If anyone cared that Nikita was walking down the hallways, they kept that comment to themselves. Nikita was stalking down the hallways, and no one stopped her.

Walter had called out for the all points bulletin yet.

Nikita turned the corner and saw the white room. Madeline was in there yet.

She was another person that Nikita had something against. Madeline had taken Nikita's father away from her. And they weren't even going to tell Nikita. Matthew believed that they were moving closer to Nikita. That was a farce. James, Nikita's father, had picked Madeline over Nikita, his own flesh and blood. It made Nikita's mind fizzle with anger. James had been caring for her and now he was deciding that Nikita wasn't enough.

It hurt.

But Nikita cleaned her thoughts once more. Nikita smiled as the white room that William had been placed in had two doors. Nikita was sure that as soon as Nikita appeared on the screen, that Madeline would hurry towards the room.

Maybe Madeline was running some sort of experiments on William? Nikita didn't care. She wanted the operative dead. There was no reason to debrief him at all. He was much better off dead.

And Nikita was the woman who was going to carry that out.

"Who is there?" William called out as he tried to move his head. Nikita allowed a small smirk out of her mouth. They had already attached William to the chair through his neck. He was good as dead now. They were only playing with him.

"Me," Nikita stated as she stepped into the room. Nikita could hear the room pop with excitement. Nikita narrowed her eyes and stared at William. He was cringing. He knew what had been going on, but didn't know about the mission that Nikita had led to get Michael back. He also knew that Niamh had to have told his name, because she was the only one who knew his name.

"Nikita... they had things on me..." William started and Nikita shook her head. If he was going around playing with other terrorists groups, he should have been smart enough to accept his fate.

Nikita aimed the gun as she heard the footsteps down the path. Madeline was walking fast.

"And I have one on you... You caused this," Nikita stated as she easily pulled the trigger. She didn't even flinch as she watched William's head hit against the metal torture chair as the bullet went clean through the man's head.

"Nikita! We were to debrief him!" Madeline immediately scolded as she entered the room. Nikita started to move and turned the gun towards Madeline. Madeline stopped her movements and Nikita tossed the gun towards her.

"If you can't remember, I contained the mission and brought back their entire structure. Isn't that good enough? Or do you want my entire family too?" Nikita hissed. She turned and walked out of the room, hurrying down the hallway, knowing that Madeline would want Walter to come fetch her soon enough.

~~

"I can't believe she isn't here," Walter stated as he walked out of medical. Madeline frowned and walked with Walter. It had been a frantic ten minutes since Nikita pulled the trigger and killed William. Madeline was still wheeling from that action.

And then there were Nikita's words. Madeline felt that she should tell James about what was going on, but her first priority was to make sure that Michael was ok. To make sure that Michael was ok, meant that Nikita couldn't get inside medical until the surgery was done.

That was where Walter had headed once Feng told him that she had a gun and left. Walter was disappointed by Feng, that the woman had stepped up and taken a stand, but then wasn't surprised. Nikita outranked her and was only doing the natural thing.

Needing to be by Michael's side.

Both Walter and Madeline were surprised by the lack of Nikita. They were now heading towards the area inside of Section One that Maralah had been staying at during all of this. It had been a whirlwind the past few days, and now as they walked, neither Walter nor Madeline spoke.

Madeline was sure that almost everyone knew that she had some sort of interest in James and had been able to coax him into moving closer to Section One. In time, Nikita and Michael would move back closer, or at least, that was what Madeline kept telling herself. She was sure that after Michael healed inside of Section One, that further healing would happen in the house that they had been in for a long time. But Madeline was sure that once they were needed for missions day in and day out, that they would choice to move closer again.

Walter was concerned about the baby, but knew that he couldn't say anything to Madeline. Nikita was quite clear that she didn't want much of anyone to know about the baby. Walter still wished he knew why Nikita felt that way, if she was afraid that if she said something that something would happen.

Walter and Madeline walked to the elevator and stepped in.

Nikita stepped out of the shadows, having followed Madeline's and Walter's progress. She knew that they would head to medical first, knowing what Nikita wanted to do first. Nikita started to walk down the hallway, still in the mission gear that she had worn. She was tired, but wouldn't allow herself to feel it until she was in the room with Michael.

Nikita eased into medical, arriving with a few operatives that were being rushed in from a different mission. There was a mass of black clothing that Nikita blended in with until she could step into the dressing room and swallow.

Michael was in surgery. Nikita moved to the drawers and started to pull out the scrubs. She pulled the hat over her head first, hiding the most distinguishable feature of her, her hair. Nikita then pulled out the pants and shirt. She had to pull off some of the clothing that she was wearing, but kept the extra layer of protection on. It helped to conceal Nikita's condition, especially under the scrubs.

Once Nikita was covered with the scrubs, she was able to walk down the middle of the hallway. The medical team members weren't busy looking for her. Nikita moved to the room next to the operating room and swallowed as she saw Michael surrounded by the doctors and surgeons. Nikita started to gown up and pushed the door.

"What is it nurse?" The doctor at Michael's head asked before he turned and saw Nikita. His face turned gray. "You aren't to be in here."

His words brought everyone to look at Nikita. Nikita looked towards Michael's head and swallowed. She could barely see his face. It had started to swell up and turn black and blue.

"I just want to be nearby..." Nikita urged the doctors just to accept her into the room. Nikita inched closer.

"We are working as hard as we can, Nikita. We can't have you in the room," The nurse stated as she handed a clamp to another nurse and turned towards Nikita. She was starting to move towards Nikita and Nikita moved to the side.

"I'll stand by his feet... I just need to be close," Nikita attempt to get them to listen to her. The nurse stared at the doctor and then Nikita.

"You are distracting the work... we know..."

"NO! YOU DON'T KNOW! I LOVE HIM! I HAVE TO BE HERE!" Nikita screamed out as she moved. The nurse approached Nikita, but Nikita easily found a pressure point and tossed the nurse to the ground with a loud crash. The nurse had hit a tray of surgical instruments.

"Someone get sterile instruments!" The doctor called out as he looked at Nikita. Her fears and needs needed to be addressed. "Nikita... Michael has some serious injuries... we are repairing them now. Now you need to leave this operating room."

"NO!" Nikita hissed. The doctor knew that this was going to be the response.

"Someone... get Nikita an escort out of here," The doctor hissed. He didn't have the time for this. Michael needed the surgeries to be completed as quickly as possible. There had been some internal bleeding that still needed to be found. Plus, there was some considerable damage down to Michael's face. They may have to remove some of the shattered bone from his skull.

"Please... I will be quiet... you won't know that I'm here!" Nikita urged as she looked towards the door. She saw Davenport walking towards the room. He opened the doors and at first, just motioned for Nikita to move.

"Davenport! I need to stay!" Nikita hollered out.

"Nikita... please.. let the doctors do their job," Davenport begged Nikita. He really didn't feel like physically dragging Nikita out of the operating room, but he saw, he was going to have no choice in the matter.

"What if they stop trying?" Nikita questioned as Davenport fully entered the room briskly, trying to do what was needed as quickly as possible. Davenport circled his arms around Nikita, a move that if Nikita had been fully against the decision to leave the room, that Davenport would have never been able to do.

It was when the doors swung shut and when there was a barrier between Nikita and Michael that Nikita started to struggle. Davenport inched his way down the hallway, knowing the further away he got, the better it was for all concerned.

But soon Davenport had a decision. It was either risk Nikita getting loose or making sure he had her. He pushed her to the ground and held her there as she struggled. She was bound to get tired of the struggle sooner or later.

When Nikita felt the cold floor, she continued to struggle out of old memories. She was being held down, but it was when Davenport attempt to calm her by saying her name over and over again, that Nikita shot back to the reality of the situation.

