Michael sat down in the chair, dejected as the door closed. Dr. Kindles moved the stool over and looked at Michael.

"I'm hoping that the amniocentesis will give us some answers, Michael. The baby appears fine... although there seems to be an abnormally high amount of amniotic fluid... but on the bright side... the baby has not developed into a macrosomic baby..." Dr. Kindles stated, but she noted Michael's tortured face.

"I should have brought her in sooner," Michael stated and Dr. Kindles sighed.

"She was with the wrong practice... It's one of the reasons why I helped form this one... Big organizations like that one aren't suited for those parents who have high risk with multiple problems. They don't see the problems so they don't know what they are looking at when it presents," Dr. Kindles stated and Michael looked at her and then away. She sighed. Both Michael and Nikita were blaming themselves so much that she was worrying that further testing was going to be difficult.

"Michael... there are things here to worry about. I would never take an aggressive nature here. I know that nine and a half times out ten, everything is fine..." Dr. Kindles stated and Michael closed his eyes.

"But maybe not this time..." Michael tragically spoke. Dr. Kindles took Michael's hands and sighed.

"I did a non-stress test when we were monitoring the heart rate... I got no change in heart rate, Michael. There should have been one," Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael dropped his head. He didn't want to be hearing this.

"Does that mean... that the baby... isn't going to make it?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles jumped.

"I didn't say that Michael. What I said is that there are a lot of things going on here that makes it necessary for everything that I am going to do," Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael nodded his head. He leaned his head back and sighed.

"Thank you for taking your time for us..." Michael spoke and Dr. Kindles didn't even pay attention to the comment. She would have done this for any mother in this situation.

"Things are going to have to slow down for both of you... I hope you realize that," Dr. Kindles warned and Michael nodded his head. He would do anything to make this all right for Nikita.

Running away from Section seemed bad right now, but if it meant protecting Nikita, Michael would do it.

"Now... let's go get you something to eat along with your wife... Maybe I can pass on some information about diet to her casually..." Dr. Kindles said as she tugged at Michael's hand. Michael tried to smile, but decided that he was just glad to be joining back up with Nikita.

He didn't want to leave her side.

*

Pant.

Pant. Pant.

"No.... please..." Nikita moaned out as she looked from Michael to Dr. Kindles. Michael held Nikita's hand softly. She was working herself up. She was panting so quickly that everyone was concerned of the state that Nikita had worked herself up into.

"Nikita... this has to be done..." Michael whispered to her, as he wiped her hair away from her. Nikita had started to work herself up when Dr. Kindles said that she could do the procedure without any local atheistic. That didn't happen.

"Jake... I want you to go get a heart monitor..." Dr. Kindles whispered over her shoulder. She had placed the needle down and pulled off her gloves. There was no sense in trying to do this at the moment. Nikita was so worked up that although she appeared to be trying to not move, her entire body was jumping around.

"Nikita... I need you to calm down. I can't safely do this procedure..." Dr. Kindles spoke. Nikita shook her head and threw it into Michael's chest.

"I can't do this, Michael.... I can't.... This is because I can't be a good mother!" Nikita shouted in his chest. Dr. Kindles looked at Michael and patted Nikita's shoulders.

"What we are looking for here has nothing to do with what has been going on with your health Nikita. These are looking for other factors that were determined long before your anemia, high blood pressure, or diabetes..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Nikita turned her head and stared at the woman.

"And that is supposed to make me feel better?" Nikita hissed as she dropped her head back down and cried. Dr. Kindles sighed and looked at Michael for guidance as Jake entered and moved towards Nikita. He knew to just start placing the monitors on Nikita. Her heart rate was racing. It was visual proof of something that everyone already knew.

"Can you give me sometime with her?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles nodded her head. She was kind of glad that Michael was going to take the lead here. Dr. Kindles adjusted the monitor and then picked up the remote, so she could listen to the heart rate. Then she left with Jake.

"Nikita... this needs to be done... You said that you have to know why the baby isn't kicking..." Michael stated out as he took Nikita's hands. She looked at Michael and then down to her stomach. Michael touched it, but Nikita didn't feel anything at this point.

"I know, Michael... I hurts me that my baby doesn't want me to know that it is ok..." Nikita cried out and Michael tilted his head to the side. Even though Dr. Kindles had stated that now the problems that they were likely to see where based off of something else, something that Nikita could not have done, Nikita didn't believe her.

"Nikita... this is something you have no control over... but this is something that we can face together..." Michael stated and Nikita looked at Michael and swallowed.

"Until you go again," Nikita stated and turned her eyes to the side. This was too painful to watch. Michael started to cry with Nikita's words. He had tried to get placed into Nikita's mission, but Madeline wouldn't have it, as it would tip Nikita's condition off to Operations. Michael had to wonder how long they were going to keep Operations in the dark.

"Nikita... that is something else that we can't control... What we control is what is happening now... You are so worked up they can't do this test... which is important to the baby..." Michael urged Nikita as he rubbed her shoulders. She was so tense and Michael closed his eyes. Her heart was still racing.

"But they are going to put a needle into my stomach!" Nikita cried out as she laid flat on her back and looked at Michael. He rubbed at her face and licked his lips.

"They will be guiding it into the amniotic sag with the ultrasound, Nikita... Dr. Kindles is an expert. That is why I brought you here," Michael stated and Nikita looked to her stomach and closed her eyes.

Her head went slag and the monitor instantly started to slow. Nikita had finally passed out from hyperventilating. Michael shook his head as Dr. Kindles walked in and moved to Nikita's head. She touched the young woman and saw her move the head to the side.

"Perhaps this is for the best..." Dr. Kindles stated as she pulled the gloves on and motioned Jake to start the ultrasound.

"I have a team of experts standing by in our lab... Nikita needs to stay reclined as such for an hour... I hope to have some results then..." Dr. Kindle stated as she looked to the monitor and lifted the needle towards Nikita's stomach.

Michael couldn't even watch. He turned his head to the side and waited for the next words.

"I'm going to drain some of the extra fluid also. It might keep the amniotic fluid down, but most often, it only reproduces itself," Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael turned his head. He winced as he saw the needle that was in Nikita's stomach. He rubbed Nikita's hand and soon it was all over.

"Jake... I want you to stay here... if she doesn't come around in ten minutes... come get me," Dr. Kindles spoke as she pushed the tray and the needle away. She held in her hands the sample and hurried out the door.

"She is a very emotional woman," Jake commented as he stroked Nikita's hair off of her face. Michael nodded his head and kissed Nikita's hand.

"I can't say that I have been the most supportive..." Michael stated and Jake looked at Michael and then down at Nikita.

"But you love her," Jake pointed out and moved over to the sink to get a wet wash cloth to clean Nikita's stomach of the gel used for the ultrasound once again off.

~~

"Nikita... it is important that you don't really move around for a little bit longer," Jake stated as he walked back in the room. Nikita had moved and swung her feet off the bed. She looked at Michael and then Jake.

"But I feel fine," Nikita stated and Jake rolled his eyes. The past twenty minutes had been difficult. Jake was hoping that there would be some results, but Dr. Kindles just brushed him quickly out of the lab, telling Jake to test Nikita's sugar levels once more and if needed, to feed her.

"That doesn't matter, Nikita. It is a small risk, but we'd rather take no chances," Jake stated as he moved to the drawer and started to pull out the items that would be needed to draw the blood sample that Dr. Kindles ordered once again. Jake looked over his shoulder as Nikita pulled away from Michael's touch.

"I JUST WANT TO GO TO THE BATHROOM!" Nikita shouted and Jake turned around. Nikita was now standing up and Michael was holding her underneath her arm. It was clear that Michael would restrain Nikita to the bed, but that Nikita was willing to fight. Fighting now would probably place more stress on Nikita and the baby than just letting her go to the bathroom.

"Ok, Nikita. You can do that, but right back up onto the table afterwards," Jake ordered as he looked at Michael. It took Michael a few minutes to realize his touch on Nikita but he did. Both men watched as Nikita walked away.

"Any results?" Michael questioned and Jake shook his head. He didn't mention that he didn't like the face that was on Dr. Kindles as she ordered him away. She looked perplexed and worried. That didn't bode well.

