A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner, neither do uninterrupted prosperity and success qualify for usefulness and happiness. The storms of adversity, like those of the ocean, rouse the faculties, and excite the invention, prudence, skill and fortitude or the voyager. The martyrs of ancient times, in bracing their minds to outward calamities, acquired a loftiness of purpose and a moral heroism worth a lifetime of softness and security. ~~Author Unknown

The light snapped in the darkened room, displaying the dark wood furniture and the black finishes. The keys rattled across the table in a familiar path. The door slammed and the refrigerator opened. The cold air couldn't even refresh the burning heat and anger that had only been growing since seeing Michael and Nikita.

Dancing. Together.

"Now can we talk about our situation?" Madeline hissed out as she pulled out the bottle of Merlot and moved towards her wine glasses. The refrigerator door slammed back loudly. "You know that we had to wait to discuss this. You shouldn't have allowed it to ruin our night out. We don't get this opportunity often," Paul spoke as he moved towards the counter where Madeline poured the wine. He took one glass and raised his eyes to Madeline. He had watched her pick at her blackened Cajun shark all night and heard the rumblings she had about firing Mick.

"We don't get this opportunity often because of things like this," Madeline declared as she stared at the bottle. She had the urge to throw it and then took a deep breath. Usually Madeline never displayed her anger as she was now.

"Did we predict this?" Operations bellowed out, stopping Madeline's reaction. There were some things that they were able to predict, but Nikita and Michael seemed to have happened without them noticing it. Now that they were aware of it, they would go back and investigate to see if they could see where, when, and how it started.

"We have to stop this immediately. We have plans for Michael and cannot allow Nikita to get in the way," Madeline stated with her eyes glaring at Paul. He nodded his head. He would have to agree. They had been planning all of Section One's moves for many years, before there was a Nikita to be heard. In fact, it was Nikita's arrival over six years ago that caused problems that had pushed the plans back.

"We should have nipped the butt of this problem from the beginning... years ago..." Paul commented and Madeline turned away from him and placed the Merlot back in the refrigerator. "Then you shouldn't have had Michael interview Nikita."

"We can't just get rid of her. Despite the fact that Nikita having a relationship with Michael right now is not right, she is a talented therapist and firing her or letting her go will be seen badly," Paul countered. He had started to form plans for Nikita also. He didn't think that Nikita would stay long if the work was all bad.

"If Simone would have just stayed with Michael like she was supposed too..." Madeline flatly spoke, showing her disappointment of the situation and the pairing that she would have liked and allowed. "What are we going to do Paul?"

"Assess how much damage has been done and take appropriate, but unnoticed behavior. If Michael finds out that we are doing this because of his relationship with Nikita... he will leave this time... for good," Paul warned. Madeline sighed and leaned down on the counter.

"So we attack the weakest link... Nikita," Madeline deduced and Paul nodded his head. "An increase in work would be a start..."

"That will limit her free time with Michael..." Madeline revealed and Paul nodded his head once more. He had to agree with Madeline. "Hopefully they haven't gone any further than..."

"Don't worry about that Paul. I'm sure that although there might be an emotional relationship between Michael and Nikita, I doubt that Nikita will ever allow a physical and sexual relationship occur," Madeline snapped out. She knew Nikita's type. Roberta had told Madeline a lot about what she had allowed the men to do. And Madeline had her last resort plan if needed.

"That's interesting. Michael has never made me feel that he would wait for sex..." Paul crudely laughed out, wondering if Michael's and Nikita's relationship was doom to end quickly without their interference.

"Everything has changed with him... he didn't tell us the real story of what happened between Nikita and Laury... And others are protecting them... they see the romanticism in this relationship..." Madeline hissed out as she dipped her finger into the Merlot and then sucked at the wine. It was the only way that she was going to keep herself from downing the first glass quickly.

"Laury.... She isn't doing good, is she?" Paul questioned with a wicked grin on his face. Madeline tilted her head to the side and joined in the smile. "She is just adding stress onto Nikita's life. It couldn't be a better time to start to increase Nikita's workloads..."

"Yes... and if something bad happens... it makes it even more beautiful to sit back and enjoy the sweet success..." Paul reveled in the thought of the reaction that would be had from Nikita. "And let's not limit this Nikita from the adults, the drug users, and the pregnant women.. Find the worst cases..."

"Michael will notice," Madeline stated and Paul shrugged his shoulders. "So mix it up.... But Nikita is aching to prove that she can do this..."

"You are correct with that..." Madeline agreed as she stood back up. "I'm sorry about letting this ruin our night..."

"We should just be thankful that Michael didn't see us together," Paul pointed out as he settled his glass of wine to the side.

"Are we exposed on this? Can this damage us?" Madeline questioned and Paul shook his head.

"How can a woman so damaged as Nikita ruin our plans?" Paul commented as he wrapped his hands around Madeline's waist. He leaned his head down and nuzzled at her neck. "It has been too long..."

"It has..." Madeline agreed as she dropped her hands and started to pull at the belt of Paul's pants.

"You surely don't wait...."

"I planned it that way."

~~

Michael pushed at the door and looked at the woman in his arms. This was doing things the difficult way, but Michael didn't have the heart to wake Nikita up from her slumber in his car.

In fact, although his intention was to get Nikita hope and back with her grandfather, tiredness soon took him over. There was no way that he was going to safely drive home. But it also made it easy to know that Nikita would have wanted to be with him either way. He pushed the door closed, staying in the dark and marveled with the trust that Nikita's body displayed to his presence, although Nikita's mind was far from doing that yet.

Nikita was letting him take care of her and that was something so rare and precious that Michael knew that he would remember this night and these moments for the rest of his life.

Michael bent down on the couch and slipped Nikita into the cushions. Although Michael wanted to march right up to bed with Nikita, some things had to be done. He looked to Nikita and smiled at her.

She had done so well.

She had pulled back slightly one the close dancing was too close, but she didn't run. That was a leap for Nikita that brought Michael to a new level of happiness that he never thought he would explore once more. Being with Nikita as she jumped over each hurdle with unnatural ease, was allowing Michael to rediscover life and what the words fun and happiness really meant.

Michael pulled the soft crochet afghan off of the back of the couch and draped it over Nikita's body. She looked like a sleeping angel and part of Michael's heart begged him to stay beside Nikita until the morning when she woke up. But there as another part of Michael's heart that would win. The one with sense and duty.

Michael pressed a kiss to her hands before standing up. He looked over in the moonlit room and continued on, not wanting to disturb Nikita in any way or form. He pulled the cell phone out of his jacket as Michael struggled into the kitchen to lean against the counter in the pitch black.

