"He is supposed to be running communications down here..." Michael stated as he turned and stared down the hallway. Walter picked up the piece and hooked it over his ear. He wanted to know what was going on.

"Shots have been fired..." an operative spoke out and Walter looked to Michael as they entered the elevator.

"Someone is down, Michael..." Walter stated and Michael looked at Walter and pushed his hand out.

"I need a gun," Michael stated and Walter pulled the gun out from behind his belt. It slammed into Michael's hand firmly. Walter listened for a moment.

"Madeline and Operations are down," the same operative reported. Walter smiled.

Nikita was safe.

"Nikita got them..." Walter stated as he slapped Michael's arm. Michael turned and stared at Walter.

"Steward is after her..." Michael stated and Walter's face paled.

"That's not possible.... Nikita made Section Eight a great place... They love her there..." Walter stated and Michael turned to stare at Walter.

"Steward blames Nikita for Patrick's death..." Michael stated and Walter leaned against the wall.

"What the hell? What is Steward doing!" the operative hollered out and Walter closed his eyes. The elevator stopped and Walter looked at Michael.

"We better start climbing... Steward is in with Nikita..." Walter stated and Michael shoved the gun into his pants and started to do as Walter suggested. They were only down three floors.

Michael hoped that he could get there in time.

*

"Steward... please..." Nikita stated as she moved forward a few inches, carefully. She looked at Steward and saw his eyes. He was like the madman that Nikita knew was inside of him. She had a nightmare once of this Steward, but she never expected to find him now.

"No, Nikita... I have the gun... I get to talk!" Steward hissed as he pointed the gun firmly at Nikita's head. Nikita slightly nodded her head, noting the control that he did have because of the gun. She couldn't chance moving closer to him right now, knowing that he would pull the trigger.

Her options were few.

"Maybe we can talk about what is going on, Steward?" Nikita questioned as she raised her hands submissively up in the air. Steward shook his head back and forth harshly. He smiled and looked at Nikita.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you!" Steward revealed and Nikita felt her heart jump. She couldn't believe that this was happening. She should be celebrating the successful mission outcome, but now, her life was hanging in the balance.

"Why?" Nikita questioned, seeking the answers.

"You killed Patrick!" Steward stated firmly and Nikita started to shake her head. She couldn't believe that this, the death of Patrick, was going to get her killed.

"I didn't kill him, Steward..." Nikita stated, hoping that the words alone would ease Steward's pained mind.

It didn't.

"Yes you did! This was one big plan from the beginning! Did you see Steward as an easy target!" Steward hissed and Nikita found it difficult to breath. She stepped back, shaking her head.

Nikita never wanted Patrick to die, let alone get hurt in this. Yes, Nikita did have a plan going into Section Eight on how to get to this day, how to get to Madeline and Operations. However, no matter what Steward believed, she never planned on anything happening to Patrick.

"Steward... I cared deeply for Patrick..."

"Not as much as you cared for Michael!" Steward hissed as he shook his hands back and forth. Almost pulling the trigger.

Almost.

Nikita swallowed harshly as she looked at the barrel, now away from her head, but still pointing deadly to her chest. Nikita rubbed her hands against her tights and she wished she had brought a knife or two on her body.

"When I was with Patrick, Steward.... You have to believe me... I wanted to have a family with him... I saw myself with him.. happily married and with children..." Nikita whispered out as the tears began to form in her eyes. It had been a long time since she thought of these things. It had been a long time since Nikita last thought about having a family. Her focus had been on getting Madeline and Operations so intensely that she had lost almost everything else about her personality.

"But you still thought about, Michael!" Steward hissed as he stepped forward. He almost stepped too close. Nikita shook her head as Steward corrected himself, making the distance more between himself and Nikita. There was nothing in the office to help protect Nikita. Nothing.

"Steward..." Nikita started out and Steward violently shook his head from side to side as he heard Nikita's voice.

"DON'T LIE TO ME NIKITA! I'LL KILL YOU RIGHT NOW!" Steward yelled and Nikita chewed on her bottom lip. She couldn't be sure if telling the truth was going to keep her alive either way. Nikita looked around the office and swallowed.

At least Michael would be able to hear her thoughts and her last words if Steward did decide to kill Nikita.

"My relationship with Michael transcends things, Steward... I did think about him a lot... Patrick may have been the first man to say that he loved me... but Michael was the first man to show me that he loved me..." Nikita admitted as she shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't hiding anything now.

Truth was asked for. Truth was given.

"Why didn't you tell Patrick that?" Steward yelled and Nikita closed her eyes. She tried to count to ten, but she heard Steward stomping his foot.

"Why didn't Patrick tell me that he still loved his wife as he did? Why didn't he tell me that I was a poor substitute for the only woman he wanted to be with?" Nikita questioned back. Steward continued to shake his head back and forth. However, it was too controlled, with his eyes continuing to focus on Nikita. She couldn't make a move. There was no opening for it.

"Damn you, Nikita! Tell me why you should live!" Steward demanded and Nikita swallowed.

~~

Michael grunted as his arms pulled at the metal doors. He looked at the metal and then at Walter. Walter was pushing Michael to go faster, but suddenly gotten quiet. Michael didn't know if that was good or bad.

