"Can you get into bed?" Nikita questioned although she knew this answer. Michael swung his head from side to side; disappointed that Nikita hadn't answered his question. It only made Michael positive that he was forgetting something that was very important in Nikita's life.

"I do love you... I don't know if I have said it enough..." Michael started to think of things that he could have been forgetting. Nikita kissed Michael's nose as she placed his hands on the bed.

"I know that, Michael," Nikita stated as she moved up onto the bed and kept a hand under Michael's armpit. It was an awkward positioning, always-stretching Nikita's side and back when she got him up and into bed. But there was no other way. "Come on, Michael... Roll on up."

The way that Michael got into bed wasn't the way that the therapist has shown Nikita, but things had to be modified for the living in the house. This bed was up high and it didn't roll down low. There was nothing else that Nikita could and Michael easily accepted the rolling method. If Nikita could get his body to start, the rest was easy.

"See... you are getting better at that..." Nikita commented as she flopped down on the bed. She rolled her head around and felt Michael's hands touching her knee.

"Please... tell me what I am forgetting," Michael stated as his eyes dropped. Nikita shrugged her shoulders.

"It's nothing too big, Michael... and I guess it doesn't really matter if you don't remember it," Nikita stated as she felt the tears starting to form in her eyes. She jumped out of the bed and slapped her hands together. "I'm going to go take that bath."

"Nikita..." Michael called out as Nikita started to grab her towel and robe. Nikita turned around and looked at Michael. She wanted to tell him, but Nikita didn't know how Michael would take it. What if the Michael that was in the bed right now didn't want the baby? Could Nikita chance that sort of rejection?

"Maralah will be able to get you drinks and whatnot," Nikita advised Michael as she rubbed her hands together. She was far enough away that Michael could see the seeping tears at the edges of her eyes.

"When are we going to talk?" Michael questioned. Nikita leaned against the doorframe. She wanted to talk to Michael, but things were always so rushed. This was the first time in days that Nikita was going to have time to herself. And all that she was going to get was a bath. Soon Nikita would have to start dinner and take Michael to the bathroom again. Then there would be the last set of exercises for the day. Afterwards, she would tuck Maralah into bed and make sure that Michael had his medicine and snack. Often there was another run to the bathroom with Michael before Nikita got downstairs to wash the dinner dishes and to feed the puppy.

And then she would get to go to sleep.

"Soon, Michael," Nikita stated with a soft smile, knowing that it would only pacify Michael for so long. Nikita hoped it would last long enough so she could soak in the tub.

~~

Walter walked into Section One feeling like a new man. The cruise was everything that Walter and Calantha had hoped and planned it being, and much more. Walter felt like he had dropped twenty years during the week cruise and felt ready to face the world again.

He knew that walking back into Section One that things weren't going to be peachy keen. He knew that Nikita was helping Michael, being pregnant and all. Walter realized that Michael didn't even remember the baby. It was a mess.

But in those minutes as Walter walked down the hallway and no one ran towards him, telling him of the horror stories of Michael in medical, Walter almost felt as if Michael had remembered and Nikita had finally gotten a break. But the further Walter got into Section One, things didn't seem right.

He should have been hearing about Michael.

Michael was always a bear inside of medical. He would demand a computer and to stay up to date on missions, even if he wasn't going to be going out on a mission for months due to injury. He would have the highest temperature, but Michael would still be working. He didn't stop working.

That shouldn't have changed.

"Hello, Birkoff... All is quiet?" Walter questioned as he slapped Birkoff on the shoulder. Birkoff turned and rolled his eyes. It may appear quiet, but it was because Madeline had seemed to given up hope on Michael and Nikita starting contact with Section One again.

"Has been since Nikita threw out the equipment and ditched the phones," Birkoff stated as he flipped the computers on. He would have to do his hourly check soon, seeing that Michael and Nikita were in fact, still in the house. They always were. Birkoff didn't think that they were going anywhere anytime soon.

"What do you mean about that?" Walter questioned as he frowned. The tone from Birkoff alone told Walter that something was wrong.

"Nikita marched Michael right on out of here after you left... they went up to that house... and Nikita proceeded to cut off all communications with us because Madeline decided to piss her off some more," Birkoff commented, adding in his own opinions about Madeline's doings. But it was the overriding feelings from most of the operatives.

This was Madeline's fault.

"She left with Michael?" Walter bellowed in horror. He knew that Michael wasn't going to be strong enough to stand on his own, let alone walk, without the weight being placed on Nikita.

And Nikita was pregnant.

"I already said that. I have had to repeat myself with Madeline... don't make me repeat myself..." Birkoff warned and Walter threw his arms up in the air to stop himself from slapping the man. Sometimes Birkoff didn't know that he shouldn't try to be humorous about the situation.

This was one of those times.

"I can't believe that they just let them go!" Walter hollered and Birkoff sighed.

It was going to be a long day. Walter wasn't happy.

~~

Nikita was in the darkness in the tub. She needed to relax and allow her muscles to soak in the warmth. Nikita leaned her head back and tried not to think about Michael.

But she thought about him. And the baby. And how Michael forgot about the baby.

It was Nikita's biggest fear, that Michael would find out now and not want it. She didn't know what she would do if that was so. What if this was a blessing for Michael? What if he didn't want to remember all the torture that Nikita had caused between the two of them? What if he never remembered the love that they had?

Nikita had to hide the engagement ring that Michael had given her. He didn't remember that night. It made Nikita cry.

"Come on, Nikita... stop this," Nikita hissed at herself as she swiped her cheeks of the tears with her wet hands. Nikita leaned her head back again and looked up into the darkness and tried to relax.

Nikita started to swirl the water around her. The water felt so good. It was helping. Lifting and pulling Michael was straining her body. Nikita was sure that she would be this sore, with or without the baby. At times, Michael was fiercely independent, refusing to use the urinal, and needing to go to the bathroom each and every time natured called. It was good that he was out of bed and trying to walk, but it was bad for Nikita. She held his weight. She woke up in the middle of the night to take him back and forth.

"Mom?" Maralah called out as she knocked at the door. Nikita closed her eyes. All she wanted was a half hour. Nikita didn't think that she was asking for too much.

"Honey... I'm taking a bath..." Nikita called out as she arched her back as the darkness of the bathroom was broken with the light coming in from the inch that Maralah had opened the door.

"In the dark?" Maralah questioned.

"Yes, in the dark. What do you want?" Nikita snapped. She didn't mean too, but right now, she just wanted to answer Maralah's question and then get back to the relaxing bath. She couldn't remember the last time that she had properly washed her own hair.

"Dad wants something more to eat. He can't sleep," Maralah started to explain. Nikita lifted her hands and allowed some water to drip onto her face. At first, she was at a lost for words. All Nikita knew was that she didn't want Michael drinking anything more.

"Honey... there are some pretzels... Don't give him too many... dinner isn't too far off," Nikita stated. Nikita looked towards the light and saw it disappear. Her daughter didn't even say goodbye. Nikita knew that it was difficult on Maralah and that Nikita was depending on her daughter too much. But Nikita didn't know what else to do.

Nikita dropped her hands heavily on the water and settled them on her stomach.

And then she froze.

She was growing. There was evidence of the baby. It was there, inside of her and still growing, despite what Nikita was doing to it. Nikita closed her eyes and slipped deeper into the water, feeling the tears. She didn't want to feel the tears any longer. Nikita dunked her head down underneath the surface and waited. It didn't matter.

She continued to cry.

