"Michael... assess Nikita. I want her ok to move on the mission tomorrow."

"It isn't suppose to go until the end of the week, Friday."

"Michael, are you questioning me?"

"Yes. Yes, I am."

"Get ready to go tomorrow."

"Friday has less people in the building."

"Does that ever matter to Section One?"

"No... but.."

"No buts, Michael. You know better." Madeline hissed and closed the line. She stood up and grabbed her purse. She had some things to take care of without Operations knowing about.

*

"I can't believe you are going to eat all of that." Walter said as he looked at Birkoff across the table, spreading the ketchup all over the whole tray of French fries. Birkoff smiled and started to sprinkle the salt over the ketchup as he lightly hummed.

"I don't like hamburgers.... The meat here will get someone killed." Birkoff stated and Walter shook his head, finding Birkoff more odd than before. It was difficult to see how his perspectives change. Maybe it was because he found the way Birkoff brushed his teeth annoying. It was ten minutes of odd sounds and weird moans. The entire night had been finding things out about Birkoff that Walter wished he never knew. The rumors about the Batman underwear were not wrong and the rumors of Birkoff being a girl were.

"Sure... sure..." Walter said as he bit into his hamburger despite of Birkoff's shaking head. He looked around, finding the entire fast food place empty.

"I wonder where all the other operatives are eating..." Birkoff wondered out loud and Walter shrugged his shoulder. He knew most of the operatives were checking out the other places to eat. Michael was more than likely getting served at the bed and breakfast as they served all three meals. Yet, Walter knew Nikita was staying in the hotel and hoped to run into her. He didn't think Nikita would have wandered to the other eateries in the area.

"I don't know bud... but they are probably glad not to be eating across from you. Don't you know how to chew with your mouth closed?" Walter said as he again, turned his head, finding the sight of Birkoff too much to handle.

"Can I have some coffee?" a small voice behind Walter echoed out and he turned to find Nikita standing the line. He stood up and looked at her.

"Ah... sugar.... Ah.. Samantha?" Walter called out, trying to remember the name that he was suppose to call Nikita while in this town name Mince. Nikita turned her head and he saw the bruise on her cheek and chin.

"What happened?" Walter questioned and Nikita tried to smile as she dropped the coins on the counter. She closed her eyes and swallowed.

"I dropped a penny." Nikita commented as she looked at the money as the cup of coffee sat in front of her. Walter moved to the counter and dropped the bill on the counter and looked at Nikita. He looked down and noticed the tennis shoes on her feet and the bandage that showed some blood threw it.

"What happened?" Walter questioned as he took the change and placed it in his pocket. He took the cup of coffee and walked towards the corner table that he was sitting with Birkoff at. Birkoff stood up and grabbed a chair, the first thing that Walter was pleased to see. Walter placed Nikita in the booth and placed the leg up on the chair.

"I got hit by Michael." Nikita whispered out as she sipped at the coffee. Walter looked at Nikita and Birkoff dropped the ketchup-covered fry and stared at Nikita.

"Hit?"

"Yes... Hit, last night by his shining new BMW." Nikita said as she sat the coffee down and her stomach loudly growled. Walter looked at Nikita's eyes measuring up Birkoff's fries and he poked Birkoff in the stomach. Birkoff pushed the tray near Nikita and she started to dive into the food.

"And he let you go back to your hotel by yourself?" Walter questioned; finding it hard that Nikita was even out of the Michael's vision now that he did such a thing.

"No. I had no wallet... and no first aid kit... He took me to the bed and breakfast and declared that I couldn't go back to the hotel." Nikita said and Walter blinked his eyes and looked out the window. Nikita was gobbling down the fries so quickly and he shook his head. He stood up and moved to the counter again to gather more food.

"So he took care of you?" Birkoff questioned as Nikita licked her fingers clean and sipped at the coffee. He saw Walter at the counter and looked at Nikita as she stopped.

"He always does more than he should for me, Birkoff." Nikita commented and Birkoff blinked his eyes. He saw the pain in Nikita's eyes. It was like she wanted to be in Michael's arms and it sounded like Michael wanted Nikita to be there too. Birkoff had to wonder why Nikita was running.

"You should have told him you were going to sue him.... He shouldn't damage your body anytime." Birkoff said and Nikita smirked slightly, not able to find enough strength to laugh at the comment.

"He doesn't hurt me as much as everyone else." Nikita softly stated as she dropped her head. Birkoff frowned and grabbed Nikita's hand. Nikita raised her head and Birkoff smiled and he rubbed Nikita's cheek, the one that wasn't bruised.

"It seems like forever since I last saw you...." Birkoff commented and Nikita nodded her head.

"Yeah... it has been. Did you know they got rid of my apartment?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff nodded his head and rubbed at Nikita's hand. He didn't like seeing Nikita this way. He was sure that there were a lot of problems going on now, and that he missed a lot of what created the Nikita that was sitting in front of him.

"Madeline is working on it, Nikita."

"She took it away. Put me back in Section One."

"It's temporary... I saw that file she started."

"I don't want to hear it. She should have asked me." Nikita stated out as she looked to the window. Birkoff looked to Nikita and swallowed as Walter stood at the counter tapping his fingers as the staff of the Hardees worked slowly on making whatever he had bought.

"Nikita... can I ask you something?" Birkoff whispered as he leaned forward. Nikita looked to him and tried to force a smile out. She knew that Birkoff was going to ask something personal, but she didn't want to fight right now.

"What?" Nikita responded tentatively. She didn't have to answer anything that she didn't want too. That was the bottom line.

"Is there something going on that I should know about? You look worse than you did when I last saw you. This isn't all about Michael hitting you." Birkoff whispered and Nikita sat there in silence and the tears began to roll.

"You don't have to answer that." Michael said as his voice marked his silent entrance into the fast food place. He reached over the table and rubbed at the tears on Nikita's face and Walter moved quickly with the food from the counter to the table.

"What did you do to her?" Walter hissed at Michael and then stopped as Nikita looked out the window. She turned and grabbed at the hamburger and started to eat away.

"It was all an accident." Michael said and Birkoff started to shake his head. A little accident didn't do this to Nikita. He knew Nikita well enough to know more was going on and he caught the glimpses between the two men.

"Ok... I know something is going on." Birkoff said as he stood up and Michael used the opportunity to slide in the booth across from Nikita. She turned and looked at him.

"You are to go to the bed and breakfast with me.... And the mission is going to be going live, soon." Michael said as he watched Nikita. He noticed the bruising seemed to be getting more intense in color and in coverage. He knew that he should have never listened to Nikita claiming that she was all right last night.

"When?" Walter and Birkoff echoed out at the same time. Michael didn't move his eyes from Nikita, as he wanted to make sure she was fine. His eyes scanned her body and realized that she needed to change the bandage when he got her back to his room.

"Tomorrow. Notify everyone, Dr. Bowles." Michael said and Birkoff dropped his head and looked around. He started to pull on Walter and Walter growled.

"Look.. Our meal is over." Birkoff said and Walters shook his head.