She had been caught this time. They weren't even going to allow Nikita to stand near the window and observe. Now she had to do something to change what was happening. She had to strategically think of how to get back to the room so she could watch from outside of it.

Madeline was rounding the hallway when Nikita started to cry and hold onto Davenport. He was thankful that Nikita was no longer struggling. "Take her down to a private ready room."

Davenport started to help Nikita up, but she suddenly didn't have the strength. Davenport sighed and picked up Nikita's body in his arms. Nikita clung to him as he walked down the hallway. Madeline pressed her lips together and looked into the operating room, knowing that her threat to the doctors would make everything fine.

~~

"Sugar... it is going to be ok..." Walter stated as he looked at Nikita on the bed in the ready room that Davenport had set up shop in. He wasn't going to leave Nikita's side. They had learned the hard way that Nikita could not be trusted when it came to escaping to see Michael.

"Please... just go..." Nikita cried out. She hadn't rested at all and felt the pain of the fatigue set in. She looked at Walter and knew that he was concerned about the baby. There was nothing that could be done now.

"You know... I'm going to go and check on him," Walter informed Nikita as he moved towards the door. It wasn't the full truth. He was going to step out and find Calantha. He needed support once again. Seeing Nikita like this was torturous. Madeline wasn't going to be able to calm Nikita due to the father issue, but Calantha had a way with Nikita that might help out.

Davenport looked at the food that Walter had brought in. There was something funny about it, but Davenport didn't know what. There were several oranges and cereal bars. Davenport didn't notice that they were high in sugar and would help Nikita stabilize herself, if Nikita even was aware of what was going on with her body.

Nikita stood up and Davenport stood up to challenge. Nikita sighed and ran her hands through her hair. "I need to clean myself up... go to the bathroom?"

Davenport nodded his head. That was something that he would allow Nikita to do on her own. There was only one way in and out of the bathroom. He watched as Nikita entered the bathroom and closed the door.

Davenport sighed. He hoped that Madeline knew what she was doing keeping Nikita so far away from Michael.

*

Davenport closed his eyes as Nikita started to cry as soon as the door to the bathroom. His heart went out to her. For all the years that he had been inside of Section One, no one was like Michael and Nikita. They had been through things that were imaginable. The stress of this mission alone would have dropped a lesser operative, but now Nikita was still up and kicking.

And she needed Michael.

Davenport leaned against the wall facing the bathroom, noticing that the sobs were getting louder. He had to give Nikita the space, but he worried about her. The bathroom was empty of anything but the toilet, sink, and shower, but Davenport knew that since he was responsible for watching Nikita, that he better worry.

But inside the bathroom, it was another story. Nikita settled the seat down on the toilet and sat down as she leaned her head back. She didn't care about what was going on outside the room. Her heart was aching for Michael no matter what.

Later, Nikita would look back and see how crazy all of this was. She would notice how much damage that she could have caused the baby, but at the moment, the baby didn't matter. Nikita's mind was allowing the images go out of control, from Michael dying and Nikita ending up in an abusive relationship because Section One lets her go and she has no other skills to Madeline killing Michael and replacing him with a person that looked like him, but with no feelings for her.

Nikita tried to calm herself as she leaned her head back and opened her eyes.

And found the way out.

There was a grate up there and Nikita smiled. It was part of the ventilation system. The ready rooms weren't wired for security and Nikita knew that she could easily get far away from where she was without being noticed missing. Nikita continued to cry, allowing Davenport to hear that as she slipped her hands into her pockets, glad to see that she had been able to keep some of her equipment on her. Nikita pulled out the miniature digital recorder and started to record her crying. Nikita worked on keeping the crying steady with some pauses, so that Davenport wouldn't notice that it was repeating itself for a long time to come. Nikita turned her head and placed the recorder on the wall and started to play it, making the adjustments on the equipment for it to vary the volume so that Davenport wouldn't get suspicious.

The next task was to find a way up to the grate that was about eight feet up. Nikita knew that by standing on the toilet that she wouldn't gain enough height. Nikita saw the sink was not far behind and then she had a series of metal pipes on the wall that she could use as a foothold.

It was dangerous.

And Nikita was not thinking about the baby at this point. She needed to get to Michael. Now.

Nikita stood up on the toilet and then onto the sink. There was a mirror hanging above the sink, which provided Nikita the next place to position her left leg as she extended her hands up in the air to remove the grate and to push it into the ventilation duck. Nikita was glad that she was slender. She knew that Michael would just barely get through this.

It was a balancing act that Nikita trembled in doing. Not because she suddenly remembered that she was pregnant. She started to feel slightly dizzy. But her motivation continued to drive her on. She needed to be by Michael. Nikita inched the grate backwards into the vent and Nikita smiled. Now she looked across the wall and started to scramble for the footing position as she used her arms to yank her up.

She was tired. Nikita could feel her arms aching with the pain of the long mission and the emotional aftermath. It was slow going and all Nikita could hear was her voice crying out. She prayed that Davenport didn't hear her or didn't decide to come into the bathroom to help her. Davenport was still a gentleman and hopefully would keep his distance until it was too insane for him to stay outside.

Or until someone came for Nikita.

Nikita took a deep breath once she was firmly inside the vent. She didn't even bother to put the grate back. They would figure it out as soon as they saw the recorder on the wall. Nikita needed to use her time wisely and to find a different and empty ready room to drop out of and to go back to medical.

Nikita started to crawl along, still hearing her voice crying in that bathroom. She had to wonder if anyone else could hear her.

Davenport walked to the bathroom door when it sounded like Nikita had stopped crying. He pressed his ear to the door and swallowed as Nikita's crying increased again. There was nothing that he could do. Davenport walked back to the wall and leaned against it.

Nikita looked into the ready room that Davenport was standing in. There was a glass panel for slight observation, just so an operative could see if it was empty or not. Nikita saw that Davenport was respecting her crying and Nikita dashed off down the hallway.

To Medical.

~~

"Sometimes I think all of you are insane," Calantha stated to Walter and Madeline as she walked down the hallway. She had gone to get some sleep. The past few days were insane, but what she was hearing for Madeline and Walter was nuts, especially in the context that they were telling it to Calantha.

"The doctors can't work with Nikita there," Madeline calmly replied. She wasn't used to Calantha being so forceful about her opinions.

"I don't even know where to start with you, Madeline. I think you have had a few screws knocked loose while you have been in bed with James... but lets not start on that topic," Calantha replied coldly as she turned the corner. Madeline stopped and pulled Calantha to a halt. Madeline had enough of Nikita's attitude on this situation, but Madeline wasn't going to have Birkoff's mother, who was shacking up with Walter, pass judgment on her.

"He is a grown man, Calantha. He made his own decision!" Madeline hissed as she stared at the woman. Walter stopped and froze. He surely didn't want to get involved with this one.

"But how much of the truth was told? What if Michael and Nikita decide to live out in that house for the rest of their lives?" Calantha countered as she pulled her arm out of Madeline's hand, but did not move. Calantha decided if Madeline was willing to have this conversation in the middle of Section One, then Calantha was going to comply.

"They will move back. They won't be able to keep up with the demand of the missions and the driving back and forth," Madeline replied shortly back.

"When? It isn't going to happen soon. Nikita was only cleared for this one mission... you still haven't taken her off of the psych ops list and Michael is not injured. Do you think it is likely that Michael and Nikita are going to be living close to Section One in the next two months?" Calantha countered strongly. She watched Madeline swallow hard.

"He is a grown man," Madeline stated and Walter rolled his eyes. They could be on this topic for a real long time.

