikita's.

They were his.

"You are my child?" Michael questioned and the girl sat there, staring at Michael in the way he dealt with most people in Section One and he shook his head as the girl just stood up without another word.

"Would you like to play travel agent?" The girl questioned and Michael shook his head, wondering what was going on here and why he was stuck here and why did he leave Nikita. He knew what Nikita was going through. She was in bad shape to say the least. He didn't have time to waste in some odd land that seemed to be changing landscapes every time he turned around.

"What?" Michael questioned and the girl pulled out a huge globe and placed it in front of Michael's face. She titled her head to the side and turned the globe around until the picture of France was pointing in Michael's direction.

"That is were you are from." The girl stated and Michael looked down at her and fought the urge to hold her and to kiss her.

Was that his child? The one yet to be? Was the child Nikita carrying going to be this one?

"Yes. France." Michael stated and the girl nodded her head and smiled.

"She was there with you.. On the boat." The girl said as she turned the globe quickly. She frowned and looked at Michael.

"Where is she from?" The girl questioned and Michael looked at the globe. Nikita had once responded that she was simply from any street. Another time she smartly remarked to Madeline that she was from hell. The last time, Nikita simply said she didn't belong anywhere.

Where did Nikita belong?

Michael dropped his head and looked at the frown on the girl's face as she looked up at him. He felt her tugging at his heart in a way that Nikita only did. She had to be a combination of the two of them. There was no other explanation for what he was seeing and watching.

"It doesn't matter where she is from... what matters is that she belongs with me." Michael said and the girl smiled and hugged around Michael's waist lightly, like she had known him for years.

"Who am I to you?" Michael questioned and he turned around to find the yard gone and a large bedroom filled with girl's stuff animals and a huge bed.

Who gave him the psychotropic drugs?

"I am nothing. I am no one." The girl said as she pulled out a huge remote control and turned towards the television.

"Do you want to see her?" The girl questioned and Michael moved quickly to the bed to see the picture of Nikita and his body there with her. She was clinging to him tightly like he was the only thing keeping her in the world that she was in. Michael's mouth opened widely as he stared at the screen. All he wanted to do was leap through the screen and go back to Nikita, to hold her in the same way that she was holding him, showing that everything that she felt, he felt too.

"She looks sad." The girl commented and Michael nodded his head and swallowed as he dropped his head. He swallowed back the tears again, finding it almost impossible to keep them back at this point.

"Why couldn't you just have tea with me?" Michael questioned out as he looked at the girl and stared at her.

She wasn't theirs.

"Watch her."

"What? What did you say?" Michael questioned as he turned and looked at the girl. She slid off of the bed and lightly touched her tiny hand to the television screen.

"Watch her."

"Why?"

"She is sad."

"No... Why? Why all of this? Give me answers."

"I am a child. Children do not have the answers."

"But you do!"

"Love her. Watch her." The girl said as she picked up a ball and threw it to the other side of the room. Michael turned his body and found the yard again and no girl. Michael looked around and closed his eyes. He sat down on the ground, shaken and confused.

Was there a message? What was the message? Why this place and this girl?

Why?

Why?

Why?

*

Michael's entrance back to the world that mattered, the world that had Nikita; he was not stirred from his slumber by a good sound. The sound that brought the living room back into perspective and the situation that he was in was Nikita crying and trying to pull away from Michael.

"You should leave." Nikita cried out as Michael's eyes narrowed on to her, looking at her behavior and her actions. Michael looked at Nikita and stroked her hair.

"It's ok." Michael plainly stated even as Nikita shook her head back and forth, protesting the statement in every way that she could, even as she fought the tears.

"It's not ok.... It will never be ok." Nikita hissed out and Michael cupped his hands around her chin and stared into her eyes. This wasn't a woman looking at him right now. She was a frightened little girl staring at him, finding things too much to bare right now.

"I want it." Michael said as he hoped to give Nikita strength. All the words succeeded in doing were stopping the tears as she stared at him in shock. Nikita started to shake her head, but Michael's hands held it still, trying to make Nikita absolutely know the truth of what he felt and wanted.

"I want this baby... I'm going to fight for it... and so are you." Michael stated and Nikita's entire face went from fear and anger to a feeling of being loved. Michael cradled Nikita in his arms, holding her as he rocked back and forth.

There was so much he wanted to tell Nikita, he wanted to describe his dream and tell her that it didn't matter what happened. He just wanted to reassure Nikita that things would be fine, that he wouldn't let the bad things happen. Those words didn't come yet as Nikita drifted back for a slight nap, and it gave Michael the opportunity to sit and think for a while about what he had dreamt and what he had seen.

Michael leaned down and kissed Nikita's head, only to see the tears forming again. He couldn't blame her either, and he didn't blame her either.

"I'm going to protect us..." Michael said and Nikita shook her head back and forth, suddenly alive in his arms again, awake and ready to do battle with tears rolling down her face.

"We couldn't protect ourselves from this mess from the beginning, how are we going to do it now?" Nikita hissed out and Michael pulled at Nikita's hand and kissed it lightly as a small smile crossed his face.

"Walter must have been talking to you..." Michael wryly stated and Nikita shook her head and folded her arms around her body.

"Section One is going to take this child, Michael... They are going to lock me up like some baby factory, let me give birth, keep the baby and kill me in probably some gas chamber or something!" Nikita hissed out as she now rocked her body back and forth as she started to admit the images that were running through her mind and heart.