Finally the metal gave way and Michael pulled his way up to the floor. He bent back to help Walter up. Both men turned to look up at the office, neglecting all of the operatives that were frozen on the floor, staring at the same events as Michael and Walter.

"She is unarmed, Michael..." Walter whispered and Michael started to move slowly between the operatives. Michael stopped as he reached out and touched Davenport's arm.

"I want you to set up a perimeter... Go around the other side of the office... In case he runs..." Michael stated and the man turned his head and looked at Michael.

"I'm from Section Eight," the man responded in a voice that was definitely not Davenport's. Walter shook his head and Michael looked up at the office.

Nikita was magic.

But her magic seemed to have run out.

"Walter... we got to do this ourselves..." Michael stated as he started to move, afraid to look up any longer. He saw that Steward was off into the insanity that had been tempting him for a long time. Michael had seen it coming, but never mentioned it because he felt that Nikita's plan was more important.

Michael felt guilty as he ran now to the stairs, hoping that he wasn't too late.

~~

"I don't know why you shouldn't kill me... Look at me, Steward... Am I even who I used to be?" Nikita questioned as her voice quivered. She looked behind her briefly and to the dead bodies of Madeline and Operations.

Until now, Nikita had been able to justify it.

"I'm just a killer... Just like you said I am..." Nikita agreed with Steward. He looked at Nikita and lowered his hand some, but not enough. Nikita rubbed her fingers across her lips.

"Get off the self-pity, Nikita... You've killed a lot of people in your time!" Steward stated and Nikita nodded her head. She rubbed her hands to her arms. She slightly rubbed them and swallowed as she found that breathing now was getting difficult.

"For the benefit of a great good... But is there any good here? Maybe you are right, Steward... Why do you believe I did all of this?" Nikita questioned and Steward smiled. He liked that question. It was an easy one to question.

"You used Section Eight as a pawn to get back to those two people.... So you could come back to your lover boy... So you could have the power not only inside of Section Eight... but also inside of Section One... You needed to be the best... You needed to be the best! And you didn't care who you took down with you!" Steward hissed and Nikita swallowed.

Some of it was frankly right. Section Eight was a pawn.

Some of it was frankly wrong. Nikita believed in her heart that once Madeline and Operations were terminated, that Michael would have power of Section One. In fact, Nikita never once thought about achieving that power herself, nor did she want to have it.

"So then you have all the justification in the world to do what you are going to do," Nikita responded as she lifted her hands out to the side.

"You killed Patrick..." Steward hissed and Nikita closed her eyes.

"I wish I did, Steward... so you could be right... Because I know you are going to pull that trigger..." Nikita stated as the tears started to flow down her face.

"How do you know that?" Steward questioned and Nikita looked off to the side. She closed her eyes and prayed to god that something would stop all of this. She didn't want to get this far, and die now.

"Because you have come this far... You have to pull that trigger... No matter what..." Nikita slowly spoke as she heard someone at the door. Someone was trying to get in.

"YOU KILLED MY BEST FRIEND!" Steward hollered as he pulled the trigger.

Steward was caught immediately as the door gave way. He didn't notice who grabbed him and he didn't notice what happened to the gun.

He noticed the blood.

*

"NIKITA!" Michael hollered as he shoved Steward to Walter. He didn't care about anything else as he looked down to the ground and saw the wound that was in Nikita's chest. She wasn't moving. She wasn't struggling. Michael felt as if everything had just stopped in the world right away.

Walter grabbed hold of Steward, finding it hard that he wasn't killed yet. As he turned his head to the side, he saw Nikita on the floor, and the pool of blood that was starting to form. Walter gripped his hands tighter on Steward and felt his chest tighten up on him. Finally the decision was made and Walter cold-cocked Steward over the head and pushed him out into the hallway.

"Nikita... talk to me..." Michael stated as he fell onto his knees and looked down at Nikita. He wanted to know why she wasn't wearing a vest. He wanted to know why this all happened. He wanted to know that she was going to live through this.

Immediately, Michael's hands started to move, unzipping the leather jacket, exposing her chest to him. Quickly Michael applied pressure as Walter moved further into the room. Walter reached over and made the call for medical as he found his eyes locked on Michael's first aid to Nikita.

"Come on... Nikita... Open your eyes..." Michael whispered as he kept one hand applying the pressure to the wound as he started to take his jacket off. Once the jacket was off, Michael stripped his shirt off and immediately balled it up and placed it over the bleeding wound.

"Michael... she is going to be ok... medical will be here soon..." Walter tried to support Michael. He looked down at the floor around his own feet and jumped. He had always wanted to see Madeline and Operations dead. Walter even knew that Nikita had killed them, but seeing them now, on the same floor that Nikita was on, scared Walter. He jumped back and then bent down. He was sure that Nikita completed her joy, but he wanted to be sure.

"DAMN!" Michael hissed as he felt Nikita's pulse slowing down. She needed blood and fluids immediately. Michael looked to the door and shook his head, as the medical team should have been here already.

"Walter... call Medical again!" Michael hissed and Walter lifted his head and looked at Michael.

