Madeline pressed her dry lips together as she continued to sit at her computer. Everything about Madeline was dry and sore. Her eyes moved from side to side, watching the images, hurting with each blink that she took. There were circles forming underneath her eyes as her fingers moved over the keyboard, changing angles, hoping to shed light on the situation.

Nikita was in her room inside of Psych Ops. It was padded white with a bed in the middle. It was eerily similar to room that Nikita had been placed once inside of Section from the prison. She was wearing clothes that were exact duplicates of what she was placed in back then. She had a white tank top that was hanging at her body. Additionally, she had the white pants that appeared like they were going to be falling down off of her hips.

Nikita's hair was all over the place. Her eyes were bright red and her entire face was swollen. Her body movements were repetitive and showed nervousness and fear.

She hadn't slept since she had been placed inside the room. For Nikita, it had been four days. For Madeline, it also had been four days, trying to sort out what was going on and what was going to happen next. She was trying to sort out how to help Nikita. Now, four days without sleep, Madeline was starting to realize how it was difficult for Nikita to think straight. Fatigue does strange things to the mind.

The rules of Psych Ops had been set years ago, before Madeline's time and tenure. They were to be followed. They had always been followed, no matter what new techniques came up to the operatives running Psych Ops. The operatives that signed themselves into Psych Ops were most often held there until cancellation. They were the ones with the biggest problems.

Madeline feared that the most. She couldn't allow that to happen to Nikita, but now, as she watched the monitor, she realized that it was already happening.

"You wanted me?" Walter questioned firmly from the doorway. He looked like he had been through hell also. It was probably a good way to feel. Everyone inside of Section One was feeling like that. The one bright light had been knocked down and was now inside of Psych Ops. Nikita had always been stable of her mind, with some minor problems from her childhood, but slowly, she had been deteriorating unlike anything that Madeline had seen. She cursed herself for not seeing it sooner.

"Please don't hate me, Walter. My hands are tied," Madeline stated as she carefully looked at Walter. He shrugged his shoulders and moved closer to Madeline. He looked from side to side.

"She doesn't need to be alone for ten days... she needs someone to be there," Walter informed Madeline of his own opinion. Madeline sighed.

"I have rules and regulations that need to be followed," Madeline stated as she looked at the screen once more. Nikita was holding her head in her hands and tapping her fingers seven times in a row, then pausing and then repeating the seven tapes. Madeline looked to Walter and saw him over her shoulder, watching.

"Nikita has never fit into the rules and regulations of Section One When is that going to be learned?" Walter hissed and Madeline dropped her head. She lifted her own hands away from the keyboard to rub at her neck and back. She wanted to sleep, but in ways felt that it wasn't fair for her to sleep if Nikita wasn't.

"She hasn't slept during her stay thus far. I wonder when the last time that she slept was," Madeline stated. Walter pulled a chair closer to the desk and looked at Madeline. He touched her shoulder, rubbing it slightly.

"If she isn't sleeping, then give her something to make her sleep," Walter offered sternly. He was personally upset with the lack of personal attention that this was getting. He felt that Madeline should have been in to talk to Nikita already.

"I did give the drugs that are listed in the rules. It didn't help Nikita sleep. In fact, for the forty minutes that she was asleep for, she probably was having violent dreams," Madeline revealed as she rubbed her chin briefly. She was still having a difficulty trying to figure out what was going to happen here.

"Why are we so interested in the rules?" Walter questioned and Madeline sighed.

"Because they are here for a purpose. It is the standard," Madeline informed Walter. She looked to Walter. She couldn't even believe the words any longer. Nikita wasn't sleeping. What was stopping her from sleeping was a problem. The key now was not to know what was stopping her from sleeping. The key was to get Nikita to sleep so that she could have rest to tell and explain what was keeping the sleep at bay.

"Those standards you are talking about don't work. Only 1.9% of the operatives that go into Psych Ops ever come out. Do you want that to happen to Nikita?" Walter hissed and Madeline blinked her eyes. She dropped her head and started to cry.

"I don't know what to do, Walter... She needs something..." Madeline whispered and Walter reached out and pulled Madeline closer to his body. It was clear that Madeline was starting to feel the effects of not sleeping also.

"She needs sleep... We both know that," Walter stated and Madeline pulled away from Walter, shaking her head about. Nikita was an endless puzzle with no picture to refer back too. Madeline was about to give up, and try to salvage what was left.

"You don't have any other options, Madeline... Nikita has to survive this... Because I can't go on without her.... We both know that Michael won't... and I don't think that you could..." Walter organized his thoughts clearly. Madeline blinked her eyes.

Walter was right.

"I'm am accountable to Oversight, Walter. There are rules," Madeline urged out again as she slammed her hands on the desk. The frustration was building, as Madeline knew that the rules weren't going to help here. They were going to fail Nikita. Group sessions after ten days without any sleep would only make Nikita more of a paranoid and insane person than anything else.

"Then screw the rules, Madeline! We don't always listen to Oversight!" Walter shouted as he looked at Madeline. He didn't think that it was that difficult.

"I can only do so much.... I haven't even told Oversight of Nikita checking into Psych Ops, because I'm scared of what they will say something," Madeline revealed and Walter picked up Madeline's hands and kissed each one.

"Then do something," Walter simply stated as he looked to Madeline's eyes. She looked to her hands and then pulled them away. She went back to the computer.

Walter wasn't sure that Madeline was going to listen to him.

"I know what I want to do... But I'm afraid that it isn't going to work," Madeline admitted as she turned to look at Walter. Walter tucked his head down. He was also afraid of what was going to happen to Nikita if something didn't work.

But Walter also believed that as long as they were trying to help Nikita, that they would find the something that would bring her back.

"You got to try something," Walter enforced and Madeline nodded her head. She reached out and pulled Walter closer to her.

"Nikita trusts you, right?" Madeline questioned and Walter raised an eyebrow. He wasn't quite sure where Madeline was going with this. Walter had his own opinions on how to help Nikita. It meant getting Michael to take her far far away and to spend sometime alone.

"She trusts me... yeah... Not as much as Michael, though," Walter stated, trying to push Madeline in the right direction.

"I have to try this first. It will raise fewer suspicions.... Although it will be noticed," Madeline commented and Walter sighed. Right now, Walter was sure that Madeline was concerned about Nikita, but she was too concerned about the rules. It was going to take some time for Madeline to realize that this shouldn't be at all about the rules.

"Madeline... We have to try something. Are you hearing me?" Walter questioned as he tilted his head off to the side, trying to see if Madeline was listening to him. Madeline nodded her head as she held onto her chin, trying to think of what to say next.

Madeline took one slight breath, trying to steady her nerves.

"Yes, Walter. And I need you to go to her," Madeline stated as she dropped her hand to Walter's. She looked at Walter's eyes as he started to tear up. He swallowed hard and blinked several times.

"Madeline... are you sure? Shouldn't Michael be called in to do this?" Walter questioned as he showed his real opinion about what was going on. He rubbed his hands together and Madeline stopped them.

"There are other issues right now, Walter. Sonora is about to have the baby... although the DNA has cleared Michael, there might be some emotional baggage for him right now," Madeline stated and Walter shook his head. He could swear that Madeline hadn't heard anything that had happened between Michael and Nikita just days ago.

When Michael said that he wanted Nikita. That he only wanted Nikita.

"Madeline... I am a good friend..." Walter started to point out. Madeline shook her head and placed her hands on Walter's cheeks and squeezed slightly.

"You are a great friend. And that is what Nikita needs now," Madeline informed Walter of her opinion on how this should be handled. Walter sighed, knowing that it was good that Madeline was willing to try to do something now than sit back and watch the rules play out.

"How much control do I have about what goes on? What rules do I have to follow?" Walter questioned and Madeline swallowed. This could be a fight to the bitter end. Walter definitely had some strong opinions on what Nikita should be doing and receiving at this time. Most of those probably went directly against what was standard for Psych Ops.

"Tell me what you want first," Madeline countered and Walter sighed. He knew that it was going to have to run down what he needed and quickly. His mind balked at the idea of being stuck in that terrible white padded room. It couldn't have been helping Nikita either.