"They aren't going to do that, Nikita." Michael said, patiently listening to Nikita's fears and then responding in a way he felt was best. Nikita's eyes though revealed that she didn't believe Michael's words at the moment.

"They did that to Terry, Michael! They took her away, never to be seen again!" Nikita screamed out as she closed her eyes. She could see the woman's face as she was led down the hallway. The only thing Nikita ever heard about Terry and the baby was that she had a boy. Nothing more and nothing else was on the files. Nikita shook her head as she now tried to rid her mind of Terry's eyes as she had vanished out of Nikita's sight. Nikita wondered if she would look the same way when they led her away from everyone that cared about her in Section One and away from the father of the child.

"Terry is alive, Nikita. And with her child." Michael said slowly, knowing that if Madeline knew he found out that there would be problems for Michael that didn't even describe what he was going through now. Yet, he didn't have to reveal anything more to Nikita. He knew enough things to get around the rules and regulations in Section One. "I have ways to protect you and the baby."

"Our baby."

Nikita dropped her head and swallowed as she felt the search of tears of hearing Michael calling the baby 'our baby'. Nikita wanted to get off of the emotional roller coaster but found it impossible as she lifted her head and looked at Michael.

"I can't do this." Nikita stated and Michael pulled for Nikita, clinging her closer to his body, hoping that the contact with his body alone would give Nikita strength.

"Yes, you can." Michael said and Nikita continued to shake her head back and forth, knowing that her heart was tugging at her for a reason. She pushed her hands at Michael, trying to break free, but Michael's grasp was too tightly.

"I don't think I can care for a baby, Michael.... They'll just use it to hurt me more..." Nikita said and Michael released his head from Nikita's eyes to think for three seconds. He hoisted his own head back up to watch Nikita's tears now automatically flowing from her eyes for a few seconds before he tried to pluck them off of her face with his own thumbs.

"They won't hurt you... and a baby... Will love you..." Michael said and Nikita pushed and pushed at Michael's body until she flung her body down on the ground.

"It will hate me! It will be a mistake! I don't want it to feel like I did."

"It won't, Nikita..."

"I was a mistake... and it will be a mistake... How do you think it is going to feel?"

"Nikita..."

"And I won't be here all the time... sent out on missions... probably being forced to have sex..."

"Nikita, I think you..."

"I would just be like my mother... sleeping around... doing anything to protect my child... But I'd be hurting it..."

"Nikita, you wouldn't be alone." Michael finally loudly stated as he grabbed Nikita's neck with one hand and turned her face to look into his eyes.

"I love you.... And I wouldn't allow that to happen.... We are going to fight for this child." Michael stated and Nikita continued to shake her head back and forth, unable to see Michael's point.

"It's going to destroy us... what am I talking about?" Nikita said as she shook her head and swallowed. "There is no us!"

"Yes, there is."

"There is Section One.... And nothing else, Michael. We don't exist together. We can't."

"We will, Nikita. I promise you that."

Nikita looked into Michael's eyes and stopped. She didn't know why she doubted Michael now as she had all the proof from him that she should need. Michael lifted at Nikita's body, placing her back on the couch and he reached and flatly placed his palm on her chest, rubbing her.

"Remember what I called you? Remember who you are to me?"

Nikita dropped her head to look at Michael's hand on her chest, seeing how right it seemed to be touching the cloth. She could feel her pulse raising as Michael moved his other hand down, to her stomach and below and lightly touched there.

"I have the honor of calling you my wife.... And it would be my wildest dream to call you a mother...."

"You are the mother to my child.... The only mother I would want there to be."

*

Sleep had finally found Michael and Nikita for about three hours as they curled up on the couch, Michael holding Nikita, holding his family in his arms. There was nothing better in Michael's eyes as he had fallen asleep to have dreams of his family. He saw Nikita happily swelling up with his child; the stomach making an announcement that Nikita was his and their love had made something beautiful in the world.

Michael cherished that round stomach, finding a way to kiss it at any given time, feeling the need to express a love for the being inside before it came out of the protective cave Nikita had given him. The dream seemed so real and Michael felt as if he was asleep for nine months, long enough to see Nikita in labor and to see her face when the girl was placed in her arms.

Too bad dreams don't come true.

All of the dreams were broken as Nikita moaned out in pain and moved violently against Michael's arms. Michael snapped his eyes open to find Nikita squirming around in pain. He slid off of the couch and from underneath Nikita and saw as her eyes snapped open with a startling fear that he had never ever seen before in Nikita's eyes. It was a fear so different from when she was stuck in the dreams of the fire she was in. It was a different fear that was in her eyes when Michael had to leave her less than a month ago. It was a fear that was matched in Michael's heart.

"Nikita.... Nikita..." Michael stated out as she seemed frozen for seconds. Michael didn't know if the fear was paralyzing her or if something was wrong. It was when the coat of sweat appeared before Michael's eyes and when Nikita started to ball up her body into the fetal position that Michael wanted to scream.

"It hurts..." Nikita moaned and Michael reached for Nikita's shoulders, trying to figure out what was going on and why it was going on. She started to swing from side to side on her back, seeming to find nowhere that the pain was less.

"Where does it hurt, Nikita? Tell me." Michael said as he looked at her body and felt the heat radiating from her. Nikita leaned her head back and allowed a loud and piercing scream into the air. Michael brushed at Nikita's head, trying to remain calm, but finding it impossible.

"Oh my god, Nikita... The baby... Does it hurt there?" Michael questioned but he didn't get any response. All he got was Nikita rolling back and forth on her back. She continued to cry and scream and it was like she didn't hear Michael's words.