This baby was something that had been spoken about and dreamed about years ago. It had arrived at a time that everything appeared as if they were going to be fine. Nikita now found herself in hell.

The good list was that Michael was alive.

The bad list just continued to grow.

The baby was there. Right underneath Nikita's hand. And it was growing. It was surviving despite the anguish and torture that it's parents were going through right now.

"Oh my god... Michael..." Nikita trembled as she pulled herself up from the water and flicked the light on. She couldn't rest any longer. She had to get Michael healthy. He had to become himself again in order to save Nikita and this unborn child. Nikita pulled on Michael's shirt and moved to the mirror.

And she saw herself.

Pale. Both Michael and Maralah saw that she was pale. Nikita hadn't seen herself. In fact, she had gone out of her way to avoid looking into a mirror. Nikita stepped away from it now, seeing how worn down she was.

She regretted going so far away from Section One. But they would have found out. Walter already knew. That was bad enough. Nikita blinked her eyes and turned away from the mirror. And then she snapped.

She threw her hand forward and smashed the mirror. Nikita looked at the shards of glass and stared at the blood on her hand.

She didn't even hurt.

"Mom?" Maralah called out as she pushed open the door. Maralah stopped when she saw her mother's bloody hand and the broken mirror.

Nikita no longer believed in luck. She was sure that she was damned for all of eternity. Nothing ever went right for he. Nikita grabbed a towel and swallowed as she placed it around her hand.

She was going to have to explain that to Michael.

"DAD! Mom is bleeding!" Maralah cried out and Nikita watched her daughter run away from the bathroom. Nikita checked her body, making sure that she was covered up and moved towards the bedroom.

"How?" Michael questioned as he struggled to sit himself up in the bed.

"I broke the mirror," Nikita stated as she moved towards the dresser where there was a first aid kit set up for Nikita to use with Michael. Nikita opened the towel and winced as the air hit the cuts. She hadn't believed that she was cut that bad.

"Bring the kit here, Nikita... Let me do this..." Michael stated and Nikita shook her head from side to side. Michael frowned. He didn't like this. He knew that Nikita had to have slammed her hand into the mirror in order to break it and cut her hand up. It was a sign that she was starting to lose the calm and steadiness that was going to be needed to help him.

"I'm not helpless, Nikita. I can use my hands. You can't use both of yours!" Michael declared with anger finally seeping into his voice. It was about time that Nikita started to listen to him. Yes, he couldn't walk to the bathroom by himself, but he didn't have to act like Nikita's words came from the gospel and that he would go to hell for not listening to her. It was time to start acting like someone who was very concerned over Nikita.

If he didn't, there would be more trouble down the road, if there weren't more trouble in the room right now.

"Bring the chair over here, Maralah... Your mom needs to sit down..." Michael directed from the chair. Nikita looked at Michael and dropped her head. She dutifully carried the box over and placed it on Michael's lap. She looked to the chair and then sat down. Maralah left the room and Michael touched Nikita's hair carefully.

"You had some glass in your hair," Michael stated as he dropped the piece into Nikita's other hand. Nikita swallowed and moved her eyes away from Michael's watchful eyes. He opened the towel and swallowed as he pulled the alcohol cleanser out and looked to Nikita. "What got you so upset that you punched the mirror?"

"I don't know what you are talking about," Nikita immediately rushed out. Michael looked to her and swallowed.

"It's ok that you don't want to talk about it... just tell me that though," Michael stated. He was tired of Nikita lying.

"There are some things that we just can't talk about, Michael," Nikita stated as she winced. Michael was placing a bandage over a cut on her knuckles.

"It's about something I'm forgetting," Michael commented. He didn't need Nikita to confirm it, but he knew.

"Not everything is about you," Nikita snapped as she lifted her eyes and stared at Michael. She turned away and shook her head. She wasn't going to get involved with this right now.

"Fine..." Michael tightly spoke as he continued to pull out bandages.

But there wasn't a bandage big enough to fix the riff that was growing between Michael and Nikita.

*

They slept together in the same bed. Night by night. Side by side. But they weren't really together. Michael knew that Nikita was there and Nikita knew that Michael was there, but nothing more seemed to happen. Nikita claimed that it was easier for her to just be in bed to help Michael to the bathroom for the middle of the night runs. Michael was tortured by pretending to sleep through Nikita's moans and groans of a nightmare.

And her back was turned towards him.

Michael didn't touch her during the sleep. He was often too tired to touch her, but Nikita made sure that she kept a good enough distances.

For Nikita, she was sure that if she faced Michael that his hands would wonder. Nikita didn't need Michael accidentally finding out about the baby. She knew that she wouldn't be able to hide it much longer. She was well overdue for the doctor's appointment and the ultrasound, but Nikita couldn't leave Michael to go to town for them. Walter knew and would soon be coming up after her to find out what was going on.

And the nightmares were getting worse. And there was nothing that Nikita could do once one started.

~~

Nikita opened her eyes and saw the woods around her. There were down trees and roots of the trees wildly growing from here and there. It was unlike anything that Nikita had ever seen before. It would be difficult to walk in the forest, having to climb up and over many trees and roots.

"Nikita... You have to hold me..." Michael stated as he was leaning against the tree. He was weak and Nikita grunted as Michael dropped his weight onto her. Nikita felt the strain in her back but started to move.

"Where are we going?" Nikita questioned as she looked to Michael. He was staring off in space and panting as Nikita balanced them on the top of a tree before stepping down.

"We have to meet some people..." Michael dryly stated.

"How far? You know this is quite hard..." Nikita stated as she came across a tree. There were two options. Lift Michael up onto the tree and carry him down the other side. Or they could go around. Go around would be the easiest on Nikita's body, but picking him up and over would be the quickest.

"We have to hurry," Michael stated and Nikita nodded her head, making up her mind.

"Can you hold onto that branch there?" Nikita questioned as she started to scoot Michael up the tree. Michael tried but soon slipped down. Nikita grunted and groaned and felt the pain.

"You have never been strong enough..." Michael commented as he sat on the floor of the forest and stared at Nikita.

"What?" Nikita questioned, surprised by his words.

"You weren't strong enough to ask for help. You weren't strong enough to save our child..." Michael stated and Nikita paled.

"Our child is right here..." Nikita stated and Michael shook his head back and forth.

"You killed it!" Michael declared and Nikita blinked her eyes. She was doing the best that she could given the circumstances. Nikita turned her head to the side and swallowed.

"I didn't! I loved it!" Nikita cried out.

"You killed it. You didn't eat! You didn't sleep! You didn't ask for help!" Michael hissed out as he suddenly was standing up. Nikita shook he head back and forth.

"You thought I wouldn't remember!" Michael declared as he hopped up on the top of the tree.

"I was taking care of you!" Nikita cried out.

"Didn't it come to you to ask me what I wanted you to do? Do you think I would have been selfish enough to have you tend to me when you were with child? Nikita, you were the stupid one!" Michael hissed as he started to run. Nikita jumped up after him, but felt the pain.

"No! Michael! Wait! We have to talk about this!" Nikita cried out as she chased after him.

~~

"Nikita..." Michael called out as he looked at Nikita's back. He knew that she woke up with his touch. But now she was crying, and hiding from him. "Nikita..."

"Michael... What is it? Do you need to go to the bathroom?" Nikita questioned as she swiped at her face, trying to disguise that she was crying. She stared at the dresser and swallowed. She didn't feel like she could help Michael to the bathroom right now.