"I want the lights dimmed. I want a real bed with a real mattress placed in there. I want Nikita to eat. And I want to have the option of giving her additional medication if she wants it," Walter issued out starting where he felt was logical.

"I can dim the lights and have the bed removed. The dietary restrictions will have to continue. No sugars or caffeine," Madeline stated and Walter sighed and looked at Madeline. He pushed his hands to the computer and looked at the food that was placed in the corner. It was clear that Nikita wasn't eating either.

"I'll come up with something. You know how picky of an eater Nikita is to start with," Walter stated and Madeline nodded her head. She looked around and pulled the computer back to herself. She didn't like the way that Walter just started to take things over.

"You will. If you smuggle anything in, Nikita will think highly of you. It gains her trust," Madeline informed Walter firmly. Walter nodded his head. He understood the restrictions on the diet, but knew that right now, along with sleep, Nikita needed to sleep.

"As for the medicine... that could be difficult," Madeline continued. Walter looked around and shook his head.

"We have medicines that can work. We use them all the time outside of Psych Ops," Walter demanded as he pulled away from Madeline. He needed to have this option. Madeline should know Nikita by now. For Nikita to go and sign herself inside of Psych Ops was something that screamed that she just wanted help. Sticking her in a room for ten days wasn't giving her that help.

Yes, Madeline was willing to break that rule. She was willing to let Walter in to see her. If anything, that meant that Walter was going to try to hold onto Nikita while she attempted to sleep. Walter needed a back up incase that didn't work. He needed to know where Madeline was going to draw the line. Walter was hoping that Madeline wasn't going to draw any line.

"I know we do... I know that Psych Ops is behind the curve on these methods... It is hard to decide," Madeline conferred. Walter frowned. It almost sounded like Madeline was backing out on this, which would mean the end of Nikita, which would be the end of Michael.

"We have a saying here in Section One, Madeline. By any means possible. We have to do the possible. Then we do the impossible. And in the end, we do the unthinkable. That is what Nikita deserves!" Walter hissed as he slammed his hands onto the desk. Madeline looked at Walter and nodded her head.

"You are right..." Madeline admitted as she typed at the computer. She looked at the screen and looked up at Walter. "I wish I hadn't missed this."

"Nikita wasn't going to let you see it, Madeline. She wanted revenge... an in the process of getting that revenge, she lost herself and got hurt and didn't know how to get out," Walter reminded Madeline. She nodded her head and pulled her hands away from the keyboard.

"The arrangements are done. But I need you to try to work with Nikita before any drugs. Please don't fight me on that," Madeline stated and Walter nodded his head. He wasn't going to even give Nikita drugs if she didn't want them. In the end, Nikita wanted to get better to. Walter believed that Nikita did want to get better

"Walter..." Madeline called out as she looked at Walter. Walter blinked his eyes and waited. "Good luck."

*

Life was a nightmare for Nikita. There was no other way to describe it. It was so easy to see it written across her face. She looked like she was standing next to death, and death looked better.

Torment.

Those were her dreams and images. Swirled together, mixing with reality and imagination.

Distress.

It was written in each crease on Nikita's body. Her eyes were sunken and wrinkled about with tired lines. Her hair was gathering volume through the massive amounts of knots by her attempts at trying to sooth it down.

A wreck.

Tears always running. Scratching at the walls, trying to get out, trying to stay in. Nikita didn't know if she was coming or going. She didn't know which memory would swell over her bows and sink her back down. She didn't know what storm was brewing and what images would mutate and wake her from her pitiful slumber after a mere five minutes.

This was what Walter was walking into.

And it was so much more.

In essence, Psych Ops was to help the operatives. That was the theme that helped them be created, but from the very beginning, it assumed that these were sick operatives, desperate, and not fully worthy of help. They were considered often worse than the hostiles in holding. It spoke much to how the enemies were often treated better than the operatives who helped Section One run on a daily basis.

Psych Ops had very strict rules. They were never broken. They had never even been bent. No matter who was in trouble. There were troubling statistics, things that made all the operatives cringe when thinking about Psych Ops. Often there was suicide and mutilation of the operatives. Often, these acts, viewed on video monitors twenty-four hours a day, were never stopped.

The room that Nikita was placed in had a history. All the rooms had a history. Walter knew that the room that Nikita was in was the most secure. The one with the most cameras and equipment. It also had a petrifying history to it, as it was the first room ever used in Psych Ops. It also had the most suicides and never had an operative come out of that room to return to full status. There had been rumors of the operatives placed in that room being used to secret medical experiments or being killed for use of the organs for operatives that were 'well of mind'.

Each room was padded. The doors were quadruple locked. For Nikita, being the skilled operative that she is, extra security was taken. An extra guard was placed in front of her room along with the one at the end of the hallway. They felt that it was best to have Nikita in isolation for the duration.

But Walter stood next to the guard looking down to Nikita's room. He represented the breaking of the rules that no one in Psych Ops could understand, but one that was ordered from the powers above. There was whispering behind Walter. He knew that it was due to the new bed, with pillows that had been pushed into Nikita's room two hours ago.

It didn't help her go to sleep.

And she didn't try to kill herself.

Nikita's actions spoke to Walter. She wanted to survive this. She wanted to win, but that she needed help. Walter knew that with his heart, and although he was breaking the rules of Psych Ops, he knew that he was in the right.

"You can open the door. And leave," Walter stated as he reached the guard in front of Nikita's door. The guard looked behind Walter. Walter was sure that the guard was hoping that the word would come down that this was all a mistake. The operatives had been whispering that if Madeline hadn't physically come down here to make the orders, that they would have thought that it was manipulations between Walter, Birkoff, and Michael to get these orders.

They even required DNA test from Madeline.

It made Walter sad. In ways, Psych Ops didn't want Nikita to get better.

Walter watched the door slowly open to see Nikita hidden, behind the bed, clutching a pillow. Walter felt his heart drop. She looked worse than she had on the videotapes. He just wanted to hold her forever until everything was right.

And if that was what it took, Walter would do it. In a heartbeat.

"Nikita..." Walter whispered as he inched in. He knew that Nikita understood the rules of Psych Ops, or she had at one time fully understood them. Walter looked over his shoulder as the door was quickly slammed, as if they were afraid that Nikita was going to hurdle over Walter and escape.

Nikita wasn't dangerous to anyone. Maybe she was slightly dangerous to herself, but not entirely dangerous. She wanted help and that drove her to stay in the room.

"What are you doing here?" Nikita questioned as her eyes shifted back and forth. It was like on one level, Nikita wasn't quite sure that what she was seeing was real. It spoke to her exhaustion and her slightly altered states of consciousness.

"I've come to help you, Nikita..." Walter whispered and Nikita shook her head back and forth as she pushed her body away from the bed as Walter sat down. It worried Walter that Nikita was afraid of him. That wasn't going to help Nikita at all.

"Not Nikita... Not Nikita..." Nikita chanted slightly and Walter tilted his head to the side. He was so afraid that he was going to do something wrong, he neglected the fact that he needed to be himself.

"Sugar.... I call you Nikita when I am so worried about you... I know that you must be tired, Sugar," Walter stated with a slightly smile as he extended his hand, trying to reach out to Nikita. He looked at the pillow that was left on the bed and tapped it lightly. "Nice bed."

"You do this?" Nikita rushed out and Walter nodded his head. He didn't know if Nikita knew that her speech was rushed and slurred.

"I'd do anything for you, sugar." Walter commented and Nikita looked to her hands. She inched forward slightly and she looked away. She looked pain. She looked sore. All of this on top of what was going on with the lack of sleep.

Suddenly Walter remembered what the guards had said. Other than the water that Nikita does drink, she hadn't eaten any of the bead and butter that they had given to Nikita. And that was meant in the literal terms. They felt that it was best this way for the operatives inside of Psych Ops.

Of course, Walter didn't have to follow most of the diet rules. He reached to his bag that he had brought and pulled out a bag of cheese. "I thought you might be hungry."

Nikita stood up on unsteady feet, visibly unable to see straight, and tried to grab for the food. She misjudged and stumbled. Walter helped Nikita onto the bed and handed the bag over to Nikita.