"And Nikita needs him right now. Isn't that why we told him that Nikita was his daughter?" Calantha nastily shredded into Madeline's decision. Madeline stood there and stared at Calantha. She wasn't ready to admit that she loved James. She wasn't ready to tell Calantha that she needed James as much as Nikita that he helped her learn how to live again.

"Look... you know.. this is all fine and dandy and maybe you two will discuss that at another time... But I do have a crying Nikita and a Michael in the operating room," Walter stated as he moved in-between the two women, stating his problem.

"Do you really want me to get onto that topic?" Calantha questioned as she briskly turned away from both Madeline and Walter. Walter swallowed and continued down the hallway. He knew that his actions now were being called, but he had no other choice. He couldn't tell Calantha about the baby.

He had promised Nikita.

"She needed to be removed from Michael," Madeline firmly stated as she hurried her step up to catch up to Calantha. Madeline knew that they were heading towards the ready room that Davenport now stood guard over Nikita.

"Yes... but it could have been handled better. Walter, you physically dragged her away!" Calantha raised her voice as she turned and pointed a finger at Walter. Walter didn't even blink his eyes. He knew what he had done was what was needed, although Calantha would not know that until Nikita allowed everyone to know about her pregnancy.

"Nikita has a tendency to get hurt and not tell anyone... to put someone else's needs in front of herself... She could have been doing that and in dragging her to that room, I was able to find out that she had not suffered any unreported gunshot wounds, stabbing wounds, or broken bones," Walter reported quickly.

It sounded like it made sense.

"Then why wasn't she taken to medical by you, Walter?" Calantha questioned. She thought that Walter, out of everyone else inside of Section One, understood how she needed to be by Michael.

"I was under orders!" Walter cried out, sick of taking the blame on this. He stared at Madeline and Calantha shook her head.

They were too busy defending themselves and making the other one look wrong, that they couldn't seen Calantha's point, that they all were wrong. Calantha didn't even speak as she turned the corner and saw the ready room that Davenport was in. He was staring at the bathroom and Calantha opened the door and heard Nikita's cries.

The sound alone made Madeline and Walter drop their heads in shame. Calantha moved towards Davenport and leaned against the wall. There was no way that Nikita even knew that they were out in the room.

"How long as she been in there?" Calantha questioned.

"About twenty minutes... each time I try to talk to her.. she cries harder..." Davenport reported and Calantha swallowed. It was a bad situation.

"Nikita?" Calantha called out as she moved towards the door. She rapped on the metal and waited. She listened to the sobs continue. "Nikita... please talk to me."

The cries continued and Walter felt his heart fall. He was worried. Something could be going wrong with the baby, and no one would know because Nikita hadn't told them. Walter moved towards the door and knocked on it. "Sugar... come on sugar... just talk to us."

Calantha didn't like the continuing sobs. Nikita was desperate and didn't need to be alone right now. Calantha stepped away from the door and motioned for Davenport to open it.

Davenport took a deep breath. He didn't like the idea of breaking into the bathroom. The bathroom was somewhere private. But Nikita was crying louder and she needed them. It appeared as if Calantha was ready to hold Nikita and perhaps take her to Michael.

But when the door opened up, no one expected the empty bathroom.

"What?" Madeline hissed as she stared into the room. Davenport immediately looked at the wall and moved to grab the digital recorder off of the wall. He turned it off and looked up. He whistled and had to hand it to Nikita. When she was determined, she was going to do anything to get what she wanted.

"She went to medical!" Madeline hissed as she pulled out her cell phone to bark some orders to stop Nikita. Walter took Madeline's hand forcefully in his and squeezed the cell phone out of her hand.

"If there was a problem, we would have heard from medical by now... Nikita was probably gone within three minutes of entering," Walter stated calmly. He looked up at the ceiling and swallowed. She had taken a big risk. If she had fallen, Nikita could have died, along with the baby. Walter pushed those thoughts away as he handed the phone back to Calantha.

"Maybe it would be best if you allow us to handle this, Madeline," Calantha stated, knowing that this was not a request. Madeline bowed her head and waited for them to leave. Madeline settled on the toilet and regretted everything that she had done of late.

She was failing Nikita and hadn't been able to stop it.

~~

"How long as she stood there?" Calantha questioned as she approached Walter as he studied Nikita. She had been standing outside the operating room watching since they had found her.

"Since she got here... three hours..." Walter stated and Calantha nodded her head. Neither of them had the heart to disrupt Nikita. Her heart needed to be there, even if she couldn't be in the room with Michael.

"Do you think we can get her to sit down?" Calantha questioned. From what it appeared, Nikita hadn't even moved from the position that they had found Nikita. She was leaning against the side of the glass, looking in, knowing that it was the best position to see Michael's face.

"Not if she can't see Michael," Walter stated. He knew that Nikita had to be exhausted. Walter himself and to walk around some from where he was standing and even spelled himself with a chair for a while.

"The news is good though... they got the internal bleeding controlled without having to remove any organs..." Calantha informed Walter. Walter merely nodded his head. They were working on the slightly fractured skull now. It wasn't something that Walter wanted to watch and was amazed that Nikita was watching.

"Do you think she will stand there until the end?" Calantha questioned and Walter looked back towards Calantha. Walter rubbed his arms and swallowed. Her body was going to physically give out sooner or later.

Probably sooner.

"I don't think she is going to make it, but she is going to try," Walter dryly stated. He looked back into Calantha's eyes.

"What can we do?" Calantha questioned. She knew that Walter knew Nikita the best right now. He was her resource for what was going to come. Madeline hadn't even been over to view Nikita and that slighted Calantha. Madeline should have at least cared enough.

Walter couldn't answer. Nikita's hands tried to grip onto the glass as her body tilted backwards. Nikita fought the urge to go down long enough for Walter to get to her side and ease her to the ground. Walter felt his heart race as Nikita closed her eyes.

Now Walter had a decision. To talk about the baby or not. He looked at Nikita and swallowed.

"Do you want to a gurney? She needs fluids.. She hasn't replenished her system..." Walter called out. He watched Calantha turn away and get the things that he needed. Walter pushed Nikita's hair back and touched her neck, thankful to feel the steady pulse underneath, not racing, but steady.

"Has she eaten?" Madeline questioned as she stepped into the hallway. Walter blinked his eyes. It was important for a pregnant woman to eat. Walter shook his head as he looked at Madeline. He had to wonder if Madeline was going to make them move Nikita away from the room.

"I'll consult with a doctor about her calorie intake..." Madeline stated as she turned away. She did not expect anything else to be wrong. Walter picked Nikita up in his arms and nodded his head as a nurse and Calantha arrived with the gurney. Walter settled Nikita in and touched her face.

"We can take her to room 4," the nurse informed Walter as she tried to push the gurney away. Walter stopped her and held Nikita right where she was. Walter even backed the gurney up, finding that now Nikita could still see into the operating room and into Michael.

"She just needs some rest and fluids..." Walter informed the nurse. The nurse blinked her eyes. She was ready for a fight and was going to fetch a doctor about this one.

That was when Madeline turned the corner with a doctor in tow. At first, Walter was about to protest, but the doctor immediately moved towards Nikita's side, not asking for her to be moved. And Madeline stayed where she was, respecting the decisions of Walter and Calantha.

"I want the fluids started... Walter, do you know when she last ate?" the doctor questioned quickly as he touched Nikita's wrist. From just a look at her, the doctor felt that Nikita needed food. She was so thin to start with.

"Before the mission... she has herself all worked up," Walter commented. The doctor nodded his head. He had some experience with Michael and Nikita. It was always best to let them do what they were going to do and put the pieces back together again later. If Nikita needed to be near Michael, then to spare all of Section One the broken noses and concussions, they should just allow Nikita to stay.

