Madeline stared at the invitation. Six weeks and there would be a wedding for Birkoff. She stared at it, thinking many things, most of which had nothing to do with Birkoff and Alsena. It had everything to do with Michael and Nikita.

Michael, whom Madeline found on the floor of his office, weeping unlike anything she had seen from Michael before. They had done so many things to Michael in the past, but the grief that Michael expressed at that moment was unlike anything Madeline had seen from Michael.

And Madeline herself started to cry as Michael transferred the rings that Nikita had given back to Michael into her hands. Michael couldn't stand to feel them any longer in his own and Madeline stared at them. Right then, Madeline was almost sure that Michael was not the father of Sonora's child. However, Madeline's decisions were based off of what needed to be done. The claim was made and there was no way that Madeline could go against that right now.

Michael looked up to her wall safe. The rings were there now. Michael might want them back. Maybe Michael and Nikita would get back together, but things just didn't seem to be heading that way. But stranger things had happened.

Madeline was sure that more was bound to happen.

Michael hadn't gone back to his apartment yet, which was something that Madeline was going to have to force sooner or later. Michael was starting to self-destruct being inside of Section One all the time. He had been able to access information about Nikita's missions and anything else that Nikita was handling. He wasn't ready to say goodbye to Nikita, and for now, Michael needed rest.

Then there was Sonora, who had spent another day inside of medical. She had cried to Madeline that Nikita needed to be transferred away from her, because Nikita was making plans to kill her child. Madeline only blinked her eyes, knowing that if Nikita truly believed that this was Michael's child, that she would do anything to protect it.

Sonora was asking for help around the house. The doctors were getting on Madeline's case to support Sonora's wishes. She wanted Michael to come back to the apartment and attend to her. She was having bad morning sickness and panic attacks.

Madeline was sure that there had to be more going on for the panic attacks to be occurring. There had to be more than being just scared of the possible retaliation of Nikita. Madeline was sure that Sonora was up to no good herself, but couldn't find anything to support her thoughts and opinions in such theory.

"Madeline?" Birkoff questioned as the door slipped opened and revealed another person deeply affected by all that was going on. The man was trying to put together a wedding with his fiancée and they both were worried about the meanings attributed to all of their decisions.

Plus, Birkoff was finding it difficult to get a schedule with Nikita straightened out to watch over Maralah. Twice of late Alsena had to leave to be home because Nikita decided at the last minute to go out on a mission instead of just monitoring it. Birkoff of course, noting how quickly Nikita made the decision, decided that he better monitor the mission.

"Yes, Birkoff?" Madeline questioned as Birkoff walked further into the room. She had told him yesterday that both Birkoff and Alsena had to be comfortable with their decisions that they had to be made for good reasons. It was their wedding. It shouldn't reflect the turmoil going on between Michael and Nikita.

"We made the decisions..." Birkoff stated as he settled down at the desk and looked at Madeline. He rubbed his hands together. He and Alsena had stayed up all night, unable to finally decide what was right. The only thing that was easily agreed upon was to give Madeline the heads up.

"And?" Madeline questioned as she leaned forward. She knew that it couldn't be easy, but also realized that Birkoff was making it much harder than it needed to be.

"Well.. Walter is going to walk Alsena down the aisle... of course... Walter commented on that..." Birkoff stated as he rolled his eyes. Madeline nodded her head. She knew of this decision. She couldn't tell Birkoff how much Walter was upset with all of this. Of course Walter was the logical choice, but he cried in Madeline's arms, telling Madeline how he wanted to walk Nikita down the aisle and not someone else.

"He wishes he was walking Nikita down the aisle," Madeline stated and Birkoff nodded his head. He looked to his hands and then to Madeline.

"For a while... I was going to ask Davenport to be my best man... but... you know that isn't true... And I asked Michael," Birkoff stated and Madeline nodded her head. She didn't want to have to pull the information out of Birkoff's teeth. He looked at Madeline and smiled. "He said yes."

"That doesn't surprise me, Birkoff. He watches out for you..." Madeline commented and Birkoff colored as he dropped his head. At first, when the entire story about Calantha being his mother and asking Michael to watch over him, Birkoff was very upset. But then, remembering the context and how he was when he was a teenager, Birkoff couldn't blame Michael for doing exactly what he had done. And then he started to feel safe with that relationship. Both men had a relationship where they needed each other now.

"And Alsena... says that out of all the people inside of Section One... She wants Nikita to be her maid of honor..." Birkoff stated and Madeline opened her eyes. This was a shocker. She thought that Nikita would be part of the wedding party, but not this role.

"I know that it setting up something between Michael and Nikita... but our wedding isn't about them... It's about us..." Birkoff rushed out to defend their decision. Madeline smiled softly and touched Birkoff's hands.

"It's ok, Birkoff... As long as you keep the option open for them to bring their own date..." Madeline stated the warning, hoping that it hadn't come out too harsh or strong. Birkoff merely nodded his head, as if this was something that was talked about for some amount of time.

"Yes... that is possible, Madeline... Although I don't see either one doing that..." Birkoff stated and Madeline rolled her eyes. It was like Birkoff to not see past his own nose in matters dealing with Michael and Nikita. Although Madeline wasn't going to like it, more than likely, Michael would be taking Sonora to the wedding, due to things that were going on there that were beyond her control. Nikita would be aware of this and Madeline was sure that Nikita would not be arriving alone.

Although Madeline was unsure of whom Nikita would bring with her.

Hopefully Davenport.

Someone that Michael respected was the best decision. If Nikita were truly trying to go on with her life, like she had informed Madeline and Michael, this would be the route that Nikita was taking. If she were in the middle of some wild plan, Nikita would end up bringing probably a recruit with dashingly young looks, as a trophy and nothing more.

"Alsena... wanted me to ask you something..." Birkoff suddenly started to talk again, bringing Madeline's thoughts back to the present time. Madeline popped her head around, blinking her eyes as she looked at Birkoff.

"What?" Madeline questioned, uncharacteristically caught off guard. Birkoff smiled softly. It was the one rare few times in the past few weeks that Birkoff had found something to smile about away from Alsena. Madeline leaned in closer to Birkoff and he cleared his throat.

"Well... Since I have Calantha... she was wondering if you would sit in as the mother of the bride..." Birkoff stated as if it was something very casual. He knew that Madeline of late had been trying to fill in for the mother that Nikita never had and hadn't been getting much success.

"I would love too, Birkoff...." Madeline smiled and Birkoff smiled. He looked to his hands and licked his lips.

"Then we have another favor," Birkoff commented and Madeline arched her eyebrow. It sounded as if she had just said yes to something that she didn't quite want to do. Madeline tilted her head and stared at Birkoff.

"Can you please get Nikita to go for the dress? She hasn't returned any phone calls about the wedding," Birkoff rushed out and Madeline sighed. She didn't find this shocking and blamed herself for not warning Birkoff about this.

"I'll do that, Birkoff..." Madeline stated as Birkoff lifted his eyebrows. It was clear that Birkoff thought that Madeline could just do this so easily. "If I have too, I'll threaten abeyance, Birkoff."

"Ok..." Birkoff drifted off as he stood up. He looked like he still wanted to talk and Madeline sighed. She didn't want to make him leave if he wanted to talk, but she was sure that the topic was about Nikita. She was so heavily in everyone's minds that Madeline wasn't sure how to continue to approach the subject.

Technically she had no reason to be worried about what was going on. Nikita was completing the missions perfectly and with excellent times and scores. There was nothing wrong about her performance that would make Madeline to try to modify things. However, everything else around Nikita seemed to be blurred.

"Birkoff..." Madeline quickly whispered out, making Birkoff turn around. Her eyes connected with the young man and he immediately sat down and leaned forward towards Madeline.

"Are Michael and Nikita over forever?" Birkoff questioned and Madeline shrugged her shoulders as she shook her head back and forth. She clearly didn't know. It was too difficult to determine. It could be for the best or it could be for the worse.

"But Madeline... they are the ones that gave us all something inside of Section One... I want to give them something back... the hope that they had given me..." Birkoff rushed out. It was clear that this has been heavily on Birkoff's mind and Madeline nodded her head. She understood Birkoff's need right now but didn't know how to help him sort it all out without trying to guess what was going to happen.