"Yeah?" Walter groveled out as he picked up the phone on about the tenth ring. He just wasn't the young man that he was six years ago. He wasn't even the young man for one year ago.

"Walter... it is me," Michael spoke as he leaned his head back. He knew that Walter accepted his relationship with Nikita, but he didn't know how much Walter knew and how personal it had gotten.

"Is my sugar ok?" Walter questioned as he perked up. He had been sitting up in the living room, telling himself that it was because he was worried about Nikita, but finally he had other reasons to still be up. It didn't mean that Walter didn't notice how late it had gotten.

"Yeah... but she fell asleep in my car... and I have her at my house..." Michael explained with a slightly hoarse throat.

"Then you should be asleep with her... why are you calling me?" Walter growled and Michael lifted an eyebrow, shocked with Walter's behavior.

"I thought you expected her back tonight... I don't believe either of us planned to be out as long as we were..." Michael explained further, not knowing if Walter was actually upset about the phone call or if he was upset that Nikita was at his house.

"Look, Michael... Nikita told me that she often finds yourself at your place... She is an adult, I don't need to know," Walter hissed out as he looked to his aching hands, wishing that the medication would finally work.

"Walter... if you think that Nikita needs to be home... I'll drink some coffee and safely get her there," Michael promised out. That was the reason for this call. The evening was perfect, but Michael didn't want to ruin anything.

"I'm sorry, Michael...." Walter whispered as he heard the hurt in Michael's voice. He knew that Michael wasn't the enemy. He knew that Michael wasn't going to hurt Nikita.

"I'm just not myself this night..."

"Maybe we both need sleep..." Michael tried to offer Walter as a reason. Walter knew that it was part of it and cleared his throat. "So where is Nikita sleeping tonight?"

"On the couch... I don't want to disturb her..." Michael smiled softly as he dropped his head to the side and looked towards the living room once more. It felt so right to be doing this. Never had Michael felt the burdens of pressure to come off of him like they were now.

"And you are going to be on the floor, boy?" Walter questioned, but soon start to laugh. He had learned of Nikita's need to have Michael hold her. Although Walter was mildly jealous for a few hours, he saw that it would have done Nikita any good if he had been holding her. Michael loved Nikita in a way that Walter didn't. Nothing was going to change that and Walter learned to accept it. The warning from Nikita didn't hurt either.

"Looks comfortable..." Michael dryly commented as he cleared his own throat, knowing that there was one more phone call that he needed to make before the night was over and he could join Nikita in the land of slumber.

"Well... let my sugar know that I'm glad that she had a good night... and I need to talk to her," Walter strained out as he rubbed at his sleepy eyes, knowing that he was going to attempt to sleep once more.

"Is something wrong?" Michael questioned, being forever the trained professional therapist.

"Nothing that can't wait... Just let her know that I can't wait to hear from her... Have a nice night, Michael..." Walter spoke and Michael smiled.

"You too..."

"And thank you, Michael..." Walter whispered and closed the line before Michael could response. He stared at the phone for several minutes and then allowed one heavy sigh out.

Michael pulled out the small piece of paper and turned his attention to the blurred numbers. He had to make this phone call, as he had promised to remind Nikita to do it once she got home. Since Nikita was asleep, he was going to make sure to follow through.

"General Hospital, Eight West..." the nurse answered the phone.

"Hello... I am calling from Section One about the status of a Laury..."

"Oh, yes.... Laury... I'm her nurse," The woman interrupted Michael.

"I was wondering if you could update me on her condition. The doctor was expecting test results back..." Michael spoke again as he yawned.

"Laury is sleeping soundly... and the results haven't been completed... Laury was started on a new medicine this evening so it will take a day or two to see if it will work," The nurse informed Michael.

"And you have our emergency number at Section One in case there is any changes?" Michael questioned and the nurse smiled. She had many calls from Section One personnel. The nurse who was on during the day told of how many visitors that Laury had, so this was not surprising.

"Yes... I will call if there are any marked changes," The nurse replied and Michael sighed out in relief. Now he could go to sleep. "Thank you."

"You are welcome," The nurse replied before she cut the line off. Michael stared at the phone and then chucked it onto the counter beside him. He moved out of the kitchen, pulling off the jacket.

He really wanted to take Nikita upstairs. He knew that both of them would be more comfortable, but the need for sleep was too great right now. Michael slipped down onto the floor and looked up at Nikita as she had curled her legs up and held tightly onto the blanket.

"I love you, Nikita..." Michael whispered as he leaned his head back and soon joined Nikita in the peaceful slumber.

*

Since nothing we intend is ever faultless, and nothing we attempt ever without error, and nothing we achieve without some measure of finitude and fallibility we call humanness, we are saved by forgiveness.~~David Augsburger

Nikita smiled as she walked down the halls of Section One. Spring seemed to be finally breaking through the very long winter and the weekend had refreshed her, even if she was still tired.

She never made it home during the weekend. Each time that she even thought of going back to Walter's, something would come up and Nikita would find herself somewhere else. She hadn't even had the time to go back to the house for clothing. She soon found out that Michael had some clothes in his house for her.

But he bought her the outfit that she was wearing today at the store yesterday. Nikita couldn't say that they were dating, but she couldn't say that they weren't dating. Things were complicated like that and Nikita liked what she had with Michael right now. She did get uncomfortable at times, but there was never any pressure for anything more than what she was already giving.

"Hello, Birkoff... Has Mick come in this morning?" Nikita questioned as she stopped at the desk. Birkoff raised his eyes and hitched his head to the side. This was a cheerful Nikita. It was a voice that he hadn't heard in that tone ever.

"No... but he did call and say that he is running late..." Birkoff informed Nikita. She nodded her head and Birkoff cleared his throat to get Nikita's attention. She seemed to be a popular woman this morning. "Madeline was looking for you, but didn't tell me to send you to her.... I'm giving you the heads up."

"Madeline?" Nikita questioned feeling her heart skip a slight beat. Nikita shook her head as Birkoff shrugged his shoulders. Sometimes he knew what was going on inside of Section One, but often he was in the dark, no matter how much technology he could manipulate.

"Did Michael come in with you?"

"Why would you assume that?" Nikita bantered with Birkoff, practicing with Birkoff, who wouldn't care if Michael had come in with her, for the others that were going to come. It was best not to put more pressure into their small and just starting relationship with allowing others into it.

"Well.. since Walter called here three times this morning saying he hadn't seen you all weekend..." Birkoff matter-of-factly spoke and Nikita covered her mouth. She had meant to call him on Saturday.