"No... I just have to draw more blood for continuing blood sugar levels," Jake stated as he went back to selecting the items he needed. Michael was quiet and Nikita soon appeared. The room was tense, and Jake couldn't blame their worry. They had been in this room for most of the day. Nikita appeared exhausted, as did Michael.

"Ok, Nikita... you know this blood sugar thing pretty good..." Jake stated as he moved towards Nikita. He moved quickly and then pulled away. He looked to Michael and Nikita. It had been many hours since either ate the small offerings that the practice did have for lunch.

"Are you hungry? I can get some crackers out of the vending machine... That's all I can really offer... Oh, I do have an apple," Jake offered as he looked to Nikita first. She started to shake her head no, but the stomach grumbled in response. Jake patted Nikita's knee and just moved out of the room without further words.

"Michael... I can't eat.. I'm so worried..." Nikita rushed out and Michael blinked his eyes. He moved the chair closer to Nikita. He was so tired of standing next to Nikita. He wanted to just hold her in his arms and fall asleep with her. He wanted to put everything onto faith. Michael wanted to believe in the faith that the baby was all right. Michael wanted to believe in the faith that nothing would happen to Nikita or the child. But this was something that went deeper than the child not kicking.

This could be something that could kill Nikita if they didn't know about it. This could be something that if it went undetected, could have Nikita bleed to death when she delivered. This was not only about the baby. This was about mother and child. Michael couldn't speak these concerns to Nikita. She would claim that the baby was more important than herself, because she wasn't going to be a good mother. It was a frustrating situation for Michael that only seemed to grow.

"I'm worried also, Nikita... We'll know something soon..." Michael stated out as he lifted Nikita's hand and kissed it tenderly. Nikita knew that Michael was unsure of his words that he was only trying to comfort her. All she wanted to do was fall asleep in his arms. For months now Nikita wasn't getting the proper sleep. She was always tired and now all she wanted to do is catch up with that sleep now.

Michael had always had some sort of healing power with her. He had tenderly taken care of her when she ran her body to the ground when the mission as announced. The first day, Michael nursed her back to health so she could go out the next day and do the same punishing thing to her body.

Michael was a miracle for her, one that she never got to cherish enough. Her mind had been so jumble with other things and her need just to be physically near Michael that she neglected to think about how he felt about being apart from her. Now, Nikita consciously think about those things, but somewhere inside of her, there was a twinge of guilt for not letting Michael that she worried about his feelings on this also.

"Ok... an apple for the mother... and all I could get for you, Michael, was a Twix bar... We don't get new food from the vender till tomorrow and I know for a fact that the Combos are stale," Jake announced with a big flourished as he entered the room. He closed the door and handed the apple to Nikita and then the Twix to Michael. Nikita's mouth watered at the candy bar, but she bit into the apple.

She wasn't allowed to have candy.

"Do we know how much longer until we get some results?" Michael questioned and Jake shook his head as he sat down and pulled out a book. He looked around and finally pulled a tray over in front of Nikita.

"But I saw Dr. Kindles... she wanted me to go over your diet..." Jake stated and Nikita turned her head to the side. Everyone had always been worried about her diet. She knew how difficult that it was for Michael to get her to eat at all when she first entered Section One. It shouldn't have surprised anyone that she would have difficulty with this now.

"Jake.. honestly... my stomach is always sour and churning... Most of the time I'm sure I'll just throw up..." Nikita admitted with tears forming in her eyes. Jake sighed and poured Nikita glass. He wouldn't mention it now, but Nikita also had a problem remaining properly hydrated.

"Ok... Nikita... Now a little more than half of your food should be complex carbohydrates... Can you tell me what foods are complex carbohydrates?" Jake continued, not allowing Nikita's words to stop him. Dr. Kindles had stated that more than likely, Nikita's stomach problem was directly related to the worries she had about her baby.

"I don't know Jake... Bread? Cucumbers? Cake?" Nikita hissed out as she rolled her eyes. Michael touched Nikita's shoulders, trying to calm her down again. There was no reason for Nikita to be upset with Jake as he was taking this lesson in a very caring manner.

"A complex carbohydrate can be found in cereals, pasta, bread, vegetables and fruits. Not Cake," Jake stated as he stared at Nikita's eyes. She rolled the blue eyes and sighed.

"I know... I'm not allowed to have cake," Nikita stated out harshly and Michael shrugged his shoulders as Jake nodded his head.

"I know that it is difficult, but with your gestational diabetes being erratic, it is best if you do avoid all sweets, Nikita," Jake informed Nikita. She closed her eyes and then opened her eyes.

"Is that all? No sweets and eat bread and noodles until I feel like the Pillsbury doughboy?" Nikita questioned and Jake sighed.

"You should also avoid foods that have a high fat content... salad dressings, fried foods..." Jake stated and Nikita looked at him.

"So I should have no cravings for McDonalds?" Nikita questioned and Michael finally laughed. He touched Nikita's shoulders and kissed her cheek.

"You don't like McDonalds dear. You are afraid of what you are really eating there..." Michael commented and Jake finally started to laugh.

~~

The door opened and Nikita sat up straight and looked into Dr. Kindles eyes. The woman looked tired and exhausted. She looked like she didn't want to say what she had to and Nikita grabbed for Michael.

"What is it?" Michael questioned as he studied the doctor and held onto Nikita. She pressed her lips together.

"We need to do further testing..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Nikita looked to Michael confused. She didn't know how further testing could be done. Michael's face had finally turned pale.

"How?" Nikita questioned and Dr. Kindles moved a stool over and looked at Nikita patted her knee.

"We need to collect further cells and information that we can't get with the amniocentesis needle... I wouldn't be doing this if the tests we completed didn't indicated that there is a chance of something going on," Dr. Kindles spoke and Nikita started to cry. She dropped her head and looked to Michael.

"Something is wrong with the baby..." Nikita moaned out with a weak voice. Dr. Kindles looked to Jake and swallowed. She didn't want to say yes to Nikita. She wanted to tell Nikita that everything was going to be fine, but she couldn't do that without further tests.

"What we will do.. is bring you back in the morning and perform a foetoscopy... We make a small incision into your stomach and we make a small incision in the uterus... we collect the cells that we need and we sew it all back up..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Nikita looked to Michael and yelled loudly.

"How dangerous is this?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles chewed on her lip.

"I have found that it depends on the mother... the more comfortable they are... the easier the procedure goes... there are risks and that is outlined in the literature I have for you," Dr. Kindles spoke. Michael looked at the pile and then to Nikita. She was tore apart about this. However it would be wrong to go now and not get the test done. Nikita would never have a peaceful day and in turn, would probably due more damage to the baby.

"I'll get her to calm down... I'll take her back to the hotel..." Michael stated as he hugged Nikita. Now was not the time to discuss this with Nikita. She needed to be held. In the morning, Michael would try to explain to Nikita what the foetoscopy was.

"You are staying in a hotel?" Jake questioned. He didn't see how that was going to make Nikita feel better. Michael nodded his head, although they hadn't checked in yet, they would be staying at a local hotel. "Why don't you come to my house... I have this huge colonial house with lots of rooms... I can't let you go to the hotel... This way you can eat when you want... and be as loud as you want."

"That's a kind offer... but really..." Michael stated and Jake moved forward.

"And I can help monitor her..." Jake stated with his eyes connecting with Michael's. Michael looked at Nikita and kissed her head.

"Did you hear that, Nikita? We are going to stay with Jake tonight..."

*

"Are you ok in there?" Jake questioned as he pressed his ear to the door of the bathroom. Nikita had been in there for a long time, after a solid two hours of crying in Michael's arms. She was instructed by the doctor not to worry about the next morning. Some worry was fine, but what Nikita was doing now was beyond anything that was reasonable.

"Jake... give her some time... She is probably trying to pull herself together," Michael stated, but he was pacing in the hallway himself. He just wanted to hold Nikita again. There was nothing else Michael could think of doing at this moment.

"What if something is going on, Michael? One of the risks of the amniocentesis is bleeding afterwards... Would Nikita tell me?" Jake questioned and Michael pressed his lips together. He looked to the wall.

"Nikita would tell you," Michael stated and Jake nodded his head. He didn't feel much relief, but enough to know that Michael felt that Nikita was doing somewhat better than Jake imagined that she was doing.