"I'm fine... I'm worried about you..." Michael stated carefully. He didn't want Nikita to shut down on him right now. She was very good at shutting down.

"I'm fine, Michael... You just surprised me by touching me," Nikita lied as she looked to her hand and swallowed. She wanted to roll over and drape herself into Michael's body. She craved the feeling of Michael breathing underneath her. That feeling always helped her sleep.

"You were having a nightmare, Kita," Michael spoke, his words slicing through the night air. Nikita closed her eyes, knowing that she was getting weaker with Michael's words.

"It was a tiny one... nothing to worry about..." Nikita pushed out as she shrugged her shoulders, but the tension was there.

"Why don't you tell me about them? You have them every night, Kita," Michael prodded. Nikita again, shrugged her shoulders. "Just talk to me... Just face me..."

Nikita rolled over, but kept her distance from Michael. He saw the tears and knew that this wasn't just a tiny nightmare that Nikita had. He head heard her screams. It sounded like everything was being torn away from her. Michael had to believe that it had something to do with him. "Tell me, Nikita."

"I'm supposed to be helping you..." Nikita stated as she attempted to drop her head in the pillow. Michael touched her arm and then looked at her, waiting.

"This is about what I'm forgetting, isn't it?" Michael questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth in the lie that she continued. Nikita just couldn't help herself. She didn't believe that having Michael rubbing her stomach would make him understand what was going on.

"Michael... it's just the standard dream... losing you..." Nikita spoke in a whisper that struggled out of Nikita. Michael gasped and swallowed.

He didn't even think about that possibility.

"I'm here, Nikita... I'm not going anywhere," Michael spoke and Nikita blinked her eyes. There were new tears. Tears because Michael was so sweet and tender. He loved her so much while she was doing everything wrong.

"I almost lost you, Michael... Those things live on in my head..." Nikita warned as she rubbed her nose slightly. Michael opened his arms for Nikita, but she didn't move towards him. Michael was horrified by that.

"Why? I'm better," Michael stated as he was confused.

"I can't... Michael..." Nikita stated as she shook her head from side to side. Michael shook. His lover, Nikita, was denying him something that he had always been able to do, to help her.

"Nikita... please... just let me hold you... maybe you can sleep then... you always sleep well in my arms," Michael begged out as the emotions flooded every single word. Michael felt like he was about to break down. Nikita had never really turned him away from this fundamental connection that they had.

"You are still hurt... and I didn't do the dishes last night and I should do them," Nikita stated suddenly as she rolled towards the edge of the bed and sat up.

"The dishes can wait, Nikita. This is about us. There is something wrong here that you aren't telling me that I know that I should know. Don't leave this room like this," Michael commanded as he was starting to get angry. He pushed his body up in the bed and glared at the clock that indicated that it was only four o'clock in the morning. The sun wouldn't be out for another two hours. Nikita hadn't even been in bed for five hours. This was insane.

"No... we have been having ant problems... and I'm just having this horrible feeling that they are going to be all over the dishes... and there is a mess in the living room that just hasn't been cleaned... and I haven't dusted since we got here..." Nikita rambled on as she pulled on sweatpants and looked around for her shoes.

"Why are you doing this, Nikita?" Michael questioned as Nikita picked up her shoes. She was almost out the door when she turned around. There were tears running down her face.

"I don't know," Nikita admitted before she slipped into the hallway.

~~

Walter paced back and forth inside of Madeline's office. Nothing had been going right for Walter, but things seemed to be fine with Madeline. She didn't even seem to be worrying about what Nikita was doing with Michael.

But Walter was worried.

However, now he was getting furious with Madeline. Madeline who was supposed to meet with him a half hour ago, was still out. And Walter knew who she was out with.

James.

She had been outside of Section One so often now, that Walter often had to grab her right before she left to tell her anything at all. It was good that she had found someone, but Walter couldn't help but think that it was Madeline's involvement with James that helped to drive Nikita to lie to everyone and to take Michael back to that house. It was clear that Nikita didn't like Madeline with her father, so this theory was growing strength in Walter's mind.

"Walter! I didn't expect you here," Madeline stated as she slipped into her office. Walter blinked his eyes and turned towards the glass walls.

"We had a scheduled meeting for a half hour ago," Walter stated sternly. He ran his hands against the railing and then stared at Madeline. "How is James?"

"Wondering where Nikita was. I haven't seen him like this in a long time. He wouldn't tell me why he was so worried. I, of course, couldn't start to explain what was going on," Madeline stated as she moved to the computer to check the status on the missions that were happening.

Walter blinked his eyes. James probably knew that Nikita was pregnant. Of course, Nikita never told Walter enough information, but it might have been James that found out that Nikita was pregnant to start with. But Walter was bitter. If Nikita hadn't talked to James in weeks, he should be doing more than asking Madeline about Nikita.

"We have to talk about Nikita, Madeline. This no contact is unreal," Walter stated and Madeline turned around. She studied Walter for sometime before shrugging her shoulders.

"Michael needs to heal. I am sure that once Michael is better, that if Nikita doesn't make the contact, that Michael will make the contact," Madeline informed Walter. It made sense.

But Madeline didn't know about the baby. Nikita would be almost five months pregnant now. She should be showing. Where there problems with the pregnancy? Walter didn't know, but he had this funny feeling about it. Nikita knew how to lie and she knew how to hide things. If Michael didn't remember the baby, Nikita was hiding this from him.

She was a damn hopeless romantic. She was also a pessimist; it was not a good combination.

"What if that doesn't happen, Madeline?" Walter posed the question. And it echoed in the air. Madeline turned and stared at Walter white as a ghost.

"That Michael doesn't get better. He is going to get better," Madeline declared and Walter blinked his eyes. That was not what his question was about and Madeline knew that. Walter knew that Michael was going to get better. He was concerned that Michael's memory might not be triggered in time, but there was not a doubt in Walter's mind that Michael was going to get better.

"I meant, what if they don't resume contact on their own, Madeline?" Walter clearly posed the question. Madeline swallowed hard.

"Then there would be reason," Madeline stated softly as she turned to the window. She stared out at Section One. She barely knew the creature that it had become. Michael and Nikita were out there somewhere because that was what Nikita wanted. It would have never been tolerated years ago. But now, Madeline realized that it might take some time. "I hurt Nikita with James... I didn't mean to fall in love with him."

"Oh? You didn't? You were obsessed with him before you talked to him," Walter pointed out. He was sure that Nikita had seen the same thing.

"Obsessed for Nikita's sake of well-being. It would have been much easier if I didn't fall in love with him.... But Walter.. don't I deserve some happiness? Don't I deserve a chance to heal from what Paul did to me?" Madeline hissed out as she turned and stared Walter into the eyes. Walter stepped back, sure that if he said no, and that Madeline would surely attack him.

"You deserve to heal... but you can see the complications that it has caused..." Walter incisively pointed out for Madeline. Madeline dropped her head. She knew the truth. "Why don't you let me go up there and see what's going on?"

"It's too soon," Madeline replied and Walter swallowed. He was so close to getting the go ahead to make contact with Nikita. Walter knew that it had to happen soon.

For the baby's sake.

"Madeline... maybe you aren't thinking straight on this decision... You are involved with it," Walter pointed out. Madeline shook her head again. She was going to stick to her decision. She didn't know of any other reason to send Walter.

She didn't know about the baby. If she did know, she would have chosen differently.

*

Michael stared at the ceiling. He had been home for three weeks and most of the time he was stuck in bed. Today, as a special occasion, he got Nikita to take him downstairs to eat lunch.