Saturday seemed like years and years ago, not that all of Saturday was fun. In fact, Nikita spent most of it in the hospital with Laury. She was starting to feel very very lonely and Nikita spent some time with Laury. That was where Michael was at the moment, trying to give variety to Laury and to take the pressure off of Nikita to do it all.

"I will call him this morning..." Nikita announced and Birkoff nodded his head. He had heard the tone that Walter was using. He wasn't happy at all. "I think he is just concerned..."

Nikita nodded her head as she pushed away from the desk and started to move back down the hallway, towards her tiny office. She had sometime to clear things off of her desk that had been left in her rush to get everything ready for Friday night. Nikita looked in the direction of Michael's office and offered herself a small smile at remember waking up on Saturday morning and finding Michael watching cartoons as he sat on the floor with a bowl of cereal in his lap.

Nikita opened the door and jumped as Madeline turned her head and demurely smiled at Nikita. "Running late today, I see..."

"I was speaking to Birkoff about my meetings today. Did I forget that we were going to meet?" Nikita countered smoothly as she pulled off the light jacket and hung it up. Madeline raised an eyebrow and traced the outfit that Nikita had on. It was a light jean skirt that stopped just above the ankles. Nikita then had a yellow silk shirt on that was tucked in. It wasn't something that Madeline would typically see on Nikita and she knew.

Michael bought it.

"I want to go over a few things..." Madeline continued as she tried not to make a reaction to all the new things that she was discovering about Nikita. Madeline had never realized how good Nikita was at sliding through the rough questions and having the right questions.

"Well... I guess that is good because I was going to see if I could talk to you today myself," Nikita countered as she sat down and looked at the piles of paper. Madeline blinked her eyes. She didn't expect this woman to be so pulled together.

"About what?" Madeline questioned and Nikita smiled. She folded her hands on the desk. This was something that she didn't need to confer with notes to get right. It had been a growing vision in her mind, especially after each time that she talked to Laury.

"Some of the children here have been asking if we could have some sort of dance for them... they feel slighted that because the fundraiser the staff gets to go but they don't," Nikita launched into her idea immediately. Madeline swung her head from side to side. "It is not a good therapeutic situation..."

"It would help with social interaction... and with a brief conversation with Mick... he feels we could actually turn a profit on it and not lose money," Nikita countered Madeline's remark. Nikita knew when to play the money and Madeline would have to change that part of her profile on Nikita. Nikita realized that money made Section One tick.

"Really? A profit?" Madeline questioned and Nikita nodded her head. "We haven't had a chance to go over the details... I was gong to meet him on Saturday, but with Laury alone in the hospital, I felt that I needed to spent some time there."

"You do know that we can't pay overtime for those hours..." Madeline snapped and Nikita nodded her head. "I wasn't expecting pay for that. I couldn't imagine sitting in a room for hours with no visitors. It isn't pleasant."

"So Laury is improving?" Madeline prodded. Nikita shrugged her shoulders and leaned back in her chair slightly.

"She is fighting... and this dance is mostly her idea..." Nikita announced and Madeline smiled at Nikita. Nikita was playing right into her hands and she couldn't wait to report back to Paul of Nikita's initiative was going to play into keeping her away from Michael.

"I think you are right... If Mick can guarantee us a profit... I want you to go ahead with the plans..."

"Thank you," Nikita replied and Madeline looked to her lap as she allowed her smile to drift off. She picked up the folder and placed it on Nikita's desk. "Now, this is why I have come to you..."

"What is this?" Nikita questioned as she opened up the folder and saw the list of names.

"Those are names of folders you will need to pull... We are assigning you a full caseload because of your wonderful demonstrations of compassion and empathy with Laury," Madeline proudly spoke, knowing that Nikita had to be screaming inside. The list contained 32 people for Nikita. Madeline would classify 23 of them as hard to extremely difficult. The rest were easy, just so Nikita wouldn't feel too suspicious.

"And my group?" Nikita questioned as she lifted her head. This was not the question that Madeline thought that Nikita would be asking. She didn't think that Nikita knew where the records were held, but was sure that Michael showed her everything.

"You will still maintain them... This is a big step forward in achieving all objectives in your job description Nikita..." Madeline stated as she stood up and looked around the office. "You will have to start meeting them tomorrow... Will that give you enough time?"

"Sure," Nikita responded as she forced out her smile. She was feeling sick to her stomach, but she wasn't going to allow Madeline to know that.

"And you will continue to have Laury on your caseload. I didn't feel that I needed to place her on your list..." Madeline continued to inform Nikita of what she was going to have to be doing. "Each week I expect you to pick one of your cases to present for our meetings..."

"Each week?" Nikita questioned, finding it difficult that she was going to have to be doing that. Most therapists inside of Section One would present once every two months.

"Yes... because you are new we find that presenting is a good way of monitoring... Is that going to be difficult?"

"No," Nikita replied and Madeline nodded her head with a pleased smile on her face. She turned towards the door and then stopped. "And Friday would be a good time to have an outline of the event..."

"Of course," Nikita replied once more, wishing that Madeline would just leave so she could get to work. Nikita waited with her head up as Madeline finally left. Nikita ran around the desk and slammed the door closed before throwing her hands against her head.

Gone was Nikita's good mood.

Nikita moved back to her desk and opened up the folder, slowly going over the list, knowing some of the names already from reputation. It didn't look good for Nikita. She knew the few that she did know, from the bad things that had happened and the difficulty the individuals were in keeping on their therapeutic plan.

Nikita was about to sign into the Section One intranet when there was a knock at her door. Nikita pushed the keyboard away and stashed the list. "Yes?"

"Hey, Popsicle... It's just me. Are you decent?" Mick called out as he opened the door an inch. Nikita smiled, but felt the pressure already growing. "Come on in, Mick..."

~~

Nikita looked at the pile of papers that Mick had left on her desk along with a list of phone calls that he need her to make. The list was at least thirty names long. Nikita rolled her head around in a circle, as there was another knock on her door. Nikita groaned. "What?"

"Nikita?" Michael questioned as he opened the door. Nikita looked up at Michael and then to her watch. She shook her head. "Birkoff said you haven't gotten out to lunch. Are you ok?"

"Just terribly busy... Madeline gave me a caseload..." Nikita stated as she shuffled her papers around, trying to figure out what to do first. She needed to read the files, but they weren't all complete and Nikita found the system that most of the former therapist had as been terribly inconsistent. Some of the information was in the hard record and other parts were on the intranet.

"A caseload? I didn't know that," Michael stated as he looked down the hallway and then closed the door. He looked to the desk and looked at Nikita's moving hands. "Do you want some help?"

"I think she wants me to run to you... I'm sure once I get organized that I'll be able to get going and get this all done..." Nikita stated with a slight shrug of her shoulders. Nikita knew that Madeline expected her to go to Michael, but Nikita also wanted to prove to Michael that she could do this by herself.