The behavior that Walter witnessed was no unfamiliar to him, but foreign to him to associate it with Nikita. Walter hadn't observed Nikita fully when she was a recruit. He was sure that holding the bag tightly to her body, as if someone was going to steal it was a normal behavior for someone who came from the streets. But Walter had never seen Nikita do that, although Michael had once claimed that Nikita was one of the hardest recruits he had ever seen in teaching etiquette such as eating.

Regression was expected.

But it still shocked Walter.

"I can get more," Walter commented as he watched Nikita's cheeks fill up with about eight cubes of cheese as she rushed to get as much as she could into her mouth. Walter looked around and swallowed. Nikita was swinging her head from side to side, indicating no.

But why was it no? Was it because Nikita didn't feel that she deserved more than that bag of cheese? Was she afraid that there was something inside of the cheese? Or was she fully filled?

"Would you like some lemonade?" Walter offered as he pulled the bottle out of the bag. He wanted to bring Nikita Mr. Pibb, her favorite soft drink, but Madeline said no. Walter watched as Nikita continued to chew and reached out to grab the bottle out of his hand.

"Thank you," Nikita muttered as the bag was empty along with the bottle. She looked to Walter and looked around the room. "No questions?"

"No. Not now. I thought you would like to sleep," Walter stated. He didn't want the details. He didn't need the details. If Nikita was going to open up and she needed Walter to ask questions, then he would, but Walter was positive that he would know when that time would come.

"Sleep not good," Nikita revealed as she rubbed her hands through her hair once more. Walter wanted to brush it out. He wanted to make everything right with one wave of his hands, but knew that it was going to be a long process.

"Bad dreams. I know. Madeline made me watch," Walter stated as he sat down on the bed next to Nikita. It was a good sign that he was able to sit next to Nikita. It meant that on some level, she still trusted Walter as someone that wouldn't hurt him.

"Not dreams... terrors... take me over.... like I'm reliving them," Nikita corrected as she rubbed at her nose. It was clear that she didn't even like to think about what was haunting her. Walter was afraid that the fear was going to cause Nikita to close herself off totally.

That wouldn't help.

"I can understand why you are scared, sugar," Walter commented. "And I'll be here to hold you in your sleep if that is something that you want to try."

Nikita looked to the bed and ran her hands on it. Walter didn't know where Nikita had spent the past few months. No one had any information on them about what had been going on with Nikita. Personally, Walter had to agree with the operatives that thought that Nikita spent time on the streets. Madeline didn't think that Nikita would fully go back to that. That the streets were the greater evil over Section One.

"Section One... I never used to be scared of the past," Nikita whispered and Walter tilted his head to the side. He didn't want to hear Nikita like she had given up.

"You got to be strong... You are going to get through this..." Walter stated and halted his words. He wanted to add to his words, but he didn't want to question Nikita right now. She didn't need to answer his meddling questions. It could hurt her in the long run. It was a chance, no matter how curious Walter was, he was not willing to take.

"Such a pretty bed... Why? Why no more cot?" Nikita questioned as she studied the bed once more. It appeared that she was ready to drop off to sleep. Her hands played with the pillow and Walter was sure that she was almost ready to drift to sleep.

But Nikita was also seeking out the answers to her questions. She continued to have some sense of what should be happening inside of Section One. She had to know of this bed as being something highly unusual, topped off with Walter's presence and eagerness to stay with her until she wanted him to leave.

"Madeline cares about you. We all do. And what they were giving you wasn't helping." Walter informed Nikita. The tears started to fall once more and Walter tried to smile slightly, but it didn't do much good as Nikita dropped her head to Walter's lap. "I'm going to help you. Let me do that, sugar."

"I'm so tired!" Nikita cried out and Walter sadly nodded his head up and down, agreeing with Nikita. He felt tired for Nikita also.

"I'm here... I'll hold you," Walter whispered as he rubbed her back. They were exactly on the bed, but Walter didn't care right now. Now was about getting Nikita to sleep in any way shape or form.

"The darkness.... holds things..." Nikita stuttered and Walter looked at Nikita's head. She wasn't looking up at him. She had her head down in his lap, clutching him forever.

"Then I'll just hold you." Walter replied.

But sleep wasn't far.

And finally, Walter felt that he could breath once again.

*

It always started with the darkness.

That would be the first thing that Nikita's dreams would start with. The overshadowing and powerful darkness. The darkness would surround her and her being. The evil would be smelt in the air.

But at that moment, Nikita had no power to wake up. She knew what was going to come, but she would be a victim to the rapid fire of images that would flood to her next.

It started with a hand. Or it started with a pillow. Anything that would cover her mouth, making her start to struggle. Something to paralyze her with fear, unable to scream let alone move.

Then there would be other hands. Over and over again. Some would touch. Some would pinch. Some would graze softly. Some would slap.

All of them were bad, bringing some sort of pain to Nikita.

Then the eyes would glow in the darkness, looking down at Nikita like she was a prized meat to be devoured and savored. It looked like she was ready to be torn in pieces for the men to use and abuse, only to push back together at the end.

"Please no!" Nikita cried out in her sleep as she continued to struggle. Walter sat up straight, trying to shake Nikita, trying to get her out of the dream. It was what was best for Nikita, but Walter was finding that Nikita was so far trapped in her dream, that it didn't matter what was going on in the real world, she could get back there.

Walter swallowed as he deliberated what he was watching and viewing. Walter pulled in the facts that he could. All of Nikita's bad memories seemed to be mixed in here, but Walter was sure that the majority of them were of her childhood, mixed with the last mission. Walter also knew that Nikita had exactly six minutes of sleep before the nightmare.

Clearly not enough.

Nikita felt ropes holding her down. Nikita felt handcuffed. She didn't feel that she could move. She was on an ice-cold floor or being moved to a hard wooden desk. She was no longer in the nice bed that Walter had arranged for.

And she was helpless. No matter how much she screamed. No matter how much she struggled. Nikita was chained there in the darkness, with her attackers, all waiting in a line to make her nightmare to continue.

"Nikita!" Walter shouted as he tried to shake her shoulder. Walter pulled his arms away; sure that he shouldn't be touching her like that during a nightmare. Walter looked to the walls, almost afraid that Psych Ops were staying true to their word, and not interfering.

"PLEASE HELP ME MOM!" Nikita screamed out and Walter felt the tears in his eyes. He had to wonder if Nikita's mother had ever heard those screams. Walter had to wonder if Nikita's demon of a mother had walked away from the screams and plead.

Or had she set it up to happen?

"HELP ME!" Nikita cried out as she flipped her body down, face first into the pillows. Walter yanked the pillows out from under her face, not wanting Nikita to suffocate on the pillows during her nightmare. All Walter could do was monitor the situation as Nikita's hands went behind her back, acting out whatever part of the nightmare that she was in.

Nikita, for all that her mind would allow her, was struggling all that she could, but it was impossible to escape. Nikita turned her head to the side, only to see more men and now, naked bodies. Nikita shook her head back and forth.

"HELP ME! HELP! HELP! HELP!" Nikita shrieked and Walter touched Nikita's back, to which she jumped up. Her eyes opened and she looked to Walter.

She blinked them a few times before dissolving into nothing but tears. Walter reached out and stroked her hair carefully.

"Do you want to talk about it, sugar?" Walter whispered, but Nikita shook her head back and forth as she reached over and held Walter. It was when her head was once safely and comfortably on Walter's lap that she squeezed Walter. "I was trying to wake you up."

"I can never get out... It never ends.." Nikita revealed with broken words that Walter found great difficulty hearing and trying to comprehend. Walter rubbed at the space between his nose and top lip, trying to figure out what to say or do next.

"It ended there for you for a while, Nikita. What triggered this?" Walter questioned, knowing that he had to get something out of Nikita. Anything would be better.

"I thought my past was behind me..." Nikita sobbed as she pitifully held onto Walter. Walter started to rock with Nikita as he looked to the wall. He swallowed. He wasn't an expert. He was just a concerned friend.

"Are these new memories, sugar?" Walter whispered as he stroked the hair out of Nikita's face as her hands dug into his thighs, loosened, and tightened once more.

