Nikita twitches her neckline for what seems like the hundredth time this evening.

"Will you quit doing that Nikita, you're making my picture jump." Birkhoff complains in her ear.

"Sorry," Nikita mutters, "it's just that I keep thinking I am going to fall out of this dress."

"Yeah, I don't blame you. What was Madeline thinking of when she strapped you into that thing?"

"Strapped is right." Nikita says feelingly. "Do you mean that you don't know who Elvira is Birkhoff?"

"Elvira?"

"Yes, Elvira. Elvira, Mistress of the Night. Hostess with the Mostest. She is the host of some really tacky monster movies. I think she's on cable or something. This is her normal outfit."

"Oh... Hostess with the Mostest, huh? Well you can certainly tell that's true with that dress. If I were you I wouldn't lean over any time tonight."

"You're telling me."

  -----

Michael sits at the bar listening to Nikita and Birkhoff discuss the amount of tantalizing flesh she is displaying in her costume. He is unsure of how to break into this unnecessary chitchat because Nikita's breasts have always been a subject of internal conversation for himself.

Still, he had better say something or soon everybody will be involved. He looks around the party once more searching in vain for their mark. Still not here. It's been three hours and it's no wonder everybody is getting bored and talkative. It must be 2:00 a.m., at least.

"Okay everybody, let's go. It's obvious that he's not going to show." Michael breaks into the now rampant channel talk.

He pays for his drink and adjusts his cape. Madeline had thought it would appropriate for Dracula to accompany Elvira and so while Nikita unwillingly displayed all of her charms for the partygoers, Michael has been battling a full length cape with a two foot stand up collar and a pair of fangs that have caused him to bite his tongue at least twice.

"At last." Nikita sighs standing up with as much speed as this contraption Madeline tied her in will allow her. How anybody could voluntarily do this to their body is beyond her.

Michael silently agrees and pockets his fangs.

************

By the time all of the operatives trickle into the van, it's past 3:00 a.m. Michael has gallantly lent Nikita his cloak for cover and because Birkhoff can't seem to concentrate otherwise.

"Well, that was a waste of time. Birkhoff when we get back, double check our source and verify that Taylor was supposed to be at this party." Michael orders in distanced voice, his mind already working on a different strategy to get to Taylor.

"When we get back? It's past three, can I do it in the morning?" Birkhoff smothers a yawn and taps slowly on his beloved laptop.

Michael finds himself smothering a yawn also and realizes with a start that unlike himself, other people need sleep. "Yes. It can wait until tomorrow."

  -------

Back at the Section everyone but Michael and Nikita leave immediately. The other cold operatives were dressed casually as waiters and waitresses and can go home without stopping by Madeline's.

Nikita moves as quickly as her outfit will allow up to Madeline's lair while Michael heads for his office to fill out the report Operations will demand at the crack of dawn.

  ------

Michael types the last keystroke and sits back. It's a relatively cut and dried report, no activity. Just in and out, with no motion. He stretches and considers whether to go home or try to sleep at his desk. Just then his intercom buzzes. That's odd. The only people here are survelliance. "Yes?"

"Michael? Thank god you're still here. Can you come up to Madeline's office for a minute?" Nikita whispers into the intercom.

"Nikita, it's late, why don't you go home?"

"Michael please! It's very important." Nikita pleads.

"All right. I'll be there in a minute."

  -------

Michael walks into Madeline's office and notices that only the desk light is on. "Nikita?"

"Michael? ... I'm over here." Nikita's voice comes from behind the curtain separating the main room from a walk-in closet.

"Nikita. What is it?"

No answer.

"'Kita, it's too late to be playing games." Especially in Section.

Nikita opens the curtain. She is still dressed like Elvira, although she has taken the black wig off. Her face is red and flustered and her lower lip is out in a decided pout. "I'm trapped."

"What?" Michael tries to keep from looking at her. Not in Madeline's office he tells himself. Not here.

"I'm trapped in this damn dress! I can't get it off." Nikita almost screams.

************

"Okay, okay, calm down." Michael soothes trying not to laugh at Nikita's expression. "Let's take a look."

"I think something's broken. Oh Michael, what am I going to do? I hate this thing!"

Michael valiantly controls his smile and walks around her slowly. The front of the dress is very straight forward. Very. Her breasts are pushed upward and inward and revealed. If the front was cut any deeper, Nikita would never have to answer "Are you a natural blonde?" again.

The back of the dress looks to be just as simplistic. Michael can see that she has already unzipped the actual material part of the dress, however, she is still completely covered in what appears to a whale boned corset. There are several areas of intricate lacing visible and the possibility of more is high.

"Michael, hurry. This thing is starting to hurt."

"How did she get you into this?" Michael asks as he studies the contraption like an Engineer faced with building a bridge.

"She shoved me in and tied me up!"

Safely behind her, and so out of sight, Michael smiles as he listens to the exasperation in Nikita's voice. Obviously, she does not find this situation funny.

"'Kita, please calm down. I'm going to start with this one in the middle. It appears to be the outermost one. Tell me if I hurt you."

"Anything. Just get me out of this."

Michael reaches up and carefully fingers the cord that has been double-knotted at the middle of her shoulder blades. With quick movements and quite a bit of force he unknots the cord. He stops momentarily when Nikita gasps during one of his tuggings but she urges him to continue.

Unknotted, the lacing easily unravels and Nikita gives a little whimper of delight as some of her lungs are freed from bondage.