"I think Nikita has to learn to live without Michael, Birkoff... I know that it sounds huge and difficult... and it is going to be that... But she needs that chance and that opportunity to know that she can do it on her own..." Madeline declared, trying to be as diplomatic as possible. Birkoff looked pained as he looked to the wall and rubbed his hands together.

"Then I should help her?" Birkoff questioned and Madeline inclined her head to the side, sure that there was more to this question than what she was hearing. Birkoff was notably nervous, as if he was continuing to try to hide something. It only was matched with the feeling that Nikita was up to something that made Madeline absolutely positive that the help in question here was more than support.

"What do you mean by help, Birkoff?" Madeline questioned and Birkoff looked around and rubbed his hands. These were all things that Nikita told Birkoff not to tell anyone.

But Birkoff was sure that Nikita told him not to tell anyone because she realized that he would immediately do the opposite of what he was told to do.

"Nikita wants to go out tonight... She won't tell me where... and she won't tell me if she is going by herself... And we had made plans on how to watch Maralah... This is supposed to be her night..." Birkoff rushed out and Madeline looked to the side. She didn't expect Nikita to be going out this close to the events of the recent past. She had expected some time to happen first, not this immediate emersion into the world that she had been so carefully avoiding.

"Out? Do you think this is a date?" Madeline questioned and Birkoff shrugged his shoulders. It was clear that Birkoff didn't know what was going on with Nikita and that Nikita hadn't given him enough information to start to draw conclusions. It was planned and calculated information given from Nikita. Or at least, that was what it all appeared to be.

Of course, this could be an honest attempt that was being misconstrued.

"I don't know if she is trying to run away... or if she is trying to find someone... someone... someone..." Birkoff stated and then got stuck. He blinked his eyes and dropped his head away from Madeline, although she knew what was occurring. Michael and Nikita, although had many problems, had been a rule model for Birkoff in his adult years on what a relationship could do to a person and mean to a person.

"The word is new, Birkoff... The truth of the matter is that Nikita might find someone new... Michael has already done that," Madeline confirmed and Birkoff shook his head sharply from side to side. He didn't believe that Michael had found someone new. Madeline sighed and knew that right now that it would be best to drop this.

"Birkoff... I would try to help her do things that would make her happy... If this is going to make her happy... I would find a way...." Madeline modified her statement. Birkoff nodded his head and stood up. He looked to Madeline and swallowed harshly. It was clear that he didn't like what he had heard, but he would do exactly as suggested.

Madeline watched the door close and swallowed. She was going to have to order Michael back to his apartment. For the time being he was going to be forced near and around Sonora. Her medical condition was iffy if best, and Madeline had already dealt with one pregnancy that had gone sour quickly without notice. Madeline wasn't going to allow it to happen to another one.

Madeline picked up her phone and swallowed. She didn't want to do it, but Birkoff's comments had spiked her attention and her fancy.

"Davenport?" Madeline questioned as the phone connected. She looked to the wall and swallowed.

"I want you to establish surveillance on Nikita for tonight... track her movements... report back to me if she talks to anyone and who they are..." Madeline ordered and dropped the phone.

Davenport was probably cursing Madeline. And thanking her in the same thought.

*

Michael watched as the metal doors pulled away and exposed him to the long hallways of a bare used part of Section One. Down the right were some computers of old files and to the left computers that held SIMMs and other assorted information. Not many had access down here. More didn't even know that it existed.

Michael was in the quest for somewhere quiet and without eyes to spy on him. He didn't want to be questioned any further if he had emotional outbursts and he wanted to run away from the presence of Sonora. He had so much on his mind that had to be sorted through that just got shuffled from side to side from the events of the day.

Sonora was sick, according to the doctors. They kept on speaking in terms that would have made other operatives quake in their boots. But deep down, Sonora's medical condition didn't matter. And it couldn't compare with what Michael had gone with Nikita. Nikita had been more than ill during her pregnancy. Her life had been threatened. A mass had been removed after the delivery of Maralah. It could have killed Nikita and the baby.

Nikita was a topic that didn't leave Michael's mind. Her words echoed in his mind. He wanted to believe that they were said for another reason, not because Nikita meant them. But he couldn't come up with the proof.

Michael turned the corner and stopped as the blonde hair bobbed up and the blue eyes turned to stare at him.

"What are you doing down here?" Michael questioned with curt words, not wanting Nikita to know how much she had hurt him. Nikita blinked her eyes as she pushed a few buttons and pulled down the cover on the screen.

"Running intel check... I am level five," Nikita coolly remarked as she didn't change her posture and made no move to change the distance between them.

"I didn't ask about your level... I want to know what you are doing down here. The intel on your missions have been correct," Michael dryly stated as he stared at Nikita. She stepped away from the computer and rubbed her hands into the pockets on the side of her pants. She tilted her head to the side and looked at Michael.

"This is a personal gripe you have with me, Michael... I have to go on with my life... You already had..." Nikita remarked as she tapped her foot up and down and stared at Michael. It was clear that he would block her path of retreat at the moment.

"You still haven't answered my question, Nikita. You wouldn't come down here to run intel. Why are you down here?" Michael questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth. They were the same level. There was nothing right now that gave Michael the right to question her and what was going on. She didn't have to answer to him any longer.

"You have seen the illusions of perfectly running missions, Michael... You, more than anyone else in Section One, should know that looks are only half of the picture. I do whatever it takes to make sure that I came back alive... I'm sure you wish I didn't take such a precaution," Nikita hissed out as she pulled a hand up to pull her hair out of her face. Michael blinked his eyes. He wanted Nikita to be careful.

"Nikita... I'm sorry," Michael stated and Nikita rolled her eyes. Michael watched the blue eyes stop and stare at him.

"That's one phrase that doesn't cut it anymore, Michael... Pretty soon you are going to be saying you are sorry that you couldn't glove up before screwing around..." Nikita condemned Michael with soft hissing words. They ignited an anger inside of Michael that he wanted to unleash on Nikita, but he blinked his eyes and knew something. That maybe some of this was deserved. It was a scary thing to actually admit.

"That baby is not mine, Nikita... Please... we have to work this out..." Michael urged Nikita. She looked to the computer that she had been working at and shook her head back and forth. She just wanted to escape from Michael, to get further away from him.

"I don't have to do anything for you, Michael... We are over... Didn't I make that clear enough?" Nikita questioned and Michael blinked his eyes. Her words seemed so true. But why didn't it feel that way?

"Words can't end us, Nikita... I still love you... and I know that you still love me..." Michael rebutted immediately. He couldn't let Nikita leave without hearing the truth. Nikita looked to her watch and shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't going to stay around for this any longer.

"Go ahead and think what you want, Michael.... I have a date... I have to go," Nikita stated as she moved towards him. Michael reached out and grabbed her arm and held it. Nikita stared down at the connection and looked up at his face. Michael didn't want to let her go. But if that was truly what was going to make Nikita happy and well again, then he was going to have to do that.

"This isn't over Nikita," Michael promised as Nikita stood down the hallway, staring at the elevator. Nikita blinked her eyes and looked back at Michael. He was sure that she was just going to disappear once again.

"I didn't expect it to be done so easily with you... Until you want further punishment for your sins, Michael... I bid you good night," Nikita stated with firm words as the elevator opened and Nikita disappeared into it. Michael leaned his head back and fought the tears.

So much for his sought out place of quiet to think. Michael turned and looked at the computer that Nikita had been at. Michael looked back down the hallway and pulled the computer screen up and stared at the words, hoping to reveal something, of a greater plan.

Something to explain what was going on. He was sure that Nikita still loved him. Love just didn't die like that. Not after all that they had been through together.

Michael didn't expect to find it at first. He started to type, trying to find the entrance and the path in to follow Nikita's footsteps. He got to once screen, which was a communications screen. It wasn't much to follow and Michael tried once more when the computer went blank.

ACCESS DENIED

Michael looked down the hallway. He didn't know how Nikita did this. He was utterly blown away. Nikita knew that he was going to look and probably led him down the wrong path.

But he knew one thing. Nikita didn't want him to know what she was up too.