"They are truly dead..." Walter whispered and Michael looked to the bodies and curtly nodded his head. Michael couldn't think about Madeline and Operations and what this meant to Section One right now. All that his mind was on was getting Nikita through this injury.

"Get medic!" Michael hollered as he felt the tears pooling in his eyes. Michael knew that he couldn't allow his emotions to rule his actions now, that they would not help Nikita in this life-threaten time to her life. He reached out and stroked Nikita's hair carefully and swallowed once again.

"Come on, Nikita... You are going to make it through this.... You are... I promise..." Michael stated as he took a free hand and stroked it against Nikita's hair. The blood had smeared up to her chin; his hand was spreading the red blood color through her pale locks of hair. Michael looked over his shoulder once more at Walter.

"Medical to the observation tower, STAT!" Walter yelled over the intercom, a system that was rarely used, a system that was heard all over Section One. Walter then placed the phone down and moved towards Michael.

"Why don't I hold that for a while... and you just talk to her..." Walter offered as he bent down on his knees. He moved for the shirt, noting how quickly it was becoming saturated with Nikita's blood. Walter trembled as he felt the blood touching his hands as Michael relinquished control of the shirt.

"I have too much to say, Walter... What if I don't get the time to say it all?" Michael questioned as the tears now ran down his face. Walter gasped, finding it hard that Michael was thinking that way. But Walter looked down at his hands and then to Nikita's face.

She was so pale.

She was losing so much blood.

"Then concentrate and tell her the important things, Michael," Walter stated firmly. He didn't want to say it. Walter wanted to affirm that Nikita was going to be all right, but what if Walter was wrong? He couldn't have Michael missing the important things because of Walter's decision that Nikita was going to be ok was wrong.

"You think she is going to die!" Michael rushed out as he stared at the old man's eyes. Walter lifted his head to look at Michael, seeing the pain that Michael was in.

"What is it going to hurt if you tell her the important stuff, Michael? That's what she truly needs to hear..." Walter stated in a calm voice, trying not to react to Michael's emotional response.

Michael placed his hand to Nikita's cheek, but she didn't turn towards her. It made Michael gasp harshly, but he didn't cry out any further. He looked to Nikita swallowed. Finally he pressed his hand down onto Nikita's cheek all the way.

"Nikita... I missed you.." Michael struggled to say. Michael closed his eyes as he heard how weak his voice sounded. He didn't know how that was going to support Nikita in any way. Michael opened his eyes and saw Nikita's eyes flutter a little.

"Nikita... listen to me... I love you..." Michael stated as he saw the blues of her eyes. Nikita closed them briefly and opened them once again. Michael cleared his throat and bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"You have to fight... because I love you... I love you desperately, my Nikita..." Michael stated out firmly, with a voice that pleaded with Nikita to take his strength and to use it. Nikita closed her eyes.

Michael wanted to protest Nikita as the eyes stayed close. He wanted Nikita to open them again, but he knew that she was weak. He knew that she was struggling. Her lips parted and Michael swallowed.

"Love... you..." Nikita gasped out as the medical team arrived in the office, pushing the gurney and other medical equipment.

"Ok... we can take over from here..." the doctor announced as he moved towards Michael. Michael looked up and then moved as directed. He was relieved that they were there, but Michael knew the seriousness of Nikita's injuries. The bullet had done a lot to Nikita.

"I need to get that chain..." Michael said as he touched the chain around Nikita's neck. Michael slipped it up and over Nikita's head and placed it over his head. "For safe keeping..."

"Do you want the one on him?" Walter questioned as he looked to Operations. Michael nodded his head as he watched the medical team strip more of the clothing off of Nikita's body.

"I can't find a vein..." one of the men called out and Michael turned around. He looked as they were still on the floor with Nikita. Michael just wanted them to get to surgery and now. Walter grabbed Michael's arm and handed him the chain he had taken off of Operations. Michael looked at it and swallowed.

Nikita should be wearing both of them now. Not him.

"Pressure is dropping..."

"We have to move now, sir..."

"No pulse!"

"NO! NO! NO!" Michael hollered as Walter grabbed him. The medical team moved about quickly, placing the tube down Nikita's throat and then clearing to shock her. Michael struggled against Walter, but he had no real strength.

"Pulse is back... weak and thready..."

"She needs surgery now..." The doctor hissed as he looked at the other members of medical. They moved quickly to place Nikita on the stretcher. They were in the hallway when the words were shouted once again.

"No pulse!"

Michael was behind them as he heard the sickening shocking of the woman he loves body.

And it continued on in this manner until they were in the hallway, and Michael was separated from Nikita.

*

Michael clamped his hands together as he leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees. He rocked slightly back and forth as his head focused down on his hands. He found it hard to think, as he had found it hard to even spend the time to clean up. Now he was dressed in black sweatpants and a black shirt.

It had been hours, almost a half a day, since Nikita was taken into surgery, and pulled away from Michael's touch and view. He couldn't sleep not knowing what was going on, and the flow of information stopped. Michael didn't know what was going on with Nikita.

Yes, he did threaten the doctor, but the doctor simply nodded his head. Walter later told Michael that Nikita had spared the doctor cancellation several years back, that he wouldn't fail Nikita now. Michael tried to focus on that, but failed to think positive about Walter's words.