He regretted that now. He should have known that it was going to strain Nikita. He knew that he was heavy, but that factor didn't weight into Michael's decision. He needed new scenery and now he blamed himself for that.

"Nikita?" Michael called out as he dropped his head. He needed to see her. Michael's mind was playing tricks with him. He was sure that she was sick. Michael told himself that Nikita wouldn't be stupid to pretend that she was ok, when she was really sick. They had that discussion too many times for Nikita to ignore it.

"Lunch is just about ready. Do you need something?" Nikita questioned as she poked her head around the corner. She didn't even come all the way out for Michael to look at.

He wondered why.

"I thought I was remembering something... why don't you come and sit down on the couch?" Michael questioned as he patted the cushion next to him. He knew that he would have to remember something for this to work.

"You remembered something?" Nikita excitedly questioned as she stepped away from the wall. Michael blinked his eyes. He wasn't sure what he was seeing. Nikita looked pale and frail. She looked like a good strong gust of wind would knock her over, but there was something else. She was always wearing his clothes. He wished that Nikita would start wearing hers again. He missed seeing her in the leggings and looking at her legs. Michael was sure that Nikita was too busy to care about what she was wearing and he pushed the thoughts out of him.

He shouldn't have. He was close to discovering the thing he forgotten about.

"Yes.... and it was about us... sitting on this couch..." Michael stated as he patted the couch once more. He knew that Nikita needed to sit down. She was always on the run these days and he just wanted Nikita to relax with him for a while. There had been a continuing stress between Michael and Nikita since Nikita's last nightmare. Most nights, Nikita no longer slept in the room with Michael, opting to tell Michael that she had sat down to watch the news and fell asleep on the couch.

Michael knew that she just chose to sleep away from him, but would come up three times a night to make sure that he didn't need anything. Michael knew that. Nikita didn't know that he knew. The one night he stayed up and listened to the noises downstairs and pretended to be asleep when Nikita entered the room.

Nikita moved towards him and looked at the couch. She was thinking of something and Michael swallowed. He didn't know what he was going to tell Nikita once he had her down on the couch, but he had to think of something. Maybe if he were close enough to the things he was forgetting, Nikita would rush and say something that would give away what he was forgetting. Michael truly believed that once the memories were mentioned, that he would remember them.

Michael watched as Nikita carefully sat down. He looked at her. She appeared pained as she sat down and then pulled her knees up on the couch. She knew that she could place her head in Michael's lap, but she waited. "Kita, are you ok? You look like you are in pain."

"I just need a hot bath and a massage... I'm fine," Nikita stated as she looked up at Michael. He cupped his hand around Nikita's head and helped her lay her head down.

"Maybe you should sleep... I'll hold you," Michael offered as he threaded his hands into Nikita's hair. It felt so good to be touching her like this. They needed more of this. Holding Nikita, touching her, was healing Michael's heart and that was the first place that needed to be healed.

"Lunch is going to be ready in five minutes, Michael..." Nikita warned as she yawned. Michael wanted to tell Nikita to forget about lunch, but knew that he couldn't. Nikita was relying upon a schedule and he couldn't wreck it for her.

"Didn't you say you remembered something, Michael?" Nikita questioned as she pushed her head up, fighting against Michael's hand that held her down. Michael smiled and nodded his head. He licked his lips and swallowed.

"I remember holding you on this couch... like this... when we talked about your father..." Michael started to speak. Nikita nodded her head. She remembered those times too. Once she had found out about her father, Nikita was sure that she didn't function for days. She was tormented with the need to make a decision, but she was glad of what had happened.

"We talked a lot..." Nikita stated as she stared off to the floor. Her mind was cluttered like a box filled with childhood mementos, no order or sanity to what to look at or to think about. Nikita felt conflicting memories as Michael continued to speak. One moment, she was so glad to know her father, to know how much that he had helped her, when she fell down the stairs and the baby was almost hurt. Then the next thought was how Madeline took her father away. Nikita felt the anger and then turned that anger on herself. She should have told Michael as soon as he woke up from the surgery about the baby. She was risking everything right now, but she couldn't find a way to tell him now. She had waited too long.

"And then the mare was pregnant.. Is she still pregnant?" Michael questioned and Nikita pulled her head up, confused and only aware of a few words that Michael had said.

"Pregnant? Who is pregnant?" Nikita questioned as she pulled her legs back down off of the couch, getting ready to leave. She couldn't risk being lured into Michael's plan. She needed to take care of him and Maralah. That was what mattered.

"The mare... She was pregnant... Did they come out and see her yet?" Michael questioned as he looked at Nikita. Nikita shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't remember Michael," Nikita admitted as she dropped her head. When she had heard the word pregnant out of Michael's mouth, she had hoped that he had remembered.

She didn't know if she could do this much longer. She looked at Michael with an opened mouth, but Nikita couldn't get the words out that she wanted too. "I'll check on it this afternoon...."

"It's important that we get her looked at... I don't know anything about horses and what goes on when they are pregnant.. I don't even know if they are supposed to be ridden or not when they are pregnant," Michael continued on about the horse. Nikita stood up and blinked back her tears.

He could remember a horse being pregnant but he couldn't remember about Nikita being pregnant. It was like Michael was slapping Nikita across the face over and over again. Like she didn't matter as much as she thought she did.

"I'm sure that just because a horse is pregnant, doesn't mean that they can't do anything," Nikita commented as she grabbed Michael's empty glass and moved towards the kitchen, leaving Michael in the living room. "MARALAH! LUNCH!"

Nikita stood at the stove and stared into the pot. She had made Watercress Soup for Michael knowing that it was his favorite and that he would eat it. Nikita looked at the pot and turned her head to the side. Her stomach was churning, her chest hurt, and her head was pounding. She was tempted to cry but knew that Maralah would be in the kitchen any second to help out.

"What smells so good?" Maralah questioned as she opened the door from the backyard and entered. Nikita smiled and handed down three large soup cups to Maralah.

"Watercress Soup... now can you set the table... take in the soup spoons... and get some bread and butter... I have to get your father into the dinning room," Nikita directed Maralah. Maralah nodded her head. She could easily do what her mother was asking her to do.

"Come on, Michael... Time to eat..." Nikita stated as she walked in from the kitchen and saw Michael struggling to stand up. Nikita rushed to him and hooked his arm around her shoulders, supporting his weight immediately.

"I can do more of the walking, Nikita..." Michael protested as Nikita wrapped her other hand around Michael's waist.

"You are tired. Let me do this," Nikita directed and Michael sighed. From Nikita's tone, it was quite clear that she didn't want to listen to him right now. He dropped his head and let Nikita support most of his weight on the way to the dinning room.

"Dad... mom made your favorite," Maralah explained as she pulled out Michael's chair. Nikita sat Michael down and looked at him for a second. He had his hands on Nikita's waist for a second and Nikita looked down before pulling away.

Michael still couldn't tell or figure out what it was about Nikita. Something was different.

"I'll go get the soup..." Nikita stated as she rushed into the kitchen. But Nikita bypassed the stove and moved to the small little bathroom off of the side of the kitchen. She turned on the water and threw some on her face.

The world was crumbling around her and Nikita didn't know where to start fixing the holes.

~~

"Michael... you need to do five more..." Nikita directed Michael as she placed her hands on her hips. She wanted to drop to the floor and go to sleep, but instead was directing Michael through the paces of his therapy.