~~

Nikita slid her hands down the blue leather skirt once more before she slipped into the dark club. There was someone following her and Nikita circled around the front easily. She wanted to know whom she was dealing with as being her tail. It didn't matter, but there was some business that she had to deal with first and Nikita hoped that it wasn't going to be viewed.

Nikita tapped her foot up and down, swaying her body with the beat of the music. It was a trendy spot and Nikita smiled. There were a lot of tall blondes here. Nikita smiled, as she knew that this was something that would attract her business for the night.

Nikita leaned against the dark and watched the door for the operative who had taken the duty of watching her and reporting back.

Davenport.

Nikita rolled her eyes and started to walk around to the club next to the wall. It wasn't the logical place for Davenport to be looking. He had probably formulated the great Madeline plan of where to find Nikita. They thought that she would be the center attraction, trying to go out of her way to make herself feel better.

It also kind of disappointed Nikita that Madeline thought that Davenport was a good enough tail for Nikita and that she wouldn't notice it. Nikita looked over her shoulder and grinned once more to herself. Davenport was also an attractive male. Something that the other blondes in the club would not miss. It was an added attraction to going into a club.

Nikita saw her mark ahead of her and looked to the side. She stopped at the small bar in the back and grabbed the two beers. She winked to the bartender, just making a contingency plan if needed, but Nikita was sure of what was going to happen. She had gone over all the possible outcomes of this. She didn't see how there was going to be something wrong with this.

Nikita slipped her way into the booth and smiled at the token blonde that was sitting next to Mick. It was effortless to see that the blonde knew that the night was over for her, or at least for her to be with Mick. Nikita smiled as she handed the beer over to Mick and took a sip of hers as she caught a glimpse of where Davenport was in reference to where she was.

"I would love to sit here and drink some beer... but we have to talk first..." Nikita stated sweetly as she smiled at Mick. Mick opened his eyes. He hadn't seen Nikita in ages and here she was, looking fabulous. He also knew when Nikita was talking shop.

"Who is watching you?" Mick questioned as he stood up a bit too quick for Nikita's liking. Nikita turned her head slightly and stood up, taking care to hide Mick, knowing that if Davenport noticed him that he would immediately focus to Mick.

"Over my shoulder... three blondes and the red head trying to reel in his services for the night," Nikita stated as she started to slowly lead Mick in the direction of somewhere dark and far away from Davenport. Somewhere that they could talk for a little bit while Davenport would be sure that Nikita was still in the club.

Nikita turned the corner and pushed open the door. She was so glad that she had been able to easily access the blue prints for this club. Nikita turned and looked down the alley, relieved to see that Davenport was doing this mission solo.

"What's going on popsicle?" Mick questioned and Nikita smiled and touched his shoulder lightly.

"I need your help... Mick..." Nikita stated slowly, knowing that in a way, it didn't sound good when she needed Mick's help.

"Sure... I mean, if you could find me here... I can help you," Mick stated and Nikita smiled. This wasn't one of Mick's clubs and Nikita winked at him.

"Good... but I'm sure that you might enjoy this a bit too much..." Nikita stated slowly. What she was going to ask him was based on the fact that Nikita was sure that deep down inside of Mick, he was a good man.

"Doll face... I'll do anything you need.... I just want to help you... You know that..." Mick stated and Nikita smiled as she looked down the alley. She didn't want to be spotted out here by anyone.

"Tonight... we are going in that club... and we are going to be girlfriend and boyfriend... and I need you to be that for me for a while..." Nikita stated in a serious voice. Mick immediately started to laugh and then stopped as he looked into Nikita's eyes, noticing that she was extremely serious.

"Baby cakes... this can't be right... You are with Michael..." Mick stated and Nikita shook her head. Nikita touched Mick's shoulders and swallowed.

"Just do this tonight, Mick... and I swear... in the next couple days... while we have dinner... or go to your club... I'll explain it all... But I need you to do this... knowing that this is all a charade... that this is a mission to me..." Nikita urged Mick. The man nodded his head up and down. He didn't know what was going on, but he heard the hurt in the woman's voice and he saw it in her eyes.

"Are you in trouble?" Mick questioned as he leaned in and Nikita shook her head back and forth as she opened the door and looked into the club, knowing that they just couldn't reappear for Davenport to notice.

"I'm not in trouble... but this is important Mick... a life is on the line... and my heart..." Nikita warned him and he nodded his head up and down. It was going to be great tonight, but he wasn't sure if this was a good thing to get involved with. If he was going to be Nikita's boyfriend, then he wanted to know where Michael fit into this puzzle. He sure didn't want to get punched by Michael for touching his woman.

"Ok popsicle... you led and I will follow... Whatever you need..." Mick stated as he nodded his head up and down. Nikita smiled as she inched her way back into the club and started to sway.

"Right now... be Mick... make me laugh... dance..." Nikita remarked with a wink and a smile. Mick grinned back and licked his lips. He might never get a chance like this again and he wasn't going to fail Nikita at all.

"Are we heading to the dance floor then? Show off your absolutely stunningly long body to all the other men.. so they can pant?" Mick questioned with his eyes twinkling with delight and humor. Nikita smiled and nodded her head.

She knew the exact instant that Davenport saw them. She had swung around and saw the opened jaw from Davenport. And he was frozen as Nikita continued.

And then Nikita lost herself in the humor and light that was Mick Schtoppel for several hours. He was good company and made her smile without Nikita feeling guilty for smiling. She truly enjoyed the dancing and the grins and comments from Mick. He made her feel half alive again and it was a feeling that Nikita hadn't felt in a long while.

Mick even started to walk Nikita home. Nikita turned around in the sidewalk and saw Davenport standing outside of the club, deciding whether or not to follow Nikita further. Nikita touched Mick's hand and looked around.

"Do you want to get some coffee? We can sit down and talk about what is going on... why I need you to do this?" Nikita offered and Mick smiled and took Nikita's hand. He kissed it and continued to hold it as he led the way.

"I have a feeling this is all about Michael..." Mick commented and Nikita meekly nodded her head up and down.

It was about a whole lot more than just Michael.

*

Michael looked at the apartment door and then looked down the hallway. This was not where he wanted to be going too. There was only one place that his mind and heart wanted to be. It wanted to be next to Nikita, trying to fix what had gone wrong.

But he had orders. Orders that Michael did not want to follow at all, but with a sense of guilt thrown in by Madeline, he followed, knowing that her threats were good enough.

"Be with Sonora tonight and the nights to follow in order to maintain her pregnancy so we can prove that you aren't the father... or I'll allow Nikita to transfer to another Section and take Maralah with her," Madeline's threat was stated. It was clear that Michael didn't want any further distance between himself and Nikita than was already created by Nikita.

Michael slipped the key into the door and pushed it opened. He was ready for anything that was going to happen in this apartment. He knew all about difficult pregnancies, which Michael was sure that this wasn't.

"Michael?" Sonora called out from the couch. Michael turned and looked at her. He dropped the keys on the countertop of the kitchen and dropped the coat off of his shoulders onto a little chair that was nearby. He needed something to drink.

"Michael?" Sonora called out again, although Michael knew that she knew that it was him. Michael opened up the refrigerator and sighed. There was hardly any food in here, which was just making him more furious with Sonora. She knew what was going to make her healthy and what was going to make her sick.

"You have hardly any food," Michael called out and he slammed the door shut to the refrigerator. It was well too late to go shopping tonight. He didn't see the sense of doing so until the morning.

"The doctors want me to rest," Sonora stated as she appeared near the kitchen. Michael ran his hands through his hair before pulling a glass down to get some water. "And it is we who have no food."

"Don't push it Sonora," Michael warned immediately. He wasn't going to let this all get out of hand. He wanted Sonora to know immediately that this wasn't what Michael wanted to be doing. It would only help Sonora face the truth sooner or later that the baby wasn't his and Michael belonged to Nikita.

"Michael... I'm just saying that it is our apartment..." Sonora stated and Michael rolled his eyes. Why did he have a feeling that she was trying to say it was a lot more than just an apartment thing?

"Well... I'm here now, Sonora. Happy?" Michael questioned as he turned the tap on for some water. He watched the glass fill and then placed it on the counter to face Sonora. "So what medical problems are going on? Madeline just said to come here and help out."