"So did you cancel your meeting with Mick?" Michael questioned and Nikita shook her head back and forth. She looked at the calendar and swallowed.

"It's going to be in five weeks..." Nikita supplied and Michael whistled. He had already had a memo from Paul stating that the event was a go; he hadn't expected to hear it being so soon. Nikita was going to be swamped.

"Well... It looks like I can't help you with anything... but would you like me to bring you some lunch?" Michael offered and Nikita glanced at her watch. It wasn't going to be long before she needed to go back to her group. "No.,.. I'll just get dinner tonight..."

"Do you want to go out?" Michael countered as he looked at Nikita. Nikita blinked her eyes and sighed. "I really need to get home... I think Walter left a message earlier for me... but if he did... I've lost it..."

"It's ok... but I want you to know that I'm here... I won't leave until I know that you are gone... and my offers stand," Michael spoke and Nikita nodded her head. She appreciated it, but had a feeling that it was going to be a very long night.

The door closed just as her phone rang. Nikita groaned and picked up. "Nikita Jackson."

"Finally, I get a hold of you, Sugar. Where the hell have you been?" Walter demanded through the phone line. Nikita dropped her head in guilt.

"I'm sorry Pappap... I've just lost track of time..."

"For an entire weekend? Did you do something that you didn't want me to find out about?" Walter growled out in anger and in the frustration of pain that he had been in for weeks now, but had been hiding it.

"Pappap! You know me!" Nikita hissed and corrected Walter's thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Sugar.. but I've been having something important to tell you for days and I just haven't had you around to do so..." Walter apologized, but easily placed the guilt back onto Nikita.

"Madeline just gave me a huge caseload today, Pappap... Do we need to talk about this now?" Nikita questioned as she tossed a few papers onto the floor, seeing that they were three copies of the same form that was filled out for the same person.

"Yes, Nikita! Sometimes I do have to think about my own good!" Walter snapped and then groaned. He didn't want to yell at Nikita. "I've had a lot of stress myself..."

"Do you want me to come home tonight? It would be late..." Nikita offered as she leaned back in her chair. Her door opened and Birkoff tapped at his watch. Nikita swallowed and waited. She had to talk to Walter.

"What am I going to do when I need you?" Walter declared and Nikita shook her head. She didn't even know that something was wrong with Walter but knew that something was drastically wrong when he slammed the phone down and broke the line.

Nikita stood up and headed towards her group with her heart in her stomach. She had never thought of the possibility of what she would do if she didn't have Walter anymore.

~~

"Michael?" Nikita whispered as she pushed at Michael's office door. He pulled his head up and looked up at Nikita. She looked like she had been run over by a truck. Nikita walked into the office with her hands full of files and then settled down in the chair like a scolded young child. "What is it, Nikita?"

"Can you help me, please? I need to get home tonight... something is wrong with Walter... and I just got the folders complete filled with all the information with each person... and I have to start seeing them tomorrow and don't even know who they are..." Nikita rattled off as she stared at the folder. Michael's eyes flickered with worry. Section One usually gave therapists individuals that they already knew or at least gave a therapist a week or two to read the files on the individuals. Michael had to wonder what Madeline was up to at the moment.

"What would be most helpful to you?" Michael questioned and Nikita swallowed as she stared at the folder. "Name, major diagnosis... failed treatments, and current plan of treatment... But most aren't following the treatment..."

"That's not a good sign..." Michael spoke as he stood up and rounded his desk. He pulled some folders off the side. He knew that Madeline might be watching so he carefully went through the folders, often prompting Nikita for her ideas on the patient and what she felt was wrong.

Nikita was never wrong. Even picked up on a few things that Michael hadn't been thinking about.

"What if I can't do this?" Nikita questioned as Michael walked Nikita back to her office. It was well after nine and both had just had a few slices of pizza that Davenport had ordered in for his staff. He had taken pity on Michael and Nikita.

"You will... you are very skilled and that will show through..." Michael tried to build Nikita's confidence in herself. That was going to be the most important thing that Nikita could rely upon right now. "Are you going home now?"

"Yes... and talk to Walter..." Nikita trembled out as she placed the folders down on her desk. She knew that physically and mentally that she couldn't do anything more for these individuals. Nikita rubbed at her eyes and pulled at her jacket. She just wanted to turn into Michael's arms and fall asleep.

Instead she went home.

~~

Nikita opened the door and looked towards the living room with the glaring lights. She dropped her keys on the table and moved into the living room as she removed her coat.

"Pappap?"

"Nikita..." Walter whispered as he looked up from the couch. He sighed. He had been worrying about the way that he had yelled at Nikita since he hung up. He knew better, but something had snapped.

"What's wrong, Pappap?" Nikita questioned.

"I'm just not a young man anymore, sugar..." Walter sadly responded as he looked to his hands and then to Nikita. "I've had arthritis for years... never thought it would get this bad..."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Nikita whispered as she sat down on the couch next to Walter. He sighed and looked at Nikita. He knew on some level, that Nikita was going to blame this all on herself. Nikita looked at him with puppy eyes and he groaned.

Nikita was going to take this hard.

"You were going through so much... we didn't really talk... and I was trying to deny the pain... but it just has been too much..." Walter stated out as he trembled. He rubbed his sore hands and then looked at Nikita.

"But there are treatments..." Nikita countered and Walter nodded his head.

"Yes... but when you get old like me and have this much damage that cortisone can't hide anymore... there aren't many options..." Walter warned out and winced as he thought about it. He was never a man to like doctors. "I'll probably have surgery to replace my right knee in the next four weeks, Kita... And I'm going to need help around here..."

"I'll be here," Nikita declared stubbornly and Walter shook his head. Nikita was finally coming out of the shell that she had placed herself within when she had arrived in his house. He wouldn't have it. "I just want you to help me hire someone... You have our job... and Laury.. and Michael..."

"You don't think I can do this? You don't think that I can help you like you have helped me?" Nikita demanded as she stood up and stared at Walter. She shook her head and moved to the doorway. "I have to pay you back so much. This is the least I could do..."

"I don't want you to do this, Nikita. I don't want you to take care of me... I want you to be worried and to be there when I have the surgery... but I want your life to go on...." Walter declared, but he already saw that Nikita felt slighted. He should have waited on this announcement until he knew when the surgery was gong to be. He should have known that after the conversation with Nikita this afternoon that her life was changing rapidly.

"I will take care of you! I won't let a stranger take care of you!" Nikita hollered back as she slammed her hand against the wall. She didn't like this talk. It was talk like this that made Nikita feel like Walter didn't even trust her.