"Nurse... start the IV... I want fortified saline... at least 800 calories..." the doctor ordered as he stepped away from the bed. He had seen this cases increase over the years and he smiled as he saw that Nikita's head had turned in the direction that if she opened her eye, she could see into the operating room. "I'll be back in an hour... She should be stirring by then..."

"Thank you," Calantha replied as she kept a careful eye on the nurse. Calantha surely didn't trust that woman yet.

~~

"Nikita?" Michael's doctor called out as he walked out of the operating room. He saw the gurney about an hour ago and noticed Calantha and Walter watching over Nikita. Her eyes had opened twenty minutes ago and never left looking at Michael. She had been silent until this moment.

"How is he?" Nikita questioned and the doctor pulled off the surgical cap off of his head as he moved towards Nikita. He noted that Nikita even now, while the surgeries were complete, couldn't take her eyes off of Michael, now that he was clearly out of the woods.

"He is going to be fine, Nikita," the doctor started, knowing that this was the news that Nikita needed to hear first. He looked at Nikita as she looked at him briefly and then back to the room.

"Why are they still working on him then?" Nikita questioned as she reached her hand out to the glass that separated Nikita from Michael's room. She ached to be there with Michael.

"Some minor plastic surgery... the plastics that we can do at the moment... You won't be able to tell that he got cut anywhere..." The doctor replied as he moved the bar of the gurney down and sat on the edge. He motioned for Walter to push the bed up so that Nikita was sitting up.

"You haven't told me something," Nikita stated as she felt Walter lifted her to a sitting position. The doctor nodded his head.

"Michael is going to be weak for sometime, Nikita... It isn't going to be an easy recovery," The doctor informed Nikita. Nikita nodded her head. She had feared this. She cupped her hands over her stomach and looked towards Walter before moving her hands away from her stomach. It was clear that Nikita was now thinking about everything.

"What kind of recovery?" Nikita questioned and the doctor swallowed as he started to twist his hands. The fact was, that it could have been much worse. Michael's body was in remarkable shape and that alone was going to spare Michael the effects of what could have happened to him. But there were going to be some issues.

"Rehab... he is going to have weakness in his legs and arms for sometime," the doctor supplied. Nikita blinked her eyes before turning her head back towards Michael. She looked at his pale face and swallowed.

"When will he wake up?" Nikita questioned. The doctor grinned. He knew that Nikita was going to be a great help to Michael's rehab. He was going to be tired easily, but he was going to push himself for Nikita. It was a great thing for a doctor to use. The power of love.

"We will be moving him to recovery soon. I assume that you want to go and be with him?" The doctor questioned, although it was not necessary. He watched Nikita nodded her head. She looked at herself and pulled the sheet off of her. She wasn't an invalid and she wasn't going to be in bed being treated as if she was hurt when it was Michael that needed the treatment.

"I'll be there..." Nikita stated and the doctor nodded his head. He knew that Nikita was worn out and would fall asleep with her head on Michael's bedside, but there was nothing that he could do about that. He knew that the two star-crossed lovers needed each other in that way.

Walter motioned for Calantha to go and moved towards Nikita. It was not a very private place to talk, but Walter settled in close to Nikita and took her hands. He didn't like what he was hearing. If Michael was going to be weak, that meant that Nikita was going to be strong. Walter got images of Nikita lifting Michael in and out of bed and helping him around the house with her taking on most of the weight. If Nikita was fully healthy, it wouldn't bother Walter, he would be amazed. But the fact was that Nikita was pregnant and should not even think of taking care of Michael on her own like that.

"I want you two to stay here..." Walter stated and Nikita licked her lips. She didn't know what was going to happen, but she didn't think that this was where she wanted Michael to recover. He was a private man. He didn't want others to help him.

"We will go back soon, Walter... I'm sure that Michael isn't as weak as the doctor makes it sound," Nikita immediately started to plan with her words. She saw Walter's worries on his face and dropped her head. "And we left Popsicle at the house. We can't leave her there all by herself."

"Popsicle is a puppy," Walter dryly commented and Nikita merely shrugged her shoulders. Walter looked at Nikita and swallowed. "I'm going to cancel the cruise..."

"NO! You are going away with Calantha! You were going to propose to her! I won't let you do this!" Nikita reacted vividly. It was clear that she felt that Walter deserved this.

"I know Michael, Nikita... He will need his friends to help him rehab... and it isn't something that you can do by yourself... not with the baby..."

"Shh!" Nikita reacted as she placed her hand over Walter's lips. Nikita looked towards the room and swallowed.

"We'll see what happens... but I know Michael. He will heal quickly," Nikita stated and Walter nodded his head.

And then he started to pray.

*

It had been a long time since Nikita had a nightmare.

But with stress and the unknown ahead of her, Nikita had no control over what would come in her dreams as she leaned her head on Michael's bed, waiting for him to wake up, to show that he was going to be ok.

~~

The hallway was long. Nikita lifted her head, positive that she had been next to Michael only moments ago. Nikita placed a hand on the wall and felt the chill of the wall possess her body. Nikita looked around, unsure of where she was.

"Mommy?" Maralah's voice called out for Nikita. Nikita started down the hallway. That was where the voice was. She needed to get to her daughter and then find out what was going on.

"Nikita!" a voice called to her. Nikita turned and swallowed. There was Madeline, standing in the hallway.

But it wasn't Madeline's voice that Nikita had heard.

Her mother, Roberta, stood next to Madeline.

"Go away!" Nikita shouted as she moved backwards, not wanting to see anymore of her mother. Nikita felt unsteady as she worked down the long hallway, finding that it went on and on endlessly at the moment.

"MOMMY!" Maralah was crying out now and Nikita pounded her feet against the floor, continuing to move.

"Nikita!" Roberta called out from a hallway that ran perpendicular to the hallway that Nikita was running down. Nikita stopped and fell to her knees. Madeline and Roberta flanked James.

"I'm sorry I'm busy, honey," James faked his sadness of not being able to help Nikita. He smiled at Roberta and then Madeline. Nikita stood up and stomped her foot. Maralah was now constantly screaming for her and Nikita rubbed her hands on her thighs.

She needed help.

"Michael!" Nikita screamed as she started back down the hallway. Nikita looked up as she ran, noticing that the ceiling was dropping, making the hallway shorter and darker.

"MOMMY!" Maralah shrilled and Nikita tripped and stumbled. Nikita pushed her body back up when she looked to the side once more and saw her mother there.

With a baby in her arms.

"You weren't careful enough.... and I am going to get to raise another daughter!" Roberta gloated as she rocked the baby back and forth. Nikita jumped out but a door slipped in front of Nikita, creating a transparent barrier between her child and her mother, the mother that would only abuse the child.

"NO! You can't do that!" Nikita cried out as she slammed her hands against the surface, finding it unbending. Her child was taken away.

Stolen.

"MOMMY! SHE IS COMING FOR ME!" Maralah cried out and Nikita's heart dropped down out of her body. Nikita knew whom Maralah was talking about. Roberta was after Nikita's other daughter.

"Michael! Where are you? HELP ME!" Nikita screamed as she pushed her tired body. She felt as if she was dragging weights on each limb, but Nikita kept moving. She needed to protect her children, although one had already been taken.

Nikita fell once more and struggled up, finding it hard to look ahead into the darkness. She was only able to keep going because her daughter was in there.

"Nikita," Madeline's voice softly whispered out. Nikita turned her head and looked at the room on the side. Madeline stood there, blocking something from her view.

"What do you want? What more do you want?" Nikita hissed and Madeline pressed her hands together as if in prayer.

"I'm sorry, Nikita... I couldn't get anyone to tell you.... Michael is dead... he didn't survive the surgeries..." Madeline stated as she stepped to the side and revealed Michael's white body.