Sonora blinked and Michael and then walked back to the couch. It was like she wasn't going to talk anymore about any of this. Michael picked up the class and walked after her, picking a seat across from the couch.

"Is it PIH?" Michael questioned and Sonora wrinkled her eyebrows. It was an indication that it wasn't what Michael just stated. Michael looked to the wall and folded his hands together, trying to calm his nerves.

"Do you have gestational diabetes?" Michael questioned and Sonora shook her head back and forth. Michael nodded his head up and down.

"Anemia?" Michael questioned and Sonora shook her head back and forth again. Michael dropped his head and the lifted his glowing green eyes to stare at Sonora.

"Then what is wrong?" Michael questioned with hissing words. Sonora stared at Michael, taken back by the knowledge that Michael did have about pregnancy and birth. She was also taken back by the tone that Michael was using and the challenging nature of his questions and words.

"I don't know, Michael... One doctor said that it was emotional..." Sonora started to explain until Michael snorted and shook his head.

"It's emotional because you are lying," Michael quipped quickly and Sonora paled. It was clear that Michael felt nothing for her. Nothing like the friendship that they had had before they came to Section One. Before Nikita got mixed in again.

"Another doctor... because I have had a difficult pregnancy... suggested a lot of rest..." Sonora stated and Michael nodded his head.

"And since that one makes you more like an invalid that needs tended too... That's the one you agree with," Michael snapped as he stood up. He walked towards his room, but he heard Sonora crying as he went. He never wanted to be the one that caused tears and Michael stopped short of his door.

"Michael... I don't want to have a baby that isn't wanted... They wouldn't let me get rid of it..." Sonora offered as an explanation. Michael turned and stared at her.

"This doesn't look like you are sleeping, Sonora. Maybe you should try your bed?" Michael suggested, ignoring Sonora's statement. He knew that she knew how to manipulate and he had to be careful how much Michael gave her. He didn't believe that the offer was given because Section One would have wanted the operative a lot more than the baby, even if she stated that it was his.

"I have a hard time sleeping, Michael... I have dreams..." Sonora stated as she stood up. Michael stared at her and shook his head.

"Then don't dream," Michael snapped once more as he turned and entered his room, slamming his door closed. He saw that the lock had been removed once again. Michael pulled the chair over and underneath the handle. He placed a vase on the balancing chair.

Sonora wouldn't get in without noise.

Michael settled down on the bed. He was exhausted, but that didn't mean anything right now. He couldn't sleep. His body was throbbing with the adrenaline from talking with Sonora and knowing the lies that she was telling.

What made this worse was Michael didn't know what was next. Would he be here for the entire pregnancy? That was Madeline's plan, only with Madeline's plan; it naturally would drive the wedge between him and Nikita further and further, splitting them forever apart.

Michael didn't want that. He loved Nikita with all of his heart. He wanted to bring Maralah and Nikita into one house and be that family that all three of them were longing to have. He wanted to make it right. He wanted to make it as close to normal as he could for the two women that meant so much to him.

Sonora wasn't sick. If she were, she would have had something to tell Michael. A name of a symptom or a condition. Her lack of words and saying that the doctors didn't give her details, made Michael more than suspicious. But like the locked computer that Nikita had given him, Sonora's medical files were tied up tightly, with no access to Michael or Birkoff.

Michael stared up at the ceiling, trying to figure out when all of this happened. It felt like months had passed, but in reality, it was only a matter of a week. He had months ahead of him being trapped with Sonora and watching Nikita's missions from afar and waiting for an opening.

Hours had passed, but Michael's eyes had never closed. Michael turned his head and stared at the digital clock, watching the two dots blink the seconds out. Michael shook his head and threw his arm over his eyes, trying to force some sleep.

"HELP!" Sonora's voice echoed through the apartment. Michael sprung, due to the operative instincts and moved to his door. He pulled the gun out of his dresser and pushed the chair out of the way after moving the vase. He looked into the dark living room and looked towards Sonora's room.

"Please... help..." Sonora cried out and Michael scanned the rooms once more. He didn't hear anyone in here and Michael moved towards Sonora's room, seeing the woman crying in her sleep and nothing more happening. But that scream was so loud that Michael didn't quite believe it. Michael shoved the gun into the back of his pants and moved towards the bed to shake Sonora slightly.

Her eyes immediately popped open and she started to ball into Michael's arms. Michael blankly stared ahead; sure that this was all a mirage on Sonora's part. Michael stroked her hair though, hoping to just get through this with Sonora so he could go back to his own room.

"I was so scared... it was so true Michael... she was going to kill me..." Sonora stated and Michael nodded his head even as he rolled his eyes. He knew exactly who the she was that Sonora was speaking about. She was trying to claim that Nikita was going to kill her.

"Sonora... she isn't anywhere near here..." Michael commented and Sonora shook her head back and forth. She was trying so hard to be pitiful, but Michael sighed. He knew what Nikita had stated to him. She had gone on with her life and she believed that Michael had gone on with his. Nikita wouldn't be coming after Sonora.

He thought.

"Please Michael... I have this dream every time that I fall asleep... don't leave me..." Sonora whimpered and Michael looked to the wall, knowing that he was being roped in. He looked around, wondering if there was a camera somewhere to capture this.

"What do you need?" Michael questioned and Sonora started to wipe at her tears and then looked at Michael. She rubbed her hand up and down Michael's arm and weakly smiled at him.

"Don't leave me... hold me?" Sonora whispered and Michael licked his lips. This was absolutely what he didn't want to do. However, he was sure that if he didn't, Sonora would be sick the next day in medical, complaining to Madeline about how badly Michael had treated her.

And he didn't want Nikita leaving Section One.

"Move over," Michael stated as he pulled the gun out and placed it on the nightstand. Michael shifted and then stood up once more.

"Where are you going?" Sonora questioned, frightened that she wasn't going to get what she wanted. Michael turned and looked at Sonora.

"I need a pillow," Michael stated and escaped into the living room. He looked into Sonora's room and saw her head looking somewhere else. He touched the television and felt the heat from the back. It was only recently turned off.

So much for a nightmare.

Michael grabbed the pillow and moved back towards the bedroom. He looked at Sonora from the distance, and she looked innocent. She looked lost. But Michael knew much better. Sonora was lying and playing him for all that Madeline ordered him to do. It was a bad situation and Michael entered the room.

"Are you going to give me somewhere to sleep?" Michael questioned as he looked at the bed. Sonora lifted her head as her stomach growled. Michael stared at Sonora blankly, not mentioning the rumbling stomach, hoping that it would go away.

"Michael..." Sonora whined and Michael felt the pounding anger throb in his head. He didn't have to ask. He knew already. At least with Nikita, it wasn't ever this clear. Nikita was his. Sonora was someone else's.

"What Sonora?" Michael questioned with terse words, hoping to threaten her to stop from asking what she was going to ask. Sonora turned around and looked at Michael.

"I'm hungry," Sonora whined once more. Michael stroked her hair off of her face and smugly smiled.

"Then you should have shopped and ate dinner," Michael slowly stated, taking the edge off of his words as he said them. He surely didn't want Sonora crying about this to Madeline. Michael sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to make a move to go to sleep. Sonora touched his shoulder and Michael knew one thing.

The torture wasn't going to end.

"Michael... I was told to go home and rest... That's what I was ordered to do. I didn't have time to shop... I was tired and having some cramps..." Sonora whispered and Michael leaned his head to the side and licked his lips. All excuses to get Michael to do something that he didn't want.

"Fine," Michael snapped as he stood up. He turned and pointed a finger to Sonora. "But I'm buying what I want... and you will eat whatever I make you..."

"Michael... please... don't buy meat," Sonora stated and Michael narrowed his eyes. He had learned his lesson with Nikita. She was going to eat meat if it killed Michael. The goal here was to avoid problems, not create problems.

"YOU WILL EAT WHAT I GIVE YOU!" Michael hissed as he hurried out of the room, trying to ignore her cries of likes and dislikes.

Michael slammed the door to the apartment and looked to the hallway. He was finally able to take a deep breath without pain in his chest. He looked around and sighed once more, knowing that this was the only place he was going to find some comfort.

He didn't think it could get any worse.