The question what if kept floating in Michael's mind. What if Nikita dies? What if Nikita is a vegetable? What if he was left alone on this planet?

What if his love wasn't strong enough to keep Nikita on this planet with him?

Michael pushed a hand through his hair, no longer caring what he looked like or appeared like. He was worried and scared. The meaning of his life for such a long time was fighting for her life and she was doing it all by herself. Michael looked to the door and saw no one coming out towards him.

The surgery dragged on.

Michael knew that Nikita was strong. He had seen her battle the hands of drugs and terrorists. He knew that she had been training with lasers for weeks, maybe even months. He had seen Nikita's resiliency to damage, always coming back. One part of Michael knew that she would be fine, that she would do as she always did. Come back.

But what if she didn't?

Death wasn't the only option to what could happen. She could be disabled. That wouldn't go over well with Oversight and George. In fact, that possibility scared Michael possibly more, knowing that Nikita would try to hide anything that would make her appear weak.

Michael looked down to his hands and at the small beads that made up the rosary that he held onto. He didn't know the prayers and he didn't know the ceremony, but he kept rubbing on them. Over and over again Michael rubbed his hands against the sharp but delicate beads. Focusing on them kept his tears at bay, but not for long. The tears were winning and soon, two solid tears rolled down his cheeks.

Walter walked into the waiting room, pale and looking green. The longer that no news came down, the more Walter was sure that Nikita would not survive this ordeal. He looked at Michael and swallowed.

"Did you hear anything?" Walter questioned and Michael shook his head back and forth. He didn't even lift it to look into Walter's eyes. Walter moved closer and touched Michael's shoulder.

"How can you just sit here? Do you want coffee or something? I know you have been up for over twenty-four hours..." Walter offered and Michael simple continued to shake his head back and forth. Michael didn't want to move yet. He wouldn't move yet.

"Is there something I can do for you?" Walter questioned as he looked down at Michael's hands. The beads shimmered in his hands. Walter felt as if the air had been sucked out of his lungs. The images of the beads were awkward but still stunning.

"Stay here..." Michael stated and Walter nodded his head. It was a simple request that Walter could fulfill. He settled closer to Michael and finally grabbed the young man's hands.

"I didn't know you were religious..." Walter stated as Michael's hands opened to reveal the rosary. Michael looked at it and swallowed. The tears poured out of his eyes, and Michael couldn't find the words quite yet. He watched as Walter touched the beads and finally squeezed Michael's hand.

"It's ok to pray to God, Michael... I'm sure that Nikita will appreciate it... And I am sure that he hears you..." Walter informed Michael in a gentle voice. Walter looked to Michael and was wondering if Michael would speak any more. He appeared not to be willing to speak anymore.

"Where did you get them, Michael?" Walter questioned as he squeezed Michael's hands again. Walter knew when there was a story behind something. A rosary isn't something that an operative just carries around as an everyday object. In fact, for the most part, religious symbols as such were frowned upon.

"When I was with Elena... she gave these too me... Saying that I would need them someday..." Michael spoke out with a raspy voice. Walter swallowed. The emotions were flooding Michael, many of them, Walter was sure that Michael never had to fully deal with.

"Elena gave them too you?" Walter questioned and then blinked his eyes. His voice came out strong and almost harsh. He didn't mean to sound that way, but Walter didn't see the connection. Michael's life with Elena had only made Nikita's life more difficult. Walter started to pray that Michael wasn't making the wrong connection here. Nikita may be dying and Walter was going to be damned if Michael was worrying about the events that happened between himself and Elena.

"I never used them when Elena was sick... because I knew it was Section... And when I lost them... I packed them away... but today... I needed them..." Michael revealed and Walter nodded his head. Michael looked to Walter and licked his lips.

"Elena knew that there was someone else, Walter..." Michael stated and Walter shook his head. He couldn't believe that one at all. Michael had been very careful about his activities while with Elena.

"Michael.. that isn't possible..." Walter protested out and Michael looked to the door. Michael smiled and swallowed once again.

"She knew... the day that Nikita came into my life... I finally was able to find joy with my son.. And it wasn't because of Elena... And she knew..." Michael whispered out as he started to choke with the emotions. Walter rubbed his shoulders and waited.

"She gave me this then... She knew I would need them someday..." Michael whispered and Walter nodded his head. He wasn't about to delve into the murky waters of Elena. Walter was just going to wait with Michael and Michael turned and opened his hands.

"Do you know how they work? They aren't so far..." Michael questioned as his palms rolled the rosary into Walter's hands. Michael looked at Walter with red-rimmed eyes. Walter swallowed and found himself at lose for words.

He was saved. The door opened and the doctor tired and still in the scrubs come out into the room. Michael lifted his body off of his knees and looked at the doctor. He looked to Walter and Walter looked to the doctor.

"The surgery was successful..." The doctor revealed and both men breathed sighs of relief. Walter stood up and patted Michael's shoulder. Walter knew that Michael needed more details of what happened and what was going to happen. The door closed behind Walter and Michael leaned back in the chair.