"Sugar... This is my house and this is my life... I'll tell you who is and who isn't going to care for me... and I will not have you staying around this house to help me to the bathroom and to get me into bed!" Walter yelled back, matching Nikita's stubbornness with his own.

"Fine!" Nikita hissed as she picked up her keys and ran out of the house. She had come home because she felt that Walter wanted her.

Now Nikita was sure that he didn't want her.

Nikita sat in the car for a long time. She was so tired and didn't know what to do. But she didn't feel like crying alone and groaned s she turned the car on. She looked towards the house and the light that was still on. Nikita pulled her car out and headed back towards town.

And Michael.

~~

Michael stumbled out of bed, taking half of the blankets with him. He looked at his stairs and hurried down them and then stopped as he looked out the door and saw Nikita there.

"What?" Michael questioned as he opened the door.

But there weren't any other words. Nikita flung herself into Michael's arms and started to cry and fall asleep in the same heartbeat. Michael swung Nikita into his arms and carried her upstairs, smoothly placing them back to bed.

Barely noticing that it was now Tuesday.

*

Stress is basically a disconnection from the earth, a forgetting of the breath. Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. Nothing is that important. Just lie down. ~~Natalie Goldberg

"Lovely, lovely, lovely.... You have done so much more than I expected you to do," Mick exclaimed as he clapped his hands together in Nikita's office on Friday afternoon. Nikita weakly smiled and rubbed at her neck. She felt the urge to drop her head down on the desk and fall asleep.

"But we don't have a title for the event yet... and that is what Madeline is most worried about," Nikita spoke, wishing that she didn't have to mention it. It was going to make this meeting to go longer than Nikita needed it too. She had so much paperwork that needed to be done, along with catching up on her phone calls.

"I know... this one is just so rough.... You want something that lets the kids we serve have a personality... but anything over the top might invite trouble," Mick stated as he frowned. Nikita had hoped that Mick would have all the answers. That was why she was working with him, but Nikita was sure as she struggled through this entire week that Mick had her doing all the grunt work.

To get no credit at all.

"Maybe we should just use a generic name?" Nikita offered as a suggestion. Mick frowned and wrinkled his nose. He didn't like that idea at all.

"No, Popsicle... we need this to be as big as the other events... it wouldn't be right!" Mick announced as he stood up. Nikita dropped her head and rubbed at her burning eyes. Nikita pulled out the list that she had been working on and then threw it to the floor. "Something wrong, doll face?"

"I'm just exhausted... nothing much..." Nikita stated sarcastically as she looked up at Mick, propping her head up in her hands. He shook his head. "They shouldn't do that to a beauty like you..."

"I'm a therapist Mick... It's part of my job," Nikita replied and Mick shook his head. He interacted with the other people inside of Section One. No one ever looked like Nikita. And Mick had heard from the grapevine that Nikita was getting shafted with difficult cases and more work.

"But that is all that is wrong?" Mick questioned with a raised eyebrow. Nikita pressed her lips together and paused. Mick shook his head. He knew when the pretty woman was lying. "Come on, sweet pea, just tell me what these mean people are doing to you.."

Nikita stood up and rolled her shoulders back. She wasn't going to open up to Mick. He was just the last person in the world that would understand the underlying currents in the meeting this morning. Nikita stared at her books and then her pile of folders. She wasn't going to get home until late tonight again.

If she made it home.

Two nights ago, Davenport found Nikita asleep in the conference room where she had spread out some of the more difficult cases. He shook her until Nikita jumped out of fear.

Davenport had been scared for a while that Nikita wouldn't be able to control her reaction. Once Nikita calmed down, he helped her down to the clinic and into a bed for a couple hours of sleep.

And Davenport called Michael to bring new clothes for Nikita.

"Madeline was not impressed that we didn't have a name for the event..." Nikita spoke out tensely. What Nikita was saying was just something to get Mick off of her case. It was clear that Madeline did not like anything about the event at all and Nikita had to wonder why it was still going to happen.

Madeline hammered away about questions on security and decorations. There were financial questions, which Nikita stunned everyone, already showing a profit, and there were questions about what foods to allow and disallow. Nikita had already been through some of the changes with Mick earlier in the meeting.

No pop.
No sugar.
No rap.

Those were Madeline's steadfast rules. And Nikita had to have a title for the entire event by Monday.

"What about 'Paris Youth Rocks'?" Mick suggested and Nikita sighed. That was one of the first ones that they both thought about.

"No.. because then it sounds like it is opened to all youth..." Nikita pointed out the reason why they had gotten rid of it the first time.

"God... Madeline is going to have us calling this Section One Battered and Abused Youth Can Really Dance... Believe it or not!" Mick hissed out in frustration. He looked at Nikita's pale face and stood up. "I should leave you to your other work..."

"I'm going to be here all night either way, Mick. What is a few more minutes?" Nikita questioned and Mick frowned. He didn't think that Michael would want Nikita around Section One late on a Friday night. Just last Friday night they were in his restaurant.

"What if I take you and Michael out for dinner? We can claim that is a working dinner and you can have some quality relaxation time?" Mick offered and Nikita shook her head. She loved the sound of being with Michael. She loved the sound of having an actual dinner. But that was in her future.

"I'm sorry... I just have to get this work done so I might have a few hours tomorrow to myself... and with Walter..." Nikita stated as she remembered her promises for the weekend to her grandfather. Her work never seemed to be dead.

"Well... ok.... Well... for now.. let's call this event Late Night at Section One... If mad Maddie complains... tell her to call me.. she knows my number," Mick announced as he winked at Nikita and opened her office door. Nikita nodded her head. She couldn't wait to tell Madeline to call Mick.

"I'll call you on Monday," Nikita stated as Mick slipped into the hallway, finding himself easily in new conversations. It would take Mick another hour to get out the front door. He would talk to everyone.

Michael was in his path and Nikita sighed as her eyes looked at Michael. It seemed like ages since they had anything more than falling asleep in each other's arms. Nikita dropped her head and moved back to the piles of paper on her desk that needed to be cleaned off.

But things were never easy. The phone on Nikita's desk began to snap at her. Times like this, Nikita wanted to pull the phone out of the jack and throw it down the hallway, as far away from her as she could get it. Nikita picked it up and sat down in her chair. "Nikita Jackson..."

"Hello Ms. Jackson. This is Solenne Carrouge from the Medical Step Down House..." Solenne introduced herself and Nikita felt her stomach churn. Laury had just been moved into the care of the Medical Step Down House on Wednesday because she had improved, but needed to continue to have medical care.