"Maybe we should push the foetoscopy back a day... I know that you both need answers, but Nikita needs to have some sort of composure and rest," Jake offered as he leaned against the door as Nikita's sobs continued. Michael wished he could be in that room right now, but he couldn't. What Jake was offering sounded very nice.

"I would like that... I'm going to call her father also..." Michael stated as he pulled out his cell phone and turned to walk down the stairs. Michael was going to retreat to the porch, when Jake cleared his throat.

"I thought that Nikita's parents both died when she was extremely young," Jake stated and Michael dropped his head as he smiled. Michael ran his hands through his hair and sighed once more.

"Walter is like her father... she spent a lot of time on the Indian reservations with him when she was young... He is Walter to her... but most like a father... He has this uncanny way of calming her down..." Michael stated and Jake nodded his head. This background on Nikita explained a lot. It explained why Nikita didn't know much about health and diet. It explained why she didn't seem to have a developed sense of the medical technology.

"That is probably a good idea... Will he be able to come?" Jake questioned and Michael smiled.

"What is that saying about wild horses?" Michael commented as he started down the stairs. Jake smiled and watched as Michael disappeared. He was a good man for Nikita. Michael was strong when he needed to be strong and emotional when he needed to be emotional.

Jake sighed as he leaned against the bathroom door. If it were any other room in the house, Jake would have probably broken in. Nikita's sobs were filled with such pain that Jake almost had a feeling that something much bigger was going on here than just the health of this child.

~~

Michael walked out into the wooden porch and looked up at the night sky. The past few hours had seemed to linger on, but it had really gone quickly. Jake was a good man, looking out for the best for Nikita, while seeming to know when not to push. How Jake got Nikita to eat was a trick that Michael knew he was going to have to master and tell Birkoff about.

Nikita couldn't be heard outside, but Michael still felt her. She was in such pain over this. There was nothing that he could do to tell Nikita that there might be nothing wrong, like it stated in the literature. Nikita was sure that something was wrong and to make it worse, Nikita believed, no matter what, she caused those things to happen.

"Walter?" Michael stated as the phone picked up. Michael knew it was late. He expected Walter to be crabby.

He wasn't.

"How is Nikita?" Walter questioned immediately and Michael closed his eyes. He was about to cry again and Michael looked up to the sky. He didn't want Walter to hear the pain that he was in and how the situation seemed to get worse.

"I need you and Madeline to find a way to get you here... I have been unsuccessful in calming Nikita and she needs more tests," Michael stated out with a strong voice. He was pleased that his voice didn't crack or express the tears that continued to fight to get out of his eyes.

"Didn't they do the amniocentesis today? Isn't that all they can do? What's going on?" Walter demanded and Michael looked around and sat down on the stairs. He pushed his legs out and dropped them on lower steps. Now Michael was sure that Walter could hear the tears.

"What's wrong, Michael?" Walter questioned the young man with a cracking voice of himself. It didn't take too many hints to realize that something was going on. Walter could now hear tears coming from Michael and he could only imagine what Nikita was like.

"We don't know.... they wanted to do a foetoscopy tomorrow... but we've had to push it back because of Nikita's emotions... I need help settling her or this baby is in serious trouble," Michael issued out with tense words. They were what Michael exactly felt.

"What is a foetoscopy?" Walter questioned as he looked around his office. Madeline was walking towards him and was already reacting to the appearance of stress on the older weapons expert. Walter rubbed a hand across his lips as Michael sighed and audibly trembled.

"They make an incision into the uterus... collect data... from the cells that they can't get with the amniocentesis needle.... It is used when there might be incompatible blood between mother and child... if there are countless genetic disorders, metabolic disorders, and retardations... and it is sometimes used to see if there is actually something wrong with the mother... like cancer..." Michael stated out as if he was reading a book, but his voice fought for control just long enough to say those words. Walter closed his eyes and felt his lip trembled as he looked at Madeline.

"Is there any indication what they are looking for?" Walter questioned as Madeline turned and looked around the hallways. It was late at night. No one should just show up for weapons.

"No..." Michael broke down as the tears poured freely. "But it has to be something... she said that they found something... I just need you here, Walter!"

"Ok... ok... man... I think you need to calm down yourself. I know that you are trying to be Mr. Supportive for Nikita, but you have to let yourself cry too..." Walter stated as Madeline's eyes expanded. She sure didn't like what she was hearing from Walter's end of the conversation.

"Walter... asking if I can bring you in helped... explain things... They were very critical on Nikita's diet and Nikita is sure that she caused all of this..." Michael continued to state and Walter shook his head as he listened to Michael's words. Walter didn't care that he hadn't discussed this with Madeline yet. Madeline was right there; she could sense that something was wrong.

"Ok... Michael... I'm leaving right now on my Harley... I'll be there by morning..." Walter stated, hoping to give Michael the strength to make it through the night.

"We are at Jake's house... I'll send the address..." Michael stated and Walter sighed. It sounded as if they had taken refugee with a nurse, which appeared to be good in this case.

"Ok, Michael... Now you go up to my sugar and you kiss her... You just have to hold her and tell her how much you love her," Walter stated and closed the phone. He looked to Madeline and closed his own eyes.

Section One was a cruel, cruel place.

*

Jake was in the kitchen when he heard the horrid sound of the motorcycle pulling up. In the shock of hearing the noise, Jake almost dropped the glass, but he soon jolted his mind with the thoughts that this motorcycle could be bringing the man Michael spoke about. Walter.

Nikita had been told by Michael in the morning that Walter would be coming, but he wasn't sure when. Jake didn't know if Nikita was pleased or disgusted. It must have signaled to her that Michael thought that things were getting bad here. It was a bad situation to make such a decision. Nikita obviously needed someone else for support, as Michael seemed not to be making that connection.

Nikita did tell Jake some about Walter. From the way Nikita talked, it sounded as if Walter was going to talk everyone's ears off. Jake laughed. He was getting sick of hearing himself spew out the medical facts for Michael and then hearing Michael repeated them over and over again to Nikita.

Jake turned off the running water, having half of the breakfast dishes washed. Jake was pleasantly surprised with how well Nikita did eat this morning. At first Jake believed it was because Nikita had calmed down, but with watching Nikita, Jake decided that it was something else. Nikita was starving.

The front door opened and Michael was going out to the porch. Jake leaned his head into the living room, seeing that Nikita was still crying. In some strange way, Jake had hoped that with just knowing that the man that Nikita knew to be like her father would have helped calm her down instantly.

"You takin' up with other folks, Michael. That isn't like you," Walter was talking as Michael opened the door. Jake turned his head and saw a man that he did not expect.

He had always believed that he was an open mind. But, when Michael explained that Walter and Nikita spent significant time on the Indian reservations, Jake got the image in his mind of Walter being dark like all the other Indians had been in all the history books. The leather that shined on Walter's body took Jake back. And then there was the huge bandana that was on his head, contrasting with the thinning gray hair. Walter made quite a bold statement.

"Jake... this is Walter..." Michael stated as he clapped a hand on Walter's shoulder. Jake smiled nervously and nodded his head.

"Nice to meet you," Jake stated as he looked towards the living room.

"Walter?" Nikita called out softly in-between her sobs. Jake watched as Walter instantly turned his head and started to head towards that voice.

"Sugar? Sugar...." Walter stated as he moved to turn around the doorway. He looked in and felt his heart drop deep down to his stomach. Nikita looked awful from the constant crying. "Oh... sugar..."

"Sugar?" Jake questioned Michael as the young father moved towards the nurse. Michael just shrugged his shoulders as he viewed the scene of Walter holding Nikita. It was so sweet and so caring. But Nikita was still crying.

Michael wasn't sure if he would get Nikita to ever stop crying.

"Walter... I'm so scared..." Nikita admitted and Jake moved back towards the kitchen. This was something that he had nothing to do with. His role in this entire medical crisis was the medical aspects. Michael knew how to get to Jake quickly if something happened. It would be Michael and Walter's job to take care of Nikita's emotional needs.

"I know, sugar... But you just got to lean on us... and let us worry... It's not good for the baby..." Walter stated as out as he settled on the couch and took Nikita in his arms. He hadn't even been able to take his leather jacket off or clean it from the road dirt that had gathered on it during his trip. Nikita didn't care either way as she pressed her cheek down onto the leather and continued to sob.