"They are mixed up... from childhood... I don't remember them.... and that man...." Nikita sobbed out and Walter winced. It was clear that there was something big going on here. Hopefully on the other end, someone had heard Nikita's words. Walter felt in the pit of his stomach that something had been going on with Nikita for a long time and that Calantha might have to be consulted.

"No one is going to hurt you here, sugar," Walter promised as he looked down at her.

"I need to sleep!"

"I know, sugar. That's why I was holding you," Walter whispered as he tried to stroke at Nikita, but she had started her movement away. She grabbed a pillow and started to mead at the pillow as if it was dough. Walter waited and sighed.

"You did sleep for a few minutes. Maybe we should try again?" Walter offered, not liking the silence that was only making his heart pound faster and faster.

"I can't sleep!" Nikita screamed and Walter nodded his head.

"We need you to try again..." Walter suggested and Nikita tossed her head from side to side, before finally chucking the pillow away from the bed. She placed her hands outstretched over her face, crying.

"It won't work, Walter! I can't sleep. I haven't slept in WEEKS! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND! THEY ARE ALWAYS THERE!" Nikita screamed as she trembled. Walter felt his mouth dry as he tried to reach for Nikita, but she continued to pull away.

"Who is there?" Walter questioned and Nikita jumped up off of the bed. She ran immediately into the padded corner and dropped to the floor.

She was trembling.

She looked like a child cowering away from something so horrible that Walter couldn't phantom living through it.

But Nikita had been through this once. She had made it. Now, due to a string of events, mostly placed on Nikita by Section One and the revenge on Sonora, Nikita was back to the beginning.

And perhaps, she was worse than when she entered inside of Section One. Back then, she had some fight left in her. She still wanted life.

Now, Walter was afraid that she was ready to give up.

"Nikita... they aren't going to go away if they remain nameless or unidentified. Who waits in your dreams?" Walter inquired as he moved to the edge of the bed and watched Nikita in the corner. She was rocking back and forth and swiping at her nose. It was a sign of an attempt of Nikita to pull it together.

"I need sleep Walter. I have never been this tired," Nikita complained as she looked up at Walter. Walter nodded his head.

"This will help you," Walter stated, but Nikita's head swung back and forth and then she looked up at the ceiling. Nikita knew that she wouldn't go to sleep now. No matter how tired she was, the dreams would violently wake her up.

"Just help me sleep Walter!" Nikita cried out as she pressed her hands together as if saying a prayer. Walter licked his lips, dropping the subject of the dreams.

This was an opening that Walter had hoped wouldn't come. He had hoped that with his presence alone, that he would be able to get Nikita to go to sleep.

"Do you really want to go to sleep and not dream?" Walter questioned and Nikita nodded her head up and down manically. What Walter was offering was the miracle that Nikita was praying for. Nikita's bobbing head made Walter's stomach churn with misery unlike any he had felt before. He had felt sad about Belinda. He had even been near suicide, but nothing he felt after Belinda's death matched what he was feeling now with watching Nikita.

On one level, Nikita was very much the child that Walter never got.

And no parent ever wants to see their child in so much pain that they are begging to be put out of their misery.

"Sleep," Nikita whispered to Walter, joggling him out of his thoughts.

"I can get you something. I can get you a drug that will help you sleep," Walter offered and Nikita excitedly nodded her head up and down. She went as far as to extend her arm, wishing for Walter to give it to her right away.

"Please... please... sleep... Walter... please..." Nikita chanted as Walter stood up. He reached out and stroked Nikita's hair. She was like a little child and he wanted to find Nikita's mother and kill her a hundred times very slowly. And still, Walter felt that it wouldn't equal the pain that Nikita had been through.

"I have to go get it. Are you going to be ok by yourself? Do you want me to get Maddie to sit with you?" Walter offered and Nikita shook her head back and forth. It was quite clear that Nikita did not want Madeline anywhere near her. Walter hoped that Madeline would take that as a hint that her involvement here might be detrimental to Nikita's recovery after she gets some sleep.

"Sleep... Soon," Nikita whispered and Walter nodded his head. He walked to the door and watched it open, which indicated that they were watching the camera image very carefully. Walter looked behind him to see that Nikita had pulled further into the corner, even as the guards were prepared for her to run out of the room.

At the end of the hallway, Calantha already stood there, looking down to Walter. He looked to the tray that had the medicine that Walter had believed would achieve the sleep that Nikita needed. He by-passed the tray and walked down the hallway to Calantha.

Before any words were exchanged, Calantha wrapped Walter into a hug, holding him as she felt Walter's tears blending together on her shoulder. She patted his back and waited for Walter to pull away first.

"What are you doing here?" Walter questioned as he rubbed his left foot against the wall slightly. Calantha reached out and touched Walter's shoulder. She couldn't even smile. She had been watching the video since Walter walked in.

"Birkoff called me... And I knew what you were going to attempt to do was going to be difficult," Calantha explained. She sighed as Walter nodded his head up and down, acting as if it was nothing that he was doing.

"You know... It's Nikita... She'll be fine," Walter stated as he turned his head to the side. He looked to the wall and closed his eyes. But he heard Nikita's voice in his ears. He saw Nikita in the corner like the caged abused little child. And Walter started to ball.

Calantha reached out for Walter's shoulders once more and allowed him to continue to cry. He needed to get it out if he was going to help Nikita.

Calantha was also there for another reason. She may have been able to explain what was going on with Nikita's newly found memories. When Madeline called her immediately after Birkoff, Calantha had been in the car. It was during the car drive that Calantha soon found out that this was more than the garden-variety bad Valentine mission depression.

"I might be able to help..." Calantha whispered and Walter stopped crying as he perked his head up. The tears were still there and Calantha wiped them away and half smiled at Walter.

"How?" Walter inquired and Calantha looked to her hands and sighed. It wasn't all exactly true. What she was going to say was based off of theory and previous small-scale personal experience. The fact was, Calantha was almost afraid of what she was going to offer was going to be too optimistic.

"Nikita stated something about new memories from childhood. I might be able to explain that Walter," Calantha stated as she rubbed her hands together. She had already had this discussion with Madeline and Michael together. She was sure that the theory would soon be spread across Section One.

"HOW!"

"The memories might have been suppressed for years... but when the harness was placed and then removed, it made access to those memories easier... She may have started to remember a few of them... but I feel that the mission that Nikita was on triggered a jackpot of memories that her mind had decided in her childhood were best to be forgotten," Calantha stated in slow and mechanical words. Walter nodded his head and turned around.

"So that would mean that nothing I am going to do would matter!" Walter hissed and Calantha sighed as she watched Walter storm off back to the tray. She wanted to run after him and correct his incorrect assumptions. However, it was too late for now.

Walter grabbed the medicine and walked into the room. Nikita immediately placed her arm up and Walter swallowed.

"Why don't you get on the bed, Sugar?" Walter suggested and Nikita crawled towards the bed. She stared at it for a long time before getting back up on it. Walter pressed his lips together.

"I won't leave you, sugar. I'll stay here while you sleep," Walter promised as he pulled out the medicine. Nikita happily accepted the medicine and leaned her head down.

"Thank you."

*

Four hours.

Four hours of complete silence.

Four hours that Nikita slept peacefully, never moving, never crying out.

Four hours that Walter watched over her, monitoring any change of her body.

Four hours that the drugs worked, holding Nikita in a slumber that would only start the process of healing Nikita's exhausted body.

Four hours that ended too soon.

Four hours that were shattered from peace to horror in seconds.

Four hours that ticked by slowly, which brought for the terror back so swiftly that there was nothing that Walter could have done.

The scream that came from Nikita's mouth had no real word attached to it. It snapped the peaceful air around the stark room and echoed as Nikita's scream got louder and louder as she pounced off the bed and started to flare her arms about, rotating over and over again. It was an attempt of a young girl or teenager, trying to stave off all the attackers that she ever had in her life in one long fight.

"Nikita!" Walter shouted, trying to jar her mind into the world that she was moving around in. His voice contained the shock and horror of what he was seeing. He was seeing Nikita's mind and body combat a drug that was so potent and strong that she should have been easily asleep for another ten hours.