"Samantha might need more help." Walter said and then stopped as Nikita pulled at his hand. Her eyes studied Birkoff and then looked at Walter.

"Harrison... why don't you tell Dr. Bowles what happened." Nikita softly recommended and Walter stared at Nikita like she had grown a second head. He couldn't believe that Nikita was suggesting what she was.

"Samantha... I don't think.."

"It will be best for everyone..."

"Are you sure about that, Nikita? Everything?" Michael inquired; finding it difficult that Nikita would want Walter to give Birkoff his version.

"Yes." Nikita granted and Walter shook his head and grabbed Birkoff. Nikita may have told him to tell Birkoff, but it didn't mean he was going to do it willingly. Walter grumbled underneath his breath as he walked out of Hardees, leaving Michael with the eating Nikita.

"Why did you do that?" Michael asked as he looked at Nikita. She closed her eyes and dropped the hamburger, finding her appetite had vanished. She tilted her head as Birkoff stared at Nikita inside the building and knew that Walter had started the long story of what had happened to her most recently, probably starting with Madeline.

"I am close to Birkoff... and he knows something that he wasn't going to tell me... Madeline is up to something and he knows part of it.... Maybe if he knows what I've been through he will give me what I need." Nikita speculated and Michael pressed his lips together and took Nikita's hands.

"What you need to do is to get your things and come back to the bed and breakfast and rest."

"Michael... what about..."

"I know what is best right now..."

"But..."

"Nikita... listen to..."

"To you? You hit me with the BMW!"

"Nikita..." Michael said as he leaned forward and placed his lips onto hers. Nikita dropped her head and nodded without another word. She gave control to Michael and in doing so, sought the best way to heal, in Michael's caring arms.

*

Madeline walked down the sidewalk and looked down the road. She stopped and turned her head to the right, allowing the breeze it push her hair in that direction. She smelt the thick smoke that was rarely anywhere else. She looked down the road, to the left and narrowed her eyes. She clapped her hands together and pulled at the keys to her car.

Madeline was no surprise to see the black sedan pull out as soon as she had. She remembered back years and years ago, before Henry had been released, and remembered how often they made fun of Operations' following skills. They had only gotten worse as the years passed and Madeline was not amused by the actions.

Honestly, there was no reason to follow Madeline as such. She was doing nothing that was official Section One business. To everyone who saw her, she was like everyone else. It was the person who was following her that made her different. Madeline drove past the shopping mall and made the right hand turn. She was no surprised as he followed suit, indicating that he was working by himself.

There were a couple options Madeline could do. She could try to get rid of him, which wouldn't be hard, but would most likely make him more upset. She could run around the entire city and burn hers and his gas up and laugh at the circles she was making. That was a good option, but that was only going to succeed in burning up gas. The last option she had was going onto the highway to a little used rest area and getting everything stopped for once and for all.

Madeline jumped the two lanes to the left-hand turn onto the highway. She heard the horns honking as Operations followed her with a jerking sort of move of his car to get right behind her. Madeline stopped herself from shaking her head at the sight she had in her rear view mirror. She could see Operations gnawing down on the thick cigar as he turned his head to the side, acting like she wouldn't notice that it was him. Madeline blinked her eyes in disappointment and started to drag race to the highway as the turning light switched over.

It took all of Madeline's will and determination not to speed way far ahead in her sports car and see how long Operations could keep up with her. She had him tailing her for the better part of the day, and it was to the point of being ridiculous and dangerous. There were many points she could use against him when she finally got him where she wanted him.

The time was coming for the end.

No, Madeline wasn't going to kill him in the rest area, although if he pushed her much further, she would do, as she deemed fit. Madeline learned a long time ago that her words and threats hurt more than any physical wound she could inflict on people. She had kept her knowledge of Operations' weaknesses and strengths hidden away. She only used them subtly to get him to do what she wanted. He had this illusion of power that he based himself all of off, and to threaten that would cause him to tailspin until he was under control once again. Yes, it would be the head of Section One, but no, he wouldn't be the dictator of Section One.

She was pleased to find the rest area empty as she pulled into the parking spot. She turned her head and watched the black sedan pulling in down the parking area about ten spots away. Madeline shook her head in her car and stepped out of the sports car. She heard the car door slammed as she moved into the restroom area. She opened the door and stepped in slightly. She waited and saw the man that had been following her for a long while now and making her life a living hell for much longer.

"Is there a reason why you are following me?" Madeline questioned as she opened the door and touched Operations' shoulder. He turned around and pulled the cigar from his mouth. Madeline looked to the side as she grabbed the offending cigar and dropped it to the ground, smashing it with her foot.

"You'll regret you did that Madeline." Operations said as the last batch of smoke felt his mouth and floated to her face. She waited and stared at Operations.

"I'm glad you followed me, it is time that you learn the truth." Madeline said and Operations smirked and allowed a strangled laugh out of his mouth.

"I know the truth. Tell me about all the houses you were looking at? Planning on giving one to Nikita?" Operations questioned and Madeline noncommittally shrugged her shoulders, waiting for him to rant and rave.

"You can't give her a house. She is Level Three. They don't get houses... they are lucky the get apartments!" Operations belittled Madeline and she only blinked her eyes.

"I could have been looking for safe houses."

"Those were nice neighborhoods, Madeline. Don't take me as stupid." Operations contended as he raised his eyebrows before he started to laugh at Madeline once again. "You really have lost your touch, Madeline."

"Have I?"

"Oh yes.... What happened to the ice palace? Are you finally melting? It's good that I'm around to run Section One." Operations gloated gleefully as he stepped back from Madeline. He pulled out the thin cigar box and attempted to pull out another cigar before Madeline snapped it away from his hands.

"Let's get this straight. You don't have the power you think you have." Madeline said and Operations rolled his eyes.

"Madeline... your illusions of power are getting in the way... They may get you cancelled." Operations said and it was Madeline's turn to allow a stiff and short laugh out of her mouth. The chortle bothered Operations as Madeline rarely joined in with gestures that showed her believing she was right.

"You wouldn't be anywhere close to Baby Y. You wanted to use Michael... and that was wrong." Madeline said and Operations shrugged his shoulders.

"One mistake... but that is why I have you." Operations affirmed with a derisive grin spreading across his face, as if he just won the war. Madeline looked to the side and smiled bitterly to the man.

"Oh, that is sad that you don't realize what I do to you." Madeline said and Operations' grin fell from his face. He had seen how Madeline controlled most of the operatives but never believed that Madeline would play him with. Yet, from the look on his face and the pounding in his chest, he knew that Madeline could do just that.

"You aren't doing anything."

"I play you more than anyone else in Section One. I've made you hate Nikita so much that you can't see the good that she does. She has power." Madeline stated as she shook her head from side to side, showing a mock sadness for Operations.

"She has no power. She is a thorn in my side."

"Maybe that is what I wanted her to do." Madeline said as a sly smile crossed her lips and plastered her face. Operations glared and shook his head.

"You aren't that way, Madeline. She drives you crazy too."