"The truth, doctor..." Michael stated out harshly. He blinked his eyes once and waited. The doctor did not even shift his weight or stance.

"She lost a lot of blood.. Her heart stopped several times..." The doctor stated and watched as Michael winched with every detail. If Michael weren't asking for the details, he would have spared the young man the details. The operatives inside of the operating room were dedicated into saving Nikita's life and that is what they appeared to do.

"How many times did you shock her?" Michael questioned and the doctor pressed his lips together. This wasn't needed knowledge for Michael. It was known easily that Michael just wanted the details to torture himself with the knowledge some more.

"I believe nine times, Michael.. We had to crack her chest... It's going to be painful recovery..." the doctor spoke and Michael shook his head. The information was not coming out in the order that he wanted it. The doctor held his words and waited for Michael to prompt for more information.

"When can I see her?" Michael questioned as he finally lifted his head to look straight into the doctor's eyes. Michael saw the emotional drain of the man, knowing that he had to fight long and hard to spare Nikita's life.

"She is in a coma now, Michael... We need her to sleep for a while... There was considerable complications during surgery due to prior injuries and basic bodily health," the doctor revealed and Michael closed his eyes. He leaned his head against the wall.

He wanted to curse.

He wanted to yell.

He wished he had stopped Nikita sooner.

He wished he had gotten to the observation tower sooner.

"She was working with lasers... She got hit a lot..." Michael stated without opening his eyes. He slowly did open those eyes, staring up at the ceiling.

"And she has a low body weight... It's going to take considerable time to heal..." The doctor stated firmly, trying not to pass any more judgment on the situation. He knew that it was lasers that Nikita had used, but he wouldn't tell Michael that.

"You said you cracked her chest..." Michael stated out as he dropped his head to a level position. He watched as the doctor responded with a quick nod. The doctor twitched his hands back and forth and Michael shifted his weight to the left.

He was so tired.

"We had to stop the bleeding... That is what is going to cause pain... And healing is slow... She won't be able to just go home... like she had in the past... Constant care for an extended period is going to be necessary for Nikita," the doctor emphasized as he moved closer to Michael. Michael rolled his shoulders back and looked to the doctor. Michael didn't plan on leaving Nikita much in the coming days and weeks.

"The scar..." Michael questioned and the doctor shook his head back and forth. It wasn't something that a normal doctor would worry about. It wasn't even something that Michael should be worrying about right now. The doctor was tempted on saying so, but he remembered that this was Nikita. She wasn't one to place the emphasis on the body image, but she was damaged from her childhood. That was why Michael questioned.

"Once the wound has healed and we are certain that all is fine... We'll work our magic, Michael... You know we will," The doctor stated and Michael nodded his head once more.

Michael felt as if he was being petty. He knew that once he got everything from the doctor he would access all the files and videos of the surgery. Michael knew that he would make Birkoff watch it over and over again to see if anyone at any point jeopardized Nikita's life or even tried to say that it was time to call it.

"When can I see her?" Michael questioned and the doctor finally smiled. This was the question he was going to be happy to reply too.

"We are currently splinting her hand... He did shot the gun out of her hand.. there was some skin damage and there was a bone fracture in her forearm... Once that is splint up... You can go in..." the doctor stated as he moved back towards the door. Michael stood up and was intent on following the doctor back.

That stopped when the doctor raised his hand and looked at Michael.

"Michael.. Don't expect miracles now... The road of recovery is going to be long.. And I do not need you to push her too quickly..." the doctor warned and Michael dropped his head. He turned and looked around the empty room.

"Do I have to stay that I am in control to get the chance to see her?" Michael threatened without turning back.

"No... I just think you have to take some time... thank god for this miracle... And realize that Nikita isn't going to wake up today... and probably not tomorrow or even the day after that," The doctor firmly assessed as he opened the door and vanished into the bowels of medical. Michael tried to turn, but he just couldn't.

He knew that Nikita wouldn't wake up, but Michael also knew that after all that she had been through, that she was going to grow strong with Michael just being by her side, even if they couldn't talk. That was Michael's plans. If Nikita could risk all of this for the better of Section One and her own life, then Michael could stay by her side and wait.

The door opened and Walter walked back in. Michael weakily smiled. That was all that Walter needed to know that Nikita was going to be ok. Walter looked behind him and rubbed his hands together. Michael immediately took notice of the movement. Something wasn't right.

"What?" Michael demanded and Walter frowned. He wished that this wasn't something that they needed to deal with now. Walter dropped his head and then shook his head back and forth.

"George is inside of Section One... He wants to see Nikita..."

*

It was difficult to push the thoughts of George out of Michael's mind, but as he looked into the window to the room that Nikita was in, all of those thoughts disappeared. There was nothing more than Nikita and Nikita needed his love and support.

Michael thought for a second about what would have happened if Nikita had died. He knew that he wouldn't have decided to stay on the earth for long, no matter what Nikita wanted. The reason why he had made it for so long was because of Nikita, and Michael felt that he had let Nikita down by not allowing Nikita to have that knowledge. It was something that she should have known.

It didn't take courage to walk into the room. Michael moved smoothly to Nikita's side and found the tears in his eyes. He didn't know when they had formed, but they just did. He wasn't disappointed at himself for expressing the emotions. Michael realized that he was going to have to do that more often.