"Ok... but does that mean I can have dinner downstairs tonight?" Michael questioned with a smile crossing his face. He was surely not as tired as he had been in past days. He looked at Nikita and wished he hadn't joked.

"You had lunch down there, Michael. Isn't that enough?" Nikita questioned as she rubbed her shoulders lightly. She watched carefully as Michael lifted his left leg up off of the ground. Nikita waited and saw Michael start to lower the leg. "That isn't all the way up."

"It hurts, Nikita. I can't do that," Michael complained and Nikita got down on her knees and stopped Michael's leg. She waited and stared into his eyes.

"If it hurts that much, then you shouldn't have dinner downstairs tonight," Nikita commented rudely, but her point was valid. Michael bit on his touch and started to continue to lift his leg. Once Nikita nodded her head, Michael dropped his leg slowly, knowing that he didn't want Nikita to be upset that he was cheating on his therapy.

"I just like to eat at the table like a normal human being," Michael stated as he started to lift the leg again. Nikita rolled her eyes and stood back up. She went to the bed and started to fold laundry that had been sitting in the basket for several days now. Michael noted that most of it was what he had been wearing and what Maralah wears. Michael wasn't even sure if Nikita was washing the clothes that she wore. She was doing so much that Michael barely saw Nikita sitting down for a rest.

"Well... dinner isn't going to be special like lunch, Michael. I can only make one French meal per day... and you are lucky I had the time to do this one," Nikita talked as she lifted her eyes to check that Michael was not cheating on his exercises.

They continued on this way until Michael completed the leg raises and then did the leg raises for the next leg. Nikita bent down and helped Michael to sit up. "Ready to get back up in bed, Michael?"

"Yes.... but I want to go downstairs for dinner," Michael demanded and Nikita rolled her eyes.

"DON'T ROLL YOUR EYES AT ME! The more I walk the better I get!" Michael hissed at Nikita. He had grown tired of Nikita's behavior. When he was pushing himself, Nikita would tell him to slow down. When Michael wasn't pushing himself, Nikita would tell him to try harder. It was a no win situation.

"And the more I hurt!" Nikita snapped as she rubbed at her head. Michael looked at her and forced his arms out of Nikita's. He saw that she had a pounding headache.

"Maybe you should take some aspirin," Michael stated as he touched Nikita's elbow, allowing Nikita to know that he knew that she had a headache.

"I can't take aspirin!" Nikita snapped as she turned away from Michael. Michael lifted an eyebrow in confusion. There was no reason for Nikita not to take aspirin. It would bother her ability to take care of himself and Maralah. In fact, it might even make Nikita feel better so that she would loosen up on her bitterness.

"Why can't you?" Michael finally questioned, knowing that this was going to bug him.

"I just can't. Isn't that good enough answer for you?" Nikita yelled as she turned around and stared at the wall that was behind Michael.

"I'll stay up here tonight," Michael quietly spoke. If this was the way that Nikita was going to treat him, then he didn't want to go downstairs. He was thankful for Nikita's help, but he never asked Nikita to do it all on her own. She felt strangely obligated to do so.

"Good," Nikita replied as she moved back towards Michael and hulled him up to his feet.

"I can do some of this, Nikita," Michael commented as he yawned. Nikita narrowed her eyes and stared at Michael.

"You are tired. Let's get you into bed," Nikita stated and Michael nodded his head in agreement. Normally, now would be the time that Michael would get a chance to be in the shower. Nikita rarely would go in with him now, only entering the shower when he needed help to stand up from the shower chair.

But there was something off kilter here. Michael knew to let this go.

"MOM!" Maralah cried out from downstairs.

"What is it?" Nikita yelled out as she turned her head away from Michael. She was starting to help Michael inch his way back towards the bed.

"I'm bleeding!" Maralah cried out and Nikita closed her eyes.

"How bad?" Nikita yelled out. There was no response and Michael started to worry. He was shocked by Nikita's calm behavior, but realized that Nikita had no real choice in what happened right now.

"Not bad..... Nothing like you were..." Maralah called out and Nikita looked at Michael's eyes for a second and then sighed.

"Then put a towel on it and hold where you are bleeding. I got to get your dad into bed," Nikita called out and then turned towards Michael. Nikita still had about four feet to get Michael before he could slip up into the bed. Nikita grunted and pushed Michael quickly.

"Nikita! Wait!" Michael hollered as he felt that he was falling off balance. Nikita stood up straight and held her arms around Michael, pressing him close to Nikita's body. He blinked his eyes, unsure if he was truly against Nikita.

It didn't feel like her.

"Come on... just another step..." Nikita indicated, although it was more like five steps for Michael. He looked down to his feet and worked on moving instead of what he felt.

He should have looked at what he felt.

"Nikita! Slow down!" Michael urgently spoke as he tilted to the side again. Nikita grabbed him around his waist and steadied once more. Now he felt the bed behind him and knew that all he had to do was get up into the bed. Michael started to sit down when the pain started to grow.

And finally he groaned, starting to slip off of the bed.

"What is it?" Nikita questioned as she grabbed Michael and held him against the bed. She couldn't figure out what to do until Michael told her what was going on. Nikita looked at Michael's face as he panted. The pain was growing for him.

"Cramp... lower back..." Michael finally grunted out. Nikita looked at Michael before starting to push him back up on the bed. Nikita felt the pain in her own back, but pushed it out of her mind. If she didn't act now, she would never get Michael into the bed. Nikita grunted and finally got Michael rolling up onto the bed. Nikita pushed his legs up and saw the pain still on Michael's face.

"Roll over," Nikita directed as Nikita's hands spread apart upon Michael's side to aid him in rolling over. Nikita immediately got her hands underneath his back and started to rub the muscles out.

"MOM!" Maralah cried out and Nikita leaned her head back. She couldn't leave Michael until the cramping stopped. She gauged Michael's face and heard the panting stop.

Nikita was exhausted herself as she helped Michael to lie back on his back and then move up towards his pillow. He was grateful that Nikita was there to help him through that. Nikita rolled her shoulders and felt awful. The world was starting to spin on her, but Nikita fought against it.

"MOM!" Maralah cried out once again and Nikita jerked her head towards the sound of her daughter's scream. Nikita even forgot what was wrong for a second.

"Go put a bandage on her and kiss it and make it better," Michael tried to joke with Nikita. Nikita looked at Michael and then just started to walk. Nikita looked at the top of the steps and wished that she didn't have to walk down them.

She knew that she would just have to climb back up them.

~~

"Next time... don't climb up on the tree," Nikita scolded her daughter. Maralah dropped her head. She knew that she was wrong, but she had nothing else to do. She was bored and she missed everyone inside of Section One. Especially Birkoff and Alsena.

"When can I go back?" Maralah questioned and Nikita stared at her daughter. She couldn't believe that she was saying that.

But Nikita didn't get a chance to respond.

"NIKITA!" Michael bellowed from upstairs. Nikita only briefly caught Maralah rolling her eyes before Nikita started for the stairs. Nikita looked at the stairs and groaned. Her legs felt like weights and everything seem so heavy right now. Nikita took a deep breath and swore that it was getting hard to breath too.

"It's the stress..." Nikita lectured herself as she brushed the feeling off to the side. She started up the stairs when Michael called out again. "NIKITA!"

"I'm coming, Michael," Nikita finally called out as she reached the top of the stairs. She had to pause and take a few deep breaths. She was teetering and she would not allow Michael to see that.