"Walter... I don't know what to do anymore..." Nikita sobbed as she clutched her hands at the leather. Her face was getting smudged with the dirt and Walter tried to rub it away. It only made it worse, but Walter was sure that no one cared about her face right now.

"Nikita... just let me and Michael take care of you... that's all we want to do," Walter offered as he kissed the top of her head. She trembled from head to toe and her hands pulled at the jacket.

"I hate being like this!" Nikita screamed into Walter's chest and he leaned his head back. He nodded his head slowly. Walter could identify with Nikita. It had been a horrendous trip for Nikita to get where she was. She always was worse off when she was out of control of the situation. This was an extreme example of what being out of control did to Nikita.

"Nikita... tells us what to do... tell us how we can help you..." Walter suggested as he rocked slightly from side to side.

"I trust Michael... and I trust you.... I don't trust me... I don't trust god...." Nikita stated out with bitter words and Walter gasped for air. This was something very deep and looked over his shoulder at Michael. The young man was struggling to keep the tears from overcoming his own face. Walter nodded that Michael should come closer.

"Look here, sugar... I'll tell you a special think about god... You can only think of him as doing something that is right... Maybe he is doing all of this because he wants you, me, and Michael to sit here and just be..." Walter offered as an explanation. Walter was sure that it was a bad one, but Nikita stopped for a second and swiped her tears away from her face.

"You think?" Nikita questioned and Walter sighed and kissed Nikita's head softly. The tears were there and her heart was still racing, but she was looking to them. Walter sighed and leaned against the couch some.

"You know, Sugar.... I think of your pregnancy... and I think back to an Indian woman that I met... oh... many many years ago..." Walter started out and Michael lifted his eyebrows. He didn't want Walter making something up just in an effort to fill in the holes of his profile of the father and to make Nikita feel better. Michael studied Walter's eyes and was relieved when there was a twinkle in Walter's eyes when he was speaking from the truth.

No one in Section One really knew how Walter got to be inside of Section One. Walter never told anyone either, although Michael was sure that Walter was like most Section One operatives. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He had spent sometime on Indian reservations, but Michael didn't know which ones.

Even Michael was interested in this story.

"See... her husband was a chief... and he had to go around all the other reservations..." Walter started and was about to continue when Nikita pulled her head up.

"Where was she?" Nikita questioned. Walter blinked for a second and then leaned his head back. He was just glad to hear Nikita speak something other than self-detrimental words towards herself.

"Ah... I don't remember the exact location... or even the tribe.... It was in Virginia... maybe she was a Powhowtan..." Walter stated, as he wasn't sure about the answer the question. It had been a long time since he thought about this piece of wisdom or this story.

"Virginia..." Nikita stated and Walter nodded his head. He was positive of the state.

"Either way.... he was gone... and he hadn't been able to be there for the pregnancy... and she was kind of like you... The baby was kicking..." Walter stated and Nikita nodded her head. Michael at that moment almost stopped the story. He sure didn't want Walter bring Nikita back down into tears.

"Well.... most Indian mothers you will talk too... will tell you that it often feels as if the baby is having a huge pow-wow in their stomachs... and the baby kicks for hours and hours at a time..." Walter stated and Nikita smirked softly. She tilted her head to the side and took Michael's hand into hers.

"And what about this one? Why was her pregnancy different?" Nikita questioned and Walter smiled. He was getting the exact response he was waiting for. Nikita was listening to him and getting underneath his spell. Walter sighed and stroked at Nikita's hair softly.

"Well... Indians don't really go to doctors... but she went from medicine man to medicine woman... she went to tribes near them and even pretty far from them... and no one knew what was going on..." Walter explained and Nikita again, nodded her head.

"And... the baby came... without problems... but afterwards... the mother was shocked... the baby loved her so much while she was scared that it wouldn't love her because it didn't kick during the pregnancy..." Walter stated and Nikita blinked her eyes.

"That's all?" Nikita questioned and Walter nodded his head.

"It is kind of like that saying... good things come to those who wait. See, sugar... that mother was worried just as you are... but in the end, the baby was fine... and proved to be quiet a yeller... And I think you want a yeller instead of a stomper..." Walter stated and Nikita smirked and looked at Michael.

"Are you trying to say that maybe my baby is screaming to me and I just can't hear it?" Nikita questioned and Walter smiled. Nikita nailed it on the head.

"Exactly... Now... I know you are having that test tomorrow... but don't let it flip you out... The baby is alive... that is all that matters," Walter stated and Nikita dropped her head.

It was something that she had forgotten. The baby was so close to not being that she was blessed just to have it alive.

~~

Michael looked to Walter and dropped his head back down into his hands. Dr. Kindles had placed Walter and Michael into a private room to wait for the foetoscopy to be completed. Michael tried to get permission to hold Nikita's hand, but Dr. Kindles wouldn't allow it. Nikita was going to be out and she wouldn't know if he was there or not.

Michael was worried about the drugs and what they would do to the baby. Dr. Kindles told Michael that everything would be ok and that it should only be about an hour for them to prep Nikita, do the foetoscopy, and bring her out.

That was almost ninety minutes ago. Michael rubbed at his neck as he raised his head once more to look at the clock.

Ninety-one minutes ago.

The images that flashed in Michael's mind were not all concocted in his imagination. He had seen Nikita hurt and injured before. He had viewed many surgeries completed on Nikita from the windows above medical, watching like a hawk for the doctors to do something wrong or for Madeline or Operations to interfere.

The images blended with what was happening now. Michael worried that they would see the baby and it would just slip away. It could technically be delivered now, although it would probably have no chance of surviving. What Michael couldn't stand thinking about was what if they did lose this baby now, this far into the pregnancy. Michael was sure that nothing would ever be salvaged of Nikita's heart and soul.

"There is a risk that she will lose the baby..." Michael stated as he stared at the wall. Walter turned and looked at Michael. Going into this, both Michael and Nikita were positive about it, although both were scared. Michael sent Nikita off to the outpatient surgery wing that Dr. Kindles had in her office with a kiss and a I love you. Michael now was starting to worry.

"Don't think like that, boy.... All is going to be fine... Nikita is a fighter..." Walter stated and Michael looked to Walter and shook his head.

"But it is only a baby.. it can only bear so much..." Michael stated as he winced. He couldn't ever imagine a child of his and Nikita's being weak, but that was what he feared right now. What if that child that they had created with their own genes was weak and couldn't fight like its parents were willing to do?

The door swung open and Dr. Kindles walked into the room and sat down.

"She is coming out... everything is fine..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael sighed in relief. Walter slapped Michael's back as Michael was just thankful to know that Nikita and the baby were alive.

"Do we know anything?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles sighed. She hated when she was asked this question so quickly after a procedure. But it was part of the reason why she waited while the first run of tests came back to come to Michael.

"We know that there is no cancer... which is good... All the other test will take a day or two..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael closed his eyes. He wasn't sure if he could last a few more days without answers. Michael looked to Walter and Walter looked to the doctor.

"Can we have them rushed?" Walter questioned and Dr. Kindles laughed. That had already been ordered.

"Yes... But Michael... when we were in... we viewed the child... It is a beautiful baby... I can't see anything wrong with its formation or milestones right now..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael leaned against the couch. This eased his mind so much.

"So why the radical procedure?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles looked to the door and then to Michael.

"We had found some abnormal cells on Nikita's PAP smear... and there was a formation in the uterus that we couldn't test... But that is the area that I specifically tested and found no cancer... It is a growth that can be removed after birth..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael sighed and looked to Walter. All this time Michael was worried that this was all about the child and it was really about Nikita.

"I couldn't tell Nikita because she was too worried about the baby... I wasn't sure if she would worry about herself... I saw how Nikita took care of things about herself... and could imagine Nikita pushing the test off because it placed the baby in danger... I should have informed you..." Dr. Kindles admitted and Michael shook his head. He was just glad that he knew now. In time, he would tell Nikita.

"When can I see her?" Michael questioned and Dr. Kindles smiled and stood up. She took Michael's hands and pulled him up.

"I'm sure she is probably asking for you..." Dr. Kindles spoke and Michael smirked. Walter stood up and Dr. Kindles nodded her head that Walter should follow them too. "I still want you to stay put for a few days... The stitching has to heal... and she can't get excited..."