The villains in her dreams were so strong. They were winning. They were beating Nikita over and over again, no matter what she had tried to do.

"NIKITA!" Walter shouted again, knowing that he was starting to panic. He had never seen Nikita like this. Never. He had helped Nikita out of situations before. He had been called onto the job when Birkoff, while playing her husband, had pulled her hair and yanked her down the stairs. He had been the first to realize that Nikita was drinking because of depression. He was always concerned about Nikita, always worrying that her past was going to come back and win.

But now, the past was winning. In fact, the past had been winning for months and although Nikita was trying to fight back, Walter was afraid. Walter was afraid that this was the ninth inning with two outs, and Nikita was at bat, down twenty runs. He was afraid that it was impossible.

It was a new fear that Walter had. Never before had he thought for one second that Nikita wasn't going to succeed and find happiness. Now Walter wasn't sure if she would even find a way to be alive after all of this.

"NIKITA!" Walter shouted as he ducked from Nikita's arms. He wanted to reach out and grab her, but fear the consequences of such an action. He was stuck with watching and waiting.

"NO MORE!" Nikita screamed as she slammed into the wall and started to pound her fists into the wall. Walter felt the tears running down his face. He wanted to give her more medicine, but feared that the combination would be too strong, that he would give her too much. He wanted to know how Nikita's body and mind fought against the drugs now. He had to wonder if giving her drugs had created a nightmare for her that went on for four hours.

"Nikita.... please... wake up!" Walter called out to her, realizing that Nikita wasn't awake, that she was trapped acting out what was going on in her dream, or at least trying to fight against it.

"MOM! MOM! MOM! MOM!" Nikita hollered over and over again as she pounded the wall. She turned around and was dead silent. Walter tilted his head to the side and moved towards her, looking into her eyes.

"Are you ok, Nikita?" Walter questioned as he studied her. The eyes hadn't blinked yet, but they also didn't appear to be drugged, as Walter would have imagined that they would have. But they still looked exhausted and worn down.

Nikita didn't move. She stood there, with her chest pounding as she gasped for air. Walter inched closer.

"Nikita, can you hear me?" Walter questioned and Nikita flinched.

"NO! MOM! I HATE YOU!" Nikita yelled as she pounced forward. And in her path was Walter. He landed on the ground with a thud and Nikita on top of him. He felt the fist connect with his jaw.

"Nikita, it's Walter!" Walter screamed up at him. Nikita stopped her hands and stared down at him.

"You hurt me!" Nikita yelled and Walter shook his head back and forth, seeing Nikita still trapped in the dream.

"Nikita... its Walter! I am Walter!" Walter stated and Nikita shook her head back and forth.

"It's bad enough with the men, mom.... I go to school... and smell.... like it..." Nikita sobbed out as she rubbed her hands. Walter struggled; trying to move away, afraid of the rage that Nikita was about to beat out on the body that she felt was her mother. Nikita forced her weight, the little that it was down. It was a warning to Walter that she was still a fully trained operative. Maybe the little Nikita couldn't have hurt her mother and the men, but Nikita the operative, could.

"Nikita... It's Walter! Can't you hear me!" Walter cried out and Nikita shook her head and looked around the room.

"They touch me, mom... But you.... NEVER NEVER HIT ME! NEVER AGAIN!" Nikita screamed as she looked down at Walter. Her arms started to connect with his shoulders and head. It was awful and Walter swallowed, taking the abuse over and over again, feeling that Nikita needed to get it out.

"Stop her!" Madeline ordered as the door opened up. Walter turned as two operatives pulled Nikita up and off of him and pulled her to the bed. She was struggling while they restrained her against the bed, pulling the cuffs tightly.

"Don't do that!" Walter hissed as he sat up. He felt some pain, but none of that was as bad as looking at the pain that was on Nikita's face. It was clear to Walter that Nikita was not trapped in that dream world that she had been in. This was the real Nikita, in the real world, not realizing what was going on.

"HELP!" Nikita screamed as she tried to arch her back, trying to get off the bed. The two operatives worked quickly to keep Nikita on the bed. They even added straps around the bed, around her chest and hips, restraining her further onto the bed and furthering her hysteria.

"Madeline... stop!" Walter hissed out once more as he rubbed at his nose, seeing blood on his hands. Walter shook his head, trying to shake out the cobwebs.

"You are bleeding. She would have killed you," Madeline stated and Walter shook his head as he stubbornly stood up and looked to the bed, seeing the horror in Nikita's eyes.

"You are just hurting her more, Madeline.... She wasn't beating me... she was beating her mother up... You have to realize that!" Walter declared in anger. He was sure that someone trained like Madeline would have picked up on that.

"But she wasn't responding to you, Walter," Madeline defended her decision. It was clear at the moment that Madeline was making the judgment that Walter's life was more important. That infuriated Walter deeply.

"Get her out of that," Walter demanded as he stared directly into Madeline's eyes. Madeline shook her head.

"I can't let you do that, Walter. You need to go to medical," Madeline stated firmly, not backing down from her decision.

"HELP! WALTER! HELP ME!" Nikita cried out with a voice that was quickly going hoarse. Walter watched Madeline carefully. He wasn't going to budge. If they were going to take him, they were going to have to drug him and drag him.

"HELP! PLEASE!" Nikita begged out as the handcuffs slapped against the wood bed frame that they were placed on. Walter tilted his head as he looked to Madeline.

"Leave the keys... and leave..." Madeline stated to the operatives. She looked to Walter and backed away from the bed and Nikita. She was going to give Walter the opportunity, but would be watching. It was very clear to Walter that Madeline would be waiting for one more outburst to happen. It was clear that Walter's life was priority and what Walter felt was a great operative and leader would soon be cancelled if she did strike out against Walter once more.

It was an unfair decision to be making. It was unfair to everyone who loved Nikita. Nikita should be given the same amount of time that it took for her to get this hurt to be healed.

Walter tried to rationalize Madeline's thought processes and outcomes as being skewed by her own fears and worries. In some shape or form, Madeline helped Nikita create the plan of revenge that made Nikita place her body in the line of abuse over being with Michael. Maybe it was the guilt that Madeline was afraid that she would have to face every day that Nikita was alive.

But as the door closed, Walter knew that Madeline would back away another one hundred times if someone was still willing to try to help Nikita.

Madeline cared for Nikita.

"Nikita... I'm going to help you..." Walter whispered as he moved to the edge of the bed, looking at how professionally they had strapped Nikita down. He was horrified that knowing Nikita's history that this was what they had done to Nikita.

"Get me out... please...." Nikita sobbed and Walter nodded his head as he worked against the pain that he was in. He felt it surging, but the need to free Nikita and to hold her was more. First he got rid of the straps holding Nikita's chest and hips down. It did create a problem as then Nikita started to thrust around, trying to pull herself free. Walter worked quickly to get the legs undone and then the arms. Nikita automatically pulled herself into a fetal ball and started to cry.

"You were dreaming of your mother... but you were acting it out on me..." Walter revealed to Nikita as he settled on the opposite side of the bed, stroking Nikita's back lightly. She continued to cry and shiver. Walter was worried that they were going to have to sedate her with something very strong soon.

"I don't know what is going on in my head any longer..." Nikita cried out but Walter pressed his lips together. He was almost sure that Nikita understood what was happening. She understood that these were new memories that were triggered.

"You never told me why you were on the streets... Was this fight the reason?" Walter questioned and Nikita tossed her head back and forth.

"But you mother hit you, didn't she?" Walter questioned, trying to get anything from Nikita. Nikita nodded her head weakly up and down, as she pulled the pillow into her chest.

"She never hit me... except that last day... A man was going to hurt her... if I didn't... And she got upset that I allowed it to happen.... She was looking for a way out of life... and she was so mad... she slapped me silly.... It hurt more than what most of the men did to me..." Nikita explained out and Walter shook his head. He couldn't believe that Nikita survived life to this point. And for many of those years, she was a functioning person, a mother who loved her daughter.

"I'm here, Nikita... It's not going to hurt you again..." Walter whispered as he touched Nikita's shoulders. She turned onto her back to look at Walter.

And she saw red. She saw the blood.