"Nikita!" Michael bellowed out once more before Nikita wrenched the door open and stared at Michael as he was on the bed. Michael smiled as he saw Nikita, pleased that she was there.

"And you need?" Nikita questioned as she leaned on the doorframe. Michael looked at Nikita and then wanted to ask her something. However, nature called first.

"I need to go to the bathroom," Michael stated. Nikita should have seen this coming, but she didn't. She didn't even know if she had the strength to get Michael back and forth from the bathroom and back to the bedroom safely.

"Michael... I'm exhausted... I need a nap... Do you have to go? Can't you please use..." Nikita started to ask, but as soon as Nikita started to ask, Michael shook his head back and forth.

"I can walk, Nikita. I will not use a plastic can," Michael declared, not caring what this meant to Nikita. It was his own pride that kept him from listening to Nikita's pled.

"Michael... can't you... just this once..." Nikita panted out. She wanted to lean down and try to catch her breath. Nikita didn't know what was going on and was afraid.

But she couldn't allow Michael to see this.

"Nikita. No. It's that simple," Michael replied.

"Please, Michael..."

"N-O," Michael replied sternly. Nikita moved towards the bed and yanked on Michael's arms. "You don't have to be so upset about this."

"I want to get a nap today before I start dinner... in less than an hour," Nikita remarked tensely. Michael looked at Nikita and decided to leave it alone. She was upset and it was best for Michael to concentrate on walking to the bathroom and then walking back to the bedroom.

Maybe what Michael was seeing with Nikita was her need for sleep.

Maybe a nap would help.

~~

"Mom! I think dinner is burning!" Maralah called out as Nikita reached the top of the stairs again. Not only did Michael need to go to the bathroom this time, he wanted to shave. Nikita stood there with Michael until Nikita was positive that she couldn't feel her arms any longer.

This day was going on and on. Michael and Maralah both constantly needed some sort of help. It was insane. Nikita couldn't remember it being this way. She needed a break.

"I'm coming," Nikita called out as she started to go down the stairs. She forced herself to go slow. Nikita would never chance what would happen on the stairs. Nikita reached the bottom of them and took a deep breath. She was losing her balance and her vision. Nikita shut her eyes and took a deep breath.

She didn't feel better, but Nikita knew that she could go to the kitchen and pull dinner out of the oven.

"Mom.... what's wrong?" Maralah questioned, but Nikita pushed past her daughter. Nikita jumped as the fire alarm started to wail from the smoke.

"Nikita?" Michael called out as Nikita pulled out the pork chops from the oven and started to run water over them.

"Dinner is going to be a little late," Nikita called up to Michael as she coughed from the smoke that she had inhaled. Nikita moved to the refrigerator and swallowed.

She didn't even know what she was going to do now.

"We could call out for pizza?" Maralah suggested and Nikita jumped. She panted as she shook her head. Nikita didn't even hear Maralah had moved in behind her.

"Maybe... but that will take a long time... maybe we can have sandwiches," Nikita corrected her daughter. Nikita stuck her head back into the refrigerator and felt the pain in her back.

It was growing.

Nikita pulled away from the refrigerator and then slammed the door shut. Nikita clung onto the door and swallowed a few times.

"What's wrong, mom?" Maralah questioned. Nikita shook her head and moved out of the room, thinking that the smoke from the pork chops was still bothering her.

But Nikita's world was shifting. Maralah looked so far away and her voice was so distant too. Nikita dropped to her knees and swallowed, trying to find one ounce of strength to beat this. She didn't want to put Michael into the position of having to worry about her.

"Mom!" Maralah cried out as finally, Nikita passed out on the floor. Maralah shook her mother but got no response. Maralah looked around and swallowed.

Her father couldn't do anything for Nikita. He couldn't walk without Nikita.

Maralah needed help.

"DAD! I need a phone!" Maralah started to yell as she hightailed it upstairs. Maralah rounded the corner and into her parent's room.

"What is going on, Maralah?" Michael demanded, but he couldn't do much. The muscles that had cramped on him were still sore and tender.

"I need a cell phone. I got to call Walter... or Madeline..." Maralah demanded as she started to open up drawers, looking for the phones. Michael blinked his eyes.

"Where is your mother, Maralah? What is going on?" Michael demanded. But Michael soon found out that Maralah was like her mother. She ignored Michael and found the cell phones quickly.

Nikita had taught Maralah how to get in touch with Walter and Madeline years ago off of these cell phones. Maralah rushed out the door and back down the stairs, knowing that she was breaking her mother's rule of no running down the stairs, but also knowing that it didn't matter right now.

Maralah didn't want to call if her mother had woken back up. But she hadn't moved. Maralah shook her mother once more and then turned on the cell phone. She moved away from her mother, noticing that she was crying for the first time.

Michael continued to scream from upstairs, but that didn't matter. Maralah looked at her mother as she waited for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" Walter answered the phone.

"Walter.. you got to come... my mom passed out... and my dad can't walk..." Maralah rushed out.

Walter looked around the room he was in, knowing that his worse nightmare was coming true. "Did you try waking her up, Maralah?"

"She won't wake up... she is making a noise when she breathes... Walter... I need you!" Maralah cried out.

"MARALAH! NIKITA! SOMEONE!" Michael hollered, but there would be no response to his screams. Walter heard them and swallowed.

"Ok... we are coming... try to wake her up..." Walter stated as he folded the phone.

And Madeline and James were staring at him.

~~

"We got to go.... Nikita passed out..." Walter stated and James paled.

"The baby..." James stated and Walter shrugged his shoulders. He wasn't sure what was going on.

"What baby?" Madeline questioned as she turned and stared at James. She felt like she had been pulled into some odd alternative universe.

"She doesn't know.... but at least Nikita is healthy and taking care of Michael..." Walter stated as he started to walk with James.

"What do you mean, health? She has PIH and diabetes again... and she fell down the stairs... over a month ago.. she is supposed to be taking it easy," James demanded as he stopped in the hallway and stared at Walter.

"No, man... Nikita told me that she was fine. She went out on a mission... got Michael back and has been taking care of him," Walter explained and James shook his head. Everyone here had different pieces of information. No one knew the whole truth.

"What baby?" Madeline hollered. When Walter and James both looked at Madeline, she knew. Nikita was pregnant. "How far along?"

"Five months," Walter and James responded. James shook his head and started down the hallway. He needed to get to Nikita.

"I knew this was going to happen... What do you meant hat Nikita was supposed to be taking it easy?" Walter questioned James as he turned the man around once more.

"She fell down the stairs... was spotting... she was supposed to take it easy... not much walking..." James described and Walter dropped his head.

"I guess that a mission was not under taking it easy," Walter commented and James paled.

"You let her go out while she was pregnant? With all of those risk factors?" James hollered. Walter shrugged James' hands off of him.

"I knew that the bigger risk was that Michael wouldn't make it back. If Michael died... Nikita would have died too.. baby or no baby.... I just wouldn't let her take care of Michael for all of this time," Walter stated and Madeline shook her head.

"Oh my god.... do you know how heavy Michael is? He hasn't been walking..." Madeline stated and James stared at Madeline.

"Why didn't you tell me that Michael got hurt?" James questioned.

"Why didn't you tell me that Nikita was pregnant?" Madeline countered quickly.

"She could be losing that child... I can't see how she could survive this," James stated as the tears started to roll down his face. He felt like a very bad father. He had failed his daughter.

"Birkoff... I need a helicopter... now," Madeline ordered and Birkoff nodded his head.