"Used to. But then I selected her for a reason. Remember... I brought her into Section One." Madeline avouched with her hands folding in front of her waist.

"I'm reminded of it every day." Operations gargled with anger.

"She found out about Baby Y. She found who he is." Madeline said with wide open eyes, ready to education Operations with the ways of the world and the ways that Section One was going to be for now on.

"Luck."

"You don't believe in luck, Paul." Madeline stated with disbelief in her eyes. If he believed in luck, a lot of the missions wouldn't happen. He had this need to control everything. The fact that the man who disbelieved in luck was more ironic than he would ever know.

"That is all Nikita has for her."

"Michael has power. He left and we didn't know. He spent some time with Nikita. We don't know why or how. He was gone and we didn't know. Do you call that luck?" Madeline questioned as she narrowed her eyes and stepped closer to Operations. It was best to get off the topic of Nikita, as she tended to cause issues that Madeline wasn't even aware of.

"Or, how about Walter? You think that he is having a bad time and needs some time off... You send him away and he is better.... Do you realize that he starts acting like he is having a bad time in order to get time off?" Madeline continued her barrage of questions, each one causing his face to turn red.

"Do you know about Birkoff's scheme? That he gets video tapes and sells them to Section One.... He has made a lot of money... but he protects his friends... there isn't one Michael and Nikita tape." Madeline stated and Operations threw his hands up in the air.

"There should be no Michael and Nikita tapes. They are two separate operatives!" Operations shouted and Madeline looked around, seeing that the rest area was still empty.

"OH? Separate? How can you delude yourself so badly?"

"Madeline... stop this nonsense.. You can't possibly prove any of this."

"But you think it is possible, right?"

"It doesn't matter."

"Yes, it does Paul. You think that all of these are possible, correct?"

"I don't answer to you."

"You only think you don't answer to me, Paul. But you answer to me everyday."

"No, Madeline. You are incorrect."

"Just answer the question. Fifty-fifty chance that you get the right one and you are correct."

"What was the question, Madeline?"

"Don't play dumb, Paul, it is unbecoming. But the question was that you think it is possible for Michael and Nikita to be together... that Walter pretends to be doing bad... and well, Birkoff.. He is running his own Section One pornography tape business.... You think it is possible."

"Yes."

"Then where is your god-like power, Paul? You don't have it. You don't even have tenth of what you think you have."

"You are wrong." Operations declared with a deep voice that only caused Madeline to laugh in his face. She stepped forward and touched his face.

"I control you Paul in ways you can't even fathom... You order for me to love you... but in doing that... I gain more... because you need more and you give yourself away..." Madeline whispered out as she brushed her hand to his temples and played with the blades of his short hair.

"Madeline..."

"I have the power... and you never know when I use it. And I will do what I want." Madeline said as she stepped back and pulled her hand down. She looked around and pulled at the keys to her car.

"If the house if for Nikita, I haven't found it yet. You won't stop me.... Because you are afraid of the other ways I control you..." Madeline coolly stated as she stepped back even further. She watched Operations' face distort with the realization of the frank and honest truth.

"Don't follow me. You are wasting your time. I know what I want... and I get what I want, Paul." Madeline said as she walked further away. She stopped and laughed deeply.

"You'll learn it sooner or later." Madeline commented as she waved her hand to Operations and retreated to her car, sure that he would be standing in that rest area for several more minutes, figuring out some of the times she had manipulated him and staying blind to the other half.

*

Michael adjusted the sheets over Nikita's resting body as the day's light started to set behind the horizon. He rubbed her face softly and found himself sighing at the beauty that was always there, no matter how genuinely battered her body was. He found it difficult to break his hands away from her face, but he did not want to wake her.

Rebound sleep was never fun and in Section One, operatives were almost always subjected to that type of sleep. They were never on a regular schedule and were run from mission to mission so quickly that it tore at the operatives' biorhythms. It was difficult to watch one rebound sleep, because they slept for such a long time.

The maddening fact about Nikita's sleep was something even more. She shouldn't even have to rebound sleep. Her missions had given her the opportunity to sleep properly, but other things destroyed those possibilities. First it was being driven to relive her past and deal with Madeline. Then she was electrocuted and had to heal from that. Lastly, she had been separated from Michael after revealing herself, only to belief she was pregnant and then found out sadly, that she wasn't.

There was a slight knock on the glass door that led to the small balcony that didn't even come in comparison in size to the one that Nikita had lost. Michael turned and saw Walter looking in. Walter shrugged his shoulders as Michael moved to the door and stepped out with Walter, able to still have a view of Nikita.

"How is she?" Walter questioned and both men looked through the glass to realize that Nikita didn't even move. Both were overprotective of her and Michael doubted that neither of them would notice if she did move.

"She slept most of the day. We haven't talked." Michael stated and Walter nodded his head and slapped his hands down onto his thighs as he sat down on the patio chair and allowed a long sigh out.

"How's Birkoff?" Michael questioned and Walter shrugged his shoulder and shook his head. Michael didn't like the motion and Walter leaned forward.

"I didn't even get to that last mission. He cried through the entire story I told him about what Madeline did. I couldn't tell me about..."

"It's ok... Nikita and I have to get through it... you included... No reason for Birkoff to know." Michael whispered as he turned his head and looked at Nikita. Walter looked to the wall of the bed and breakfast and shook his head.

"Look.. I didn't climb up that trellis to say that I'm not going to tell Birkoff... Honestly, Michael.. It's in her eyes... You can just guess... and I think it is only a matter of time for Birkoff to guess."

"Let him." Michael bitterly responded. He didn't understand Nikita's decision to allow Walter to tell Birkoff any of what had happened to her, but that had been her decision. Yet, when it came to a discussion of Nikita being almost pregnant, and with his child, that then became something Michael had a call in. He didn't want Birkoff knowing if he couldn't guess. If he guessed it, he would admit the truth.

"Michael... I'm worried..." Walter said and Michael dropped his head. He didn't know what Walter was specifically talking about, but Michael was worried too. Not about Nikita being hit and not even about the stuff that caused her to sleep now. He was worried for the future.

"This Baby Y... Ivan... He can't be good." Walter said and Michael shook his head. Nikita knew more than what she was telling him or anyone. She was holding something back that he wanted to know and hoped that he would learn. Yet, with Madeline pushing the mission forward to the next day, things were more complicated.

"He has bothered Nikita. She saw an original file." Michael stated and Walter grabbed Michael's hand and tugged at it.

"She saw an original file. Not a Section One censored one? What is on it!" Walter explained and Michael shook his head back and forth solemnly. Walter turned his head slowly and tightened his eyes. He couldn't believe that if Nikita saw the file that she wouldn't tell Michael everything.

"I thought you two shared everything... especially after..."

"Walter... I don't know what keeps her silence... I don't know if she is doing it because it protects everyone or if she plans on using it somehow." Madeline informed Walter as he turned his head and saw Nikita's arms starting to fling from side to side.

Michael didn't say good-bye and he didn't even acknowledge Walter. He was sure that the man would just understand as Michael moved to Nikita. He sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her hair and her face. This occurred for several minutes, as Michael was sure that Nikita was just going to pass to another dream.