Nikita was not on a ventilator. But there were still wires and tubes throughout her body and around the body. Wires ran to the monitors, checking and watching her heart. It had stopped, but it had started again, over and over again.

Because Nikita was strong.

Michael slowly made an inventory of what was going on. He looked at her face, which some color had been restored. It was now, as she was against the white pillows that Michael noticed that all the good that had happened to Nikita's body inside of Section Eight and under the control of Patrick had vanished. Michael reached out and touched her cheek softly.

She even felt warm.

The next thing that caught Michael's eyes was the gown that Nikita had on. It was opened in the front, exposing her chest and the incision that was used to crack her chest open with. The gown was used to lessen the pain while they monitored the incision for infections and watching it heal.

Yet, it exposed Nikita's breasts with the way that it was just left open. Michael would find the nurse who left Nikita this way. It was unacceptable. Michael reached out and closed the gown as far as it would, but still, Nikita was exposed and open.

It horrified Michael.

Nikita's arm was carefully placed next to her in the bed. It was splint and she still and fluids running into her body from both arms. Michael licked his lips and looked at the other details.

No blanket on her legs... Michael had to wonder if there had been complications he wasn't told of. She looked cold.

There was a catheter. Michael knew it was necessary. The process of cracking Nikita's chest open was going to limit her movement for a long time. Getting out of bed to go to the bathroom was not going to occur for a while. However, Michael knew that this was going to be an issue when Nikita wakes up.

"I need a blanket... She has a visitor coming in..." Michael stated as a nurse walked into the room. She picked up the chart and marked Nikita's vitals and nodded her head at Michael. She moved to the closet in the room and pulled out a sheet.

"Her body temperature is being monitored and the room is climate control... She shouldn't need this.. she isn't cold," The nurse stated as she handed the thin sheet to Michael. Michael looked at it and snapped his hands as he opened it and covered Nikita's body, up to her chin.

Now she was covered and unexposed.

"I just wanted to cover her up... Not everyone needs to see the incision.. and her breasts,... Nurse Heidi..." Michael snapped as he looked at her nametag. She looked at Michael, knowing who he was and what he could do to her without blinking his eyes.

"If you need anything more..." Heidi stated as she tried to escape the room. She stopped as Michael's arm rose and blocked her escape from the room.

"I need a cot brought in here... and several more chairs... And a computer linked to Birkoff's computer..." Michael ordered and the nurse nodded her head. She knew that some of these things were going to be difficult, but she knew Michael.

He was Michael.

And that would be exactly the reasoning that she was use with her boss when he challenges her moving these items into the room.

"As long as she gets her rest... It won't be an issue," Heidi stated as she smiled and moved as soon as Michael's arm dropped from blocking her. Michael looked over his shoulder and watched as the nurse hurried to do as he ordered.

Michael once again, assured that he was alone with Nikita, inched back to her bed. He gently took her uninjured hand and rubbed it with his fingers. He didn't get a response, but he didn't expect one either.

The doctor didn't need to lecture Michael on Nikita needing rest. He knew that from during their afternoon rendezvous. Although Michael was sure that Nikita felt that they spent the entire time making love that was far from the truth. Michael held her in his arms as she had passed out after their first time. He held her for a long time, knowing that she just needed to rest.

It was a bad way to finally get the chance to rest. Michael didn't know when Nikita did have the chance to rest since she went to Section Eight. Their operatives told stories of Nikita always being there and always awake and aware. Michael held onto that hand and finally leaned his head down to kiss Nikita's forehead.

"Stay here with me, Nikita... I need you..." Michael whispered as he hovered over her face.

He never heard George enter. Michael didn't even feel the presence, to worried about Nikita and her well-being. George cleared his throat and Michael turned quickly.

"Did you want to see this for yourself?" Michael questioned as he looked into George's eyes. Michael didn't know what George's motives were behind coming here, and Michael was sure that it wasn't to be upset of the passing of Madeline and Operations. Michael now saw red. Nikita couldn't defend herself and Michael would do anything to protect the life that Nikita had finally battled to get.

"I came to congratulate her, on a job well done," George stated and Michael backed away from Nikita's bed to stare at George. Michael could tell that George was taken back with Nikita's appearance.

But Michael didn't know if that was good or bad.

"What do you mean on a job well done?" Michael questioned, trying not to be angry inside of Nikita's room, but it was unavoidable. George turned to look at Michael.

"It wasn't a formal test... and I never spoke to Nikita or you about this... But it is the last test... And the proof are those necklaces around your neck, Michael," George stated as he looked at the young man. Michael looked around the room and then at George.

"The question is who runs what Section..." George stated. Michael opened his mouth in order to protest, but George shook his head at Michael. He moved closer to Nikita's bed and sighed softly.

"Look at what she has given up... her body... She looked so good when I saw her with Patrick..." George whispered as he rubbed a finger across Nikita's brow. He looked at Nikita and swallowed once more. "But you know even then.. she was thinking of you..."

"I don't see how this has anything to do with what is going on now... I'm not leaving Nikita's side anytime soon to run Section One or Section Eight," Michael declared and George turned and gently smiled.

