Nikita struggled with a resurfacing guilt that she had worked so hard in the past to control. Though Section forced her to perform acts she found distasteful, was she inevitably responsible for those acts? Would she be held accountable by a higher being-by God? How would she be judged? Was it strength that helped her survive and persevere or was it in fact weakness? Fear?

"Are you okay, Nikita?" Christy whispered.

"I'm fine. I just have a little bit of a headache." Nikita offered as an excuse, before refocusing on the Earl's words.

~~~~~~

Nikita found her days filled with routine activities, most of which were work oriented. Many of the activities split the group by gender. The men were mostly involved in the upkeep of the property and the care of the horses, while the women spent their time sewing, doing laundry, gardening, performing routine housework, and tending to the young children.

On this particular afternoon, Nikita was polishing the dark mahogany wood railing of the grand staircase while Christy dusted some fine porcelain pieces on the other side of the room. She hummed a familiar hymn as she carefully wiped the dust from each surface. Nikita found Christy's humming to be soothing, but it did not ease her hidden anxiousness toward the mission. They had arrived just over a week ago and still Quentin had not returned.

Hunger pangs interrupted Nikita's thoughts. She only had a light lunch with the other women around 11:30 am. She found that the meals were gradually becoming less filling. Perhaps it was not just the healthy living that kept all the women thin. In addition, there was hardly an idle moment in the day. There was always something that needed cleaning or attention. Nikita found the devotion to the house and land quite admirable, but the constant activity was becoming tedious. The only breaks they were given were for the brief noontime church service and during the entire day on Sunday. She only had the evenings to spend quality time with Michael. And last night she was so exhausted from scrubbing floors with Christy that she fell asleep before Michael ever reached the bed.

Nikita looked up when she heard the front door push open. A graying handsome gentleman in a dark suit appeared, shutting the door firmly behind him.

"Minister Quentin, it's good that you are back. How was your trip?" Christy asked as she greeted the man

"It was long, but productive. I'm quite pleased with the results." Quentin remarked. Turning his attention to Nikita, he continued, "Well, hello. You must be new. I'm Jonathan Quentin, and you are?"

"I'm Nikita. It's quite a pleasure to finally meet you, sir. I was sorry to find you were away when my husband and I arrived." Nikita replied as she shook his hand.

"I'm always delighted to meet individuals interested in joining us in our journey to follow the good path--the path to Heaven." the minister replied as he held Nikita's hand for a prolonged moment. "Here Christy, could you take my bags. I think I will take some time now to have a nice chat with Nikita. Normally, I do that when folks arrive. But since I wasn't here...there's no time like the present," the minister said with a warm smile.

"Certainly." Christy replied as she eagerly took his two bags.

"It can wait if you'd prefer to get settled in first," Nikita suggested, feeling at a disadvantage.

"No, I'm fine. It won't take long. Don't worry, my dear, it's nothing formal."

Nikita's emotions were mixed with excitement and uncertainty. This was an excellent opportunity to examine his office. But she was uncertain of what the minister expected of her. She would have felt better if Michael was accompanying them.

As they entered his dark office, the minister offered her a seat before his desk. The grandfather clock ominously struck one time as he moved toward the window to open the blinds. Taking a seat, he asked Nikita to tell him a bit about herself. Nikita quickly conveyed the facts of her cover story with ease, though toward the end she found herself wringing her hands.

Looking around the room, she found nothing too unusual. The furnishings were all made of mahogany wood, with gray upholstery on the chairs. A leather-bound bible sat squarely on his desk. The large bookcase to her right was filled with dusty old texts. Clearly, the meticulous cleaning and dusting was not performed on this particular room. Perhaps it was kept private and off limits for a reason. Nikita wondered what else the minister read besides the Good Book.

Minister Quentin offered her a piece of hard candy from the glass dish on his desk. Nikita shrugged and then decided to accept his offer, taking a green piece and placing it into her mouth. It turned out to be sour apple flavored. Nikita relished its tanginess as Quentin spoke to her about his ministry. He talked about the importance of following God's word and about being God's humble servant. She found the tone of his voice quite soothing.

Nikita took notice of a knick-knack at the corner of his desk. She remembered seeing something like it as a child. The minister noted her interest and took a hold of one of the shiny silver balls. Releasing the ball, it knocked into the row of hanging balls beside it, causing the one on the other end to move upward and return down in the same motion as the first ball. Nikita gave a childlike smile as she watched the chain reaction continue back and forth.

In her distraction, she lost track of what the minister was saying, but gradually her focused returned to him.

"I'm sure you and Christy are getting on fine. You're about the same age, aren't you?" he asked.

"Yes, we are. Christy is such a sweet person. She's made certain that Michael and I feel a part of the community." Nikita answered. She truly did find Christy to be a kindred soul.

"Christy is a beautiful person inside and out. I'm glad to see that you and she get along so well. There really isn't anyone else here that's her age. As for Michael, I'm sure I'll get to meet him tomorrow at services. In fact I look forward to it. Well, it's about time I started working on my sermon for tomorrow. Otherwise, there won't be one," the minister said with a small chuckle.

"Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I do look forward to hearing your sermon tomorrow." Nikita said as she excused herself.

Closing the door behind her, Nikita let out a sigh of relief. It hadn't gone badly at all. He actually seemed like a nice man. Perhaps Operations had more personal reasons for wanting him eliminated. It would not be the first time. She needed to discuss it in more detail with Michael.

As she came around the corner heading toward the kitchen in search of Christy, she instead ran into Michael. His hand grasped her arm as he led her towards the back entrance. Nikita was surprised by this action as well as the hint of worry she detected in his facial features.

"I've been looking all over for you." Michael whispered as his green eyes focused on her.

"I was in Minister Quentin's office. He arrived a short bit ago and wanted to chat with me. We talked for maybe a half hour, an hour at most. Why? What's wrong?" Nikita replied, concerned by his reaction.

"I've been looking for you for almost two hours. You've been gone longer than that." Michael answered as they stood by the door.

"For two hours? I was polishing the mahogany railing before Minister Quentin arrived. What has you so upset?" Nikita asked, confused by Michael's words and demeanor.

Before he could answer, the clock chimed half past three.