"NO!" Nikita said as she sat up and looked at Michael. She blinked her eyes and rubbed his face.

"I have to tell you." Nikita said and Michael rubbed her hand softly.

"Tell me what?"

"Baby Y.... I know why Section One wants him." Nikita stated and Michael looked around and found that Walter had left. He blinked his eyes as his stomach started to roll. He wasn't sure if he wanted to know, but now was too late. Nikita knew and she was going to tell... and hopefully that it was for the best of everyone involved.

*

"Is everyone in place?" Madeline said as she looked down at Simon as he typed at the computer. He looked up and nodded his head. Madeline bit on her lip and rubbed her hands together. If Michael and Nikita had a plan, it would have to work out sooner or later. She didn't see any evidence of it now, but that was because Nikita had not revealed all that she knew. Madeline scanned the screen, looking for an anomaly that could be because of Michael and Nikita.

"There are a lot of bodies in this building." Simon said as he looked up at Madeline. Madeline blinked at the screen and knew that fact already, yet she was ready to have the games to end. More than likely, given the short amount of time Michael and Nikita had together would lessen the likelihood of a counter mission. Madeline didn't know what to expect.

"Have the operatives move to second point. They shouldn't need backup until after the wall has been penetrated and Ivan retrieved." Madeline issued the orders as she turned her back and waited to listen to the happenings and wondering when all hell was going to break loose.

"Here... let me get that door for you, Ms. Jennings." Michael said as he opened the door for Nikita. She smiled and waited for Michael to open the glass door to the science complex they were entering. Nikita waited and brushed past him.

"Thank you Mr. Azure. You are such a nice man." Nikita said as she press her finger to the computer pad and waited for Michael to do the same.

"Samantha Jennings." Nikita said and the guard nodded his head and looked to Michael.

"Rick Azure." Michael stated and he nodded his head once more. Michael wrapped a hand intimately around Nikita's waist and started to lead her down the hallway, conversing in chitchat to pass the time until the other operatives arrived.

"We have a line." Birkoff hissed out, feigning anger. Of course because today was the busiest day the mission profile was going to run off of time lengths.

"Just get in and soon." Simon hissed back as Walter stepped forward and started the process that Michael and Nikita had been able to do quickly at the back door. Walter waited and waited as the pretty young guard smiled at him.

"Harrison Madaris.. Welcome. It has been some time." The girl pronounced and Walter nodded his head to the side as Birkoff pushed at Walter and placed his hand down on the computer. He was sick of the games and just wanted this mission done. Walter had wakened him up at 6 am this morning to Opera blasting from the CD player.

"Look.. I'm Dr. Bowles and I just want to get in. This line is ridiculous." Birkoff said formerly and Walter rolled his eyes. Birkoff had been warned not to embellish but he was either way. Embellishment was meant for experienced operatives like Michael and Nikita, not Birkoff.

"Go head, doctor." The guard said and Birkoff moved down the hallway with Birkoff.

"Don't do that again." Walter snarled at Birkoff and Birkoff rolled his eyes and looked down the hallway. He looked at the pictures and stopped as he looked at the one of a woman. It was a news photograph, of a mother who lived after a fire, but her baby didn't.

"NO!" Birkoff shouted as he continued to stare at the photograph and Walter looked to Birkoff and swallowed, not sure what he was shouting about. Birkoff turned and looked at Walter.

"You knew!" Birkoff accused and Walter blinked his eyes, still feeling out of sorts. There was no time or placed for this.

"What?"

"Nikita was pregnant...." Birkoff said as he connected the look of the eyes of the woman in the photograph to the look that was in Nikita's eyes. They were the same. He couldn't say the words that Nikita lost the baby, but he knew that too.

"Nikita was pregnant?" Simon questioned as he lifted and stared at Madeline. Madeline sighed and looked to the wall. This was something new that she didn't even know about and this wasn't a rogue mission plan. This was going to explode into her face too.

"Samantha!" Birkoff cried out as he ran down the hallway and Nikita looked to Michael as Birkoff plastered his body around Nikita, hugging her tightly.

"Stop it." Nikita hissed out in a soft whisper and Birkoff looked up shaking his head.

"No.. You lost a baby..." Birkoff said and Nikita closed her eyes and Walter looked away and Michael looked to Nikita. There was no time for this and Nikita looked to Michael as her heart started to pound. This morning the pain wasn't there as much before. The fact was that there was a plan that Michael and Nikita had worked on that needed to be carried out and now was not the time to be explaining the facts of what happened to Nikita to Birkoff.

"I told you to tell him, Walter. Why did you wait!" Nikita hissed out, forgetting the mission and forgetting the mission profile.

"I tried... SAMANTHA." Walter said as he raised an eyebrow, trying to get Nikita to realize her mistake. Nikita sighed and shook her head as she looked at Michael.

"Everyone is at the second point. Are we proceeding to the third point without back up?" Simon questioned as he heard the conversation and looked to Madeline. Madeline sighed and looked to Simon.

"All the communication units are still on?" Madeline questioned.

"Of course." Simon replied as if Madeline's question was out of the ordinary.

"Even Michael's and Nikita's?"

"If I said of course, I meant everyone." Simon replied and Madeline turned her head away from Simon. They were listening to the profile. Madeline was sure that they would have showed a swaying to deviating from the mission profile by now.

"Nikita... what's wrong?" Michael questioned as she turned away and Birkoff looked to Nikita as she started to stumble.

"She did lose the baby.. She isn't pregnant is she?" Birkoff questioned as he looked to Walter. Walter smacked the boy across the back of his head.

"She was never pregnant... We all thought wrong." Walter said as he dropped his head. He looked to Nikita and frowned. Something was definitely not right there and Walter didn't know why.

"I'm going to take her to the bathroom." Michael said as he pulled her communications unit out of her ear. He handed it to Walter and moved with Nikita.

"I can't move them to the third point.. Michael and Nikita have gone to the bathroom and Nikita is without communications." Simon said as he looked up at Madeline and Madeline fretted with the news. This might just be an aftereffect of Nikita getting hit by the car. Maybe she had the flu. Or maybe Nikita was doing something that wasn't supposed to happen.

"Move them to the third point, have the backup teams move in 100 yards." Madeline responded as she lifted her head and looked at the computer screen.

"To the third point, folks." Simon ordered as he looked at Madeline standing next to him from the corner of his eye. Things weren't going really as planned, but not as terrible as it could be. Simon though, was worried. Madeline was fretting too much to stay calm now.

Michael walked to the bathroom and waited for the operatives to start moving to the third point. He pressed the beeper to Nikita and she looked both ways and ran back from the way they had come. Michael stepped inside of the bathroom and turned on the tape recorder.

"Michael... I'm going to..." Nikita's voice came over the line of Michael's communications and Simon looked up at Madeline.

"Not a good time for the flu." Simon remarked and Madeline snapped her head down to Simon and he turned his head away. Simon knew when there was time for smart remarks and when there wasn't time for smart remarks.