"Don't worry... We won't leave the area until we hear all the test results..." Michael issued out and Dr. Kindles smiled and turned down the hallway, leading Michael.

"Well.. I know that Jake said that you can stay with him... and if you decide to turn that down tonight.. I would suggest a stay at a hospital..." Dr. Kindles stated and Walter snorted.

"We'll stay at Jake's." Walter ordered out and Michael laughed as he turned and saw the room that Nikita was in. It was clear that she was groggy still, but she saw Michael and smiled.

She was alive and so was their baby.

~~

Walter walked in from the kitchen with a special bottle in his hand. It was from his private artifacts and he was sure that Nikita would like it. It was smooth and made out of pinewood. A medicine woman many years and years ago had made it for Walter, saying that it had the healing power.

Nikita had been good for two days, doing as Michael and Jake told her. She didn't move around much and she monitored her sugar as she was supposed too. Due to the tender care of Michael and Jake, Nikita was able to cut her insulin in half. Walter was sure that it was because Nikita was finally eating a balance diet.

Jake looked up as Walter entered the room. He was supposed to be just getting Nikita water, but Michael had known better. Walter entered the room and placed the bottle in front of Nikita.

"There you go, sugar..." Walter stated and Nikita picked it up and tried to pear into the contents.

"It's special for you... to calm nerves..." Walter stated as he stubbornly sat down and picked up his hand of cards. He winced. He forgot how bad his cards were.

"Is there sugar in there?" Jake questioned as he pulled the bottle out of Nikita's hand. He wasn't sure about Walter and wasn't sure how much about medicine that Walter knew. The man that seemed to be like Nikita's father was quite eccentric and Jake sometimes didn't know how much to trust the man.

"Look there... it's a perfectly good explanation... the bottle is from a medicine woman... and the potion that is inside is a few good and descent Indian herbs that wouldn't hurt a fly!" Walter growled out. Jake looked to Walter and sighed. He knew that he shouldn't relent and give Nikita the bottle, but he looked to Nikita.

Apparently she spent sometime on these reservations with Walter. It could be part of her culture.

"So this is safe?" Nikita joked with a smile spreading across her face. Jake dropped his cards and looked at Nikita. She smiled. She had actually smiled. Michael had noticed too and leaned over and kissed the side of her head, trying not to pull too much attention to what Nikita had just done.

"You would have liked that woman, Nikita..." Walter stated as Nikita took a sip and nodded her head. It had a cherry taste to it. Nikita picked up her cards and then looked at Walter.

"I think you are just trying to distract me... How far in debt are you?" Nikita questioned and Walter lifted his eyes and looked at Michael and then Jake.

"Would I do that?" Walter questioned and Nikita nodded her head and Walter sighed. "Really... Sugar... I thought you would like this medicine woman..."

Nikita placed the bottle on the table with a heavy sigh. Michael smirked as Nikita stared at Walter. Sometimes, you just had to let Walter say what he wanted to say.

"Ok, Walter... what about this woman..." Nikita stated and Walter laughed.

"She reminds me of something you could name your kid... see... her name means born during an earthquake... that kind of describes you and Michael pretty good..." Walter stated with a sweet smile spreading across his face. Nikita reached as far as she could and slapped the top of Walter's hands.

"That's mean!" Nikita stated and Walter shook his head.

"It's the prettiest name I have ever heard... even prettier than Nikita... I'm sure that Michael would say it... and make your knees melt..." Walter stated and Nikita rolled her eyes. She had a choice right now. She could just let Walter tell her the name and win the hand of poker that they were playing. Or she could storm away, telling Walter that she didn't like being pushed into things like this.

"What's the name?" Nikita questioned and Walter smiled and lifted his head. He was going for the dramatic and Nikita rolled her eyes.

"Maralah..." Walter whispered and Nikita smiled. It was extremely pretty.

~~

"The tests all came back fine... we have to go back in the morning..." Michael whispered as he slid into bed next to Nikita. She snuggled on her side and held onto the pillow. She didn't want to leave Michael's side.

"Isn't there a way you can get into the mission? I need you Michael," Nikita stated and Michael frowned. He had tried again with Madeline, citing what had just happened. Madeline countered that she would place Walter inside the mission before she placed Michael. The only concession that she had made to Michael's pleads were in the department of when the baby was born. It was decided that Michael would be there, absolutely, and that Dr. Kindles would be brought down. It was going to be difficult, but it could be done.

"I wish I could, Nikita... but it is important that we use the communications that we do have..." Michael stated and Nikita nodded her head as his hands slipped over her stomach. Nikita bravely pushed away the tears, determined not to think about the next morning.

She felt very safe here. She didn't want to leave Jake and this house. This was a life that she could have gotten used too. Now she had to go back to Birkoff and be Nikita Hayes once again.

"When will Operations find out?" Nikita questioned as she turned slightly and Michael shrugged his shoulders slightly. He kissed Nikita's shoulders softly and then sighed.

"Can you say the name?" Nikita questioned and Michael lifted his head up and looked down at Nikita.

"What name?" Michael questioned and Nikita smiled.

"The name that Walter likes... Say it for me..." Nikita stated and Michael rolled his eyes. He knew that Nikita liked the name. He even tried it out on his lips some.

"Maralah" rolled out of Michael's mouth so softly and so sweetly. It sounded so natural and as if it was always on his mind. Nikita was about to comment when there was a small twinge.

Not just a small twinge.

A kick. There was a kick. Nikita gasped as Michael tensed up. He thought that Dr. Kindles said that there were no problems. Nikita grabbed Michael's hand and placed it on her stomach. Waiting once more, hoping to get the kick once more.

"Say it again..." Nikita demanded. Michael didn't know exactly what was going on, but he would listen to Nikita.

"Maralah..." Michael stated and he felt the kick in return. Michael felt the tears rolling out of his eyes. After all this pain and suffering, their child was reaching out to them and letting them know that it was there and waiting to be born.

"I love you, Nikita..." Michael whispered as he bent over and kissed Nikita's cheek tenderly, tasting her tears, but for once, they were tears of joy.

*

Nikita pulled into the parking lot and sighed. It felt like years ago that she was playing Nikita Hayes. She wasn't happy to have to go back to it, as she wished that Michael could have been brought into the mission. Madeline stated that Operations would figure out the pregnancy and that Ryce Borjas may have realized that Nikita actually had a true history with Michael instead of Birkoff.

Even though the baby was fine, with all the tests completed and the baby now kicking, Nikita felt dread in her system as she stepped out of the car and pulled her body up. The office didn't look different, but something had happened.

Nikita had drove right to the office. If Ryce Borjas had established a viewing on Birkoff and Nikita, he would question why Nikita drove home first after her trip. Nikita looked around the parking lot before starting to waddle her way down to the entrance.

The door opened and Nikita looked around. The happy environment that had always met her at the door suddenly stopped. There was a desk in front of her and a secretary was sitting there, smiling up at Nikita. Nikita didn't like changes.

"I'm just going to see my husband," Nikita stated and the woman shook her head and tapped her fingers on the desk.

"How do I know you?" the woman questioned and Nikita nervously laughed. She was going to have some serious questions for Birkoff when she got to see him. She looked around and smiled again to the secretary. Nikita didn't like her at all.

"I'm Nikita Hayes. I am Seymour Hayes' wife," Nikita explained as she started to round the desk. She had always been able to just walk right to Birkoff's office. The fact that she couldn't do that now was starting to bother Nikita.

"I'm sorry... I'm going to have to ask you to leave these premises..." the secretary stated as she stood up and blocked Nikita's way. Nikita opened her eyes and dropped her hands to her stomach. Now, Michael, Jake, Walter, and Dr. Kindles all told Nikita how it was important to stay calm, but Nikita lost it at this point.

"I am not leaving! I want to see my husband!" Nikita shouted and the woman sternly looked at Nikita. She appeared as if she was a schoolteacher ready to rap Nikita's knuckles with a ruler because of her disobedience.

"That is what the home is for," she stated and Nikita dropped her mouth. She could not believe the gall of this woman.

"Listen here... I am seven months pregnant and have been away for a couple days! I AM GOING TO SEE MY HUSBAND!" Nikita roared as she pushed the woman. The secretary shook her head and pressed a button down on the desk.