"I can't help you unless you talk to me, Nikita... Nikita... you need to tell me..." Michael said as he looked at Nikita. Her eyes briefly looked into his and she seemed to stop her movement for several seconds. Michael was about to ask something more when the tears poured out of her eyes and traveled down her cheeks.

"NO! NO! NO!" Nikita screamed out, as she seemed to clench around her body even more. Michael rocked back on his heels, fearing for the worse, as Nikita wouldn't allow him any more information than what he had from physically looking at her and her screams.

"WALTER!" Michael screamed out as he pushed at Nikita's hair, wishing he could stop her movement for just a few moments to talk to her. He wanted Nikita to tell him what was going on, but she continued to moan and scream as she rolled from side to side.

"IT HURTS SO BAD!" Nikita screamed out as she finally rolled around, getting onto her knees on the couch and rolling her stomach and head forward into a tight ball. Michael rubbed Nikita's lower back and she jumped away from the touch.

"Nikita, you have to calm down... for the baby..." Michael whispered out as fear caught his words. What about the baby? Was Nikita losing it because of the stress of what was going on? Was he too late now? Michael shook his head back and forth as the composure he did have melted away from his facade, exposing the true and emotional Michael.

"WALTER! NOW!" Michael screamed as he turned to look around the room, finding it still empty. He was amazed that Walter hadn't run immediately to the room with Nikita's screams. The screams only seemed to multiple as Nikita thrashed her body around and Michael tried to fight against it.

"WALTER!" Michael screamed and Nikita looked at Michael and grabbed his shirt tightly.

"I'm so sorry, Michael." Nikita whispered out and Michael felt his face roll forward with the words, the fear that he had stuck in his chest, making his heart stop, making it impossible to breath.

"No... this can pass, Nikita... You have to think positive..." Michael said and Nikita shook her head up and down as he looked at her red cheeks flaring with a brightness that only made him worry more. He looked around frightened that he was all by himself on this. He couldn't control Nikita by himself right now.

"I can't protect it, Michael... I can't!" Nikita cried out and Michael swallowed thickly, shaking his head.

"You are the only one for me, Nikita.... You are doing fine." Michael whispered back, seeing the pain that Nikita was in, not just the physical, but the emotional too.

"WALTER!!! NOW!!! WALTER, IT'S THE BABY!!!" Michael screamed out, finding it frustrating that he hadn't arrived yet. Michael held onto Nikita as she flopped her head back and leaned against the couch, screaming.

"There is no baby!" Nikita screamed out as Michael wiped at her face and Michael felt the tears running down his own face, dropping to her chest.

"Don't say that... Don't say that..." Michael started to mutter.

"There isn't a baby...."

"Don't say that, Nikita... Don't..."

"No baby... no baby..."

"Nikita, please!"

"I'm so sorry, Michael.... There is no baby... not now..." Nikita cried out and Michael dropped his head down to her chest as Walter walked into the living room, finding it hard to breath himself, He heard the words and he held the paper in his hand. He looked at the couple and knew that the words he had to say were hard enough for him.

"There was never a baby." Walter said as he dropped the paper as Michael stared at Walter.

Walter wanted there to be a baby. He wanted to a grandfather of sorts to the little tike. He imagined watching Nikita grow big with child and the wild shirt he could have gotten her. He dreamt of how it would be to see Michael walking out to the ball field with the little guy to play t-ball.

Too bad dreams don't come true.

Michael was stunned at first as he looked at Nikita. He was positive from the way that he had seen Nikita and from what Walter had told him about her symptoms that she was. He really believed and felt in his heart that there was a child and he knew what a miracle it was. He looked at Nikita and realized that she was still screaming, for reasons still unknown.

"Then what the hell is happening?" Michael questioned.

*

Michael wrung the wash cloth out and pressed it to Nikita's head as she still thrashed around. It had been a difficult ten minutes for Michael, as the questions were racing. What had caused this to look like pregnancy, why was Nikita in so much pain, and how could they help her?

"Ah.. The cramps..." Nikita cried out as she continued to hug at her stomach and Michael feared that she was suffering from some sort of stones, kidney, gall bladder, or that her appendix was about to bust. Michael stroked her hair and swallowed.

"What kind of cramps, Nikita? Can you describe them?" Michael questioned, hoping to get more information from Nikita. She hadn't been easy to talk too, yet alone get information from. Nikita rolled her head back and the tears rolled out of her eyes and down by her ears.

"These are the worse menstrual cramps I've ever had! DAMN NATURE! DAMN REPRODUCTION!" Nikita screamed and Michael dropped his head and looked over to Walter. Walter turned with the cell phone in his hand and continued to pace. Michael didn't know how was on the other end and Walter didn't seem like he wanted to reveal that yet.

"You started your period?" Michael questioned and Nikita shrugged her shoulders as she rolled her head away from Michael.

No one had yet to touch upon all the pain that Nikita was feeling. Yes, her body had surrendered to the physical pain a while ago, but that wasn't the pain that made her head turn away. She was ashamed. She was ashamed to have thought that she was pregnant and that Michael had risked his position in Section One to be with her. She was embarrassed to admit that she knew she had just started her period, and it was this embarrassment that was hampering Walter's and Michael's ability to help the physical pain.

Nikita was begging to find a sense to everything, but as long as she dealt with the shame and embarrassment, there would be no sense. Her heart wasn't ready to admit the pain she felt for not being with child. Her heart wasn't ready to watch Michael walk away as soon as her body turned around and the pain was gone. Her heart wasn't ready to admit that it, although conflicted on the issue of a child, thought that it would do more good than bad if Section One couldn't interfere.