"Damn.... damn that girl!" Walter hissed as he turned in a circle. He looked to James and sighed.

He hoped that they made it in time.

*

"Maralah! Nikita!" Michael called out as he looked around the room. He hadn't heard anything in almost fifteen minutes. He didn't know what was going on. All he knew was that Maralah needed the cell phone. The fact that his daughter was able to get the cell phone without having to go through Nikita meant it was something bad.

And now, no one was responding to him. Michael lifted his head and moved towards the edge of the bed. If Michael couldn't get them to respond to him, he was just going to have to get to them. Michael struggled to throw his legs over the edge of the bed and then to stare at them.

"Maralah! What is going on?" Michael called out once more. He didn't want to stand up on his own. Michael had yet to do that on his own.

Michael lifted his head up and stared out of the window for several minutes, trying to hear in the house what was going on. But no one could ever tell what was going on in the downstairs from the upstairs. Michael had no one of knowing what they were doing, let alone where they were.

And before Michael pushed off of the bed, he heard the noise in the distance. Michael jumped as the helicopter started to drop down into the meadow that was behind the house. Michael sunk back in bed, knowing that something bad was going on.

Contact had been made with Section One.

"NIKITA!" Michael screamed, knowing that something had happened to her.

And there was nothing that he could do.

~~

"Come on, Mom.... wake up..." Maralah cried softly out as she patted her hand against Nikita's cheek. She was breathing, but it sounded like Nikita was a clogged up vacuum cleaner. Maralah knew that she was laying face down, but was afraid to move her onto her back.

What if she caused something to happen?

Maralah leaned back on her heels and swiped at the tears that were rolling down her face. The cell phone was discarded somewhere in the room and Maralah didn't even notice her father's screams.

Not that she would have left her mother.

"Come on..." Maralah urged again as the noise of the helicopter was finally noticed by Maralah. She jerked her head towards the window. She leaned up and watched as James, Madeline, and Walter jumped out of the helicopter.

"WALTER!!" Maralah screamed loudly, knowing that her mother needed all three of those people right now. It was during that time that Maralah heard her father scream for her mother.

The door slammed opened and James ran towards Maralah, totting along a rather large black bag. "My mom won't wake up..."

"It's ok... I'm going to take care of her..." James stated as Walter and Madeline entered the room. James swallowed as he heard the wheezing from Nikita. He didn't worry about it.

But Walter and Madeline would.

"What's with her breathing?" Madeline snapped and James nodded his head. He was worried about Nikita, but knew that he couldn't jump the gun, that he had to go slow and steady.

"Walter... help me roll her over... onto her back..." James directed, ignoring Madeline's question. It was possible that the wheezing was just from laying down on her stomach. Walter took Nikita's legs and nodded to James.

"Damn... she doesn't look pregnant..." Walter stated as he looked up Nikita's long body. James touched along her stomach and felt some relief.

"It's the baggy clothes. She is underweight... that can't be helping..." James spoke out, knowing that he was doing so for Walter's and Madeline's benefit.

"What's wrong with my mom?" Maralah questioned and James picked his head up slightly. Nikita was continuing to wheeze and he saw Madeline's questions in her eyes. He pulled at his bag and pulled out a stethoscope and looked to Walter.

"Walter... in the helicopter is the oxygen tanks.. I need them..." James directed. He watched Walter stand up and rush out of the house. Michael was screaming, but that was barely noticeable to James. "Madeline... Does Nikita have asthma?"

"No," Madeline snapped. She thought it was a ridiculous question to be asked. Field Operatives would never survive training if they did have asthma. "What's going on, James?"

"This is probably pregnancy induced asthma.... rare... but not too rare... I have excursion asthma as did my sister..." James spoke, as it was clear that now he was speaking in order to make sure that things made sense in his mind.

"Well?" Madeline questioned. It was clear that Madeline wanted the situation rectified. But there wasn't a good way to deal with all of this.

"Hopefully her color will return when we get her on oxygen," James stated as he pulled Nikita's hand in his and checked her fingernails. She was still getting oxygen, but not enough. He placed the stethoscope down on Nikita's chest and listened to her. His hand wrapped immediately to Nikita's wrist.

"We need to get fluids in her... and I have to check her blood sugar...." James stated and Madeline moved towards the couch and looked at it. James nodded his head. They would get Nikita up on the couch soon.

"And the baby?" Madeline questioned and James froze. He turned and stared at Madeline for a second, feeling his own heart breaking as he stared at Madeline. It should have never gotten to be like this.

"Nikita's life comes first..." James stated as the backdoor opened once more and Walter pulled in the oxygen tanks. James pulled for the mask and turned the oxygen on as he placed the mask on Nikita's face. His moves there exact and expertly executed.

"NIKITA! MARALAH! ANYONE!" Michael's voice echoed down the stairs, breaking into the silence as everyone waited to see if Nikita's color was going to improve by the oxygen.

"Someone is going to have to talk to him," James warned as he broke his eyes away from Nikita to look at Walter and Madeline.

"He doesn't know about the baby.... what do we say?" Walter questioned and James looked to Nikita. He couldn't believe that Nikita had done this to herself. She should have known better.

"He needs to be told about the baby..." James stated and Walter dropped his head. He knew that he better be the one to talk to Michael, knowing that things with Madeline had been strained a lot of late.

"And what about the baby? Is she losing it?" Walter questioned and James dropped his head slightly.

"He needs to know that I don't know what is going on with the baby, Walter," James stated sharply. He looked to Nikita and stroked her hair back. He had to wait for Davenport to bring in some more of the equipment before he could do anything else.

"And Madeline... I need you to get in touch with her doctor... Dr. Lynstadt..." James instructed. Madeline nodded her head. She knew that James was not an obstetrician by any means. Madeline looked around the room quickly for the cell phone that she had just swiped away from the couch she was preparing for Nikita.

"And take it to the other room..." James stated as he looked at Madeline opening the phone. Madeline paled; almost sure that James wanted her out of the room because there was something else that James had forgotten to tell her.

Madeline nodded her head and did as James asked. James took a deep breath. He was a competent doctor, but this was not a circumstance that was normal. First, this was his daughter unconscious on the floor. Second, everyone had different knowledge about what was going on, the only person who knew it all was Nikita. Third, Madeline had most of medical packed up and on a helicopter that was behind the one that they were traveling on. Fourth, there would be no calling for an ambulance. Madeline and Walter made it clear. And fifth, James wasn't used to performing in front of staring people.

"She is so white..." Maralah stated from the chair that she was sitting on. James looked up at Maralah and nodded her head. James pulled out his glucose monitor out and took Nikita's hand in his. He looked at the chair and couldn't find the words to speak to Maralah.

~~

Walter pushed the way into the room to find Michael struggling to push himself back up off of the floor. Walter swallowed, knowing that this all must be very scary for Michael, not knowing what was going on downstairs.

And Walter had a belief that it was going to get worse.

"Hey there... let's get you back up into bed..." Walter stated as he bent down and started to pull at Michael. It was not an easy task and made what Nikita had been doing since she brought Michael home a miracle. It was a miracle that Nikita hadn't passed out sooner. It was a miracle that Nikita was still pregnant.

"I need to see Nikita..." Michael growled deep in his throat. Walter just waltzed in and didn't say anything about Nikita. If Michael had his strength, he would have punched Walter right there on the spot.

"I know what you want... but there are only so many of us, Michael... Once we figure out what is going on... I'll take you down there myself," Walter sternly laid down the law, knowing that it needed to be done.