"I will have security remove you from the building.... They will take you forcefully," The secretary stated and Nikita shook her head. She didn't care if this was a mission or not. Nikita wasn't going to take this bull. The good mood that Nikita had entered the office in was quickly vanishing and Nikita looked around as the door opened and a man with a blue outfit appeared.

"LIKE HELL YOU WILL KEEP ME FROM MY HUSBAND!" Nikita shouted as she pulled her hand back and landed on right on the woman's nose. She fell forward and Nikita neatly stepped over her, even with her expanded middle. Nikita looked as the guard stopped to look at the woman. Nikita started to waddle down the hallway as quickly as she could.

"Seymour! Seymour!" Nikita called out and stopped when she got to the office that he had always been in. It was empty and Nikita turned around. Something was going on and she leaned against the wall and started to cry.

"Miss... I am going to have to ask you to come with me... the secretary is going to press charges and they'll be here to take you downtown..." the guard stated and Nikita opened her mouth, but instead, just let the tears continue to roll down her face.

"Miss..." The guard stated and Nikita's eyes flared open with anger.

"I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE! I WANT SEYMOUR!" Nikita shouted as she rubbed her hands, already trying to apologize to the baby. Nikita turned around, as there was noise of many more footsteps.

"NIKITA!" Linda called out as she rushed towards the crying woman. She had heard the commotion from the meeting room and wandered out into the hallway to see the secretary holding her nose and on the floor.

"Where is Seymour? Why won't they let me see him? Where are his things?" Nikita questioned and Linda pushed the guard to the side and wrapped her arms around Nikita carefully.

"You must have just gotten back... He now has an office upstairs... But I told her about you..." Linda stated and the guard cleared his throat.

"Actually Betty wants to press charges against Nikita," the guard stated and Linda turned and frown.

"That will not happen. Nikita is seven months pregnant and just needs her husband. I will talk to Betty later about how she handled this," Linda snapped as she huddled Nikita with her arm and started to calm the woman down. She wiped at Nikita's tears and looked as Nikita's hands touched her stomach.

"I just came here to let Birkoff feel the baby kick... it finally happened and I didn't know what was going on..." Nikita explained as she looked at Linda. Actually, Nikita was wondering what was going on in the firm to cause all of these changes.

"Come on... you have to walk the other way to get to the elevator... You can't possibly do our terrible stairs..." Linda stated as she turned Nikita's body around. Nikita looked to Linda and closed her eyes. Now she was getting a terrible headache and she had only been back into the mission as such for only a few moments.

"Nikita... Are you ok? That whole thing didn't throw you into labor or anything?" Linda questioned as she turned and saw Nikita holding her head. Nikita shook her head from side to side and then smiled.

"I just want to see my husband..." Nikita stated and Linda smiled as she linked arms with Nikita and proceeded to walk with her carefully. It was clear that Linda was out to protect Nikita from anything else that might happen.

"Linda... when you get a moment...." A man stated and Nikita looked the other way. The man was Ryce Borjas. Nikita knew at that moment, contact had been made.

"Sure, Mr. Borjas.... I want you to meet, Nikita Hayes..." Linda stated as she waved her hand in front of Nikita. Nikita blushed as the man approached her and smiled at her stomach.

"So you are Seymour's wife... and with child yet!" Ryce stated as he extended his hand. Nikita shook it and nodded her head.

"I'm seven months," Nikita stated and Ryce looked to Nikita's stomach and then up to her face.

"With twins?" He questioned and Nikita tilted her head to the side. It just wouldn't be proper if she slugged the target already. He hadn't done anything but make one rude comment.

"Mr. Borjas... Nikita had a run in with Betty... Needless to say she isn't employed here any longer... I just want to get her up to her husband... She has been gone for several days," Linda stated as she leaned against the button for the elevator, which opened up with a loud ding.

"I'll help find an new person to take Betty's job. One who is sensitive to all people," Ryce smiled out as he watched Linda lead Nikita onto the elevator. The doors closed and Nikita turned her head to look at Linda.

"Ryce promoted Seymour..." Linda stated and before she could say anything more, the elevator stopped and Nikita started to walk out again. She looked from side to side and Linda pointed to the glass corner office. Nikita saw Birkoff and smiled.

"Seymour!" Nikita called out and she watched as he jumped and turned towards Nikita. He rushed out and Nikita moved towards him.

"The baby kicked!" Nikita happily reported as she grabbed his hand and pressed it towards her stomach. Birkoff smiled as he felt the kicking. He leaned forward and kissed Nikita happily.

"I wish I was there when it started!" Birkoff declared as he took Nikita's hands and led her to the new office. Nikita looked around. She hated the walls. They were glass. Anyone could look in.

"It's clear..." Birkoff stated as he sat Nikita down on the couch that he now had. Nikita smiled and took Birkoff's hand.

"Cameras?" Nikita questioned and Birkoff leaned over and kissed Nikita's neck softly.

"I missed you.... in the hallway... watching in... but no devices inside the office..." Birkoff reported and Nikita giggled and placed a hand on Birkoff. At least they could talk about other things if they blocked the cameras.

Nikita turned slightly to do just that.

"I don't know what you were told..." Nikita started out and Birkoff turned and slid in front of Nikita. Now Nikita's face was blocking him, but it appeared as if he was listening to the baby by placing his ear on the stomach.

"Madeline said you had a foetoscopy..." Birkoff stated and Nikita nodded her head and sighed. She couldn't believe that she had made it through everything that they had done.

"They cut a little bit into the uterus to get information... but all is good..." Nikita stated and Birkoff rolled his eyes.

"But the high blood pressure.... the anemia..." Birkoff stated as he stood up. He knew that he wouldn't be able to get the silent office for long, especially with Ryce Borjas walking around. There still needed to be seemed like they weren't hiding anything.

"Yes... those..." Nikita admitted as she took Birkoff's hands again and kissed them.

"Have you thought of names?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita winced. Her last phone call was from Madeline. She had ordered Nikita what the names were to be. Nikita wasn't going to have that, but she had to pass on the information.

"Someone... suggested.. names..." Nikita stated and Birkoff raised his eyebrow.

"Madeline?" Birkoff questioned, knowing that the plans still stood, Madeline would be attending Nikita's baby shower.

"Yes... she thought that for a girl we should name it Udela..." Nikita said and Birkoff winced. He was sure that Madeline had lost her marbles to suggest that name. It was a very bad name.

"And if it was a boy?" Birkoff questioned and Nikita winced. She hated this name more than Udela.

"She likes the name Onfre..." Nikita stated and Birkoff opened his mouth and Nikita laughed. She covered the mouth and nodded her head. She would have to tell him later the exact words that Madeline used, but Nikita didn't care now. They were both bad names, and Nikita wanted to know why Madeline thought that Mr. and Mrs. Hayes would name their child with such an awful name.

"Onfre Hayes?" Birkoff questioned in shock. It sounded like a bad medicine.

"I know...." Nikita stated and Birkoff sat down next to her. Nikita took his hands as she caught the image of Linda moving closer to the office. The woman just couldn't leave some people alone.

"I guess I can't get you to come home early..." Nikita playfully pouted as she looked at Birkoff with her sad eyes. In reality, Nikita wanted to go home and sleep for many hours. However, she was going to have to learn what happened while she was gone. It was quite clear that Ryce Borjas had made some sort of contact.

"Nikita... we have been swamped here... and I got new responsibilities..." Birkoff stated as he pointed towards the computer. Nikita opened her eyes as she saw the image that was on the computer as a screensaver. It had been Nikita. It was now the ultrasound picture.

"I know... I'll just wait dinner..." Nikita stated as she pressed her lips against Birkoff's hand.

"You can't do that! You are a diabetic... You need to eat on schedule!" Birkoff ordered out and Nikita dropped her head as she was duly scolded. Nikita looked up and took Birkoff's hand.

"But I thought we would celebrate... you know... your promotion... our baby... We won't be able to do things much longer..." Nikita stated as she lifted her fingers up to touch Birkoff's chin softly. She leaned up and kissed it.

"But that is no reason for you not to eat... It's for the baby..." Birkoff stated.

"You are diabetic?" Linda questioned as she moved into the office. Nikita blushed as she pulled away from Birkoff. She rubbed her hands across her stomach and smiled at Linda.