"I don't want you too... You are going to be instrumental to Nikita doing anything in her recovery.. I'm not a stupid old man, Michael," George stated as he moved away from Nikita's bedside. He rubbed his hands together, pleased that Michael only blinked his eyes at the comment.

"But... the other Sections can handle the missions for now... and I'll have some things downgraded on Oversight's end... Running Section One is not a problem... Even Section Eight..." George stated and Michael looked and shook his head. He didn't believe what was going on. George wasn't even talking in an ordered fashion.

"I have plans for you and Nikita," George informed Michael, sensing the confusion in the young man's mind. Michael looked to Nikita and then to George.

"I would love to know what they are... but right now.. They aren't my concern," Michael firmly stated, without moving his eyes from Nikita.

George saw the love that he saw inside of their eyes for a long time. Michael thought he could fool everyone about his love for Nikita, but that never occurred. Nikita even felt that she could love someone else, but that didn't happen either.

Here was the proof. Michael was willing to allow someone take over Section One and Section Eight while he tended for Nikita. George couldn't think of something that spoke more of Michael's love and devotion. The love and devotion that would make Section One survive.

"One more thing before I go... What has happened to Steward?" George questioned and Michael closed his eyes. The name made Michael plan murder immediately. Michael didn't have any worth of Steward, but he stopped on that.

"He is in the white room... Walter played with him like a punching bag... But ultimately... It's going to be Nikita's decision..." Michael stated and George raised an eyebrow. This was something he hadn't expected from Michael.

Frankly, he was surprised to here that Steward was more alive than Madeline and Operations.

"Really? Don't you think she will want him cancelled?" George questioned and Michael shook his head. He really didn't know. It was going to be Nikita's decision when she was feeling better. Until then, Walter would get his pleasure on beating the man up.

"He has a family.. that might impact Nikita's decision... But I can't speak for her, George," Michael stated and George smiled broadly.

"Good, you are learning," George stated and left the room quickly. Michael leaned his head back and lightly smiled. Michael didn't think that George was coming here to basically give his blessing to the union of Michael and Nikita.

There was something going on with George and Michael was almost tempted to worry about it.

Michael turned as Walter entered the room and gasped. Michael patted Walter's shoulder and helped him towards the bed. Michael gently picked up Nikita's good hand and kissed it.

"All is going to be fine, Nikita... You did well... Now you let me have some control..." Michael whispered and Walter nodded his head.

*

Walter carefully stroked Nikita's hair. He had spent the second most amount of time in Nikita's room. Michael never left. But Walter looked down and could see Michael had finally drifted off to sleep. Albeit a fitful sleep at best.

"He loves you so much, sugar..." Walter whispered and then smiled. He knew that he didn't have to sell Nikita on Michael's love. She had to know it. She had told Operations as much when she stormed the office. That piece of video was now famous in all of the Sections, making the rounds quickly. Nikita's skills were analysis and most people enjoyed the ending of Madeline and Operations dead on the floor.

Of course, Michael and Walter destroyed the tape that followed, of Nikita and Steward, although it didn't go unknown.

"I think it is time for you to wake up, sugar... Just for a few moments... It has been four days," Walter whispered as he looked at Nikita's face. Now, the doctors had started to worry. They predicted that Nikita would be up before this point. The longer she slept without waking up, the more the doctors monitored her. The more the doctors monitored her, the more Michael and Walter worried and demanded answers.

One doctor simply said that Michael and Walter were allowing her to continue to sleep.

"You know... we will wait for you... And I know that you are tired... But if you can just open your eyes for a few moments... So we can know for sure... Can you do that for us?" Walter questioned in a soft voice. There was no eye movement and Walter frowned.

And he worried more.

Walter looked down at Michael and gently took Nikita's hands into his. He sighed heavily and watched as Birkoff inched into the room.

"How is she?" Birkoff questioned. It was the first time that he had made it all the way into Nikita's room without scurrying away. Walter knew that Birkoff was afraid that he was just going to cause something to happen, and didn't move from the bed. Instead, he reached a hand out to Birkoff, bringing him closer to the bed.

Along the way, Birkoff saw Michael asleep on the bed. The evidence of Nikita's injuries bothering Michael was clearly on his face, during his sleep. He looked tortured by them, but when he would wake, he would wipe them away for the benefit of Nikita.

"Nikita is a fighter... She is just getting a bit more beauty sleep than we thought she would..." Walter stated as he pushed Birkoff in front of him, next to the bed. Birkoff grasped the railing and looked at Nikita.

"I heard they cracked her chest.. open..." Birkoff choked out and Walter nodded his head as he reached around Birkoff. The older man lifted Nikita's hand up and placed it out for Birkoff to touch. It was a gentle motion and Birkoff slowly took the hand into his, surprised at how warm her hand was.

"They had to do that in order to save her life... It's going to be a long time until we have our Nikita back... Or at least the Nikita that was active..." Walter stated as he watched Birkoff move the hand back and forth in his hands. The love from Birkoff radiated even if he couldn't speak the words.

And Nikita needed all of it.