"NO!!!!" Nikita screamed out. She backed away from the glass and clutched at her body, trying to find something to prove that this was wrong.

"MOM! SHE IS HERE! SHE IS HERE!" Maralah cried out as it was easily heard that she was struggling. Nikita was about to lose everything in her life and Nikita found the strength to go after her daughter, leaving Michael behind with her heart.

Nikita hit the wall, literally. Again there was a transparent wall between her and Maralah. Roberta was there, reaching for Maralah. Madeline had taken the other child in her arms. James was just watching.

"NO! THIS IS MY FAMILY!" Nikita cried out and Roberta smiled.

"Not any longer," Roberta stated.

Nikita fell forward and felt something touch her head, trying to sooth her.

~~

"Shh..." Michael struggled to whisper as he turned his head and touched Nikita's hair with his hand. She had been there day and night for the past three days. Her sleep had been little or nothing. Her only focus had been on his well-being while she forgot about her own.

It wasn't that Michael had been functioning much during those three days. He had been in and out, but enough to know that he was hurt, that it was going take time, that he remembered the torture and his rescue, and that Nikita was taking it hard.

Nikita jerked her head and woke herself from the nightmare. Michael pressed his lips together, wishing that he could have reached his arms around Nikita and held onto her during the nightmare. He had listened to her moans and then her screams, even as they were muffled into his sheet. Michael reached his hand out again and pushed at Nikita's hair.

"It's ok... it was a dream," Michael whispered out, hoping that his words alone could get to her. Michael may have been out of it, but he also realized that the tensions had risen inside of Section One. Nikita refused to speak with Madeline and had been short and cross with everyone else.

If only he had all of his memory intact. Michael hated that he could remember up to a point, of that damn puppy Popsicle, and then forget everything that had happened until the torture began. It was ridiculous. They weren't bad memories. Michael wanted to know why he could remember the torture, but not the months that Nikita told him that they had spent together.

And what made further confusion in Michael's head was that he remembered James and him being Nikita's father.

"I'm sorry..." Nikita whispered as she hugged her arms around herself. She looked at Michael and bite on her lip. It was clear that something was missing inside of Michael. She had noticed it when he first woke up. The doctors told Nikita that it was just temporary, just like his weakness that it would heal. But Nikita didn't know when that would happen.

And how could he forget about their baby?

"You should go lay down, Kita," Michael stated as he studied her eyes. He felt for her. He was frustrated that his body didn't just jump back like it had in the past. Michael never dealt with injury well and this time, Michael felt as if he was missing a lot.

The doctors had explained that some of his thoughts were missing. The jigsaw pieces were starting to come together, but there was something more.

Something big.

Michael looked into Nikita's eyes as they were flooded with unshed tears. There was something about her nightmare that called out to what was missing from his memory.

"No... I'm fine... I actually slept a lot," Nikita commented as she rubbed the heels of her palms into her eyes, trying to erase the tears from her eyes. It was a sign that Nikita knew that Michael could see them and that she didn't want Michael to see them.

"Don't hide from me," Michael stated as he moved his fingers across Nikita's hand as it fell next to him on the bed. Nikita lifted her head and tried to smile.

"I'm worry about you," Nikita stated. Michael looked at her.

There was more.

"And?"

"And what? I almost lost you," Nikita replied and Michael shook his head as carefully as he could. He felt the room shifted and closed his eyes briefly. He opened his eyes when he felt Nikita's hand on his cheek.

"Don't lie to me either," Michael warned and Nikita dropped her head and started to move her head around. She was darting away from something and if Michael was feeling better, he would have been more concerned. He moved his hand again, touching Nikita, knowing that right now that was all that he could do. How he wished that his arms would just wrap around Nikita and hold onto her.

She needed that.

"So... how are you feeling? Still have a headache?" Nikita questioned as she turned her head back finally to Michael. Michael blinked his eyes, knowing not to move his head too much. He had to get better and soon before he lost a major part of Nikita.

"Nikita..." Michael called out as Nikita turned her head away. She turned back and looked at Michael. The bags underneath her eyes were growing and Michael felt the look twist his heart. "I want to go home."

"Michael... I don't think the doctors want you to go. You are still very weak," Nikita responded immediately and Michael used his hand to push his bed up, so he could look Nikita straight in the eyes.

"Don't you want me to go home?" Michael questioned.

"Of course I do!" Nikita immediately snapped back. She looked at Michael and swallowed. She knew what he needed and she was ready to give it to him. Nikita realized that she would feel more comfortable at home herself, taking care of Michael. And for Nikita, she believed that she could do it. "But you need a lot of therapy, Michael... And you know me... It takes me sometime to learn that stuff..."

"I know all. I can tell you want to do," Michael quickly responded to Nikita's worries. He wasn't going to let this one go.

"Michael... you saying it is a lot different than me watching it and actually doing it with the therapist right there," Nikita pointed out as she straightened up in the chair. Michael looked at his shirt that Nikita was wearing. Never had the feelings inside of him warred like they were now.

"What's wrong Nikita? Was it something with the nightmare that won't let you take me home?" Michael formed the question. Nikita shook her head.

The dream was her life right now. Chaos.

"No, Michael... but you are asking a lot in me... showing a lot of faith in me... I haven't been that strong in a long while," Nikita pointed out as she rubbed her arms around herself. She looked to the side and swallowed.

And there was the baby. The baby that Michael couldn't remember. Nikita had been reminded of the baby often, as Walter had proven to be the unborn child's advocate. Nikita might have forgotten about it if Walter hadn't been there. He didn't have plans on allowing Nikita to take Michael home. Plus, Nikita didn't trust herself yet.

Michael was going to change that.

He just wanted to go home. Michael wanted to be in his bed that he shared with Nikita. Michael wanted to smell the woods outside and see the sun shine through the window. The bleak walls of Section One were draining him. Often he would dream of the house, of the woods and the maple tree that Nikita had planted. That was where Michael wanted to recover and grow strong again. He didn't want to be under the watchful eye of Madeline and Walter. He didn't want anyone else but Nikita to see his struggles and his victories.

"The house... Nikita... It healed you... and I can't think of another place that I would want to heal at Nikita..." Michael whispered as he turned his green eyes to Nikita. Nikita dropped her head slightly and swallowed.

"Walter isn't going to be that easy to get off of my back," Nikita commented and Michael smiled.

He was going home.

"You'll think of something. Isn't he going on a cruise?" Michael questioned as he yawned. His was getting tired again.

"Are you sure, Michael? You are relying upon me alone," Nikita reminded Michael. She knew that he was tired, but she needed to make sure that Michael realized what he was saying yes too.

"Madeline told me of the risks you took to come get me Nikita. You planned the impossible mission. You saved my life. How can I not trust you?" Michael countered. Nikita smiled. She felt that with Michael's words, that she could truly do this.

"Michael... It might take some time," Nikita warned as she reached for his hand. Michael blinked his green eyes to Nikita. Nikita looked around and swallowed.

If she weren't pregnant, this wouldn't be hard. She could do this.

If she weren't having a troubled pregnancy, this wouldn't be hard. Even Walter didn't know all of the details, the diabetes and the high blood pressure. He didn't know that Nikita was supposed to be taking it easy right now until she had the ultrasound.

Nikita looked at Michael and knew.

She had to take care of him. She had to take him home and tend to him. There was no other answer possible in Nikita's mind. Michael had given up everything in order to help her and she had to do the same for him.

~~

Going to Walter would have just created no opening for Nikita. Walter would have immediately said no. Nikita needed someone on her side, to help her along with talking Walter into going on the cruise.