"I have gestational diabetes... it has been quite out of control..." Nikita stated and Linda looked shocked. Now she was going to have to change some of her plans for the baby shower. It also made her decision much easier.

"Seymour.... Ryce left for the day.... Why don't you go home... Be with your wife... You don't have much more time alone with her..." Linda offered and Nikita smiled. She leaned over and kissed Birkoff. It simply told him that he couldn't say no to Linda's offer.

"I'll come in early tomorrow..." Birkoff stated and Linda shook her head.

"Go home... I'll see you tomorrow at 9," Linda firmly stated and left with a chuckle in her voice.

*

Madeline hadn't seen Nikita at all during her pregnancy. She was furious when Birkoff told Linda to invite her. She was already covering all of Nikita's expenses for the pregnancy, which went up extremely when Nikita starting to have complicated health problems, so that Operations wouldn't find out.

Madeline had hoped that Operations would have demanded her to stay inside of Section One. Instead, he did the opposite. He ordered her to leave and enjoy the afternoon with friends. He stated that she didn't get out enough as it was. Madeline turned away from him and walked down the hallway.

Needless to say, she would have been much happier being stuck inside of Section One.

Nikita didn't say anything to her about what she wanted about it. From what Madeline could expect, she was sure that Nikita wasn't looking forward to this either. Madeline held the rather expensive gift in the backseat of her car, as it was what Birkoff proclaimed Nikita absolutely wanted but wouldn't buy herself. Madeline looked at the wrapping and sighed. It had taken two operatives to place it into her car. She sure wondered who the boy with all the strength was going to be to get it out of her car this time.

This party was also a surprise party for Nikita, or as much as Linda thought it would be a surprise party. Birkoff had taken Nikita out to the local spa to have a pedicure and a neck rub. It was all so sickening sweet that Madeline was sure that she would pass dead away if she was exposed to too much of it. She had even changed out of her normal dark black to a light brown outfit. It was pretty, but it sure didn't feel right.

The mass of balloons outside of the house indicated that Madeline was right on the location. She hadn't even seen the house that Nikita and Birkoff had now spent eight months in. Madeline pulled up to the front and watched as several women exited the house and looked into the car. Madeline sighed and stepped out of the car with a smile on her face.

"Is this the baby shower for Nikita Hayes?" Madeline questioned loudly.

"Yes! You must be Madeline...." the woman stated as she moved down the couple stairs towards the car. "My name is Linda..."

Now there was a face to the name. This was the woman that Nikita secretly wanted to get rid of. She was the one that was determined to have a baby shower for Nikita. Now if Madeline had been totally concerned about Nikita's well being, she probably would have pushed the issue. However, with the sudden arrival of Ryce Borjas and the promotion that Birkoff got, the pressure was starting to form. It was going to be difficult to have a baby amidst all of these circumstances.

"Hi... is there someone to get the gift out of my car... my sons placed it in for me..." Madeline stated as she opened the back door. The woman scattered up the sidewalk, bellowing for some men named Keith and Steve. Madeline smiled as Linda bent down and looked into the car.

"WOW! That is the dream changing table... Nikita saw that in the catalogue the one day... called for it and found out that it had a six month back order..." Linda stated. Madeline shrugged her shoulders with a smile.

"I have some connections," Madeline gloated with a smile. She turned as the men arrived and quickly pulled the item out and walked it towards the house. Madeline closed the door and walked up the sidewalk with Linda.

"She has been so quiet during the entire pregnancy... and so big... and I find out that she has gestational diabetes... I was so worried.... I started to make sure she ate all the time..." Linda started to explain to Madeline as she folded her arm into Madeline's. Madeline maintained a smile and couldn't wait for Nikita to arrive.

"Well... she has always been very independent..." Madeline stated as she looked to Linda. Linda rolled her eyes.

"You can't be independent when you are that big.... I mean.. the child is huge... I don't know how she can get around the house by herself anymore... If Seymour hadn't been promoted.... I would have let him stay home with her at this point... Sometimes I come over during the day and find her laying on the bed just staring off in space..." Linda stated and Madeline smiled. She knew what Nikita was hiding when Linda arrived. More than ever, Madeline has had the hardest time getting Michael off of the communications device he has with Nikita.

"I'll see if I can do anything for her... But when I spoke with her last... she stated that most of the bigness that we see is because there is extra amniotic fluid..." Madeline stated, trying to stop the worries. It would ruin her plans for Michael being at the birth if Linda got too involved with the pregnancy.

"Well... if you excuse me... I have to make sure that all the other things are ready... I don't think that Nikita has ever had a real party thrown for her..." Linda stated and Madeline smiled until the woman drifted away. Madeline's smile dropped too.

Nikita had never had anything like this.

~~

"I feel like that commercial... move of this stuff..." Nikita stated as she pulled out the box of lotion. All of the woman laughed and smiled as Nikita pulled out some more things. Nikita smiled brightly and allowed her picture to be taken. She looked over and saw Birkoff sitting near Madeline some.

Nikita sighed.

"Seymour... why don't you open some?" Nikita questioned and the woman all sighed. Nikita rolled her eyes and stood up. "I really have to get some fresh air..."

"I'll go out with you..." Linda stated and Nikita leaned her head back. She smiled politely, but she really wanted to scream and kill the woman. She couldn't walk more than five feet without someone by her side.

"Linda... you stay... You are keeping track of the gifts... I'll go out with her..." Madeline stated as she stood up and reached her hands out for Nikita. For once, Nikita was glad to see Madeline.

"Here..." Madeline said as she pushed the door open and allowed Nikita out onto the back porch. Nikita sighed and leaned her head back. It had been a long three hours so far and she was only half way through the gifts. Nikita didn't even know half of the woman and they had bought her so much.

"I must say... when Walter and Michael told me how you looked... I didn't believe them," Madeline said as she stood next to Nikita and looked around on the porch. She wanted to sit Nikita down, but Nikita stretched her arms out and sighed.

"I hate being like this... I'm so uncomfortable... I just had to get out of there..." Nikita stated as she started to trudge down the steps. Madeline rolled her eyes. It would have been better for Nikita to just stop moving around like she was a normal person. Her eight-month pregnant body worried Madeline as she teetered down the stairs. In fact, Madeline wasn't sure that Nikita would go to full term.

"I wasn't sure that this was the best thing to happen... but I think in some ways... this has been very good for you," Madeline stated as she settled on the stairs and looked out at Nikita. Nikita tilted her head to the side and shook it back and forth.

"This is fake to me... Sometimes... I wish that I would wake up and be back in my own apartment... waiting for my cell phone to ring to drag me back in..." Nikita stated and Madeline frowned. Nikita rubbed her neck and sighed.

"Birkoff is a good man, Madeline...." Nikita stated and Madeline smiled. She didn't need Nikita to finish the statement. It was quite clear. Madeline stood up and walked back to Nikita's side.

"But he isn't Michael," Madeline whispered and Nikita nodded her head. Madeline leaned over and kissed Nikita's ear. She was a very special woman. When Madeline first saw Nikita walk into the house, she cried. Although there were scores of medical problems and Section One problems, Nikita glowed with the growing child inside of her.

"I have sent some material on the computer to you... since you stopped attending all of your classes..." Madeline stated and Nikita winced. She was caught. She had told Michael that it was too stressful, and he bought it. Madeline rubbed Nikita's hands and looked towards the house.

"Let's talk about other things..." Madeline said as she brought Nikita back towards the house.

~~

"Linda... how could the woman who told Nikita to know the child either Udela or Onfre buy her this gorgeous piece of furniture?" Nicole questioned as Nikita looked at the dressing table that Keith and Steve placed in the nursery. Nikita kept running her hands across the surface, with tears running down her face.

"What I am scared about is that Nikita might actually go with one of those names..." Linda stated and Nicole rolled her eyes. Poor naïve, Nikita.

"Maybe we can do something about that... Maybe Nikita just is so tired... as she was working so hard... and then with her diabetes.. that she hasn't been able to think..." Nicole stated and Linda smiled. Nicole was one person who could do anything to turn the tide of something.

"What are you thinking?" Linda stated and Nicole smiled.

"We have one more game to play..." Nicole stated and Linda smiled. She liked it when Nicole was plotting.