"Yes, yes. That's it. Do it again."

Michael gently strokes her skin, partially revealed. He rubs the red ridges that the lacing has cut into her skin.

"Oh Michael, that feels so good."

  --------

"Psst. Henry, listen to this." Tom gestures for Henry to wear his earphones.

Henry puts the earphones on in time to hear Nikita say, '"Yes, yes. That's it. Do it again.' There is a pause and then he hears Nikita say, in a slightly huskier voice, 'Oh Michael, that feels so good.'

Henry lifts one earphone away and whispers to Tom, "Where are they?"

"Madeline's office, unfortunately." Tom mutters. No cameras in Madeline office, much to their obvious disappointment.

Henry hands Tom his earphones back and switches his channel over to Madeline's office.

  ---------

Michael has now untied three lacings and is becoming concerned about the amount of strappings still visible. The ridges on Nikita's back are quite deep in some areas. She continues to moan and sigh as each section is relieved of pressure.

"Michael don't stop! Not now, I'm close, I can feel it!"

************

Michael swallows and tries to block the sounds of Nikita's relief and enjoyment out of his mind. If he didn't know that she was pleased to just be getting out of this dress, he would swear that she was verbally teasing him.

"OH GOD, YES! Finally. Ooooh Michael, you've got great hands." Nikita moans, finally regaining her lungs.

The last of the lacing unravels and the dress literally drops off of Nikita's very relieved form.

She breathes deeply and moans with enjoyment.

Michael swallows again as he can't resist looking at Nikita's form, clad only in the skimpiest of thongs. Anything else would have shown with that dress.

Nikita turns and throws her arms around Michael, hugging him in delight. "Thank you, thank you, thank you." She disperses little kisses all over his face.

  -------

Henry and Tom grin at each other as they are glued to Madeline's channel. Who knew Michael was so talented? By the way Nikita is carrying on, he must be a super stud.

************

Nikita lets go of Michael, closes her eyes, twirls in a little circle and stretches. She is thoroughly enjoying her newfound freedom of movement and quite unaware of the effect she is having on him.

"God that feels good. Never let anybody say you don't have the magic touch Michael."

Michael stands rooted to the spot unable to stop himself from drinking in the sight of Nikita's almost nude figure and the look of utter happiness on her face. It is the look of delight that is the more seductive of the two. He starts to think of all of the things he could do to keep that look there or even to deepen it.

When Nikita opens her eyes it is these thoughts she sees reflected in his green gaze and with a tremble she becomes aware of the situation, time, proximity and her need.

Both of them are breathing deeply as they look at each other, thoughts that are not standard Section issue taking hold.

"I am the only one with my clothes off Michael, why is that?" Nikita whispers while moving towards him. She knows he is unable to leave and delights in her power over him at this moment.

  -------

Tom and Henry are totally absorbed in the dialogue taking place in Madeline's office. So much so that they fail to notice Birkhoff as he wanders through after having raided the cafeteria.

"What's going on guys?" Birkhoff asks after noticing the intent looks on their faces.

The two of them jump and blush furiously, "Nothing, nothing." they both stutter and begin to make a big production out of scanning all of the operatives they are supposed to have under survelliance.

Birkhoff cocks an eyebrow and watches them for a minute. Whatever it was, they are obviously not going to share. With a shake of his head, he walks away.

Both Tom and Henry watch him until he is out of sight. Simultaneously two switches click back to Madeline's office.

  ------

Nikita wraps her arms around Michael's neck, presses up against him and places her lips mere centimeters away from his, "Why is that?, her breath warms his lips.

Michael's arms encircle her waist and he begins to unconsciously stroke her back, while pulling her tighter against him.

"'Kita, we can't."

"Can't or won't?"

He closes his eyes in anguish. How much longer can he take the tension of seeing her everyday without touching her? Enduring her looks. Knowing she wants him. Wanting her. How much longer?

"Not here."

"Where?"

He swallows and his control breaks. "Somewhere, I will find somewhere. Get dressed." Michael releases her and turns toward the door, his mind racing over suitable alternatives.

"Now?"

He turns back and the look in his eyes scorches her soul and sets her blood on fire, "Now!"

Nikita scrambles to dress before he changes his mind and the two of them leave Madeline's office at a dead run.

  -------

Tom and Henry look at each other and then adjust their dials. Since Birkhoff interrupted them, they haven't heard a word or sound out of Madeline's office.

"Damn" they say together as it becomes apparent that Michael and Nikita have left.

************

Late Morning -

Last night's operatives are once again seated around the briefing table. If anybody notices that neither Michael nor Nikita appear to have slept, it is not commented on. Operations is not surprised about last night's mission being unsuccessful as this morning's newcast mentioned that Taylor had been killed in a drunk driving accident last night. They will have to work the Intel from a different angle.

As they are being dismissed, Madeline casually asks Nikita what she thought of the costume she wore last night.

"Well, to be truthful Madeline, I hated that thing. It was uncomfortable and dangerous to wear. I didn't think I was ever going to get out of it."

"Hmm, I did wonder about that when I was lacing you in last night. I take it that you got out okay?"

"Yes."

"Were you sore? It was awfully tight."

"Oh, a little. I worked the kinks out later." Nikita says with a straight face but with a twinkle in her eye.

"Good. I'll talk to you later." Madeline walks away smiling. Considering that she discovered Nikita's dress and Michael's cape on her floor this morning, she has no doubt that the 'kinks' were worked out.

The End

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