"Nikita.... Did you start your period?" Michael asked again and dropped down onto his buttocks, finding that the past ten minutes had drained him more than when he thought that Nikita was pregnant. Pregnancy, for the most part, wasn't life threatening. Now, the pain that Nikita was having and not talking about could be life threatening, and Michael wouldn't allow Nikita to go easily away from him. He was willing to fight even if Nikita wasn't willing to fight.

Walter flipped the phone down and walked over to the couch, hearing Michael repeating the question again. He saw that Michael was frustrated, but Walter also knew that in a way, Nikita wanted this child more than Michael could even imagine. It would mean more than Nikita's life to have his child, and Walter wasn't sure that Michael would ever grasp that idea and concept.

"Sugar... simply... Did you start your period?" Walter questioned and he watched as her bottom lip quivered slightly before she shrugged her shoulders. Walter saw the answer and nodded his head as he backed up.

"I just talked to Henry... He said that the electricity first probably messed around with Nikita's pain receptors." Walter said and Michael closed his eyes and swallowed. He had forgotten about the electricity. It wasn't that he totally pushed the thoughts out of his mind, he just didn't connect what was happening now to what had occurred then.

"So, Nikita is feeling more pain than there really is." Michael whispered and Walter nodded his head and looked down at Nikita as she started to grip the cushion of the couch. It wouldn't be long until her fingernails dug all the way through the material and into the stuffing.

"Second... since you started to ask Nikita about her period... Henry mentioned that the electricity would have thrown off any cycle that her body was in. Remember when it threw off her sleeping cycle... How sporadic it appeared?" Walter questioned and Michael nodded his head. Walter looked away and then at Michael. It seemed like he was making the entire situation sound as utterly stupid as it now appeared. Yet, he didn't want to do that, because he saw the love that was on Michael's face when he grabbed Nikita when she was at the pool and he saw how Michael's hand had instinctively cupped around Nikita's stomach as he held her in their sleep.

"Yeah.... So.. She wasn't late... the electricity threw off the cycle and we didn't know about it." Michael commented and Walter nodded his head as Nikita moaned out in pain. All of this was fine and dandy, but Nikita was still in pain and that hadn't changed. Walter placed the phone into his pocket as he moved to grab a jacket out of the closet that was not far from where Michael was with Nikita.

"We only have one Midol pill here. Henry said that it might take about six of them to stop this behavior.... The one might get Nikita to focus until I can get back with more..." Walter said as he handed over the bottle. Michael dropped the pill out and nodded his head.

"I need to talk to her either way... Alone." Michael whispered and Walter nodded his head. It was part of the reason why he was leaving. Henry didn't laugh at Walter's words, as he explained that all three of them believed that she was pregnant. Henry didn't even ridicule at the bumbling around that seemed to occur and how long it took Walter to even catch on that the symptoms were like morning sickness. What Henry did catch onto, were the cries from Nikita, that they were more than just emotional pain.

"Michael... what I said earlier..." Walter said as he looked at Michael's drawn face, noticing the pain of lost in his eyes, of something that wasn't there to start with. Walter's harsh words had been haunting him for a while and now that Nikita wasn't even pregnant, he regretted each and every word.

"Call us even next time." Michael stated dryly as he reached to hold Nikita's hand. Walter looked as Nikita squeezed it tightly and Michael only took the squeeze as if it was nothing.

"Thank you, Walter." Michael stated as Walter opened the door. Walter didn't even acknowledge the words, as he was sure that Michael realized that he was also doing this for Nikita's well being. The two needed each other, no matter how much Walter didn't want to admit it.

"You need to take this, Nikita." Michael softly said as he handed her the pill and then handed over the glass of water he had been trying to get Nikita to drink to replenish fluids. Michael mindfully watched Nikita's throat swallow the pill down, as she seemed to calm down slightly.

"All this pain... it isn't all physical, is it?" Michael softly questioned and then he looked into Nikita's eyes. She barely nodded her head as her hands reached towards him by the littlest of margins. Michael rearranged Nikita's hair off of her face again, waiting for her to open up, afraid that his own emotions and his own disappointment would be exposed before Nikita showed hers.

"I was already thinking of names... How stupid is that?" Nikita questioned out as she tried to hold the tears back, feeling that to show them now would only show Michael how weak she was and how easily she believed in lies without proof.

"It's not stupid... I was thinking of names myself... Like Jacob and Anna..." Michael admitted as he looked at the long strands of Nikita's hair shining in the light. Nikita turned her head away from Michael's face, finding it too hard to look at him any further.

It distressed Michael with Nikita's reaction as he didn't know what he could say and what he couldn't say. He wanted to help Nikita out of this period of time, not drive her further into a depression that she couldn't get out of. Michael's worries were on how many times could the bad things happen to Nikita and how many of those times could she come back from?

"I wanted it so bad... to finally be loved totally... to be whole..." Nikita moaned out and Michael closed his eyes. Although that was what Nikita believed would happen in the world if she had a child now, it was so far from what she wanted. Michael shuddered for a moment as he thought about how this was a blessing that Nikita wasn't pregnant now, as there were many other issues that needed to be dealt with first before this was dealt with.

"You wouldn't be whole, Nikita.... You would just have a child to take care of... And it would seem like it made you whole.... But you wouldn't..." Michael softly stated and Nikita opened her eyes and looked at Michael.