"Is something wrong with Laury?" Nikita questioned as she pulled out the vanilla folder that had been growing with Laury's medical information during this turbulent time. Nikita looked at and swallowed. She had found Laury's family and been meaning to see Laury about contacting them.

"Yes... Ms. Jackson we had her rushed to the hospital early this afternoon..." Solenne replied and Nikita looked to her watch and glared at the late time. She didn't think that it was this late.

"What happened? She was improving," Nikita inquired sternly as she heard a tap on the door. Michael stood there with his eyes wide open, wondering what new trauma or stress was coming down the pipe at Nikita. There wasn't much he could have done during the week but stand back and watch and be there at night.

When Nikita did get out of Section One.

"She spiked a fever around eleven this morning... the doctors wanted us to get it down, but after several attempts, we couldn't control the fever... they have taken her back to try another antibiotic..." Solenne supplied calmly. She had dealt with many family members and social workers before in this situation. It was always difficult to hear that there had been a set back.

"So she is in the hospital again... Can you tell me which room?" Nikita questioned as she pulled at a post it and her pen.

"She is in Nine West... in 9-570..." Solenne gave the information.

"Thank you... I'll try to get in and see her... I needed to talk to her either way..." Nikita replied and dropped the phone down as her eyes looked up Michael. He sat down and looked at Nikita. He didn't need to be told what had happened. "She'll be ok..."

"It's never ending..." Nikita complained as she took Laury's folder and placed it on the bookcase behind her. Michael couldn't do much more than nod his head. He couldn't add to Nikita that he felt that she was the only one who was still working at this hour.

"Are you almost done?" Michael questioned and Nikita allowed a stiff, hard laugh echo in her office. Michael blinked his eyes and Nikita sobered. "You were serious..."

"Yes... I was hoping that we could go out for dinner," Michael suggested. He knew that Nikita just needed to get away from Section One. She needed to relax.

"Well... since Madeline doesn't feel that my committing someone on my first day of treatment was a good presentation... even thought I got slapped and almost slashed... I have to be thinking about my presentation for next Friday..." Nikita remarked as she glared at Michael. He had been at the meeting this morning and wanted to stop Madeline, but knew that he couldn't do so. He had never seen Madeline so rough on a new therapist, especially when the therapist had limited visits with a patient. Nikita's client was severe and needed to be presented. Michael had a bad feeling that no matter how much Nikita tried, there would always be something wrong.

"Nikita... there is nothing that you can do to get ready for next week until next week..." Michael wisely suggested the advice to Nikita. She groaned and rubbed at her own neck. "I also have to write about ten more weekly progress notes..."

"We don't need to keep those up to date..." Michael replied as he frowned. He didn't know why Nikita was going to do more work than needed.

"Madeline left a message on my voice mail that I needed to do them because she is not sure of my skills... She is going to audit my charts next Wednesday..." Nikita coldly informed Michael and he shook his head. He didn't understand this at all.

"I'm going to give you an hour... and then I'm coming back here and taking you out of here..." Michael declared as he stood up and placed his hands on Nikita's desk, making it clear that he meant every word.

"I can't go anywhere, Michael... If I do go out... I need to go see Laury..." Nikita softly whispered as her eyes almost filled with tears. Her heart was being torn apart with what she wanted to do and what she felt obligated to do.

"You don't need to go see her. You aren't even her full time case manager and therapist until she is out of the Medical House..." Michael informed Nikita and she shrugged her shoulder. Michael shook his head for the moment. He would give Nikita the hour first. Then he would help Nikita realize that she needed to take this break for her own sanity. "I'll be back in an hour."

~~

Nikita tossed the pile to the side and glanced at the clock. As she turned around, Michael stood there with his jacket on and holding Nikita's. She didn't want to admit it, but it was probably best to have a deadline from Michael. Nikita realized that she needed only short notes on most of the charts.

"Are you ready?" Michael questioned as he stepped into the office and extended Nikita's coat to her. Nikita nodded her head and looked at the pile of folders that she still needed to take with her for over the weekend.

"For tonight... I'll be up tomorrow.." Nikita stated out as she looked at the files and then back up at Michael.

"Do you want to go out and eat?" Michael questioned, deciding that it was best to not even mention that he felt that Nikita just needed the weekend for herself and to deal with Walter's growing medical problem. He knew that right now that Nikita wouldn't heed that advice. She didn't know how to fight back with Madeline. Not many people did. Not that Michael could see Nikita using such power if she had it.

"I just want to go see Laury and then go home and sleep..." Nikita whined as she pulled her ponytail up and slipped her coat on. Michael shook his head and looked into Nikita's eyes. "You can't go see Laury."

"Why not?" Nikita countered.

"Because, she is old enough to realize that you can't be there like a parent would... You are exhausted and you need time that is yours..." Michael declared and Nikita tilted her head to the side and swallowed back the first swell of anger.

But it didn't stay away.

"But it is ok for me to be with you tonight? To go home with you but not to go to Laury?" Nikita demanded with her eyes flaring with anger. Michael groaned and leaned his head back against the door.

"I see what this is doing to you, Nikita... You are being consumed by the work and the files and the papers and the events... You can't do that... You just started to live life..." Michael whispered out as she turned his head, revealing his green eyes to Nikita. He was worried for Nikita at this moment and Nikita stared at him.

"It's my duty to be there for her..." Nikita responded as her own voice cracked.

"But Laury wouldn't want you to stop life? Didn't she know about us?" Michael inquired, trying to find any proof to help him take Nikita with him and take care of her.

"Yes..."

"What do you really want tonight, Nikita? What is it that you wish this night could be?" Michael requestioned the question that he was asking. This was down to thoughts that Michael was sure were very clear.

"You... me... together..." Nikita responded and Michael nodded his head, but then dropped it as a smile crossed his face. He didn't like that he had to force Nikita to chose himself over Laury, but she needed to start setting limits and boundaries. She couldn't lose herself inside of Section One. It was one mistake that Michael had done once upon a time and the one mistake that he struggled with all new employees to make sure that they didn't do it.

"I have some stir fry at my house...." Michael suggested as he realized that although dinner and a movie would be nice, Nikita was almost walking asleep as it was.

"That actually sounds quite good..."

~~

"Walter.... I just wanted to let you know that I'm not going to be home tonight..." Nikita spoke as she stepped out of her car, looking at the pile of folders on her passenger side seat. Michael was already up at his door and entering the house.

"You said you would be home for the interviews..." Walter groveled out as he looked at the dinner that he had prepared.

"And I'll be home by noon tomorrow... I just couldn't think of driving all the way home..." Nikita promised and explained.