"You are bleeding..." Nikita whispered as her face paled. Walter knew that it was at that moment that Nikita started to realize what had gotten her strapped to the bed.

"I'm not too bad, Nikita..." Walter stated and Nikita shook her head.

"I did that?" Nikita questioned and Walter nodded his head. Nikita already knew the truth that she had done it on some level and to lie wouldn't help anyone.

"Yes, sugar... But you didn't know it was me," Walter rushed out, trying not to let Nikita find any guilt to hold on. Instead, Nikita turned her head to the side and stopped crying. Walter was concerned and touched her shoulder.

"They should cancel me now because I hurt anyone else," Nikita blankly stated with a flat voice. Walter shook his head in panic.

"No sugar... They need you... We all need you and we are going to help you!" Walter cried out as he moved to her. Nikita placed her head on Walter's lap once more and started to sob.

"I'm not good enough..."

"Sugar... darling... We are going to get past this..." Walter attempted to reach her.

"I can't sleep! I'm so screwed up I can't even sleep, Walter!" Nikita cried out and Walter bit his lip. He wanted to join Nikita in her tirade. She was so upset, but who she was directing that anger at right now was herself and she wasn't to blame.

"Sugar... I'm trying to help you on that..." Walter whispered as he looked at her. She was in bad shape. Walter wasn't even sure if his help was helping Nikita. He was afraid that he was making the situations worse.

"I want my old life back..." Nikita cried out and Walter swallowed. He knew what Nikita was speaking about. She wanted the life that was going to happen for her before her daughter declared that Michael wasn't her father. Nikita wanted the love that was between her and Michael before Sonora was even both of their lives.

"I never wanted to kill someone because they are mean.... but I want to kill Sonora..." Nikita cried out. Walter tried to smile and play it off, but the truth was, everyone inside of Section One wanted to kill Sonora.

"I know sugar... She caused a lot of pain... but getting rid of her isn't going to make it easier to sleep," Walter reminded Nikita carefully. She bounced her head up and down off of Walter's lap, knowing that he was right.

"I JUST WANT IT TO STOP! STOP! STOP!" Nikita yelled and Walter nodded his head. HE wanted it to stop of Nikita also. He wanted it all to be better. He wanted her to be in Michael's arms and happy.

"Sugar... what do you need?" Walter questioned, changing his approach once again. Maybe Walter wasn't what Nikita needed and he needed to face that and quickly.

"I don't know..." Nikita sobbed out and Walter shook his head. He knew that Nikita needed something and it was in her heart. She needed to find it and say it.

"Sugar, you know what you need. If there is one thing you need in this world, just say it. Is it just sleep that you need?" Walter pushed Nikita, knowing that he had to find something. She had opened some, but most of what she was seeing or thinking about was still hidden. Walter wasn't breaking through the wall.

"I NEED MICHAEL!" Nikita screamed finally as she fell back into tears. Walter pressed his mouth together. It was a blessing that this was what Nikita needed.

Walter looked around, he didn't want to leave Nikita to retrieve Michael. If he had too, he would, because that was what Nikita was asking for. "I'm going to get him, Nikita... I promise."

"Stay," Madeline's voice broke over the room. She stood at the door, pressing her hands on opposite sides of the doorframe. She looked towards Nikita and lifted her head to look to the ceiling.

"Nikita... I'm going to get Michael for Walter... Ok?" Madeline called out, but Nikita didn't move or make a motion that she had heard Madeline. Walter nodded his head, telling her that it was ok.

"Only a little bit longer, sugar.... I'll wait with you here... Michael is coming... Michael is coming..."

*

Madeline walked beside Michael. They should have been talking. There was so much going on for Michael, that the silence, had it not been a traditional attitude for Michael, would have worried Madeline.

They were walking together, but they were very much walking in solitude.

Michael was never told until Madeline went to get him, of the plan of what was going on between Walter and Psych Ops. Madeline tried to explain it, but to Michael, the details didn't matter. What mattered was that now he had a way to get to Nikita. There was a way for Michael to wrap his arms around Nikita and hold her.

That was what was needed.

Nikita needed that trust in Michael once more and he couldn't think of another way to show it to Nikita than to be with her right now, in the darkest of times. He needed to hold onto her because he loved her and he was too selfish to let her go now.

"Michael... what we are hearing from Nikita isn't revealing a lot," Madeline whispered as she turned the corner and stood in front of the elevator. Michael leaned forward and punched the button. He didn't want to delay his presence. Madeline grabbed that arm and yanked at it. "You do hear me, right?"

"Yes, Madeline," Michael responded monotonously. Madeline turned her head to the side, finding it difficult that this Michael was going to help Nikita. She didn't know if Michael was attempting to prepare himself to face what Nikita was like now at the moment, or he didn't know how to act. Madeline wasn't very optimistic either way of this helping Nikita.

"She needs to sleep. Everyone knows that. That is priority. Not learning about what is going on," Michael clarified as the elevator opened. Michael stepped in and glared at Madeline, tempting her to disagree with his words.

"That is correct," Madeline finally allowed out as the door slid shut. She looked to the wall, wondering if it was best to leave everything go and stay in silence until Michael got to Psych Ops.

"You should probably know that she was restrained after I had her pulled off of Walter... It was a mistake," Madeline stated carefully as she stared at the door. It felt like a weight had been pulled off of her chest, but she also knew how it might have exasperated the situation and made it worse on Nikita.

"You what?" Michael questioned, finding the words that Madeline said impossible to believe. He felt for a long time that Madeline had a good connection of what Nikita needed in her life and had tried to fill some of the emptiness that Nikita had. Now, with Madeline's words, Michael felt that everything he had once thought about Madeline was gone. With a few simple words, Madeline didn't seem like she cared.

"I made a mistake, Michael. I had a split second to make a decision. I chose wrong," Madeline emphasized as the door opened up and guards stared at both Michael and Madeline.

"Why are you here?" Madeline questioned before Michael could say anything in response to Madeline's words. In fact, Madeline's words were still sinking it as Madeline stepped off the elevator to accost the guard that was standing there.

"We knew of Michael's imminent arrival and thought that Nikita might be more of a flight risk. Additional guards have been posted down to her room," the operative officially spoke to Madeline. She blinked her eyes and made the turn away from Nikita's room, heading towards the monitoring room.

"That doesn't look like she is going to run," Madeline stated as she pointed to the box that had four cameras running on Nikita's image. Michael looked up and felt his heart begin to race. It was the first image that Michael had had.

It wasn't the Nikita he knew and trained.

It wasn't even the Nikita that had come off the streets and into prison.

"It is for the best, Madeline. We all know that Nikita is a good operative and a good actress," the operative spoke, not noticing Michael standing behind Madeline, staring at the screen. Michael might have been focused on the screen, but he heard the words and instantly reacted.

"DO YOU THINK THIS IS A GAME FOR NIKITA?" Michael bellowed in a deep voice as he clenched his hands around the operative's skinny neck, cutting off circulation and air instantly.

"Michael," Madeline softly warned in a tone. Other operatives were watching the scene. Madeline definitely didn't need both Michael and Nikita inside of Psych Ops in separate rooms.

"I will warn you, keep Nikita out of your vocabulary," Michael recommended as he lightly shoved with his hands, the operative away. It was quite clear what Michael meant.

"This way," Madeline ordered Michael as she turned and walked down the hallway. She saw the evidence of what the men were doing in Psych Ops. She felt that it was a waste of time to have extra guards posted. It showed to Madeline that no one was actually listening to Nikita's words with Walter, that she wanted help.

Maybe Psych Ops had some major problems that needed to be fixed.

"I'm sorry about the setting. I can't get her out of here yet, Michael," Madeline warned as she looked at Michael's ashen face. She knew that the aversion that Michael had for rooms that were white and monotonous, especially when dealing with Nikita.

"Can the lights be turned down? Have you ever tried to sleep with the lights on in a white room?" Michael questioned and Madeline dropped her head and swallowed. Here they were concerned about Nikita sleeping and they hadn't tried that. Although, Madeline was sure that it would quickly be pointed out that turning the lights out was against Psych Ops policies.