"You mean that it would be a mistake." Nikita condemned Michael's words quickly. Michael imprisoned his expressive eyes behind his eyelids as he waited for his initial response to scream and yell at those words. He knew that to do that now would achieve not a decent outcome for anyone. He didn't want to create conflict; he wanted to create a peace for Nikita to find the will within again.

"No... Nothing between us.. Nothing created by us could be a mistake... Our love is not a mistake, Nikita. Never, ever think that." Michael said. He waited as he watched her body for a response. She seemed to be rating all parts of the words Michael had preached before she slowly nodded her head in agreement.

"Nikita.... We have to believe... that there is a reason for this now.... And that in our dreams... that our child lives... And if that child is in our dreams... then someday that dream is meant to come true..." Michael stated as he rubbed Nikita's neck softly with his hand. Nikita turned and looked at him.

"You... see us with a child?" Nikita questioned and Michael nodded his head as he leaned down and kissed Nikita's lips.

"You need to be strong now... our time will come." Michael whispered and Nikita closed her eyes and leaned her head back. He licked his lips and sighed at the sight of Nikita's tiredness.

"I need you to get some sleep... I won't be here when you wake up." Michael said and Nikita fluttered her eyes open, but couldn't fight the sleep that she had been neglecting now for days. Michael kissed her lips softly and leaned his head back.

"I swear, Nikita... Someday those dreams are going to come true... I just need to get you all back to start with...." Michael whispered as he laid his head down next to Nikita's on the couch, not wanting to leave, but knowing that his time was soon going to come to depart and he wanted to spend those last moments with the woman that he loved.

*

Walter held the envelope in his hand as he walked back to the living room, finding Nikita still amidst dreams and sleep. The light was breaking into the window and only giving Walter more reasons to wake Nikita up, along with the most important one.

The mission was going live today.

Nikita had a meeting with Harrison at ten o'clock in order for him to show her his databases. It was imperative that Nikita made this meeting and that there was no rescheduling of it. Any deviance from that planned meeting would certainly show that things weren't all right in the town of Winter's Spring.

Still, Walter considered doing just that, changing the schedule and allowing Nikita to sleep a bit more. It had been a restless night for Nikita and Walter was no longer sure if Nikita never had peaceful nights sleep. She started to toss and turn soon after taking some of the medication Walter brought for her and Michael left her side.

All that Michael left was this envelope that was to be given to Nikita. Walter was tempted to steam it open to read the words himself. A part of Walter thought that the words inside could only hurt Nikita more, and he didn't need that now. Nikita had to be reasonably pulled together for this mission to be a success. Yet, the heart inside of Walter, the heart that witnessed the love between Michael and Nikita thought that the words would tend to Nikita's wounded heart, that it would be the salve for mending the weeping and crying heart.

"Sugar... time to wake up..." Walter said as he shook at her shoulder. Nikita's eyes wiggled a bit, but never fully opening. She turned her head away until Walter started to shake again.

"Michael?" Nikita questioned out with a voice that was thick and weak in the same moment. Walter frowned at the query and wished that he had found a way for Michael to stay. Had Nikita been pregnant, Walter couldn't have threatened Michael's life to get him to leave.

"No, sugar... He had to leave... but he left you something." Walter elucidated as he waited for Nikita to turn her head to view him. Slowly he saw the whites of her eyes and a blue that seemed so much more deeper and darker than he had ever seen Nikita's eyes. He fabricated the envelope and placed it down on the raise of Nikita's chest.

"What is it?" Nikita questioned Walter as she looked at the ivory color of the envelope and then to Walter. Walter threw his hands up in the air and stepped backwards, almost looking the picture of being guilty of something, until Nikita looked into his eyes.

"Look, Sugar... I didn't go and read it... You are going to have to do that yourself!" Walter retorted as he retreated out of the living room, but not going far. Walter didn't want to make a mistake and discover that Michael's words caused pain to his sugar instead of promoting healing.

Nikita looked at the envelope and picked it up in her hands, feeling the texture and almost instantly smelling Michael from the paper. She lifted it up in the air and swallowed as she dropped it out of her hands.

Walter sighed as he watched the doddering hands, afraid that Nikita would give up in the letter before she even read it. She seemed so weak in her attempt that when Walter finally heard the ripping of the sealed envelope, he was almost relieved.

Dearest Nikita,

I remember when I was a child... I was around 10 and I wanted to go out and run along the countryside like Jean and Yves Boudreaux, the twins that lived next door to me. My mother would tell me that I needed another year or two to grow, before I could be like Jean and Yves. I hated those words, and my mother would sit me down and tell me this little poem.

Time was not created to hamper and spoil Time was created to cause growth and strength. A bird does not fly before it has wings A kitten does not see before the eyes open. Time will do as time sees fit.

Time was not created to quill and drown Time was created to cause happiness and spirit. An ant finds it efforts worth the wait come fall Like the squirrel who all fall collects food for winter. Time will do as time sees fit.

Time was not created to been seen as evil Time was created by God as a gift. A person shall not get what is not needed before it's time And a person shall not lose what is needed now Time, and God, will do as time sees fit.

My mother would make me write that over and over again when I was bad about wanting to join Jean and Yves Boudreaux out in the countryside. I had to have written it at least a thousand times before I started to know what it meant.

We didn't lose a child... it just wasn't the time for that gift, Nikita. We have to trust in time and know that when we are both ready and we both are whole and complete, that we will be blessed.

My time came for running in the country. Less than four months after I memorized that poem to my heart, my mother passed away and my father didn't care what I did. My time came before I knew it and I was ready to run with Jean and Yves, but I didn't. I was given the gift, and I hope you see this as a gift. Time for us to heal other wounds before bring life into our word and time to learn everything we would ever want to know about each other.