~~

"You know, Nikita... I never saw this side of you..." Mick commented as they walked down the dark street. Nikita's new apartment, the one near Birkoff and Maralah was on a great part of town, in comparison to Mick's strip club. After coffee, it just seemed nature to continue talking, to give Davenport more to look and watch.

"I didn't know things about you, Mick... The other club... the restaurant... It's all stuff that would have been nice to know..." Nikita commented and Mick blushed. As Nikita detailed the horror of what was going on between Michael and herself, and Madeline's opinions and thoughts, Mick discussed things about him that had been hidden until this point in time.

"I needed something that Section One didn't know about... I guess it is going to come out now..." Mick stated as he drifted off and Nikita nodded her head. It all gave her more reasons to be with Mick, which Nikita realized everyone inside of Section One would be looking for.

"Now that we are going to be together..." Nikita stated softly with a serious tone in her voice. She had outlined to Mick the various things they would have to do in the days and weeks to come. She told Mick of the wedding that he was escort to her and gave him her cell phone number, to call her at different times of the day to check in on her, like the loving boyfriend he had become in a matter of minutes.

It was playing with fire. Mick was a good friend, which Nikita was starting to realize very rapidly. He was also a very good friend who had an immense crush on Nikita since he first met her. It could be dangerous, but Nikita felt that there were a lot of levels to Mick Schtoppel that weren't seen by most. That he was naturally a good guy in a bad guys world.

"Ok... enough of that popsicle... Do I get to give you a pet name?" Mick questioned and Nikita started to laugh as she wrapped her body around a telephone poll and then stared at Mick. Mick moved to her with his eyes twinkling. She couldn't remember a time that she had been able to laugh so opening. It was fantastic.

"I thought you already had enough pet names for me?" Nikita questioned and Mick laughed and stepped back a little with a shake of his hips. Yes, both had some to drink, but neither were smashed. They were finding that they had a lot more that they could talk about than what was thought about.

"Can't I get a new one? To resemble our new relationship?" Mick questioned and Nikita narrowed her eyes. She didn't know if she could trust Mick with this one. He could be up to something, but then again, he could be doing something that was very important.

"Only if I agree to it," Nikita warned out, but her wagging finger and the slight smile that crossed her finger made Mick laugh out loud. It was so good to see Nikita smiling. He had known her for years, but couldn't remember seeing her smile this much.

All to get Sonora.

"Mmm... well.. dear is too plan for me..." Mick warned and Nikita rolled her eyes. "And I think something foreign might sound good..."

"Nothing French," Nikita quipped fast and Mick rolled his eyes. He already knew that. He looked around and took Nikita's hands into his as she leaned against that telephone poll.

"Mio amante..." Mick whispered softly and Nikita felt her body melt slightly. She felt her eyes tear up. "It's Italian for..."

"I know... my lover..." Nikita whispered back and Mick nodded his head and then looked around, noting how serious they had gotten. Nikita noticed it also and pulled her hands away from Mick. She looked around and smiled at Mick.

"I can live with that..." Nikita stated as she started to jog away, in an attempt to make it all joyful again. Mick followed behind her and giggled as they past the 24-hour grocery store. Nikita turned and Mick grabbed her hands and smiled once again.

"Mio amante..." Mick whispered and Nikita peaked his nose slightly and continued down the sidewalk with Mick following behind her.

Michael stepped out of the shadows and watched Nikita and Mick run down the street like two teenaged lovers caught out after curfew. Michael saw the cart of groceries in front of him and almost didn't care any longer. They were heading towards Nikita's apartment and Michael shook his head back and forth.

It couldn't get worse than this. Michael was sure that it couldn't get worse.

Nikita with Mick?

It had to be wrong. There could be nothing right about that combination. It had to be wrong.

Michael shoved his hands into his pocket once more before pushing the cart towards his car. He dumped in the first couple bags, noting that he had bought all the foods that he knew that Nikita liked. He wanted to curse himself, but it entirely made sense. Michael turned around to see Davenport ambling down the street. It was clear that he was following Nikita and Mick. Michael swallowed.

Madeline knew about this.

Michael slammed the hood, knowing that Davenport hadn't seen him. He leaned against the car and shook his head back and forth. Mick's words for Nikita were so personal. How could it happen so quickly? Michael didn't know what had happened and when it had happened.

Michael looked in the dark direction that the playful couple had gone off and swallowed. He wanted to yell and scream that the only person Nikita belonged to was him. That Nikita was his lover and no one else's.

But it appeared as if Mick had started to stake a claim.

And Michael wanted to run away and hide.

*

Madeline paced in her office. The intel that she had received was not what she had expected. In fact, it floored Madeline in her chair, causing Davenport to repeat himself twice before she found the ability to lift her hand to stop Davenport.

Nikita and Mick.

Madeline couldn't quite wrap her thoughts around that clearly. She was only thankful to have the report end with Mick giving her a kiss outside the apartment door, around 4 o'clock in the morning. Davenport had staggered in immediately to tell of the night.

Then Madeline found that she couldn't sleep. She had wanted the information so badly, but now that she had it, she didn't want to know about it.

Nikita and Mick.

It didn't seem right at all. Nikita wasn't Mick's type. And Mick was definitely not the type for Nikita. Madeline leaned her head as she continued to pace, wondering what kind of actions has she caused to set in motion.

There was one part of her that thought that maybe this was truly something that Nikita felt. Then the other parts of Madeline started to go to work. It could have been Nikita trying to find anyone to accept her immediately, not able to handle any further set backs.

Madeline turned as her door opened and revealed Michael. With that one look, Madeline knew that Michael knew. She had told Davenport to keep this to himself, and Madeline wanted to yell and scream immediately at the operative that should have known better. However, Michael moved closer to Madeline and stood there as a statue.

"When were you going to tell me?" Michael questioned and Madeline stopped and placed her hands on her hips, surprised that she didn't have the ability to stop moving. She felt as if all of Section One had been placed in spin cycle and she didn't know where the stop button was any longer.

"About what?" Madeline tried to question, playing innocent, although all it was going to do was buy Madeline time to gather her thoughts.

If she could.

"Nikita being with Mick," Michael snapped with a raw voice. Madeline tilted her head to the side, noting the tiredness in his eyes and the pale complexion on his face. Madeline had to wonder what else had happened during the night, sensing immediately that this was not an isolated Nikita problem, that it probably concerned Sonora also.

"How did you find out?" Madeline questioned as she moved towards her desk, knowing that her body language was giving off more clues to Michael about how she felt than what she wanted Michael to know.

Michael followed after Madeline and leaned on the desk.

"I saw her when I went grocery shopping at 2 o'clock in the morning..." Michael stated and Madeline blinked her eyes. Now she knew that this was all tied together somehow.

"I just found out this morning..." Madeline stated and Michael nodded his head as he glared at Madeline. He tapped his hands on the desk as he settled in the chair in front of Madeline.

"Davenport was following her... But he couldn't report to you what Mick calls her, can he?" Michael questioned and Madeline leaned forward. Michael had very important information that she was going to need. She didn't know how he stumbled over it. Maybe it was a twist of fate, but he had it and now Madeline needed it.

"Mio amante..." Michael whispered and Madeline dropped her head. Such tender words from a man that had been written off as a strip club owner. Michael looked up at Madeline with tears in his eyes.

"She isn't his lover... she is mine, Madeline... I want to know what you said to her!" Michael hollered and Madeline leaned back. She could not idly allow Michael to throw around words such as the ones he just had. Michael raised an eyebrow as Madeline folded her hands on the table and stared at him.

"I will not discuss anything that went on between me and Nikita. What I can tell you... is that I think this might be for the best," Madeline stated and Michael's mouth immediately dropped in response to the words. And he tried to speak, but found nothing as he blinked his eyes in rapid succession.

"HE HAS DISEASES NO DOUBT!" Michael hollered and Madeline sighed. Michael was lashing out with whatever he could. It was a sign of how much he cared about Nikita.

"And you may have a child on the way, Michael..." Madeline quipped back sharply as she stood up. "Although I do not have to tell you anything, Michael... They have not been intimate to our knowledge.."

"But those words... it's something more than casual..." Michael stated and Madeline nodded her head. She didn't believe that Nikita had the time for casual any longer. She was looking for something that was going to be lasting over time, because that was what she needed. She needed stability, something that had never happened in her relationship with Michael.