"Madeline... this was so expensive... I insist I help pay for it..." Nikita stated as she ran her hands across the surface again. It was right out of the book. Nikita blinked her eyes. Madeline leaned over and hugged Nikita.

"It isn't just from me..." Madeline spoke and Nikita turned her head to the side. The tears poured down her face. They had been threatening all day long. Madeline knew that Nikita wanted Michael to be there. When she went in from getting fresh air the ladies made Nikita sit down with the man they believed to be the father to open more gifts. Nikita kissed him happily, but Madeline read the sadness that was there.

"Oh... Nikita..." Madeline whispered as she reached around Nikita to wipe the tears away. Nikita leaned her head away and finally pulled away. She moved out of the room and immediately into Birkoff's arms. Birkoff turned and headed towards the master bedroom. He pushed Nikita in and looked towards the ladies.

"If you can give me a few minutes... I'll pull her back together..." Birkoff whispered and Nicole smiled and looked around.

"Ok... we have one more game!" Nicole called out as she started down the stairs. Madeline looked at the crowd of ladies and then looked to the door. She wished she didn't say it now. She pressed her hand against the door and closed her eyes.

How Madeline wished there was a way to get Michael to be here.

~~

"OK! OK! I got my list..." Nikita stated and Birkoff rolled his eyes. He sat next to Nikita. This game didn't seem much like a game, but Nikita found it interesting. He rubbed Nikita's arm and sighed.

When he was able to bring Nikita downstairs, she was given pieces of papers, each one had a name. There were two piles. Of course, they were one for boy names and one for girl names. Nikita's task was to figure how which names belonged together and went with what guest.

Nikita only knew one person's guesses.

"Ok... off the bat... I think that Linda said Locke and Leita..." Nikita stated as she looked to Linda. She shook her head.

"That was mine!" A woman down at the end stated as she lifted her hand. Nikita smiled and looked to Birkoff. She had met that woman somewhere, but Nikita wasn't sure of her name. Linda smiled and looked to Nikita.

"Ok... try again..."

"Where you Claude and Courtney?" Nikita questioned and now Nicole and Trisha laughed. Nikita placed her hands on the table and sighed. "There were too many good names..."

"Well.. you haven't picked any yet... We thought we could help out," Nicole laughed out as she held onto Trisha's hand, finding this all too funny.

"You try, Seymour..." Nikita said and Birkoff opened his eyes. He also knew one set of names. He looked to Linda and frowned.

"Dalton and Crissy?" Birkoff questioned and Linda dropped her hands.

"What kind of proper name is Crissy?" Linda questioned. The proper party lifted her hand and Nikita smiled. It was another woman she couldn't quite remember.

"Einar? Einar? Can you pronounce that for me?" Nikita questioned Linda and she shook her head. Trisha lifted her hand and smiled at Nikita.

"It's different... My other name was Marquita..." Trisha stated and Nikita looked to Birkoff and swallowed. She rolled her head to the side.

"Linda... did you even put names in here?" Birkoff questioned and Linda smiled.

"Ok... I know... She selected Finn and Terra," Nikita declared.

"No."

"Oh.. she went French on us, Seymour... She gave us Christophe and Angeline..."

"No."

"Kurt and Lara?" Birkoff tried.

"No."

"Are you sure you aren't Locke and Leita?" Nikita questioned and Madeline smiled. Nikita was at least having fun with this.

"I'm sure," Linda stated and Birkoff pointed down to the names.

"Then you are Darrien and Randi," Birkoff stated with a raised chin. He was sure that he had picked it up right.

"No..." Linda stated and Nikita looked down at the four remaining names. Nikita had to bit her tongue as she smiled, but she did.

"Oh... you like the names Mikhail and Elena..." Nikita stated with a cheerful voice. Madeline almost choked on her drink as she heard those names. Nikita shot a glare at her. Nikita carefully smiled.

"I like them better than Onfre and Udela..." Nikita announced and Madeline dropped her head.

Duly noted.

*

"And the Peking mission... I'd like to assign Michael to it. I need his sharp mind on the constantly changing environment..." Operations stated as he stared at his data. Madeline looked to the screen and started to shake her head back and forth.

She was even afraid to send Michael out for a mission that would take an hour.

Nikita was late. The baby was supposed to have been born exactly eight days ago.

"Paul, I don't think it is Michael's type of mission. I think that Davenport can handle it," Madeline spoke and Operations turned and blinked his eyes.

"The operative that Nikita battered?" Operations questioned and Madeline turned her head and swallowed. She looked down to the ground, seeing Michael walking down the hallway. He was nervous. It wasn't clearly seen from this distance, but whenever Michael was close to you, you could see his eyes darting around.

Madeline and Michael were waiting for the phone call to spring into action. Dr. Kindle even stated that holding off right now didn't mean anything bad. Babies to mothers that have gestational diabetes tend to have poor lung development. This might be a way for the baby to develop the lungs better.

But sooner or later, the baby was coming.

"We have to move past that point and look at his other skills. He is a very good leader," Madeline pointed out and Operations blinked his eyes and leaned back. There was something going on here that he wasn't exactly catching, but he knew it was something that Madeline was working passionately at hiding.

"Ok, Madeline... What is going on?" Operations questioned as he folded his hands on his lap and stared at Madeline.

Now she was trapped.

~~

Birkoff looked to his phone and then to his computer screen. He had work he had to complete, but somehow, it didn't matter. Birkoff sighed and leaned his head back. He had just called Nikita. She sounded fine.

Too fine.

Birkoff was about to pick up the phone again and call. He slapped his own hand, knowing that it would only cause Nikita to get more upset about the entire situation. For all the people involved, Nikita was probably the most calm of everyone. All the time that Nikita spent being the most emotional and combustible, she chose this time to be calm and levelheaded.

Maybe it was because for the first time, Birkoff was sure that Nikita was one hundred percent comfortable with the way that she was. He had watched her write to Michael almost every night and then read fables from a book that Linda gave her, towards her stomach.

"Seymour... those reports are late..." Linda snapped as she entered the office and Birkoff threw his hands up in the air. He dropped his head and shook it lightly.

"Look... I understand that you are stressed, Seymour. But Mr. Borjas wanted those reports this morning..." Linda pointed out and Birkoff slammed his hands on the desk. There was a reason why he wasn't there on time this morning, as there was a reason for every morning for the past week. Did Linda care that Nikita had had the strangest food cravings for the past week? Did Linda realize how hard it was to find some of the things that Nikita was requesting? Some of the things Birkoff had never heard about before in his life, and he believed himself to be an expert on food.

"Linda... do you know what a Tangelos is?" Birkoff questioned and Linda tilted her head to the side and frowned. She didn't know how this had anything to do with the reports that were overdue.

"I don't work with the computers, Seymour. You are going to have to tell me," Linda replied and Birkoff nodded his head and stood up. He rubbed his hands together and narrowed his eyes.

"Would you happen to know where you could go to find a Cherimoya?" Birkoff questioned as he tilted his head to the side. She had rarely seen Birkoff so agitated in his stay at the firm thus far. This was a departure from anything she had seen in his behavior.

"A... Cherry... moya?" Linda questioned, struggling to reproduce the words herself. Birkoff sighed and flopped down in his chair.

"You can get a cherimoya at an organic food store across town... They close early and open early..." Birkoff stated and Linda winced.

"Nikita is having odd food crazes?" Linda questioned and Birkoff couldn't even roll his eyes. He scratched at the top of his lip and then closed his eyes once again. He didn't want to say anything too much.

"Fruit... any kind of different fruit... It doesn't matter if it in season or not... That is why I have been late! Along with the baby being late!" Birkoff snapped out as he dropped his head down. Linda looked down at the father and sighed.

"I hope that baby comes soon..." Linda commented and Birkoff smiled. For a while he was sure that Linda was concerned about his own well being along with Nikita's. That soon was shattered.

"You have that conference you are attending with Mr. Borjas in 16 days..." Linda stated and Birkoff almost snapped.

But the phone rang.

~~

Michael looked around the area. He looked up to the glass office and wondered what was going on. He worried about the day that Operations would find out about Nikita and the baby. Michael worried that after all they had gone through, that Operations would do something irrational and hurt the baby and Nikita before anything could be done to protect Nikita.