"But you were able to drive over to Michaels..." Walter complained and Nikita closed her eyes as she stood outside. Sometimes it was impossible to tell if Walter was very serious about his words or if he was actually trying to crack a joke.

"I need this break... Michael worked on telling me that for two hours, Pappap... I need time to breath..." Nikita whispered out as she rolled her head back. She would have thought that by now that she would have been feeling much better.

"Sugar, I'm just worried..." Walter admitted.

"I know... and it sure took a lot for me to do this... Laury went back to the hospital and I almost found her family... I have about one hundred other things that need to be done... for other people..." Nikita stressed out and Walter smiled.

Michael did a good thing. Nikita did need this.

"Get some rest... I'll see you tomorrow.." Walter announced softly as he closed the line, allowing Nikita to go on with the night with no feelings of regret or guilt.

~~

"Nikita... Do you want some wine?" Michael questioned as he walked back to the living room. He looked down to the couch and shook his head. Nikita was asleep. He sat down next to her and stroked at her neck softly.

She was so tired and Michael wanted to go and choke Madeline for doing this to her. Madeline was trying to break her, for reasons that Michael couldn't identify. But he wouldn't let Madeline do that.

"Kita.... Kita... Dinner is ready..." Michael whispered as he pulled away from Nikita's body, not wanting to be crowding her. Although this past week, Michael hadn't lived through any of Nikita's nightmares and sudden movements out of fear, he was sure that it was partially because Nikita was exhausted.

Nikita lifted her head and blinked her eyes. She looked around and then to her watch. "Dinner?"

"Yes... And then you can go back to sleep..."

And that was exactly what happened, only Michael joined Nikita.

*

Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste of death but once.
Of all the wonders that I yet have heard,
It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come when it will come.
~~William Shakespeare

Michael rolled his head to the side and jerked as he realized that he was teetering on the edge of the couch. He looked down at Nikita, which he had protected all night and saw that she was still out to the world. Michael groaned silently as he started to move, realizing how late it was and how amazing it had been that he hadn't fallen off the couch.

After dinner, it had appeared that both of them had gotten a second wind and sat down on the couch. Nikita flipped the stations and then started to watch 'Pretty Woman', claiming that she had never seen the movie in her life. Michael smiled and held Nikita in his arms, to only find out quickly that Nikita wasn't going to see 'Pretty Woman' this time either. Michael watched on for a while and then leaned back on the couch, pulling Nikita down with him and wrapping the both of them up with a heavy quilt, telling himself that it was only for a small nap.

Michael slowly slipped off of the couch and looked at Nikita as she was oblivious to Michael's movements and his moving away from the couch. Michael stretched his body out with another groan, telling himself that he would never fall asleep on the couch again in his entire life.

He moved into the kitchen to make some coffee and blinked four times hard as he glared at the clock.

It wasn't early morning. It wasn't even late morning.

It was about twenty minutes after twelve!

Michael turned on the water at his sink and tried to shake his head out of the blur that it continued to be in. He needed coffee and then food. He stood there with the coffee pot and filled it up slowly before turning to brew the pot, he looked towards Nikita. She had curled her body up on the couch and held the blanket tightly.

There was something going on at Section One, particularly Madeline. Michael was struggling to find out what exactly all the changes that had been happening meant and why it seemed to have put Nikita on the hot seat. Despite the great stress that Nikita was under at the moment and for the past week, she had done a far superior job on all of her clients and her entire group. She was making the other therapists stand up and take notice of their lackluster attempts, however, Madeline hammered away at Nikita.

Madeline had done something like that when Michael first started at Section One. It seemed like an entire lifetime ago that Michael was in the position that Nikita was in.

No, he never helped out with the fundraising, but he had helped with more programs than he could keep track of and Madeline continued to demand more and more. Excellence hadn't been enough from Madeline. Michael looked to Nikita as the coffee started to brew, the smell waking Michael up slowly.

Maybe Madeline wanted to promote Nikita soon?

Michael poured his cup of coffee even as the pot continued to brew. He couldn't wait to wrap his hands around the mug and to chuck the first mouthful of the heavy caffeine to bring his mind back in focus.

But Michael had no time to savor that first mouthful as his phone began to ring. "Hello?"

"Michael.... Is Nikita there?" Walter demanded and Michael whirled around and glared at the clock. Nikita was supposed to be home to help Walter make the interviews for his help around the house at noon. "She is still sleeping... I know that she needed to be back..."

"Michael... can you wake her up?" Walter questioned with a tense voice.

"Walter... please don't be upset with her... she meant to be home... she was just exhausted... and I just woke up myself.... It's more my fault..." Michael mumbled out, trying to spare Nikita any more stress than she needed.

"Michael... it isn't about that.... I just need to talk to her... NOW!" Walter growled out and Michael snapped his eyes opened. Something was wrong, but he also knew that at the moment Walter wasn't going to tell Michael first.

"I'll wake her up... hold on..." Michael spoke even as he started to move towards the couch. He looked at Nikita as he shook her lightly. Nikita's head rolled away as she attempted to stay asleep. "Kita... its Walter on the phone for you..."

"Uh?" Nikita mumbled as she lifted her head and rubbed at her eyes. She looked at Michael and then shook her head. "What?"

"Walter..." Michael stated as he extended the phone and Nikita shook her head once more as she placed the phone near her ear and Michael moved away. "Hallo, Pappap..."

"Nikita... I needed to call you... the hospital called..." Walter stated and Nikita opened her eyes, still feeling as if she was in a dream.

"What? I don't understand..." Nikita mumbled and Walter sighed. He could tell that quite literally, Michael had just woken Nikita up.

"The hospital called... because you were the emergency contact..." Walter explained slowly, although he didn't feel that he had the time to be slow.

"Is this about Laury? Did she go home?" Nikita questioned as she rubbed her sore shoulders. She felt like she had fallen asleep on rocks.

"No.... they wanted you to get into the hospital..."

"Why?" Nikita snapped as she stood up. Michael watched Nikita as she moved around and pushed her shoes onto her feet.

"I don't know... but they said that Laury wasn't doing good... and felt that you would want to know... and be there..." Walter stated, even though he knew from the tone of the phone call, that it didn't sound good.

"When did they call?" Nikita questioned as she moved around and looked for her purse, glad that she had driven her own car.

"About five minutes ago, Sugar.... Are you going?" Walter questioned.

"Yeah..." Nikita announced as she depressed the button and stopped the conversation. She threw the phone to the coffee table and looked at Michael as he stood holding his coffee, wondering what was going on. "I have to go..."

"You just woke up... Wouldn't you like to take a shower? Have some breakfast?" Michael questioned, wondering if Nikita was going to tell him what was going on.