"Yes, Michael... It appears as if this could be a long-term relationship..." Madeline confirmed as she nodded her head. She looked to her desk and settled down. "And I would be welcoming to that."

"What?"

"You heard me, Michael. I think that the relationship between Nikita and Mick could be healthy. At least a relationship where Nikita could be a whole person."

Michael shook his head back and forth. He didn't believe that Madeline was speaking this way. He had been through so much with Nikita, that he felt that this was just another bump in the road. He looked to the wall and closed his eyes. At times it felt as if he had just gotten Nikita to train. At other times, it felt as if he had just saved her from the grips of Operation's evil plan.

It couldn't be over. It would never be over.

"And what about me?" Michael finally questioned as the tears rolled down his face. Madeline looked at Michael and felt her heart break at looking at him. She wished that there were a way to salvage their relationship. They both did truly love each other, but Madeline had run out of options. She couldn't wait months to find out about the baby. Nikita needed immediate help and Madeline did what was necessary.

But Madeline had helped in this situation. She had made sure that Nikita got pregnant with Maralah. She helped in keeping the relationship going and she was the first to rejoice when Michael found out how to save Nikita and bring her back. She was devastated when Nikita had to chose between her daughter and Michael and Madeline had been happy when Michael came back.

But things had gone too far this time. Hope was running out.

"A friendship is the best I see happening," Madeline forlornly informed Michael of her expert opinion. Michael sunk back on the chair and closed his eyes. Madeline looked at Michael and knew that right now, there was nothing that she could do for the man.

~~

Nikita sat at the computer. She had a mission going out in three hours and she wanted to check on the intel one more time. She saw that Sonora had been interested in the intel and she needed to make sure that Sonora hadn't tampered with anything.

Nikita didn't trust Sonora for as far Nikita could cast a medicine ball. Sonora was a danger to Section One and Nikita was going to prove it sooner or later.

And get back Michael.

The mission wasn't complicated. It would take an hour tops once on sight. Nikita leaned to the side and closed her eyes. She had a pounding headache that didn't seem to be able to be controlled. She turned back to the screen and swallowed.

What if the baby Sonora was going to have, was Michael's? What would happen to Nikita's plan then?

Nikita started to sweat at the thought. It wouldn't be worth all she was going through right now if the baby was Michael's. She would never be able to live that down. NEVER.

What if Sonora found a way to kill her before Nikita won?

Nikita looked at the screen and saw Sonora's name everywhere on the intel. For a woman who was spending most of her days in medical due to odd pregnancy problems, she sure had found her way to Nikita's missions quickly.

And why was she on intel? She was supposed to be training in other areas. Nikita didn't believe that she had been transferred anywhere else yet.

Nikita nervously pushed her hair back as she stared at the screen. She didn't note her racing pulse and the throbbing that continued in her mind. She just noticed the name Sonora over and over again. And she swore that she could hear it being chanted behind her. Over and over again.

What if she lost Michael? What if Sonora did take him away?

Walter walked into the room; he was searching out Nikita, now having heard the rumors of her involvement with Mick Schtoppel. The old man wanted answers and soon. He looked around and noticed Nikita panting at her computer and holding her head.

"Sugar?" Walter questioned as he moved towards her. Nikita looked towards Walter and grabbed her chest as the world started to spin on her. She looked at Walter with her parched mouth and Walter looked around.

"What's wrong?" Walter questioned and Nikita stared at the screen. Seeing one thing.

Sonora.

Sonora with a new baby. Sonora with Michael. Sonora with Walter walking her down the aisle to Michael. Sonora with Birkoff and Alsena at a dinner.

Sonora getting a mother's day card from Maralah.

"SUGAR!" Walter hollered as Nikita's body started to sway out of the chair that she was sitting in. Walter grabbed her and didn't know what was going on as Nikita continued to pant away.

But Walter's voice had brought some attention. He looked around and saw Michael enter the room. Walter didn't know if he was stopping because he heard his shout or if Michael was looking for Nikita, but it was clear that Michael immediately cared about what was going on.

"It's a panic attack. Get Madeline..." Michael ordered out as he pulled the chair that Nikita had been in and pulled it back so Walter could place her there. Michael looked at Walter as he knelt in front of Nikita, making sure if she did pass out that she wouldn't fall and hurt herself.

"Nikita... breath..." Michael whispered as he held her shoulders and helped Nikita place her head down between her knees. Michael pressed his lips together as he started to hear the tears rolling down her face.

The pain was so great in Nikita's chest and head. The images were worse. She saw herself living life alone. He daughter turning away from her and wanting Sonora. Nikita saw herself sick and alone. She never wanted to be alone and that was going to happen to her.

She wasn't going to win. She was going to be alone.

"Nikita... you need to take deep breaths... slowly..." Michael whispered to Nikita as he rubbed her back slightly and motioned for Walter to do exactly what he had shown Walter to do. Walter pressed his hand to her back and rubbed, hoping that Michael was right about what was going on.

"She has a mission... Is that scaring her?" Walter questioned and Michael shook his head. He didn't know what was going on, but he wasn't going to even guess. With Nikita, only Nikita knew what was going on.

"Nikita... breath..." Michael whispered and this time, Nikita heard him. She brought her head up and quickly realized that something had happened.

"Let me up..." Nikita stated as she attempted to lick her lips. Michael raised his eyebrows and pushed at her shoulders, slowly pushing Nikita to an erect sitting position. Michael looked at her as she continued to lick her lips.

"I'll get you some water," Michael stated, knowing that Nikita wasn't going to be opening up to him about what was going on.

"What happened?" Nikita questioned Walter as she shook her head. She felt out of whack. She never allowed herself to get so far off of track and into her thoughts. Especially not before a mission.

"You had a panic attack, sugar... Sure had me scared..." Walter stated as Michael arrived back, carrying the small paper cup of water. Nikita looked and Michael and took the cup from him. She sipped it and handed it back empty to Michael.

"Thank you..." Nikita stated and closed her eyes carefully, wondering how she was going to get the attention off of herself right now.

Thankfully, her cell phone, that was sitting next to the computer started to ring. She raised her eyebrows and motioned for Walter or Michael to hand it to her. Walter reached over and passed it over to Nikita. She opened it and pressed it to her ear.

"Hello?" Nikita questioned as she noticed that her body was still shaky from what happened to her.

"Moi amante... Can I see you tonight?" Mick questioned and Nikita smiled and giggled slightly. Mick used to have bad timing, but this was very good timing. Nikita smiled and blushed at the company that was watching her. She wasn't sure if they knew yet, but guess that it was time for them to know.

"I'm sorry, Mick... I'm going to have to cancel tonight... I have a mission..." Nikita revealed. Nikita felt Michael immediately turn away from her, but continued to stand there. Nikita looked to Walter briefly and noted that he had looked away with his eyes, but still stood nearby.

"Be careful, popsicle," Mick stated and Nikita smiled and swallowed. She felt good when talking to Mick, even with all the bad things that were going on around her.

"I will, Mick... I'll call you tomorrow," Nikita stated and closed the phone. She handed it back to Walter as Madeline arrived. She looked from Michael to Nikita and then to Walter, trying to assess what was going on without asking many questioned.

"Nikita?" Madeline questioned and Nikita turned. She tried to stand up, but proved to have trouble getting up. Walter held her and Madeline motioned for Nikita to sit back down.

"Why did you have a panic attack?" Madeline questioned and Nikita smugly smiled at Madeline.

"Stress."

"Stress? Is that all?" Madeline questioned and Nikita shrugged her shoulders.

"You tell me. You are the expert," Nikita countered quickly. It comforted Madeline to see that Nikita was rebounding from this episode quickly. It was a positive sign and Madeline looked from Walter to Michael once more.

"Although it is traditional to give a few days off after a panic attack... I need you on this mission, Nikita... But I want Michael to be coupled with you... just in case," Madeline stated and both operatives rolled their eyes. The perfect team that knew how to work together no longer wanted to be teamed, rather wanting to tempt fate to be paired with others that they didn't know and lose their life. It said a lot.

"As long as Michael realizes that I am capable of running this mission and I run my missions differently from his, I don't mind," Nikita counteract Madeline's statement, not wanting Michael to think that he had control over Nikita.