Nikita ran down the hallway and pulled out her gun. She looked around and saw no one running or walking towards her. She noted that the backup teams were still outside of the building. She turned and looked up, the sprinkler system that she was looking for. Nikita looked around and found the waste can.

"Michael... we need you and Nikita to the third point." Simon said and Michael swallowed and pressed the tape recorder.

"The world is spinning..." Nikita's voice whined out and Simon dropped his head and shook it. He knew that all the operatives were needed at the third point to open the seals and to get inside the area they had been waiting for.

"Michael... get Nikita and yourself to the third point." Madeline hissed out and Michael opened the bathroom door and started to walk as he pulled out a cell phone and dialed for the beeper.

Nikita started to imprecate as she picked the lock to the office door and slid into the room. She dropped the wastebasket and smiled at the reams of paper she found. She threw the papers about the room and stepped out, looking up and down the hallways. She flicked the match on and ran out of the room as the papers easily caught fire.

"Michael.... Where is..." Walter said and Michael rolled his eyes.

"Isn't Nikita with you?" Simon hissed out and looked up at Madeline. She leaned over the desk and stared at the incoming communications line that Simon had. All the units were one and only Nikita was not accounted for.

"I'm fine.. Walter..." Nikita said as Michael pressed the tape recorder and stared at him. Luckily the other operatives where placed in a point far enough away not to notice that Nikita was missing. Yet, it didn't take long until Nikita ran to her position and looked at Michael. She nodded her head and grabbed her hand out to get ready for the next part of the mission.

"Ok.. We need all materials to be pressed against the panels now." Simon ordered as he waited. Nikita looked to Michael and pressed her finger down as the rest did the same. The chimes rang; opening to the door that led to Baby Y, just as the fire alarms started to ring.

"What the hell!" Simon cried out and Madeline turned and slammed her hand to the panel.

"Michael, Nikita... get Baby Y... Everyone else... Get out!" Madeline ordered and Michael looked to Nikita and nodded his head.

"Lets go." Nikita said as she looked at Michael and he sighed. They were both scared. They knew what Nikita saw on the files and didn't know what would happen next. Things were about to get dangerous.

*

Nikita looked down the long hallways. Baby Y, no Ivan had complete control of this section of the building. Nikita carefully looked to Michael creeping down the other wall. Fear and control was running through their minds, knowing that they needed to work together on this one, that anything less could ruin the both of them.

"Are you sure about what you read?" Michael questioned and Nikita motioned for Michael to move to their side. With the alarms ringing and probably operatives running in every direction, Simon was going to be busy. Nikita had some time to go over the major points with Michael. They were engrained in her mind.

"About what part are you questioning? The growth hormone they supplied him with or the violent tendencies?" Nikita questioned and Michael licked his lips. He wanted to know about both. Nikita looked at Michael and swallowed.

"I don't know what they were trying to create Michael. He is an eight-year old boy emotionally.. But he as a full body. He hates alarms.... We created the best environment for him to be violent." Nikita said in a hushed voice as she continued her vigilance, looking in both directions, waiting to see what happens.

"Why? Why did we do this, Nikita? If he is what you told me last night... we can be in mortal danger." Michael said and Nikita blinked her eyes. They had orders to bring this Ivan in alive. Nikita swallowed and dropped her head.

"To show why they can't do this to humans." Nikita said as she got mad at Michael. They spent hours going over this plan and now, as it was in motion, Michael was questioning it. Nikita found it maddening that Michael would wait until now to voice his concerns.

Michael had waited too long before following Nikita. He thought too long about how the thing known as Ivan was locked up. He must have been programmed to be violent if it had taken ten fingerprints, pressed on the computer at the same time, to gain access to him. Michael cursed at himself for his stupid question and then froze as the thing exited from a door and headed right to Nikita.

"Ugh.." was the only sound of Nikita as Ivan slammed her against the door. He looked at Nikita and groped at her body, as if trying to make sure she was alive. She had seen in his file that he never saw a woman before in his life and knew that possibly, her life was in more danger.

"Witch." Ivan hissed out as he punched Nikita's stomach and ran into another hallway. Nikita leaned her head back and waited as Michael ran to her side. Michael looked at Nikita as she pushed her body away, feeling little pain and much more fear.

"What do we do?" Michael questioned and Nikita followed down the hallway that Ivan had ran too. Nikita was running after him, knowing that most likely there was a trap of sorts. Nikita continued without care, and Michael followed behind, knowing that if Nikita was going to survive it was going to be because they worked together.

"Nikita!" Michael called out as she turned into a room and looked about. There computers and nothing else. She stepped back in the hallway as the grunting started.

"My home." Ivan huffed out as he picked Michael up and slammed him down to the ground. Michael arched his back in pain, but tried to sweep his legs out to stumble Ivan. Ivan did stumble and was about to go back to Michael when Nikita stepped out in the hallway.

"Ivan... I'm here." Nikita said and Ivan stared at her.

"Witch.. Mother... Witch..." Ivan said as he looked at Nikita and turned away from Michael. Michael looked at Ivan as Nikita ran down the hallway. Ivan was going to tear her to shreds.

Nikita didn't get far as Ivan proved to be fast and quick, along with being strong. He was an eight-year-old emotionally, but his body was much more. Nikita stopped and Ivan grabbed Nikita's arm and started to twist it back. Nikita heard the pop and closed her eyes as the pain.

"DAMN YOU!" Nikita hissed out as she looked into the eyes of Ivan. Ivan looked at her and stopped holding her arm. Nikita slumped forward and swallowed. She knew her shoulder had been dislocated from the move, she heard it popped.

"It's dislocated!" Nikita shouted out at him. Ivan looked at Nikita and shoved her back against the wall as Michael staggered down the hallway. He looked to Nikita and Ivan began to run down another hallway. Nikita looked to Michael and pointed back down the other hallway.

"Go that way.. I'll go this way!" Nikita said and Michael shook his head and looked at Nikita. He had some blood coming down his face as he shook his head. Nikita looked at him and pulled at her injured arm. If she had too, she could still use it.

"We need a tranquilizer gun, Nikita. We can't subdue him!" Michael hissed and Nikita dashed down the hallway with no regard to what Michael had said.

"I need a team of backup in here with a tranquilizer, the biggest one we have, and medical on alert." Michael said as he stared at the hallway Nikita pointed him to go down. Michael moved like an injured panther. He slightly limped with pain and found it amazing that Nikita had jogged down her appointed hallway.

"Nikita.... Help me.." Michael's voice cried out as she got to the end of the hallway. She moved to the door and opened it slowly.

"Michael? Did Ivan get you? Where are you?" Nikita questioned until she was rammed into the room from behind. She groaned as she slammed into the floor and her world flash into the darkness.

Ivan walked into the room and shut the door. Michael ran passed the room not long after, crying out for Nikita. Ivan looked to Nikita's outfit and ripped at the shirt.

"Mother?" Ivan questioned as he pressed his hand onto Nikita's bra covered breast. He looked to Nikita and stroked her hair as Michael started to call for Ivan. He looked to Nikita and dropped his head to her chest. He had read books about mothers and children. He looked to Nikita and then jumped as a gun shot off down the hallway, far enough from where he was, but too close for him.