My love to your heart, Michael.

Nikita touched the paper to her tears, but pulled it away, knowing that she wanted the ink to stay as it was and so she could view the letter years from now. It was what Nikita needed to hear, but yet in another way, that only Michael would know as to be perfect.

Nikita pushed at her hair and dropped her head back and screamed one last time. One last time for the child she really wanted and the child she thought she had. She yelled and screamed that one last time for the pain that she had for something she felt that she lost and the pain that she had caused Michael and Walter. Nikita screamed and hollered that one last time for everything that was shaking and spinning in her heart, knowing that the scream would dull those feelings for now. Michael's letter and words have given Nikita a way to heal those feelings now.

"Sugar?" Walter drawled out with a low voice as he stepped back into the room, seeing that Nikita's scream had ceased.

"Yes?" Nikita mewed like a newly born kitten and Walter felt his heart stop with the word. He wanted to know that everything was fine and that Nikita would survive yet another emotional crisis and that she would come out on top.

"You ok, dear?" Walter questioned and Nikita nodded her head up and down as she slid her feet off of the couch and started to stretch her body, looking instantly better than she had almost the entire time in the mansion cabin. Walter nodded his head in agreement, seeing that Nikita's assessment of her situation was finally matching how she really and truly looked like.

"I'm going to get ready." Nikita added for Walter's benefit as she turned and headed for the long staircase. Walter watched Nikita carefully ascend the staircase, noting how Michael had flown up there just the other day. Walter sighed and swallowed and hoped that whatever Michael had written were going to happen and not some superficial promises with no hope at all.

Walter sighed heavily as he turned back towards the kitchen. He needed to get Nikita's communications unit up and running and to get ready for this mission.

Only time would tell.

*

"Where is Mindy?" Nikita questioned as she walked into Harrison's house and looked around. Harrison stepped around Nikita and closed the door. His hand brushed against her shoulder and stayed there as he started to lead Nikita down the hallway.

"She went shopping with the servants. They are trying to buy the cheap foods and not the gourmet foods that Mindy adores." Harrison said and Nikita nodded her head, feeling as if that was a total and complete lie.

"Here is my office." Harrison said as he punched in the code, 1-8-6-9-4. Nikita turned her head to the side and licked her lips as he opened the door wide to allow her in, not realizing that she had remembered and saw the code. It wasn't that Nikita would need to get back into the house and the office. Everything was getting done today.

"You only have a Pentium II chip?" Nikita questioned as she looked at the computer. Harrison reached around and grabbed Nikita's hand and led her back to the small leather couch in the corner. Nikita turned her head away as she felt his hands rolling down her stomach into regions she wasn't going to allow him in.

"Stop... Business then pleasure." Nikita quipped as she narrowed her eyes and pushed his long and pawing hands off of her body. Harrison growled deep in his throat as Nikita stood up and moved to the window.

"I always liked it the other way around.... Always taste the sample..." Harrison said and Nikita turned around and stood straight up, showing the strength that she had and only a hint of the dangerous and lethal side to her.

"Walter didn't sell me to you.... He has a business deal with money." Nikita said and Harrison slowly nodded his head and he moved closer to Nikita. She could feel his breath on her shoulder and she turned her head to glare at Harrison once more, hoping that he would get the point to back off.

"So this little nympho who did it with her own husband's son isn't ready to play games with a real man?" Harrison said and Nikita lifted her head and looked to the desk and then at the computer. With Birkoff whispering in her ear, she was sure she could hack all the information out of the computer without needing Harrison for anything. Yet, Nikita was seeking for more than what Section One wanted. She couldn't get Birkoff to help her do everything; she didn't have that many favors owed her from Birkoff.

"You know, Harrison... I play this game with Walter... and he really loves it..." Nikita slowly drawled out as she moved over to the desk and pulled the chair out. She turned on the computer and leaned her head back as she slowly sat down, parting her legs slowly, showing him only a hint of what he was looking for on this day.

"You really do want to do the business first." Harrison said and Nikita nodded her head. He turned to the computer and typed his password, 1-8-6-9-4. Not very original and not very wise for Harrison's business. Nikita leaned over and rubbed his arm lightly as she noted the screen and saw that everything seemed to be very extremely easy to access. She may not even need Birkoff for most of this.

Harrison sighed as the phone rang out in the hallway. He looked at Nikita and rubbed her shoulder as he shook his head in frustration.

"That would be Mindy. I wonder what dress she saw this time!" Harrison said and Nikita watched carefully as he stormed out of the room and left Nikita alone with his computer, opened and waiting to be explored. Nikita even started to smile as her long and thin fingers started to press on the keyboard, not making a sound with each depressing of a key.

"You are looking for Project Svetovid." Birkoff said and Nikita rolled her eyes and scrolled down the screen, looking at the various Projects in his computer, finding several that had Section One backing. Nikita licked her lips as she found the file Birkoff was asking about.

"Found it, Project Svetovid... Isn't that a god or something?" Nikita questioned as she opened the link and waited for the computer to start to process her commands. She heard Birkoff sigh on the other end and she rolled her eyes.

"Birkoff, I know that I'm not as smart as you... so just answer my question. Isn't he a god or something?" Nikita fumed as she looked at the computer working slowly. Nikita cursed the slow processor and swallowed, glad to know that Birkoff was controlling the conversation with Harrison, as the computer generated voice of Mindy would keep him on the phone line until they were done.