"What is going on? What is wrong?" Michael questioned as he steadied on his feet, making Walter's task much easier.

"Into bed... NOW," Walter directed Michael, pushing at his back slightly. Michael stared at Walter but Walter wasn't going to give into this. Walter knew that it would break Michael's heart right now to hear all of this that he needed to be sitting down at least.

"Nikita..." Michael questioned with a quivering voice. He was scared and trapped. He didn't know what was going on. He just knew that it was bad.

"She is going to be fine... but I need to get you back in bed..." Walter stated to pacify Michael. It worked as Michael moved slightly towards the bed and started the awkward rock to slip up into the bed. Michael didn't fall back into the bed though. He sat on the edge and waited for his answers.

"What's going on?" Michael questioned as he stared up at Walter. Walter had never seen Michael so vulnerable and swallowed hard. He didn't want to have to tell Michael about this.

"James is with Nikita now... she passed out..." Walter stated and Michael closed his eyes.

"I was pushing her hard today... I should have known better..." Michael stated and Walter swallowed. Michael was beating himself up about this; he couldn't imagine what Michael was going to do once he was told about the baby.

That was what was stopping Walter. He didn't know what to expect once he told Michael about the baby. At some point, Michael knew about the baby. Walter could be triggering the memories or he might be telling a man that might never remember about the baby.

"This is about what I forgot..." Michael whispered as he dropped his head. Walter moved and sat down next to Michael on the bed.

"Nikita wanted you to remember it on your own... which is noble... but probably very wrong..." Walter stated as he looked at Michael. Michael jerked his head up and blinked his eyes. Michael was crying.

"I've been telling her that I knew that I forgot something important... I've been trying to get her to sleep... or to tell me..." Michael started to speak. Walter nodded his head. He couldn't even conceive of how it felt to lose your memory.

"She has been having nightmares... and terrible sleeping patterns... and I still don't know what I forgot..." Michael informed Walter as he stared at him once more. Michael wanted to know. He didn't want to be in the dark any longer. He didn't want to wait for the memories to come back. He just wanted to know. "Please... tell me..."

"Nikita is five months pregnant, Michael."

Michael turned his head to the side and the dropped his head to look at his hands. Walter waited, not sure what to do next. He wanted to be downstairs with Nikita, but right now, Walter saw that Michael needed to deal with this.

Somehow.

"Michael... Nikita is five months pregnant... Do you understand?" Walter questioned when the silence dragged on for too long. Michael looked back up at Walter and looked like everything had been drained out of him.

"How could I forget that?" Michael questioned and Walter shrugged his shoulders. He honestly didn't know how. It was a freak of nature that had caused a riff between Michael and Nikita.

"What matters now is that you know," Walter informed Michael. Michael shivered and looked towards the door.

"But something is wrong, right?" Michael questioned as he started to slip off of the bed. Walter placed his hand out, forcing Michael back on the bed.

"It could be exhaustion... I won't know until I go back down there..." Walter set the boundaries. Michael was to stay upstairs until things were stabilized downstairs.

"I need to be with her," Michael stated and Walter shook his head.

"Michael... things are really crazy down there.... We are waiting for doctors and we have another helicopter coming in..." Walter explained.

"She has been lifting me, Walter... How could I let her do that?" Michael questioned, finding everything difficult to deal with.

"We are talking about Nikita here, Michael. She isn't a complete angel," Walter warned, not wanting Michael to emotionally beat himself up about this. Michael blinked his eyes and then slipped further into the bed.

"I'll never forgive myself..."

"NO! Michael... you listen to me. I know my sugar. She was methodical in her decisions that got her here. She bares at least part of the responsibility here... if not the majority..." Walter declared. Michael shook his head back and forth. Walter turned away to find Maralah standing at the door.

"I forgot too... I remember the baby... and I didn't do anything to help her..." Maralah stated as she looked at her father. Walter had to wonder how long Maralah had been standing there for. Michael looked to his daughter and started to cry.

"Things are going to be ok... Walter and James are here..." Michael bravely spoke for his daughter's sake. Maralah moved to the bed and climbed up with Michael. Michael pulled her towards his side.

"And Madeline..." Maralah spoke and Walter rolled his eyes. Walter wasn't sure if that was a good thing. There was the possibility that Nikita would wake up only to have a Madeline lecture.

That would not help.

"James sent me up here..." Maralah stated and Walter nodded his head. It was clear that James wanted Walter back downstairs. Michael nodded his head and then grabbed for Walter's hand.

"I need to be with her... once you... know more..." Michael informed Walter, but also begged Walter. Walter gruffly nodded his head. He knew how much Nikita fought to be with Michael when he was in medical and Walter didn't have a doubt in his mind that it would be the same way with Michael. He might not be steady on his feet, but Michael would find a way to be down there with Nikita.

"Let us get her up off the floor... settled in... and the basics done... If we are just waiting around... and things are settled... I'll help you down myself," Walter informed Michael, implying that it was best for Michael to stay right where he was right now.

"I'll help him," Maralah spoke and Walter grinned for a second, pleased to see that Maralah was going to stay up there with her father.

He didn't need to be alone.

"Thank you, Walter..." Michael stated and Walter shook his head.

"Thank me later," Walter spoke as he turned and moved out of the room.

~~

"Damn!" James cursed as he turned his face away from Nikita.

Things didn't look good. James pulled at the stethoscope and listened to Nikita's chest again. It was asthma and she seemed to be wheezing fairly well. James started to look at his bag and swallowed as Madeline walked into the room, shaking her head.

"Dr. Lynstadt is out town.. on vacation..." Madeline informed James. James closed his eyes for a second, forcing himself to think. He looked at the couple of bags of instruments that they had brought with them.

"Grab that breathing machine... and plug it in..." James stated, making up his mind. Madeline moved and grabbed the piece of equipment that James was staring at. James nodded his head and Madeline continued to move towards Nikita before plugging the machine in.

"What's going on?" Walter questioned as he walked in. James shuffled the medicines in his bag and pulled out the Albuterol and swallowed. He poured it into the cup and placed the cap on. He turned on the machine and propped Nikita up. He took the oxygen mask off and placed the mouthpiece into Nikita's mouth.

"The induced asthma... could be why she isn't showing that much... along with the exhaustion... I won't know until she wakes up..." James informed Walter and he moved towards James and Nikita. Walter moved around and helped to hold Nikita in an upright position, freeing James to continue with other tasks.

"What about the doctor?" Madeline questioned and James froze once more. He couldn't do this. There was only so much he was willing to do to his own daughter. He knew that it was open to bring someone in from Section One, but James didn't like that.

There weren't that many pregnant people inside of Section One.

"What was the other doctor? For Maralah?" James questioned and Madeline nodded her head.

Dr. Kindles.

"I know where she is... I'll make sure that she comes..." Madeline said as she picked up the cell phone and moved out of the room. James looked at Walter and caught the brief sigh of relief.

"Will this stuff do anything to the baby?" Walter questioned and James shook his head.

"It is relatively safe in comparison to the impaired oxygen supply. It all matters on how long Nikita has ignored the asthma..." James replied as he settled on the floor and took Nikita's hand once again. He needed to get Nikita's blood sugar stabilized. She is underweight and dehydrated. Things were critical at this point.

"And the baby?" Walter questioned. James looked to her stomach and swallowed.

"We are going to move her into the chair... Once there... I'll worry about the baby... but the breathing is priority..." James spoke as he pulled back and looked into Nikita's face.