"Witch!" Ivan hissed as he slammed his foot on the already injured leg of Nikita. He walked out of the room and pressed against the wall, waiting for Michael.

Michael didn't hear Ivan from around the corner. All of the sudden he was pulled by the neck and snapped upside down. Michael felt he ground heavily slapping his back again before he was pulled abruptly up.

"Bad." Ivan hissed as he looked at Michael. He stepped back and roundhouse kicked Michael in the jaw with a speed that Michael had never seen before. Michael staggered back as Nikita crawled out of the room she had been in. She stood up and looked at Michael falling against the wall with a slack body.

"Ivan!" Nikita hissed. He moved towards Nikita and she threw her injured arm up to his face, punching him with a force that staggered Ivan a bit and caused more riveting pain to shoot down Nikita's body.

"Nikita! Michael! Nikita!" Walter's voice yelled out as the footsteps of many operatives were heard. Nikita turned towards the footsteps as Ivan grabbed her around the neck.

"Stop!" Michael shouted as he looked at Ivan. He could snap the neck easily or he could cut off the oxygen to Nikita's world so easily. Nikita was then lifted into the air as Ivan saw the operatives surrounding him. Nikita's legs flopped around in the air as Walter lifted the tranquilizer gun.

"Let me go, Ivan.." Nikita moaned out under the pressure of his arms around her neck. Ivan shook his head back and forth. Nikita felt him trembling like the young boy he was. He was part boy and part animal and he was surrounded.

Michael didn't see a good outcome of this as Ivan dropped his hand and pressed towards Nikita's back.

"Ahh... pressure point..." Nikita moaned out as her legs stopped moving. Michael looked into Nikita's eyes as they almost glazed over, but she held her arm out for him. Michael looked to Walter and motioned for him to hand over the gun.

Ivan looked as Michael instantly got the gun and shoveled it to Nikita. She snatched it in her injured arm that she held painfully up for Michael. She turned and snapped it into Ivan's side. Her world was starting to get speckled with black dots as he held her tighter, even as the tranquilizer took hold of him.

He slacked though and Nikita dropped to the ground with a loud thud. Michael moved and grabbed Nikita away. Her good hand rushed to his face as she could hear Madeline yelling from his communications unit. She looked at Michael and sighed. He looked up to the sky and swallowed.

"They can't create monsters... people need mothers and fathers... without that... no matter how bad the mother or father is.... They aren't monsters.... They can't create monsters..." Nikita cried softly out as the medical teams arrived and first dealt with Ivan. Everyone knew he had to be taken into Section One and secured before the tranquilizer wore off.

"No monsters, Nikita... No monsters..." Michael sighed out in agreement. He couldn't even call that thing human after what he saw.

*

"I want to talk to them now." Operations commanded as he pulled the communications piece up to his ear and stared harshly at Madeline. He didn't know about this mishap until it had already finished. Somehow he was diverted into a conversation with Oversight when all hell broke loose.

"They are being loaded into the medical van. I don't think it is advisable or possible." Madeline said as she looked at Operations stared at her for several seconds before tapping on Simon's shoulder. Simon did as he was signaled to do.

"Michael... Nikita..." Operations stated out and he waited. He looked to the monitors and saw that all units were sending and receiving.

"Sir, they are on medications." Walter replied back as he looked at Michael and Nikita, looking at one another. Walter was protecting them now, as they needed to be. Nikita was hurting from the dislocated shoulder at least, and both where bruised about their bodies.

"I don't care. I want to know who was in charge of this mess and who created it." Operations shouted and Madeline rolled her eyes and moved out the area. She wasn't going to stand there and do absolutely nothing as Operations tried to play God again. If this mission was anything, it was a signal to all those people trying to play God that it didn't work. The perfect example of why it was dangerous to play God was Ivan. He was an eight-year old with no life and possible chance to going back to something that wasn't a monster. Human life destroyed for no good.

"I was." Nikita admitted loudly and Walter looked to Nikita and shook his head back and forth. Nikita lifted her chin with considerable pain across her face. The medical operative tried to stop Nikita as she grabbed the communications line. Walter looked to Michael and turned to gather one for him too.

"I should have known." Operations spat out over the line as he looked at the data.

"He was a monster and you thought he was a child. How wrong where you?" Nikita fought back, not waiting for a second to listen to Operations.

"It doesn't matter. There is a mission profile for a reason." Operations stated as Michael looked to Walter, becoming impatient without the communications unit. He had to protect Nikita from saying something she might regret.

"That kept truth from us. You said it was an eight-year old. You didn't tell us that he was a full grown ape sort of man!" Nikita shouted out and Michael looked to Nikita as she threw the unit away and gave into tears.

"Nikita? Nikita?" Operations said as he looked to Madeline. She turned her head to the side. She smiled lightly.

"You are asking questions. Who has the power?" Madeline said as she moved back towards him. She looked up at him and shook her head sadly from side to side.

"I thought you were going to ask her the difficult questions... Like why did Birkoff think she was pregnant? Why did Michael, Nikita, and Walter all believe she was pregnant for a while? You think I have the power, Paul.. But I don't ." Madeline said as she looked at him. She knew exactly why Nikita did as she did. It might not be because directly she was sending a message to the leaders of Section One. It was like a personal message to anyone. No one has power unless they try to do something.

"I should tell you how I used my power, Paul. See... I still feel guilt... Which makes me valuable to Section One.... I don't know about you. I had Nikita abused by a therapist.. She almost didn't make it." Madeline said as she looked into his eyes. She took his arm and yanked him over the desk, closer to her.

"They are hurt. They did all of Section One a favor. Showed what those people created and showed how he is something that we should work making sure doesn't happen again and not work on making our own." Madeline said and slapped him lightly across the face with her other hand. She stepped back as she noticed the standing operatives. She looked around and left Operations trembling, knowing that with her speech, she gave the power he thought he had to the operatives that surrounded him and more importantly, to the operatives that were injured in the van.

"Let her come to me." Michael said as he tried to reach for Nikita again as she cried. The medical operative tried to stop it, but Nikita had heard Michael's words and started to move towards him instantly, battered and bruised.

She was seeking love and that was what she needed. She lightly smiled as she started to climb up with Michael, finding just hearing his heart beating was enough for her soul and being. He lightly helped Nikita to position herself off of her injuries and so he could touch her freely. He brushed his hand across her face and saw the mixing of damage from hitting her with the car and then the fight with Ivan.

"How could people do that?" Nikita questioned and Michael shook his head slightingly back and forth, finding the ability to produce words impossible and not the proper time to do so.

"I mean... there are thousands of regular unwanted children out there.. But they had to go and produce this beast... this animal... for what?" Nikita inquired as she looked at Michael's face and saw the tears.