"I'm not suppose to tell you." Birkoff whimpered out as he already knew the ranting that was soon to come from Nikita and the rapid-fire questions which he would be the brunt of.

"What?"

"You aren't suppose to tell me what?"

"Nikita.... About Svetovid... We only..."

"Then I'm not looking at the computer screen."

"Nikita! We just need the location."

"I'm not going to do it, Birkoff."

"OK! FINE! YOU WIN!

"Tell me who told you now to tell me!"

"Nikita, Madeline was just worried that you would take the name of the project as meaning something."

"Don't they always? Now tell me about this god."

"Nikita... I think you should just do the mission."

"Birkoff...."

"Nikita..."

"Birkoff... do I have to threaten you?"

"Svetovid is a god from Eastern Europe. He was the god of fertility and war." Birkoff said and Nikita dropped her head and closed her eyes. She had a feeling that it was going to be something like that.

"Thanks, Birkoff." Nikita modulated as she felt the pounding of her heart to look at the computer screen. Nikita frowned and blinked her eyes a few times.

"The location is in a place called Mince." Nikita stated as she used the mouse to scroll down the screen, seeking more information.

"Yeah.. Mince... It's in West Virginia... That's enough, Nikita." Birkoff said and Nikita looked to the side and continued down the screen, and she stopped as she found another link, simply labeled Baby Y.

"Nikita.. That's enough... Excuse yourself and leave."

"What is Baby Y?"

"I don't know what you are talking about."

"Then I'll find out." Nikita hissed as she pushed at the link and waited as the computer began to chug and spin. She could hear Birkoff hitting his hand against the wood of his desk, indicating the anger he felt and also that fact that Nikita was breaking out of the mission profile again.

"I told you not to ask Nikita." Birkoff proclaimed as he looked around, glad to see that Madeline and Operations were both absent from the area.

"Since when do I follow orders?"

"You should try starting to do that Nikita."

"Why?"

"Because someday you are going to get yourself killed!"

"Well... it isn't going to be today... and if Svetovid wasn't cryptic and eerie enough.. Baby Y is." Nikita said and Birkoff dropped his head.

There was silence as the computer screen popped open and Nikita found the information that stopped her heart, explained everything that was going on for months, and showed the disgusting nature of humans trying to play god. Nikita shut off the computer and tried to hold back her tears.

"Done breaking rules?" Birkoff demanded.

"Yes." Nikita whispered back and Birkoff shut his eyes. He didn't even know what Nikita had seen and what she had read. He didn't know what was in that file, but he was sure that it wasn't good and that Madeline and Operations knew exactly what was in that file. They didn't want anyone in that file for a reason and Nikita probably found out the reason now.

"Are you going to tell me?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita stood up and smoothed out her dress, seeing that her problems that caused her so much pain was not as bad as the problems she foreseen in the future.

"I'm not in the position to divulge any of what I saw." Nikita said as she pulled the communications unit out and made sure that it was turned off. She stepped to the door as Harrison slammed the phone down on the table and turned towards Nikita.

"Restless?" Harrison whispered and Nikita didn't even smile at the tone. She tilted her head to the side and swallowed, trying to tell herself just to leave the house and go back to Walter. She knew that in only hours they would have orders to return to Section One. Yet, Nikita didn't feel like leaving this man go.

"No." Nikita remarked sharply as she swayed her head, challenging him with a look of danger. Harrison pushed her back against the wall as she closed the door. His hand slowly moved to the zipper of her dress.

"I wouldn't do that." Nikita hissed out and Harrison chuckled.

"You do any other man that comes along... You can just test ride me... and then show your husband tonight at the party how much you enjoy me." Harrison said and Nikita smiled slyly as she tilted her head to the side, shifting his hand off of her zipper with just enough pressure to cause some minor pain.

"Do you know what a kansetsu is?" Nikita questioned and Harrison shrugged his shoulders and looked utterly confused with what Nikita was saying.

"It is a joint lock... Used with joints that are out of place... often to cause pain." Nikita explained as her hands moved and her body shifted. "And there is only one joint out of place on you."

Harrison screamed bloody murder as Nikita's hands caused him more pain and made sure that Harrison would not be participating in the activities of the night or many nights to come.

*

Walter had been out in the yard when the throwing inside started to crescendo, indicating that Nikita was back home. He moved to the kitchen and heard the pounding feet upstairs. Something must have happened on the mission, as Birkoff was in a foul mood when Walter tried to talk to him. He didn't know what was going on, and knew that he better go find out.

"Sugar..."

"Just get ready to leave. NOW!" Nikita hissed out and Walter frowned and looked at Nikita. He didn't know what happened, but they weren't suppose to do an immediate pull out once the mission was over. Madeline wanted them to just disappear slightly and over some time.

"What happened?" Walter questioned and Nikita turned her head to the side as she threw her hairdryer into the garbage bag of clothing it seemed that Nikita was filling up. Walter leaned against the door and swallowed. "What did you do, sugar?"

"Found out the truth of why I haven't seen my apartment in months." Nikita stated bluntly and Walter shook his head, not buying such a simple statement for this anger that Nikita was exhibiting now.

"You found something." Walter said and Nikita slumped down onto the bed with her face in her trembling hands. Walter moved to the bed and it vibrated as he sat down next to Nikita. He placed an arm around Nikita back until she dropped her crying head to his shoulder.