"I'm sure that Michael does. Now I suggest that you get ready," Madeline stated as she looked to Walter. It was a look that told Walter to leave. Madeline glance once more at Michael and Nikita, so close in proximity, but so far away on all other matters.

Michael looked towards the hallway, making sure that they were clear before talking to Nikita. He looked to her and saw that she still looked dazed and confused from the panic attack. It was not uncommon for operatives to have these from time to time. Michael had had a lot of them in his time. Often about thoughts of losing Nikita. He had to wonder what had triggered Nikita's own panic attack. He was sure that it couldn't have been nice.

"You look tired. Maybe you should catch a small nap?" Michael offered as he touched Nikita's shoulder. Nikita immediately moved away from Michael's touch. She placed her hands back on the keyboard and took a deep breath as her eyes crossed the name Sonora once more.

"I don't need your help, Michael," Nikita stated and Michael sighed. She did need his help earlier and he sighed. He didn't want to admit it, but Madeline was starting to sound very right. He was almost sure that there was no hope left here.

"I'll see you later then..." Michael whispered and Nikita didn't even mutter anything as he turned and left. He looked after Nikita and swallowed.

Friendship wasn't enough for Michael. There would always be love for Nikita. Even if she didn't return it.

*

Nikita slipped into the dark hallway. She had heard all of Michael's complaints. She had heard all of Michael's worries. She went in with her team on these missions. This wasn't going to change due to a panic attack. She wouldn't allow it. Her team had finally started to get used to the way that Nikita was running missions now and she would not deviate from it.

"If you want to monitor from the van, so be it," Nikita hissed as she slammed the van door on Michael. She knew Madeline's orders and she had to wonder what Michael would chose to do. She didn't hear him exit the van and she heard the buzzing in her ear.

"Nikita... I wanted notification if something is wrong," Michael stated and Nikita rolled her eyes. She looked around at her team. They were staring at her and smiled. Michael didn't know, but Walter had gladly given Nikita's entire team field communication units that would hide them from Michael for a while. Until Nikita got the mission running as it should be. Nikita lifted three fingers and had the signal passed down the line with the operatives before turning her unit over.

"Do I have everyone?" Nikita questioned as she crotched down into the bushes outside the building that they were heading into. There was a blank area that Birkoff wouldn't be able to scan or receive information from. It was to be avoided, but Nikita was heading there without telling anyone.

Birkoff wouldn't know that she was there, but she would be able to send out and receive information herself.

And this horse and pony show was all about information.

"Intel is incomplete on who is inside this building... belief is that it is a rogue group, but we do not know if it is a rogue group that is new or formed off of other terrorist groups such as Red Cell. Find computers and download information," Nikita ordered as she looked around and stood up. There weren't guards walking the perimeter and Nikita advanced slowly, keeping one eye on the horizon and one eye on the ground.

"Birkoff?" Nikita questioned as she hooked into the other line.

"What is it, Nikita? Do you need help?" Michael immediately replied. She could hear the operatives sighing at Michael's readiness to spring to action. Not only did they hate it, they knew that Nikita hated it.

"Birkoff... what kind of security?" Nikita questioned as she raised her hands, stopping everyone. She was sure that she saw the small line of a trip wire. Nikita pulled out the small gas canister and rolled it closer to the wire before imploding it. She saw the glowing wire and looked to her team.

"I don't see any," Birkoff stated and Nikita rolled her eyes and flipped back to the other channels.

With the rogue group, Nikita was sure that this wire, fifty feet out from the building, would be their only line of defenses before they went into the house.

"Everyone... we have a wire... ten feet in front of you... take it slow and step over... Then precede with caution," Nikita ordered with a slight smile. As soon as they crossed the wire, Birkoff would notice it.

"NIKITA! STOP! STOP! STOP!" Birkoff hollered as the line appeared on his computer screen. Birkoff closed his eyes, sure that he was going to hear an explosion, when no came he looked up at Michael and licked his lips. "They straddled a line..."

"How? There was no communications?" Michael questioned and then he frowned. He knew at that moment he had been had. He walked over to the additional phone in the van to call Walter. He had had it with the manipulations of Nikita; he didn't need Walter interfering also.

"Spread out... take the doors... enter in pairs..." Nikita ordered as she waved her hands around to indicate the locations of entry. Nikita waited and the operatives then noticed that Nikita was not alone.

"Nikita... What is going on?" Michael interrupted on the line that she had hoped would stay protected.

"How mature of you, Michael. Calling Walter immediately. You must not trust me. We are just about to enter," Nikita stated and Michael turned to look over Birkoff's shoulders at the configuration on the computer.

"Who is partnered with you?" Michael questioned and Nikita rolled her eyes.

"No one. I can do this solo," Nikita commented as she motioned for the teams to move. She heard Michael grunt a complaint, but she couldn't worry about it. She needed to get to the dead area space and get to work, before Michael came to find her.

"Work and work fast," Nikita stated as she turned and hightailed it out of everyone's view. For the operatives, they were sure that Nikita had a secondary mission. For Michael, he didn't know better right now.

~~

Michael paced in the van as the operatives continued to report back, but there was no confirmation from Nikita that she was hearing them. Michael was trying to control the situation, but he wanted to know why he hadn't heard Nikita's voice. So far, it had been a clear mission. The building appeared to be empty at the moment.

"This intel is really good... appears to be a group that combined... former Red Cell and Death Slippers...." Birkoff reported and Michael nodded his head. He had expected to hear about Red Cell. They were common and had a lot of people that splintered away from them all the time. Death Slippers was a very tight-knit group. It was interesting to hear that they had some deserters that had made it out alive. They must have had power and knowledge.

"Nikita... report..." Michael ordered and he listened to the empty lines. He looked at Birkoff and stared at Birkoff as he continued to bring in the information from the operatives. It was clear that Birkoff wasn't exactly listening to Michael's orders and words.

"Find me, Nikita's position. She isn't responding," Michael stated and Birkoff rolled his eyes. This was Nikita. She would often just not communicate, because it just wasn't needed. She wasn't a recruit any longer. She was a damn good level five operatives just like Michael. Michael just couldn't seem to get that feeling straightened out yet.

"This room..." Birkoff pointed to the screen and then licked his lips. Two more feet and Nikita would be in the zone that he wouldn't know what was going on with her.

"Nikita... You are close to the black out... go to another room," Birkoff stated calmly as his fingers still hovered over the computer keyboard. He blinked and then was brought back to the dot that was Nikita.

It disappeared.

"Damn it!" Birkoff hissed and Michael turned and glared at Birkoff. He sighed and knew that he better tell Michael the news. "I know where she was... and I can tell you where I think she is..."

"Where?"

"She is in the blackout, Michael... I can't get any information from that strip of the building," Birkoff confirmed and Michael shook his head back and forth. This mission was supposed to be closing down quickly. The operatives were going to be heading back to the van.

Where was Nikita?

"How long has she been there?" Michael questioned and Birkoff looked down to his computer screen.

"Twenty seconds," Birkoff replied and Michael turned and cursed silently. It was clear that Michael worried about Nikita. Birkoff licked his lips and looked to Michael. "I thought you were supposed to shadow her.... because of the panic attack?"

"Don't remind me," Michael hissed as he twirled in the van, picking up the assault weapon and pulling down the mask over his face. It was clear that Michael was going in after Nikita, although by now, only thirty seconds had lapsed.

"Remember the wire..." Birkoff warned as the door opened. Michael stepped out and looked into the darkness. He saw as the operatives were returning. He motioned for the two closest to him to follow him. He didn't know what he would find, but he was going to find Nikita.

He stepped over the wire and made the dash to the building. So far it was a clean mission, but Michael was going to take any chances.

~~

"Nikita... report in," Birkoff stated in a tired voice. Nikita blinked and looked to the wall. She looked to the computer devise in her hand and swore slightly. It had to hurry up so she could get the information that she needed.

From this remote location, Nikita was able to get what she was needed, without worrying about who was going to follow her around Section One as she gathered it. And since it appeared that Davenport was following her, Nikita could risk that Davenport would continue to follow her. She couldn't risk it, but this was cutting it close, due to that damn panic attack that she had had.