"But she will be ok?" Birkoff questioned and Walter nodded his head as he slightly took a step back. He looked at Birkoff. The young man didn't falter and didn't move away either. He held Nikita's hand and stared down at her face. Walter knew that he wouldn't touch Nikita elsewhere, but the hand was a beginning.

And Nikita suddenly squeezed Birkoff's hand.

"She squeezed my hand!" Birkoff almost squealed as he turned back to look for Walter. The older man moved quickly, hoping that Birkoff was right. In one smooth movement, Walter grabbed Nikita's hand and moved Birkoff away from Nikita's bedside.

This would be Nikita's first attempt at making any sort of movement to indicate that she was still there. Walter's heart pounded wildly as he wondered if Birkoff had just jumped to a conclusion.

"Sugar, girl... please... I need to know that you are ok..." Walter pleaded as he looked at Nikita's face. Her face didn't change again, but Walter almost jumped as the hand squeezed down around Walter's old but strong hands.

A decision had to be made by Walter. He had two options. He would wait for Nikita to open her eyes, or he could wake up Michael so he could be the one looking down at Nikita. Although, Walter was sure that Nikita wouldn't mind who she saw when her eyes opened, Walter knew better. Michael would mind. Michael would make it a big issue.

"Here... hold her hand still.. talk to her..." Walter said as he turned back to Birkoff. He watched the younger man smile as Nikita's hand wrapped willingly around his hand. Walter bent down to the bed and swallowed.

Waking up Michael was never a pleasant task.

"Michael... sugar is stirring..." Walter called out carefully as he reached out for Michael's arm. Walter gasped as Michael tightly clenched both hands around Walter's arm. There was nothing Birkoff could do as Michael's body automatically provided the momentum to flip Walter over the bed and to the floor on the other side of the cot. Michael rolled to the edge of the cot and stared at Walter.

"Never.. never touch me like that," Michael hissed as he saw the man was only Walter. Walter nodded his head as he started to sit up. He felt the pain of the impact to the floor, but knew to shake it off. There were more important things going on.

"Michael... you can flip me any time... Especially when Nikita is waking up," Walter stated as he pushed his hands up on the cot, to help ease his older body up off the floor. Walter then got the blanket that had been over Michael's body thrown over his face.

Undoubtedly, Michael was by Nikita's side before the blanket was pulled off of Walter's face. Walter looked to Birkoff as he backed away. Walter made sure that Birkoff stayed in the room. This was Nikita's support and she was going to need them in her recovery.

"Nikita... I'm here... Time to wake up..." Michael softly prodded as he took Nikita's hand and wrapped his around it. He looked down and almost thought that Walter was jumping the gun. Until Nikita squeezed his hand.

Michael wanted to do cartwheels; he was so happy and relieved.

It was a starting point, one that would only be small in the magnitude of the recovery that was ahead of Nikita. She was going to be weak for a long time and she was going to need everyone's help. There were going to be days where she would say that it wasn't worth it, but everyone in the room knew that with the love the three of them could show, that Nikita would make it.

"Nikita.. Can you open your eyes?" Michael questioned as he leaned down and placed a kiss on her forehead. He had done the same movement thousands of times in the days that had passed. She had never reacted to the kiss, but now, a smile spread across her face.

She was right there. Michael knew it, Walter knew it, Birkoff knew it, and Katherine knew it as she watched from the window.

Katherine was heading back to Section Eight. She was going to be helping in running Section Eight as Nikita recovered. However, Katherine went back to Section Eight with a certain feeling that Nikita would not be leaving Michael's side willingly again, and that included going back to manage Section Eight. She adored the young woman, and was enchanted with the finance that Nikita had taken care of her problem with Madeline and Operations. Katherine was also a viewer of the love that she had for Michael. She heard Nikita's words about how Patrick said he loved her, but Michael first showed her that he loved her.

Slowly, Nikita blinked her eyes. The smile that was on Nikita's face from the kiss became contagious, going from Michael, to Birkoff, and finally Walter. Michael leaned down and waited for the eyes to blink again.

"No more hide and seek, Nikita..." Michael whispered and there was Nikita's smile once again. She even lightly giggled. She opened her eyes and looked at Michael.

For that moment, there was no pain in Nikita's eyes.

"You did a great job, Nikita," Michael stated as he kissed her again. She tried to nod her head, but the pain stopped her movement. Michael rubbed his thumbs over Nikita's eyebrows, telling her with the touch alone that it was all right, that he didn't need to see her nod her head up and down.

"You were shot... You remember that?" Michael questioned and Nikita blinked her eyes. They took on a sad quality and Michael swallowed. He didn't want to go over this now, but he had to know what Nikita remembered.

"Mi.." Nikita started to struggle out and Michael place his fingers on her lips. He didn't want Nikita to speak; he didn't want her to waste her strength on such a task. But Nikita pleaded at Michael with her eyes and he dropped his finger to her chin.

"Michael... I thought I was going to lose you..." Nikita stated and Michael tilted his head to the side as the tears gracefully plunged from his eyes. He looked at Nikita and smiled.

"I thought I was going to lose you, Nikita... But we are going to be fine..." Michael assessed and Nikita smiled. She closed her eyes and drifted back to sleep.

It was a beginning.

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