"It's disgusting... and Section One should have put an end to it years ago." Nikita hissed out in her tears. Walter looked down at the strong resolve on her face and realized several things. First, Nikita wasn't going to let whatever she knew go. Second, that Nikita must know something that Section One was hiding from her. Third, it must be something despicable for Nikita to be so upset, because during her time in Section One she had learned that some things are all right even if she hated the sound of them. Fourth and lastly, Walter didn't want to be anywhere near Nikita when she allowed this rage out at the person she was targeting. Walter was going to guess Madeline, but that was just a guess.

"What is disgusting?" Walter questioned and Nikita stood up and threw more clothing into the bag as the phone rang. Walter motioned that he needed to get the phone and Nikita only rolled her eyes, knowing that in Section One the phone was like a god, it needed to be worshipped every single second.

"You go ahead and answer that phone... They are just going to be calling us back!" Nikita screamed out from the bedroom as Walter pulled the phone up and shook his head. He could just hear the lecture now if they really did hear Nikita's screams.

"Pull out." Madeline snapped quickly. Walter rolled his eyes and swallowed.

"Why would we be doing that?"

"We got the location and everyone has a new mission as soon as you arrive back."

"Why so quickly? This is going against the profile, Madeline."

"Nikita had an outburst."

"Walter, why don't you ask Madeline why she thought I wasn't smart enough to learn who Svetovid is!" Nikita screamed loudly as an object hit the wall. Walter blinked his eyes as he didn't even need to repeat the question to Madeline.

"Walter, please don't listen to Nikita. That is the name of the project we needed the location too." Madeline explained humbly as Walter raised his eyebrows. It just didn't seem right and correct.

"So it doesn't have anything to deal with the fact that he was the god of fertility and war? Aren't most projects named after something that is symbolic of what the project hopes to do?"

"Walter... She wasn't suppose to enter some files and she did. She then proceeded to make sure..."

"Make sure of what, Madeline?"

"Hey, Walter... Ask Madeline how Harrison is doing? I think he will have some performance anxiety!" Nikita hollered out as another shoe smacked loudly against the wall. Walter swallowed and waited.

"As Nikita half admitted, Nikita has made sure that at least for the time being.... Harrison won't be having fun with his wife and most likely, will never reproduce." Madeline explained calmly, but Walter could tell that Madeline was about to lose her last nerve too. Nikita must have really been rolling an hour ago while on that mission.

"I see how that would bother Harrison, but it probably spares the world a bad seed or two."

"That wasn't for Nikita to decide."

"Nikita just doesn't attack, Madeline... He must have been pushing himself onto her."

"She has had plenty of men push against her and she didn't inflict this kind of pain and with this amount of hatred. Harrison is in the hospital, Walter."

"Wow."

"That doesn't even describe it. We need you out of there now, in case the authorities get antsy about Nikita doing this to Harrison."

"Come on, Walter.. I WANT TO GO!!!" Nikita sang out loudly with a tone of annoyance that he was still on the phone. Walter blinked his eyes and knew that the war zone that he would unfortunately be entering Section One when he arrived back with Nikita.

"I suggest you follow Nikita's wishes." Madeline said as she cut off the communication and left Walter holding the phone, wondering what was going on and what wasn't going on. He moved to the door and looked at Nikita as she stared at him.

If there were one thing that Nikita would never do, it would be keep Walter upset. She moved to him instantly and rubbed his arm. She shook her head as the tears started to roll, making Walter's heart go out to her, knowing that Nikita was more than likely doing the correct thing in comparison to Madeline.

"Walter... Project Svetovid... created a boy... Baby Y..." Nikita whispered out and Walter stared at Nikita as her eyes glassed over with the horror of what she saw on that file. Walter instantly understood that war zone didn't properly explain what Section One was going to look like when Nikita got back.

"Sugar.... You really burnt some bridges..." Walter said and Nikita shrugged her shoulders hugely. She sighed and looked around, dropping all of her bags, ready to leave everything right this moment.

"None of those bridges matter Walter. So what if Madeline is upset at me... Look at what she has done to me? Do you know how hard it is to wake up each morning and stand up after what she has done to me? She has tried to destroy my life.... And I don't care what happens now." Nikita said as she brushed past Walter and moved quickly down the stairs.

Things were so much easier when they thought Nikita was pregnant.

It shouldn't have surprised Walter the anger that Nikita had now after she saw the Baby Y file. Of course Walter didn't know about it, but two people in Section One other than Nikita knew about it, Madeline and Operations. They knew the way Nikita would react if she were her normal self. Now, they didn't know about Nikita's and Michael's panic that she might have been a mother. They didn't know how much more Nikita's appreciation for the delicacy of life had grown and how much she wanted to protect the innocence of a child.

Baby Y.

In ways, his life instantly seemed like Nikita's, under the control of another. In Nikita's mind that Baby Y had a chance... even if he had been brainwashed and molded for years and even if Nikita saw that the eight year old's father was somehow, genetically a ten year old.

If Nikita was going to survive something had to be done about Baby Y. No baby should be produced to be a human computer. No child.

Walter walked down the stairs and found Nikita impatiently waiting in the car, ready to go back to Section One. She looked tired and exhausted. Walter didn't realize how much on the go Nikita had been on for almost the entire year. He didn't realize that most of the years; Nikita probably spent less than a week's worth of nights in her apartment.

"Home sweet home, here we come." Walter commented as he turned on the car and started to drive.

How Nikita wished there was a home to come home to. She couldn't dwell on that long, She wondered if Baby Y's only home was still a small room with six cameras as it was three years ago.

"Yeah... Home sweet home." Nikita bitterly repeated with a growl deep in her chest and throat.

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