"Hi, Calantha... I'm glad that you could have coffee with me," Nikita stated as she stepped into the tiny room that was not far from medical. Calantha nodded her head and noted that Nikita wasn't drinking coffee but rather milk. She had a feeling that Nikita was stressed out and that caffeine had probably been restricted for her.

"I'm happy to see you outside of medical. Although I wish you would sleep," Calantha commented as she picked up the coffee pot and poured the liquid out. Nikita watched Calantha as she plopped the sugar into the coffee and then a dash of milk.

"I've been sleeping in Michael's room. He needs the company," Nikita stated and Calantha nodded her head. She didn't qualify it as sleep, but only Nikita truly knew how much sleep she was getting in the room until something happened to show that she wasn't getting enough sleep.

"How is Michael doing?" Calantha questioned and Nikita dropped her head slightly, but knew to not drop it too far.

"He is getting better and crabby. He was complaining about the whirlpool when I left him," Nikita stated and Calantha smiled. She could just imagine Michael bothering the staff inside of medical. However, the words of hatred from the medical staff were not being muttered about Michael. They were being muttered about Nikita. Often it wasn't about the lack of care, but Nikita had been complaining about too much care.

As if she was trying to hide something.

"And his memory?" Calantha questioned and Nikita tried to smile.

"It comes back in bits and pieces... At least nothing major has been forgotten," Nikita commented as she winced internally.

Michael had forgotten that she was pregnant. And not just newly pregnant, but four months pregnant.

"It won't be long," Calantha stated. She knew this well. Michael was a strong man and if given the right amount of stimulation, the memories would easily come back. Some would be more difficult, especially those tied to certain emotions, but they would all come back.

Hopefully.

"I wanted to talk about you and Walter..." Nikita stated and Calantha laughed. She couldn't believe that this was why Nikita had left medical and Michael's side.

"Nikita... Walter has been so tied up in making sure that you eat and sleep, that we haven't had much time to ourselves," Calantha honestly admitted. Calantha sipped at her coffee. In many ways, it had always been Nikita that separated Calantha from being fully with Walter.

"I don't want that... I don't need it either... He hasn't cancelled your cruise yet, as he?" Nikita questioned and Calantha sighed.

"He is going to call tonight. We were to leave tomorrow to go to Miami to get the boat..." Calantha sadly informed Nikita. Nikita shook her head back and forth.

"That is going to hurt me... Michael is going to be fine.. and if Walter cancels a vacation with you just because he thinks that I can't hold it together... then he is wrong..." Nikita started to explain as she tilted her head to the side. That was exactly what Calantha had been thinking. Walter would always point to the way that Nikita got to Michael's side no holds barred and how she passed out.

"Nikita... when you came back from the mission... what happened? That is what has Walter so concerned," Calantha questioned. If she only had answers for Walter on this topic, things could be so different.

Nikita leaned back in her chair. She knew that if she answered this question sufficiently enough that Calantha would find a way to get Walter to go on that cruise. They would leave the next morning and Nikita could get Michael out of medical during the afternoon and before Madeline arrived back.

Timing meant everything here. No one could find out what Michael was forgetting. No one could find out that she was pregnant. It was the only way this was going to happen.

"It wasn't long ago... that I was going through hell... I had memories flooding me and coming in every direction... Michael had found a way to pull everything that was a part of me together again... knowing that I came close to losing him was unacceptable... He healed me by being by me... I felt that I needed to return the favor," Nikita explained in a soft and steady voice. There were tears glistening in her eyes.

Calantha sighed. "And you are still healing Michael in that way by sleeping in the room with him."

"We need to sleep together. We find security in that," Nikita stated, but again, winced inside. She knew that she had nightmares in the room. The one that Michael had woken her from wasn't the first one. Nikita was sure that there would be more to come.

"We'll go on that cruise, Nikita. I think me and Walter need to take a lesson from you and Michael," Calantha stated and Nikita nodded her head.

And with that conversation, the next day at 3 pm, four hours after Walter and Calantha left and one hour before Madeline returned, Nikita leaned Michael on her lithe frame, straining her back and stressing the baby, and helped Michael painfully walk from medical to the car.

And she would help him up to their house. She would carry most of his weight up the stairs. And she would put him to bed.

*

"Mom? You look pale," Maralah stated as she walked up the stairs and stared at her mother. Nikita had just stepped out of the bedroom that she shared with Michael. Nikita pushed back her hair and tried to steady her mind. There was so much that needed to be done, but Nikita just wanted to sit down in bed and go to sleep.

But Michael was hungry. They had just arrived home and hadn't had a chance to eat on the way, because it would have been too hard to get Michael out of the car to eat. Instead, Nikita now had to get Michael something to eat.

"I'm just tired," Nikita remarked for her daughter. Nikita looked down the stairs and felt an ache deep in her shoulders. She leaned her head back and swallowed. Nikita turned her head to the side and looked at her growing daughter, staring at her.

"Nikita?" Michael called out and Nikita lurched. She was doing what Michael wanted. They were home. But Nikita suddenly was overwhelmed and worried.

"Yes, Michael?" Nikita called out as she stepped back towards the bedroom. She pushed the door open a crack to see Michael struggling with the covers. Nikita moved to gather them back up near his chin.

"I'm hot... I don't need the covers," Michael stated after Nikita completed her fussing. Nikita looked at Michael and smiled. She carefully pulled the covers down, trying to appear calm and cool.

"I'm sorry, Michael... I'll remember next time," Nikita stated as she turned to leave the room.

"Nikita?" Michael called out again, right before Nikita turned back to nudge the door closed. Nikita stared at Michael and he swallowed.

She looked hollow. Michael regretted that he had ever said that he wanted to come home. He knew that it was a mistake. There was something that Nikita wasn't telling him right now, just so she could put all the focus on him. Michael ached to know what that was.

"Yes, Michael?" Nikita questioned, seeing Michael stare at her. He slowly looked to the side and then back to Nikita, trying to make up his mind what to say.

"Maybe we should get some help... I'm awfully heavy," Michael stated and Nikita shook her head. Nikita looked down the hallway to where Maralah was and knew that she had to take care of things.

"And I'm awfully strong," Nikita wryly stated to Michael as she flashed Michael her 100 watt smile. In that moment, Nikita looked almost healthy, but it didn't last long. But Nikita wouldn't have Michael thinking on that topic long.

"Now... Aren't you hungry?" Nikita questioned and Michael nodded his head. Nikita backed out of the room and closed the door softly behind her. She knew that Michael was tired and she hoped that he would fall asleep before she got back up to the room with his food.

He needed rest.

"Maralah..." Nikita addressed her daughter. Maralah perked her head up. She knew that her father was hurt and on the road of getting better. She didn't know what was wrong with her mother, but Maralah had learned a long time ago to just listen to her parents. That lesson was fresh in her mind as one of her toys that Michael told her to clean up, caused Nikita to fall down the stairs. "Will you please run downstairs and get one of those crackers and meat things that you like to eat for your dad?"

"Is that all Dad is going to eat?" Maralah questioned and Nikita threaded her fingers through her hair. She was going to go down and make something more. Nikita wish that she could go now, but with a glance at the stairs, Nikita ached.

"Dinner will be in a few hours, honey.... And your Dad can't eat too much with the medication that he is on," Nikita explained as she continued to move towards the bathroom. Her head was throbbing and she wanted to douse her face with water before going onto the other tasks at hand.

Like unpacking.

Nikita turned around as the cell phone blared next to her. Nikita looked at her daughter and waved her hand around, indicating that Maralah should just do what was told. Maralah hurried down the stairs and Nikita found out that she didn't have the energy to tell Maralah to walk.

"Hello?" Nikita questioned as she placed the cell phone to her ear.

"WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT DID YOU DO? WHY DID YOU TAKE MICHAEL?" Madeline started to cross-examine Nikita. Nikita leaned against the wall. She truly wasn't ready for this one.

"The doctors released him," Nikita pointed out, wishing that those words would be enough to get Madeline off of her case.

"Yes, they released him. But do you think I wanted you to go back to that house? Do you know how far away you are?" Madeline angrily spat.

"It was what Michael wanted. I can take care of him," Nikita sternly commented. She was sick of Madeline's attitude.

"Nikita... that isn't the issue. You took advantage of Walter going on that cruise. You knew that he wouldn't let you run away," Madeline accused Nikita, causing Nikita's mind to start to react. Madeline was attacking Nikita's judgment and calling into question the way that Nikita took care of Michael.

It was unacceptable.

"Do you want everyone to be under your control? Don't you have enough? You already took my father, are you looking to take Michael and my daughter also?" Nikita snapped out as she stepped into another room, not wanting Michael to hear any of this.

"Nikita... you are overreacting here..." Madeline stated in a smooth and steady voice. It was quite clear that she didn't want to lose Nikita in this conversation right now.

"Overreacting? You don't think I can do this... or rather.... you don't want me to do this because it wasn't what you decided. Now you are just acting like Paul!" Nikita hissed out quickly. Nikita winced as she heard what she had said.

It was a low blow.

"I wish you well, Nikita," Madeline responded and hung up the phone. Nikita looked to the door and leaned her head against the wood.

"Nikita? Who was that?" Michael called out from down the hallway. Nikita leaned her head back and swallowed.

She wanted to throw up.

The soft knock on the door that she was behind brought Nikita back to the present. She couldn't linger on what had happened. There was only what needed to be done and what was next to be done. "Don't worry, Michael... I have it under control..."

Nikita opened the door and looked down at Maralah. She had brought two different kinds of the boxed crackers and meat. Nikita smiled. Her daughter had such a kind heart. Nikita bent down and kissed Maralah's head and sent her back downstairs before turning back to Michael's needs.

"I got you something to eat... Can you manage this?" Nikita questioned as she picked the box with the chicken breast over the ham. Michael looked at it, concentrating on the packaging to decide if his fingers were strong enough to manage feeding himself.

"If you can propped me up in bed," Michael stated with determination. Nikita nodded her head as she settled the box on the dresser. She moved to Michael and hooked her arm underneath Michael's, finding a good leverage point from pulling up from his armpit. Of course, only part of Michael lifted up. Nikita had to straddle Michael and then proceed to do the same on the other side, only this time kneeling on the bed and bending over more.

"Good?" Nikita questioned as she panted and rolled off of the bed. Nikita kept her back turned from Michael as she straightened up and swallowed back the pain. Michael needed to heal. What was going on with her right now didn't matter.

"Fine," Michael responded as he saw Nikita's back. Nikita nodded her head and circled around the bed. She picked up the box and peeled back the plastic cover. Nikita handed it to Michael and pressed her lips together.

Nikita was about to talk when her cell phone rang again. It didn't take Nikita a minute to guess who it was. Nikita grated her teeth together as her mind launched into what her life could be like if she didn't break free from Madeline right this moment. Nikita strode to where she had placed the phone and picked it up.

"You are disturbing us," Nikita announced firmly. Michael raised an eyebrow, not sure what was going on, but know that for Nikita to take that ton, that something was wrong.

"Nikita... Let's talk about this..." Madeline calmly stated, surprised with the tone that Nikita had taken. Madeline couldn't imagine how difficult that it would be to be the only person helping out with Michael. All Madeline wanted to do was to give Nikita some scheduled respite from dealing with Michael for the long days and weeks ahead. The doctors couldn't give Madeline an exact date when Michael would be better, and said that it was all up to Michael. It made Madeline worry that Nikita had taken on too much responsibility.

"No. There will be no talking about this, Madeline," Nikita declared and Michael dropped his head. He maneuvered his hands into the box and pulled at the cracker and then the cheese. He didn't want the meat. He tried not to worry about the conversation that Nikita was having, but now Michael knew who called earlier. It sounded like a very upset Madeline.

"I think you need to calm down... count to ten... You are rushing your judgments," Madeline commenting carefully.

"NO! And I'll tell you what else... I don't want anyone from Section One contacting us. In fact... unless we call you, don't call us!" Nikita snapped as she slammed the phone down. Nikita looked around the phone and then turned off the power. Nikita walked to the dresser and hide the phone deep underneath a pile of heavy sweaters that have never been worn.

"Nikita?" Michael questioned but Nikita continued to move. She was going through the bag of Michael's that Maralah had carried in for her. Nikita looked on the outside pockets and swallowed. "Nikita?"

"Where is your cell phone?" Nikita questioned and Michael blinked his eyes. Now he knew that Nikita was going too far off the deep end. This shouldn't have gone this far to start with. Section One needed a way to get in touch with them if there was an emergency.

"I don't know... and I think we should keep mine on..." Michael declared as he stared at Nikita. Forgotten was the cracker and cheese in his hand. This was erratic behavior and these things didn't happen to Nikita without a reason.

And Michael was forgetting the reason.

"They have other ways to get in touch with us, Michael.... I just don't want to have to be running for a ringing cell phone in the middle of your therapy or if I'm helping you to the bathroom," Nikita explained as she pulled the zipper on the bag and dropped the contents out on the floor. Nikita saw the shiny black and dropped to the ground and found the cell phone.

"That makes sense," Michael cautiously spoke. Noticing his hand, he lifted the food to his mouth and winced. He turned his head to the side. Seeing Nikita like this made him want to hide what was wrong and his own pain.

Nikita shoved Michael's cell phone in with Michael's and then hauled her body off of the floor. She looked to Michael and forced out another smile. Michael began to wish that Nikita wouldn't even try to smile. It was depressing him seeing Nikita trying to force things out that she didn't want to do.

"I have to go downstairs... and start dinner... Are you ok for a while?" Nikita questioned and Michael nodded his head.

"I think once I'm done, I'll go to sleep," Michael stated. Nikita gave the thumbs up, agreeing with Michael's plan.

And she ran out of the room.

Michael stared at the door, wondering what was going. He felt limited by his body and his missing memory. He hoped that sleeping, that the dreams would bring back what was missing. It felt as if it was something that would change his life with Nikita and Michael knew that Nikita was aware that he had forgotten it.

In ways, Michael yearned that Nikita would just tell him what he was forgetting. It would be easier that living in the despair that the memory was gone and that it would help keep them apart for all time. In other ways, Michael could understand what Nikita was doing, listening to the doctors, knowing that they felt that in time, all of his memories would come back.

But this was something big. Michael realized that he was not going enjoy what was going on once he realized what he had forgotten.

Meanwhile, Nikita had finally rushed downstairs. She wasn't going to start dinner though. She had another mission to deal with right away. "Maralah... take your father a glass of water."

"Sure," Maralah stated as she stood in the hallway and watched her mother fly into the den and look at the various equipment there. Maralah moved to the kitchen. It was clear that her mother didn't want her around right now.

Nikita saw the computer. It was linked to Section One. They had a way to get in touch with them, to remind Nikita that they thought that she wasn't enough for Michael. Nikita dropped to her knees and crawled underneath the desk and started to disconnect the equipment.

"Goodbye, Section," Nikita stated as she pulled out the power plug. She knew that Birkoff would immediately notice the lack of power and cause alarm until Madeline told Birkoff what had happened. Nikita did more than just pull the power out, she disconnected all of it.

"But mom! How am I supposed to talk to Alsena?" Maralah questioned as she appeared in the room. Nikita looked frightened by Maralah's voice and started to pull the keyboard and the mouse out and handed them to Maralah. Nikita stood up and pulled at the tower of the computer.