"I'll have it done," Madeline responded. She didn't care if she had to threaten cancellation; it was worth it to have the lights turned off.

"This is the room," Madeline indicated as she stopped walking. She gave Michael some time, staring at the door, knowing what was on the other side. Michael peered into the little glass window and whimpered inside of his heart to see Nikita like this.

"She requested you, Michael. I heard it myself," Madeline emphasized, not knowing if Michael was pulling away on this. He stared and swallowed.

"Once I go in, I don't want to be interrupted," Michael stated and Madeline raised an eyebrow. She was finding Michael's request unique for the young man. It was nothing that he had asked for before.

"Michael... Don't you want to know about Sonora's baby? She is in labor," Madeline questioned and Michael turned his head to Madeline. He couldn't believe that Madeline had asked that.

"I just want to know when you have her canceled Madeline. Do that child a favor and find it a good home," Michael stated as he nodded to the guard to let him in. Madeline stood back, taken back by Michael's words. She thought that Michael would want to do something than more cancel Sonora.

Madeline watched as Michael entered the room and pulled off his jacket. He was moving towards the bed as the door closed on Madeline's face.

Michael felt frozen, but he continued to move forward. Walter had noticed him and was starting to pull away from the clinging Nikita. Michael blinked his eyes as his coat dropped to the floor. Nikita needed him now and he was going to be there with no barriers between them.

"Nikita..." Michael whispered as he sat on the foot of the bed and touched her bare leg from the pant leg that had rolled up. Nikita jumped, but she didn't pull away. She lifted her head from Walter's lap, but didn't let go of her grip on Walter. It was as if Nikita was afraid that her mind was playing a game on her yet again.

No one could blame her.

"Michael?" Nikita's raspy voice questioned as she looked at Michael with red eyes. Michael nodded his head as he watched her bottom lip tremble fiercely. Michael swallowed and reached for her once more.

And Nikita moved towards Michael, but continued to hold onto one of Walter's hands. Walter moved with Nikita, helping her to adjust in the bed.

"Sugar... I'm going to leave you with him..." Walter whispered as he attempted to pry his hand away from Nikita's hand. Nikita pulled Walter's hand closer to her stomach and squeezed. Walter looked to Michael nervously, knowing that it wasn't going to help Nikita if both of them were stuck there. Michael reached down and touched Nikita's hand.

"Do you want to hold my hand?" Michael offered as he touched her skin. She was still soft. After all that she was through, she was still soft.

And she was still Nikita.

"Do you still love me?" Nikita questioned as she continued to hold onto Walter's hand. Dawning crossed Walter's face, as he now understood why Nikita was content on holding onto his hand. Nikita needed to know that this Michael wasn't doing this out of pity, but doing this out of love.

"I have always loved you, Nikita. I care for you. I want to be there for you all the time," Michael stated and Nikita looked up at Michael. Her eyes were playing back and forth and Michael's heart raced. He didn't know what he would do if Nikita didn't believe his words.

"You shouldn't," Nikita declared and Michael cringed. There was a time way back when that Michael had been that sort of person, pushing away someone's love.

"I can't stop it, Nikita. We are meant for each other," Michael whispered as he touched Nikita's hand once more. He looked around and swallowed. He looked to Nikita's hand in Walter's and knew.

"I need the rings..." Michael stated to Walter. Walter crocked his head to the side, not sure what Michael was speaking about. Michael was frustrated and looked up to the cameras, hoping that Madeline knew what he was talking about.

"Nikita... Please let me hold you... Let Walter go..." Michael attempted as he put his faith in Madeline, although she had shown many different sides of her personality on the walk down here. Michael kissed Nikita's head as she continued to cry.

"I'm not good enough," Nikita declared as she squeezed Walter's hand. Michael saw the worry on Walter's face, seeing that Walter was ready to panic again. It was clear that Nikita had worked him over quite well and Michael wanted to relieve Walter from his duty.

But Nikita had the control. She had to let go of the hand.

"You are an angel to me, Nikita... You saved my life more times than I can count," Michael declared as he cupped her face.

"Because you are good," Nikita cried out and Michael shook his head back and forth.

"Because you loved me, Nikita... And now, I'm going to save your life... Because I love you," Michael tried to explain to Nikita. He didn't know if Nikita could even hear his hushed words through the tears and sobs that were shaking her body with each single one. Holding Nikita made Michael feel that there was a never-ending earthquake.

Michael and Walter stayed frozen with Nikita for a while. The minutes ticked by as they listened to Nikita's cries, but neither knew what to say or do to free Walter and allow Michael to fully hug Nikita.

The door inched open and Madeline extended the box. Walter grabbed it, being closest to the door. Madeline was concerned.

Jewelry was against the rules of Psych Ops.

"Nikita... remember theses... I want you to wear them again..." Michael whispered as he exposed the box with the two rings that he had held onto for all this time. He looked at Nikita's eyes as she looked at the rings back and forth, knowing how much love both of them expressed.

"Why?" Nikita questioned as she quivered. Michael looked at the goose bumps that were forming on her skin and lightly smiled.

"Because when this is all over... and you are rested and healed... I want our family to happen... I will marry you Nikita," Michael stated with tears rolling down his face. Nikita was trying to shake her head back and forth.

"We can't go back..." Nikita stammered and Michael nodded his head.

"But we can go forward, Nikita. Forward in love... married. Husband and wife," Michael declared, hoping to open her up.

"I've been so bad..." Nikita cried out as she dropped her head. Michael shook his head back and forth. Now, that all the time had passed and he was able to look back at the events that had conspired, he understood it all and wondered at the amazement that Nikita had never cracked in her plan.

"Nikita... I love you and I want you to wear the rings once more... to be the wife that I have always thought you would be... to me..." Michael stated and Nikita released Walter's hand. Michael looked up at the newly released Walter and saw the tears. Everyone had to be emotional to deal with this, but Michael couldn't hesitate. Michael slipped the rings back on her finger and sighed.

"And now you are going to let me help you..." Michael stated and Nikita nodded he head up and down. Walter headed to the door and looked behind him to see Michael pulling down the sheets and getting ready for bed.

"The white knight," Walter whispered to Madeline as he closed the door.

"Do you really think so?" Madeline questioned and Walter winced. He had believed that Madeline knew better than to ask.

"He may wear black, Madeline... but to Nikita... he is the white knight that she felt that she never deserved," Walter cryptically stated. He looked into the window and saw Nikita wrapped her arms around Michael's chest and leaning back in the bed.

Michael wouldn't sleep. He would be busy watching Nikita's face, worrying about what would come.

For Nikita, now she would sleep.

*

Nikita slowly opened her eyes. Everything felt so heavy to Nikita. She felt as if she was pushing the weights away from her eyes, trying to open them, trying to remember.

"Shh... Nikita..." Michael softly soothed Nikita. She opened her eyes once more for a few seconds before pushing her body to the side, bumping into Michael's body.

"Take it slowly, Nikita...you've been asleep for over fifteen hours..." Michael whispered as he stroked Nikita's hair away to the side. Nikita rolled her head towards the sound of Michael's voice.

And then all of it came back. Nikita felt the pain of her body. She remembered the days without sleep. She remembered screaming and Walter. Nikita tried to shake her head when something else became suddenly aware to Nikita.

"Bathroom..." Nikita's hoarse voice spoke out in a rush toned that indicated that it was going to be a race for Nikita to get there. She started to struggle to find her way up from the bed, but it was impossible. Michael got out of bed and tried to pull her, but to Nikita, she felt the way that Michael was pulling her was down.

She had no concept of direction. She had no balance. She still couldn't hold her eyes open.

"Come on, Nikita...." Michael tried to direct Nikita as she tilted to the side to fall back on the bed. Her legs kicked in the air and Michael swallowed.

"Bathroom..." Nikita hissed out, starting to panic. Michael pressed his lips together and reached for Nikita once more.

"Trust me, Nikita... I can get you there..." Michael stated as he held his hand out for Nikita to take. She was still finding it difficult to focus her eyes. She was everywhere.

"I'm so tired and sore..." Nikita complained as she tossed her head to the side and attempted to roll of the bed on the other side, which was further from the bathroom. Michael grabbed her waist and steadied her on the bed. She was already a wreck and Michael wanted to stop anything else from happening.