"You were wanted Nikita." Michael stated, knowing the true pain of what Nikita was asking questions for. She sought the reason why people wanted Baby Y and no one wanted her. It was the essence of everything that Nikita had always endured and always questioned. She always compared herself to everyone and everything she saw. Comparing and comparing, and wondering how she was different. She missed what was important and who she was most of the time because of the comparing and most of the time it only succeeded in making Nikita to hurt more.

"By who? Who wanted me? No one then. Maybe I could have been loved if I was produced for a reason or a goal." Nikita muttered out and Michael closed his eyes.

"There was a goal for you... for you to be mine." Michael said as he lowered his eyes and the medical operative moved as far away from the couple as he could. He knew they had monitors and that most of the injures were not serious and only painful.

"I really am yours, aren't I? Nikita questioned and Michael nodded his head as he pressed her crying head to his chest. He only wanted to stay like this, where they were so open with one another and so able to love one another. He looked around and looked at Walter as he smiled down with a smile of happiness and devotion. Michael knew that Walter would help to protect what they both needed and both wanted. Michael kissed Nikita's head softly.

"Oh mon précieux et celui a chéri..." Michael whispered as he looked to Nikita and stroked her hair. He didn't know what had caused her to finally close her eyes. Was it the pain medication or because he finally had her where he could protect her? It didn't matter as he continued to sooth her hair with his hands and to find a peace of his own.

"Oh mon précieux et celui a chéri... Oh mon précieux et celui a chéri.." Michael repeated over and over again as the words drifted in the van and back to Section One.

Simon raised his eyes to Operations and lightly dropped his eyes as he waited for someone to translate for him.

"It means... Oh my precious and cherished one..." Madeline whispered from the distance. She wanted for Simon to say the same sentence and turned away as Operations just stood there as a statue. A statue that was cold and hard. Nothing ever would change that man, not even the words muttered by a man who was truly in love and willing to do anything now to protect that love. Too bad he didn't realize that the words echoed in Section One more than anything else did and changed the operatives that heard them and changed the operatives who would learn about them in the future.

"Oh mon précieux et celui a chéri..." Michael whispered as he surrendered to the sleep that he found contained Nikita also. Never to be separated from her heart again.

*

"You are to be resting." Michael said as he walked into his office and found Nikita on his computer. She lifted her head and dropped her one hand from the computer, as the other one was still in a sling. She looked at Michael's face as it still showed some swelling and dropped her head. She had been injured slightly more and required to stay in the medical area of Section One for exactly 38 hours and 24 minutes. Her dislocated shoulder was fixed and sitting in a sling, although Nikita protested it.

"Their precise words were go home. I have no home." Nikita said as she looked up at Michael's eyes. His thin lips parted to speak to Nikita and he swallowed. He moved to the chair and rubbed at Nikita's good shoulder.

"I will take you to my place immediately." Michael stated as he looked down to Nikita. She looked back to his face and was about to protest his statement as her body trembled. She didn't want to tell Michael no on this one and she knew that she didn't have too.

"It will have to be delayed. Madeline is going to give me an update on the aftermath." Nikita said and Michael looked to Nikita and pulled a chair to her side. It was what he had been waiting for too, who lived and who died. Nikita looked to the window and sighed.

"I saw Samantha in medical... appears that she is a diabetic." Nikita said and Michael dropped his head. He knew that diabetics were rarely kept in Section One due to the high medical concerns. Yet, with the files that were found, Samantha was the brains behind the monster once known as Baby Y and the thing that haunted Nikita's dreams now, Ivan.

"We shouldn't jump to conclusions... Maybe Madeline will tell me where I can claim my supplies so I can get some of my own clothes." Nikita stated as she looked at the desk. Her fingers ran along the surface, finding looking into Michael's eyes too much right now. He didn't spend the days with her; he spent the two nights with her. The first night, he had been required to stay, but the last night, he stayed and watched over her. He told her some stories about how his mother would watch out over him when he had nightmares, but it didn't stop them from coming, but it helped Nikita to accept his help and his touch when they did come.

"I kind of like this." Michael said as he touched the black T-shirt that he had donated and the sweatpants that Birkoff had claimed from Nikita's workout locker. Nikita blinked her eyes and stared at Michael. He lightly smiled, hoping to break Nikita's mood but found it impossible at the moment.

"Well... I think clean underwear is the most important thing I find." Nikita stated out bitterly and Michael smiled and tugged at the pants.

"Does that mean you aren't wearing any?" Michael questioned as the door opened up and Madeline walked in. Nikita lifted her head and looked at Madeline.

"You are looking well. I thought I told you to go to the ready room." Madeline said as she looked straight into Nikita's eyes. Nikita looked to Michael and parted her lips to say something small and then stopped as Madeline pulled a chair to sit in front of the couple.

"Is that my new home?" Nikita bitterly bit at Madeline. Madeline smiled and sat down.

"We'll discuss that later. I am sure you are wondering on who is alive and who isn't." Madeline said and Michael grabbed Nikita's hand and rubbed it. He knew that Nikita desperately wanted to know who was going to be floating around Section One and who wasn't. It would only give her time to prepare with whom she may see.

"I'm sure you used such a proven technique to decide too." Nikita snapped out and Michael turned and looked at Nikita. She looked at Michael and he ached to reach out and kiss her in that moment. Her eyes dropped down as his eyes read what he wanted to do but what he wasn't going to do. Michael looked to the side and leaned to Nikita's head. He pressed the kiss to her forehead and looked directly at Madeline.

"We already know that Michael took care of Dr. Bowles. We still can't find his body." Madeline started out, not even mentioning the kiss. It was like it never occurred and Nikita looked at Michael and saw the confusion on his eyes too. He was sure that he was going to be eaten alive for doing that in front of Madeline, so openingly.

"Rick?" Nikita questioned and Madeline dropped her head slightly.

"Cancelled."

"Harrison Madaris?"

"Cancelled."

"His wife Mindy?"

"Cancelled."

"Samantha?" Nikita questioned with a slightly trembling voice. The girl was young but she also helped to create a monster that would have continued to kill until it was captured again.

"She is in training." Madeline said and Nikita dropped her head as Michael rubbed her lower back lightly. Michael blinked his own eyes, finding it hard that they were going to keep the girl. She had a bad relationship with Birkoff and there had already been one outburst of her yelling at Birkoff in the middle of the communications sector.

"I'm surprised she isn't working with our scientists." Michael stated and Madeline rubbed her hands together. That was the exact thing that Operations said and questioned. Yet, Operations truly wanted her to work with the scientists, because he still didn't understand what had occurred with Ivan.

"Her memory and intelligence has been wiped out of her brain... to protect the world from more Ivan's.... We are training her as a Valentine Operative." Madeline stated and Nikita lifted her head and looked at Michael. He nodded his head and looked to Nikita.

"What about Eric? Did you bring him in too?" Nikita questioned, worrying about the young boy that Birkoff had cared about. It would destroy Birkoff if they brought the younger brother into Section One.

"We didn't touch him. He is doing quite well now that he is away from his parents and sister. Birkoff did him a great service." Madeline stated and Nikita barely nodded her head. She knew the question that the younger woman was wondering about yet, showing signs of not being able to talk about. It was like Nikita was afraid to ask.