"We are taking this to the shed.... You can talk to Alsena on the phone on Sunday," Nikita commented as she nudged her daughter forward. Nikita wanted the equipment out of the house as soon as possible. She didn't want Section One things in there with her. Not now. This was about healing.

Nikita struggled with the heavy tower. It was from fatigued muscles that labored with getting Michael upstairs not that long ago. They were muscles that were still injured from her fall down the stairs. All of that was forgotten. Now, Nikita just wanted the computer out of the house and as far away from her as possible.

"Mom... what is going on?" Maralah questioned as she turned and placed her hands on her hips. She was acting like Nikita would have been if she had been allowed to have childhood and a preteen life. Nikita moved into the shed and put the computer down on the table.

"There is still more left... We have to get the printer and the monitor... And there is the special TV that Birkoff gave us," Nikita stated and Maralah threw her hands in the air.

"That was a gift!" Maralah shouted and Nikita looked away from her daughter.

"I'm not asking you to move it, Maralah... I'm just telling you what else needs to be relocated..." Nikita commented as she stared at the wood of the shed. She listened to Maralah huff and puff herself out of the shed. Nikita stepped out of the shed and bent forward.

She was exhausted.

Nikita again was feeling the need to throw up or just to fall to the ground and cry. She was overwhelmed, but also knew that she couldn't stop moving.

There was not a thought about herself.

And that would just lead to disaster.

*

"Just a few more..." Nikita directed Michael as she looked at his moving arm up and down. She counted silently the repetitions, wishing that suddenly Michael would be able to do more. He wouldn't be able to. Not today and probably not tomorrow either.

"Nikita...." Michael strained out, showing that he was getting tired and that he wouldn't be able to hold onto the hand weight much longer.

"Come on, Michael... Just a few more..." Nikita stated, knowing that he had to do the right amount. Nikita wouldn't let Michael fall behind or get worse. That was unacceptable. She pushed back her hair and jumped as the weight suddenly dropped out of Michael's hand. Nikita looked to the floor and was happy that the weight had not dropped on his foot.

"I just got tired," Michael weakly stated as he turned his head to Nikita. He wanted to do more, but there was nothing he could do. His body limited him. There were things that Michael could do, but Nikita would limit those, claiming that she knew what was best for him. Michael hated those words, but listened to Nikita.

She was working so hard.

"Are you going to be able to make it back into bed?" Nikita questioned as she straightened up. Nikita looked at Michael and swallowed, suddenly regretting that she had ever allowed Michael to talk into getting out of bed to do his arm curls. Michael stared up at Nikita and wished that he could lie to her and then do the impossible.

But Michael knew what he could and couldn't do.

"I'll need some help.." Michael informed Nikita as he started to shift in the chair. It was indication that it was Michael's way of getting ready for Nikita to haul him up onto his feet. Nikita merely nodded her head and went to Michael's left side, the side that was considerably weaker and supported his arm.

"On a count of three..." Nikita stated as she started to count. Nikita pulled Michael up and felt him wobble. Nikita stood still and closed her eyes briefly. She felt slightly lightheaded and swallowed. "Maralah? Can you come in here?"

"What's wrong?" Michael immediately questioned, sensing that something was wrong. He lifted his head and stared into Nikita's glassed over eyes. Panic set in. "Nikita?"

"Come on... let's take a few steps..." Nikita directed Michael as she inched back. Michael had felt strength in Nikita's arms before but now Michael was sure that there was nothing in Nikita helping to hold him up.

"Nikita..."

"Come on... just two steps..." Nikita pushed Michael as she dropped her head. She looked down to the ground, using all of the strength in her body to keep Michael standing up. She wasn't sure what was going to happen to her, but Nikita knew that she couldn't let Michael fall.

"Yeah, mom?" Maralah questioned as she poked her head into the door. Nikita poked her head up and swallowed as another wave of dizziness took over her body. Nikita knew that she was swaying and she hoped that it wasn't making Michael sway.

"Can you bring that chair here? I need to help your dad sit for a moment," Nikita directed her daughter as she blinked her eyes several times. She knew that Michael was staring at her, but there was nothing else that Nikita could do to make this situation better. Nikita smiled as Maralah expertly placed the chair right behind Michael and Nikita settled him down.

"Nikita? What's wrong?" Michael questioned as Nikita stepped away from Michael and slightly stumbled. This was the woman that he was depending upon to do everything and right now she looked sick. Nikita leaned on the bed and then settled her body on the foot of the bed.

"Maralah... will you go get me a large glass of orange juice?" Nikita questioned and her daughter nodded her head. It was mere seconds before Maralah disappeared and Nikita looked into Michael's eyes. She saw all the things that Michael was thinking and she knew that she had to address them. "I didn't eat yet today, Michael.... and I'm just a bit tired."

"Tired? You look white as those sheets," Michael commented as he stared at Nikita with wide eyes filled with fear. Nikita softly smiled and pushed her hair back. At least as she was sitting down she appeared to be gaining some of her color back.

"They are off-white," Nikita dryly commented as she rolled her head back. Nikita took some deep breaths and only lifted her head when Maralah jogged into the room and extended the glass of orange juice.

"Maybe you should take a break? You look like you are losing weight," Michael commented as he watched Nikita down half the glass of orange juice in one large gulp. Nikita dropped the glass away from her mouth and took a long deep breath.

"Do you want me to get you another glass?" Maralah questioned and Nikita shook her head. Nikita rolled her shoulders back, feeling the stress of baring Michael's weight on her frame growing. She needed a long bath and some relaxation. She needed to sleep also.

"I'm feeling better all ready," Nikita lied as she smiled and started to move. Nikita realized that Michael would feel if she was weak and Nikita knew that she had to be better.

There was no other option.

"Nikita... just rest some more..." Michael offered. He didn't want Nikita to hurt herself. That was Michael's biggest fear in all of this, that Nikita would hurt herself. He couldn't imagine how difficult it would be to carry his weight around for Nikita.

"Actually, I want to get you into bed... so I can take a long bath... relax in the hot water..." Nikita informed Michael, knowing that he would like the idea of Nikita taking some time for herself in this madness. Michael frowned though. He didn't want Nikita to hurry anything, but then he wanted Nikita to take that bath. She had only found enough time to shower when she had taken him into the shower. It couldn't have been very good for Nikita.

"Maybe we should get in touch with someone from Section... to give us some help..." Michael stated as Nikita handed the glass back to Maralah as she moved towards Michael.

"That's nonsense. I can take care of you. You took care of me by yourself," Nikita stated firmly. Michael swallowed. He knew that the two situations were different. However, it was quite clear that in Nikita's mind they were the same.

"Come on... into bed..." Nikita stated as she bent down and grabbed Michael's arms again. Michael sat up, knowing that Nikita meant business. It was critical that he put his best foot forward and tries to get to the bed as quickly as possible.

"I'm going to start the water for you, mom," Maralah stated as she headed out of the room. She didn't like seeing her father like this. It was difficult to see the strong man being as weak as he was now.

"Are you done lying now, Kita?" Michael questioned when he was standing up and in Nikita's arms. He turned his head to the side and tried to see Nikita's eyes. He knew that Nikita wouldn't drop him, but he had to wonder at what expense.

"I'm not lying, Michael," Nikita commented immediately as she looked down to his foot. Nikita was relieved to see Michael moving it forward. It was a good thing for Nikita to be able to hold Michael as long as she didn't have to move his legs for him.

"Then what am I forgetting?" Michael questioned. Nikita tensed for a second and then surged ahead, pulling Michael quickly several feet, making up the distance to the bed.