"Come on... I'll get you to the bathroom... and we'll get you a shower..." Michael offered, trying to tempt Nikita to take his hand. She swirled her head to look up at Michael with tears crystallizing in her eyes.

"You really care..." Nikita sobbed out and Michael dropped his head. Michael pressed his lips together and soothed Nikita's wild and tangled hair back. He didn't know if the majority of Nikita's hair could be saved.

During the time that Michael was in the room, he did sleep some. He felt it easy to sleep holding Nikita. But other times, Madeline and Walter dropped by to see how they were doing. It was during one of those times that Michael mentioned that when Nikita woke up that she might want to take a shower. Madeline had rolled her eyes. Walter had gotten everything prepared.

The truth was, once Nikita was asleep in Michael's arms, she was out like a log. Michael had been spelled for a few moments for him to make his own trips to the bathroom and to get some food, but mostly he stayed right there. Nikita barely moved and barely talked in her sleep. And when she did talk in her sleep, they seemed to be of happy moments and not sad moments.

"Come on... you need to use the bathroom..." Michael directed as he picked at Nikita's arms again, this time, getting Nikita to follow his movement. It was clear that she was starting to wake enough to function on some level that Michael could work with.

"Why do I feel all funny?" Nikita questioned as she looked at her legs. She didn't even feel like she was standing. Michael rubbed at Nikita's neck slightly, knowing that this was all due to the drugs that had been introduced into her system trying to get her to sleep.

"Remember Walter tried to help you sleep?" Michael mentioned as he inched away from the bed. He was afraid of what control that Nikita had over her body. He looked as her legs dragged behind.

"What?" Nikita questioned as she struggled to keep her head up. She was watching her feet, almost panicking about what she wasn't seeing happening. Michael pressed his lips and moved towards the wall before moving towards the corner door.

"Walter tried to help you sleep... Gave you very powerful drugs... You woke up out of them in a nightmare... but they are still in your body... probably why you feel so detached from your legs," Michael explained as he used his leg to kick open the bathroom door. Michael looked at the items that Walter had left and smiled.

Michael had to take care of Nikita and he was going to do that.

But Walter didn't take any chances. There was nothing in the room that Nikita could use to hurt herself.

"Hurry," Nikita whispered and Michael moved as he pulled the lid up to the toilet. He pulled Nikita's white pants down and helped her down. Michael turned his head as he listened to the noise and tried not to make Nikita embarrassed by his help.

"You are too sweet..." Nikita commented as she looked up at Michael. He couldn't even smile. Michael was worried about Nikita. This wasn't the Nikita he knew. He looked at her tangled mess and winced.

"Do you want a shower?" Michael questioned as he pulled back the shower curtain. Nikita nodded her head up and down. Michael turned on the water and touched Nikita's head.

"It's going to be ok," Michael stated and Nikita dropped her head.

"Hope you are right," Nikita whispered.

~~

Calantha walked into Madeline's office and spotted Walter, the man that she loved. He was sitting next to Madeline, nursing a bottle of something. Calantha watched as the door closed. She had wondered were Walter was now for over five hours.

She shouldn't have been surprised.

Nikita was special. Calantha understood that. Calantha would have spent the time with Nikita herself if it had helped.

Madeline was a different story.

Calantha walked over and picked the bottle up and then looked at the label. She leaned her head back and she handed the bottle over to Walter.

"Whiskey?" Calantha questioned as she looked at the screen. There was a light on in the bathroom of the room that Nikita was staying on. Now Calantha knew that Walter had placed himself in front of a screen watching Michael with Nikita every moment since he left the room. Calantha looked to Madeline, and although she was not drinking, it was clear that Madeline was worried just the same.

"It's too hard to watch," Walter stated and Calantha looked back to the screen. She had flipped to the image some herself, but mostly it was Nikita sleeping in Michael's arms.

"She was asleep, Walter," Calantha stated and Walter lifted his head. He stood up and staggered out of the room. Calantha swallowed, suddenly wondering if she didn't know Walter as much as she had.

"You didn't need to be rude," Madeline commented as she flipped the screen off. Calantha looked Walters's chair and sat down next to Madeline. Calantha had been busy, trying to collect data, trying to figure out if the harness had anything to do with what was going on with Nikita.

"I wanted to know where he was, Madeline... And I came to speak to you about something important," Calantha stated and Madeline looked at Calantha and swallowed. Madeline was tired but she wasn't dead to the world. The great and powerful Calantha was threatened with the working relationship that was between herself and Walter. It was something that Madeline had never thought would come from Calantha.

"Calantha, Walter and I were just worried about Nikita. That's all," Madeline remarked, trying to put Calantha's worrying mind to rest. Madeline cringed when Calantha grounded her teeth together before smiling.

"I know, Madeline..." Calantha stated coldly. She pressed her fingers together and looked at Madeline once more. Calantha knew that everyone connected with Nikita could use some sleep right now, but Madeline looked awful. "Bust I was here on more technical purposes... explanations about these memories..."

"A cause? What about childhood abuse? What about bedding a target? I can think of a thousand reasons without any technical assistance," Madeline snapped as she sat up straight in her chair. She knew that Calantha was only trying to help, but Madeline felt that the sole responsibility of what was happening to Nikita was on her shoulders.

Meanwhile, Calantha saw herself with the sole responsibility on her shoulders.

"What about an electrode that was implanted near the long term memory sector of the brain?" Calantha snapped back. Madeline pressed her lips together and dropped her head.

And then there was silence between the women.

They were so busy trying to find out what had caused it, that they were overlooking what Michael and Walter were trying to do. Trying to find out what would make it better.

~~

Maralah walked down the hallway, looking from side to side. She had a funny feeling for many days now. All the operatives were staring at her like something was wrong. She hadn't seen her mother in many days now and she hadn't seen her father for almost the same amount of time. She still had Birkoff and Alsena, but it wasn't the same.

Maralah stopped as she came to the glass. She looked into the room and smiled at the little baby that was there.

There was a new baby, but everyone else had disappeared.

It was Sonora's baby boy. He hadn't been named. He wouldn't be there long. But Maralah had to see it.

She wondered what it would be like to have a baby brother or sister. She wondered if she was ever going to have a family.

"What are you doing here little sweets?" Walter gravelly questioned as he walked towards Maralah. He picked Maralah up in his arms and looked at the image of the baby.

Michael's wishes had been followed. Sonora had been canceled. The baby was an orphan, but soon was going to find a new home, well away from Section One.

"Where is my mom?" Maralah questioned and Walter winced. He looked towards the baby. Of all the questions that Maralah could have asked, Walter should have been prepared for this one, but he wasn't.

"Your father is helping her feel better," Walter stated and Maralah pressed her lips together. Her eyes looked at Walter and it was clear that she didn't buy what Walter was saying.

"Can't I see her?" Maralah questioned and Walter sighed.

"Sorry little sweets... It's going to be a while..." Walter said sadly. He looked to Maralah and swallowed, realizing that he was going to have to do something to help out here. Maybe Michael was the one destined to make Nikita better, but maybe Walter was better suited to help out with Maralah.

"Hey... when was the last time you had pizza?" Walter questioned and Maralah smiled.

"Last night... but I haven't had cotton candy lately," Maralah baited Walter and he knew it. Walter looked up to the sky and looked back to Maralah.

"Now where do I find cotton candy?" Walter questioned and Maralah laughed.

"And the amusement park!" Maralah declared and Walter started to walk away from the baby boy.

The last time that Walter would see anything connected to Sonora.

~~

"Nikita... I know you are tired... I just want to dry your hair..." Michael stated as he was working the comb through her hair. It was so tangled that Michael didn't have much hopes of not having to take the scissors to it.

"I just want to sleep," Nikita whispered and Michael continued to pull at the hair, finding it amazing that the comb had made it through. He pulled his hand back up and started the process once more.

"I know... and you will.. soon..." Michael whispered in a slow voice, hoping to keep Nikita awake long enough. He is hand came to the end of the hair and Michael raised his eyebrows.

Maybe he wouldn't need the scissors after all.