"Nikita... I'm in the building... Can you hear me?" Michael's voice made it through the unit. Nikita leaned her head back, trying to figure out how much time was left on the information that she was running and until she put the rest of her plan into action.

She couldn't respond to Michael. He wouldn't be able to hear her either way. Nikita leaned over to the side and started to type on the computer in front of her. The download would start to Birkoff's computer. What she had found was interesting to say the least.

The benefits of going off profile. Of course the information that Nikita was downloading for herself was nothing that concerned Section One. It was just between Nikita and another person. Nikita looked to the side, trying to see the changes in light to guess where Michael was.

"Michael... she has not emerged from the black out zone," Birkoff reported and Nikita rolled her eyes. Michael was going to follow her immediate path right to her. She pulled the devise once more and saw it blink with the ending. She slipped it into her canteen and smiled softly. No one, not even Michael would look there for anything abnormal.

Nikita leaned against the wall and looked at the computer in front of her. Birkoff should notice the information soon. It wasn't good and it bothered Nikita slightly.

Nikita pulled out a spray and squirted some into her mouth. She closed her eyes and knew what was to come.

A panic attack.

"Michael... she is downloading a computer.... I don't remember these men..." Birkoff stated and Michael frowned as he moved up the stairs. He looked up and down the hallway. He heard the men coming up behind him and then closed off all of his other senses. He needed to narrow down where Nikita was. It was not long before Michael started to hear the panting.

"Birkoff... how far from the black out am I?" Michael questioned as he moved down the hallway, following the sound of Nikita.

"No... no..." Nikita's voice panted out. The operatives readied their guns while Michael almost believed that it wasn't necessary. Michael looked up, knowing that Madeline was going to grill him alive for this one. He should have never allowed Nikita to go out into the field by herself.

"Two feet... you are where she was when she disappeared," Birkoff answered back and Michael nodded his head. It was a calculate risk and Michael handed over his gun to the operative and moved slightly closer to the wall.

"Nikita?" Michael called out. He pressed his ear to the wall. He heard the panting breathing continue, but very close. Michael moved immediately around the wall and found Nikita leaning against the wall, panting heavily and with her head down.

"Get her gear off of her..." Michael ordered as he leaned Nikita up and started to strip the weapons from her. She needed unobstructed breathing and the heavy gear would never help. Michael looked to the mission clothing and knew that he couldn't do anything more without being the van.

"Nikita... what triggered this?" Michael questioned and Nikita opened her eyes and swallowed. She would have felt guilty if the drugs hadn't taken over her mind totally. She pointed to the screen and then dropped her head. Michael looked to the computer and then pulled out the syringe which Madeline had prepared incase of this happening.

"Only half..." Nikita gasped out and Michael shook his head. He had orders for all of it. He had already broke one of Madeline's strict orders. Michael was unsure if he could break another one. He stroked Nikita's hair back and saw her eyes pleading with him. Michael nodded his head and pressed only half of the dose before throwing it down to the floor and shattering it.

"Birkoff... he needs to know..." Nikita whispered as she pointed to the computer once more. Michael shook his head, but Nikita started to move against Michael's hands. She tumbled towards the computer and pressed a few buttons.

"He is supposed to be dead," Nikita stated and Michael looked at Nikita before looking at the screen. He swallowed and dropped his head as he grabbed Nikita underneath of her arms. The drugs, even at half of the dosage had worked quickly, knocking Nikita out.

"Get her other arm..." Michael ordered as he looked at the operative. He moved immediately and helped Michael. He looked and got into the hallway.

"Birkoff? Can you hear me?" Michael called out as they started back down the stairs, heading back out.

"Yeah, Michael... You got Nikita," Birkoff stated and Michael looked out into the hallway that they still had to walk.

"Bring the van up to the wire.... and tell Madeline that Nikita had a panic attack," Michael stated and he heard Birkoff hiss on the other side. Everyone was going to wonder what had triggered it. Michael looked to Nikita and he continued down the hallway, swearing at himself forever allowing Nikita to do this mission. She shouldn't have done it. He should have gone with her.

"Do you know about this info she downloaded to me?" Birkoff questioned and Michael blinked his eyes.

"A good reason for a panic attack," Michael quipped as he looked at the door. There would be no talking until they got back into the van.

~~

"Do you know how upset Madeline is?" Birkoff questioned as he looked over at Michael as he knelt in front of Nikita. He looked to Nikita and pressed his lips together. He wished that he could say something to Birkoff, but he couldn't help it. Madeline had a right to be upset at him.

"Birkoff... the intel that Nikita downloaded..." Michael stated as he started to pull the leather shirt off of Nikita and looked at the heavy body armor that was on. She was still panting, although she was given the strong muscle relaxer and strong sedation.

"I don't know what any of it is... It looks like personnel files..." Birkoff stated and Michael nodded his head as he ran his fingers to the side of Nikita's body, glad to see that she had worn a sports bra. In the past, sometimes Nikita would wear nothing underneath her armor. Michael pulled the Velcro off and pulled the armor away from Nikita, freeing her to breath easier.

Nikita turned her head to the side and blinked her eyes. Michael stroked her hair. He couldn't stop himself even if Nikita hated him and wanted to kill him. He would still care for Nikita as he was here. He stroked her once more as her eyes opened fully.

"The men... were old Section Operatives, Birkoff...." Nikita's voice echoed in the van. Birkoff turned to stare at Nikita. He knew that Nikita was strong, but knew better than to think that Nikita could beat the drugs. Michael had only given her half.

"Michael..." Birkoff warned and Michael stared at him blankly. Michael dropped his head and looked at Nikita and gave her a sheet to cover herself up with before moving away. Knowing Nikita's wishes.

"It broke, Birkoff," Michael calmly stated and Birkoff narrowed his eyes. Nikita looked at the two of them and swallowed, glad that the plan had come together.

"The men, Birkoff... were Operations' men... they were supposed to be killed..." Nikita stated as she fought against the drugs. Birkoff blinked his eyes, finding all of this hard to believe. Nikita turned her head away from Birkoff.

Now he understood this and understood why Nikita had the second panic attack. Nikita and all of Section One believed that these men were killed. For them to show up now was bad. Nikita allowed her sobs be heard and felt Michael move to her.

"What can I do for you, Nikita?" Michael questioned and Nikita turned and looked at Michael. She dropped her head as her bottom lip quivered.

She was going to use Michael.

She had no other options.

"I want to see Mick... he makes me feel better.. He can help me..." Nikita stated and she looked at Michael. She could see Michael's heart shattering all over again. Nikita blinked her eyes and licked her lips once more.

"Please... Michael... if you ever cared for me... You would take me to Mick.. and not Madeline..." Nikita begged, knowing that she had Michael where she needed him. Michael nodded his head and turned to Birkoff.

"Michael... Madeline will have your head!" Birkoff shouted and Michael looked to Nikita and then back to Birkoff. He didn't care about what Madeline wanted.

"Get Mick on the line, Birkoff. It is what she wants," Michael dryly stated and Birkoff frowned.

He didn't like what was going on. It all felt funny to him.

Nikita asking for Mick? Something was wrong there. And Birkoff was sure that Madeline would think the same thing.

*

Calantha looked at the doorway of the apartment. She didn't see anything wrong with it that would cause Michael and Madeline both to declare that they weren't coming here. She wanted the history of what was going on in this apartment, but she wasn't sure if was important at the time.

It was a long story that her son started to tell her. Apparently, this was Nikita's apartment when she first became an operative. She was sure that it was a good apartment. Section One didn't want their operatives living in bad environments and bad locations. It was believed that such temptation would cause more operatives to try to run away.

Then Nikita left this apartment for reasons that Calantha didn't quite get right. She was sure that it had something to do with Nikita's mission with Birkoff and then being moved into an apartment with Birkoff and Maralah. Then, when Nikita got hurt by Operations, Michael had taken the apartment over.

In fact, according to Birkoff, the apartment had been changed after Nikita left, was restored to the way it used to be by Michael, in the need to rekindle the feelings and memories he had of Nikita. It was a nice thing for Michael to do, but Birkoff mentioned that it flipped him out. It was a shrine to a woman that everyone was sure that wouldn't speak again.