"We destroyed Ivan." Madeline said and Nikita swallowed and looked to Michael. Nikita lifted her head, as Madeline was about to leave.

"Will Section ever do something like that?" Nikita questioned and Michael turned his head away and gulped at the air, the question had taken the air out of his chest. Madeline blinked and sat back down.

"We destroyed him. We don't want anything to do with that." Madeline stated but she looked at Nikita's eyes and knew that something was there in Nikita's eyes and her mind.

"What if Section One thought that a good operative could be produced if two operatives had a child." Nikita stated and Michael snapped around to look at Nikita's profile. Her face was stone cold as she stared at Madeline, who equaled Nikita's face in a frigid stare.

"I don't know what you mean." Madeline said and realized that Nikita had too much time to think of late. Nikita dropped her head and picked lightly at her cuticles, showing her nervousness of the question, but also showing that she knew it was a true and valid concern.

"You often say that me and Michael compliment each other... we are opposites... What if Section One felt that a combination of our genes would produce an offspring that would be a super operative? Would you order us to?" Nikita said and Madeline blinked her eyes. Nikita started to cry before Madeline even verbalized the response.

"Yes. We would." Madeline said and Nikita turned her head towards Michael as he reached for her. Michael looked at Madeline and she swallowed. She looked around, wanting to give Nikita something, but not in these terms. Yet, Nikita's stubbornness pulled her head off of Michael's shoulder.

"It wouldn't work." Nikita finally announced and Madeline tilted her head off to the side and glanced at Nikita.

"How so?" Madeline inquired, interested in what Nikita was going to say.

"It would be loved by both of us... and love changes the world." Nikita stated as she held back the tears, but they were so vivid in Nikita's eyes. Madeline dropped her head.

"I know that Nikita. I know that... and that is why I grieve for what you didn't get... I know this isn't going to compare with what you thought you had... but I hope that someday you have great joy there." Madeline said as she explained that she knew about Nikita's belief of being pregnant before she sat the key down on the desk. After the key, Madeline placed the address and directions. Nikita looked to the card as Madeline turned and walked towards the doorway.

"Go home." Madeline stated and walked down the hallway. Nikita looked to the card and to Michael.

"I'll drive." Michael said and Nikita pulled her arm out of the sling and shook her head back and forth.

"I have to do this myself.... See where they put me now..." Nikita said as she stood up and left the sling behind on the desk. Michael picked it up and watched Nikita walk down the hallway. He pressed his lips together and sighed.

*

Nikita took the large sipper bottle of ice tea and held it in her legs as she sat down on the large brand new couch. She ran her hands across the white surface and leaned her head back, looking across the large living room into the even larger dinning room.

This was not what she had expected.

Nikita expected another small apartment and a building filled with yelling tenants and their yapping dogs. She expected to be right on the edge of the bad neighborhood where no one really wanted to live, but were forced to live.

Instead, as Nikita pulled off of the highway as Madeline's directions called for, Nikita saw the small town that she drove into. It was a pleasant place and had so many characteristics like the small towns she had been spending on. Some of the streets were dead-ended and had large circular cul-de-sacs... while Main Street wasn't named Main Street. It was named, Lover's Lane, and Nikita lived right across from the main area of shops, but she wasn't crowded by any means.

There was a large front yard and the size of the backyard was double what was in the front. Nikita looked at the key and believed until it opened up the house that she had the wrong place. Never did she think that Section One would give her a house, in a small town, with nice neighbors. It was a dream come true, but it was also one that startled Nikita and caused a slow simmering emotional breakdown again.

"Nikita?" Michael softly called out as he rapped at the screen door and looked into the house. Nikita turned her head and swallowed. She didn't want to stand up, she was sure that she couldn't.

"It's open." Nikita called out and Michael opened the door and walked in. He whistled as he walked around the hallway and finally to look at Nikita.

"Don't you like it?" Michael said and Nikita shrugged her shoulders. She sipped at the ice tea and rolled her head from side to side. Michael reached for her and frowned lightly.

"Mind if I look around?" Michael asked and Nikita shook her head had motioned for Michael to go ahead and explore.

It was during the exploration that Michael found the objectionable parts that Nikita had found too. The master bedroom was immense and beautifully decorated. Off to the side was huge bathroom with a whirlpool like the one Nikita had in the house in the town with the Papappas. Michael stepped out of that room and went to the last room on the floor and opened the door.

It was decorated as a nursery with blue and pink bunnies gracing the walls. Michael entered the room and looked at how everything matched together and it was ready for instant use. Michael blinked back his own unshed tears and exited the room.

There was nothing Michael could say at the beginning when he saw Nikita. He rubbed her hand and sat down next to her. She moved her body and lay against him, feeling the need to be close to someone.

"It's too big... I don't like being alone in just a big place." Nikita said and Michael looked to Nikita and rubbed her forehead lightly.

"You don't have to be alone." Michael said and Nikita looked at Michael and closed her eyes.

"Did you see the other room?" Nikita whispered in a muffled voice. Michael nodded his head and looked around and swallowed.

"The nursery. I saw it." Michael said and Nikita closed her eyes.

"There is a play ground straight out the back yard. You run right into the community playground. Why did they send me here?" Nikita questioned and Michael dropped his head and nudged her lips lightly with his.

"Madeline sent you here. Not Operations." Michael murmured against her lips. He looked into her blue eyes as they flickered around for understanding.

"Are you saying..." Nikita said and drifted off, as she couldn't even image saying the words. Michael smiled against her cheek and rubbed her hand.

"I saw the real file on this house Nikita... She just had it decorated... I think it is a gift." Michael said, continuing in his soft voice that only Nikita could hear now.

"Gift? You think she wants..."

"I think she is leaving it as an option." Michael stated and Nikita blinked her eyes and felt the air rushing out of the chest. Before, having a child with Michael was something that Nikita almost feared. Yes, there was hope, but she was afraid with what Section One would do. But, if Madeline wanted them and allowed them too, there would only be hope for the child and for her Michael.

There was a knock on the door and Nikita moved and opened it. There was a huge box and Nikita pulled it in after tipping the deliveryman. Nikita looked at the label and looked at Michael.

"It's for the both of us." Nikita said with a crossed look on her face as she was trying to understand what was going on.

Michael pulled out his keys and cut the tape off of the box. Inside was a mess of Styrofoam peanuts. Michael picked a handful up and threw them at Nikita. Nikita laughed and did the same thing back to Michael, spreading the peanuts throughout the room.

Then their hands hit the box that was within. They pulled out the small jeweler's box and looked at each other. Inside, were wedding bands and Nikita sat back down on the couch and felt the peanuts crumbling from underneath her weight.

"Will you marry me, Nikita?" Michael whispered as he dropped to one knee and held the box to Nikita's face. He was rewarded with tears of happiness.

Later that night and into the morning light, a new life was created between the two lovers. They snuggled in the bed as the smell of fresh baked bread floated in the air. It was coming from a new bakery, opening that morning. It was a simple store, Henry's French Breads and Other Baked Goods.

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