"No... No time... I'll call you..." Nikita stated as she moved to the door and pulled her coat on. Michael frowned and watched the door vibrate as Nikita slammed it on her way out of the house and towards her car. Michael placed his cup down and picked up the phone and called Walter.

"Hello?" Walter answered.

"Walter... what is going on?" Michael questioned and Walter froze. He thought that Nikita would have Michael drive since she was with him.

"Aren't you with Nikita?" Walter questioned. Michael swallowed, knowing that this wasn't good.

"No... she drove here herself last night... She took her car..." Michael tensely announced as he moved into his own room for his own shoes, feeling that he was going to be running after Nikita.

"Then you got to go after her," Walter declared and Michael froze. "Why?"

"They called about Laury... she might not make it..." Walter spoke and Michael dropped the phone, not even caring to hang it up.

~~

Nikita tapped her hands together as she struggled to maintain any kind of composure on the ride up on the elevator. She had tried to stop at the emergency parking, but was directed to the large parking garage. She ran from the garage, barely remembering to take her keys with her.

"Excuse me..." More people hissed as they pushed their way onto the elevator from the third floor. Nikita stared at the numbers and regretted that she didn't take the stairs like she wanted too, but stopped herself from doing so.

The elevator finally lurched upward again only to top on the fourth floor. Nikita made her decision. "I'm getting out!"

Nikita pushed her way through the hospital personnel and onto the lobby of the fourth floor. Nikita turned to the side and pushed her way towards the stairs. She started up the stairs, pushing her body quickly, even though she was barely running on any energy at all.

If Nikita had stopped for one second to think, she would have realized the miracle that had occurred just to get her to the hospital. She had been a maniac on the streets, speeding and swerving in ways that Nikita never would do. Her conscious control of actions disappeared as she worried about Laury.

No one should be alone.

She was gasping for air as she snapped the door and walked into the ninth floor lobby. Nikita blinked her eyes and tried to get her bearings of the floor and to strain her mind to remember what room that Laury had been placed in.

"Code Blue.... 9-570.... Code Blue!" The nurse's voice rang over the system and Nikita swallowed, hearing Laury's room. She glanced at the sign and followed the arrow until she was on the bank of rooms and could see the rushing staff towards the room that Nikita knew to be Laury's.

"WATCH OUT!" Staff yelled as the cart was rolled down the hallway and around Nikita. Nikita felt the tears in her eyes and moved so she could see into the room.

Nikita was stunned as she saw the man on the bed, pushing down on Laury's chest. It was only Lyme Disease!

"Excuse me... I'm her worker... they called me..." Nikita stated to a nurse that was trying to get into Laury's room. She pulled Nikita's arm off of her and groaned. "You are going to have to wait here..."

"How long has this been going on?" a doctor questioned.

"She had been having problems since this morning.... Her breathing stopped functioning about an hour ago..." a nurse replied as Nikita jumped as she heard the machine snapping to life.

"Why wasn't a code call sooner?" The doctor demanded and the nurse looked to her hands.

"The specialist stated he felt that it was too late... the infections were too bad..." The nurse stated and the doctor plunged a needle into the arm.

"LAURY!" Nikita screamed out as she stood shifting her weight from side to side. She shouldn't be by herself at this moment.

"Charging panels!" Another nurse called out as they pulled back Laury's shirt, exposing her entire body to get to the flesh to try to start Laury again.

Nikita covered her mouth but couldn't look away. She knew what this all meant. She had seen paramedics doing this to some of the people that were on the streets. Not many made it.,

"Please... let me go in... I know her..... she has no family right now..." Nikita begged to the next nurse that was trying to go into the room.

"I'm sorry... I can't let you..." the nurse replied as she entered the room and then pulled the door closed, but Nikita could see from the window that nothing was happening. Although Nikita couldn't hear the shock that jolted Laury's body, she saw Laury's body jump as it was administered. They continued to pound on her chest over and over again before they threw electricity over Laury's body once more.

A nurse ran out of the room and left the door opened.

"Doctor... you should call it..." a nurse stated and Nikita looked to the lines that were waving on the screen. Nothing was there.

Nikita knew.

Laury wasn't there either.

"Charge again.... One more try!" The doctor ordered as he moved to the paddles. He took them in his hand and looked at the child. He pressed them into her chest and Nikita jumped as she finally heard the sound of the impact with Laury's body.

"Nothing, doctor..." the nurse whispered and the doctor dropped his hands and there would be no more pounding on Laury's chest. A nurse stepped forward and placed a blanket over her chest. "No vitals, doctor..."

"Time of death... 13:07..." the doctor announced as he threw the gloves off of his hands. Nikita stood there and shook her head. This wasn't happening. Laury was getting better.

"Miss.... Please come with me..."

"No... I want to see her..." Nikita announced as the nurse started to pull Nikita away from the doorway. Another nurse pushed the crash cart back out of the room as the doctor picked up Laury's chart and shook his head.

"Let us clean her up.... Do you know her family?" the nurse questioned as she eased Nikita down the hallway.

"She is in the program at Section One... I am responsible for her... at Section One..." Nikita stumbled out as she stared back to the room. The doctor walked out into the hallway and then towards her.

"She works at Section One," The nurse stated to the doctor that had stopped in front of Nikita. He looked at Nikita even as she started to shake her head, mumbling no.

"I'm sorry... we attempted all the drugs... she stopped breathing and then her heart stopped.. despite all of our best efforts to start her heart again.... We were unable to do so...." The doctor stated as he looked at Nikita. He knew of Section One and had dealt with some of them while he was working in the drug overdose cases... none of the workers ever came to the hospital.

"She can't be dead... she was getting better!" Nikita exclaimed and the doctor pressed his lips together. "I'm sorry for the lost.... Do you know how we can get in touch with someone to make arrangements for her body?"

"What?" Nikita questioned as she stumbled about.

"There was no family members listed... Do you want us to just cremate?" The doctor questioned and Nikita looked around and blinked as her world began to spin. "I'll take care of the arrangements..."

"Would you like to sit down?" The doctor questioned as he looked at Nikita's pale face and her gaunt eyes as she continued to look towards Laury's room. She was swaying back and forth, in shock.

"Can I see her?" Nikita questioned.

"Let them clean her up..." the doctor replied as the doors at the end of the hallway opened and a man dressed in all black arrived. Nikita didn't seem him, but the doctor noticed that he was walking towards Nikita.

"Kita..." Michael whispered and she jerked her head towards Michael.

"She died... Oh, God, Michael.... Laury is gone..." Nikita cried out as her body became limp only once he had wrapped his arms around Nikita. The doctor looked to the nurse and walked down the hallway, leaving Michael with Nikita.