~~~~~

Nikita tried to keep a smile on her face, as if nothing were wrong. She and Michael needed to appear as if they were simply going for a walk together. But turmoil was brewing within. How did she lose nearly two hours? What happened? How did it happen? Why did it happen?

Her mind focused within. The only thing she saw was her two feet taking each step mindlessly as Michael led her. It seemed like an eternity. It seemed like no time at all. When she looked up, they were somewhere that she had never been. Looking back, the house they left behind was not in view. Where are we going?

Michael stopped and she had her answer. He wanted to sit under a large shade tree near the murky water.

"How did you know this was here?" Nikita asked, uncertain why she was even asking.

"Jacob and I rode the horses here. I thought this would be a good place for us to talk." Michael said as he invited her to sit next to him.

Slowly, she set herself down. Nikita found her burden to be no lighter. She avoided his concerned eyes--she had no answers for his questions. She wasn't sure what she feared more-the questions or the answers.

"I thought I was okay. I thought...I thought I had control. Why is this happening again?"

"What happened in Quentin's office, Nikita?" Michael asked as he attempted to stroke her hair.

"I don't know. It's just a blank space. Missing time. Lost. Just like before." Nikita said as she avoided his touch. She felt the emotions churning within her. Nikita closed her eyes to hold back the hot tears that were forming. She slowly took in a deep, cleansing breath. As soon as she opened her eyes, the hot moisture trickled down her cheeks.

Unable to see amidst the tears, she felt Michael's arms take hold of her. His body rocked gently as she buried her face into his shoulder.

"Nikita, I need you to tell me what you do remember." Michael said as he released her. His fingers gently lifted the tears from her cheeks. "Tell me about Quentin's arrival."

"I was with Christy. By the main staircase. Cleaning. He came in and greeted us. He had asked me come to his office for a chat," Nikita started.

"And then what happened?"

"We started talking. It was around one. I remember the clock chiming."

"What did you talk about?" Michael gently pressed.

"First I told him about myself. My cover story, basically. Then he started talking about God and spirituality. His Ministry. That sort of thing."

"Do you remember anything in particular about his office? Something that sticks out in your mind?"

"I dunno. It looked like an office." Nikita answered, struggling to understand why the details of his office mattered. She closed her eyes in frustration. She felt as if she was losing her mind and he wanted to know something so trivial!

But then she remembered something else.

"He offered some hard candy. I took a piece. I didn't think anything of it. It was apple. Green apple." Nikita said as she felt the realization come together.

"What happened after you took the candy? Any strange sensation? Dizziness?" Michael asked, searching for the truth.

"No, not really. It was quite tasty. There was nothing that made me question ingesting it at the time." Nikita replied. "But I do remember something else. A toy."

"A toy? What kind of toy?"

"One of those things with the hanging silver balls. They knock back and forth. Do you know what I mean?"

"I think so. The balls on each end are the only ones that actually move. Right?"

"Yes. That's right. The minister had it sitting on his desk. When I spied it, he decided to start the chain reaction for my benefit."

Michael sat quiet for a moment. His fingers gently stoked her trembling hand.

"I think I understand why you can't remember. Nikita, it's different than what was done to you before."

Nikita gave Michael a questioning look. She didn't quite understand what he meant.

"The balls going back and forth...he used them to hypnotize you." Michael responded to her confusion.

"But why? I..."

Michael cut off her words by placing a finger over her lips. He leaned in and began to nibble at her ear.

What the hell is he doing?

Then Michael whispered in her ear, "Someone is watching us. Don't say anything more. Just follow my lead. Trust me."

She could barely nod her head before his lips moved down her neck.

Who is watching us?

~~~~~

Nikita's skin prickled as Michael's lips caressed her neck. The rigidness of her body would not allow her to enjoy his touch. The unknown identity of the watching eyes caused her mind to swirl with possibilities.

"Relax, Nikita," he whispered. His eyes insisted that she go along with the charade. And his lips give her no choice as they pressed against hers. A moan stuck in her throat as he delicately fondled her clothed breast.

Closing her eyes, Nikita swallowed down her fear and mixed emotions. For the charade to work, she needed to be a willing and eager participant. "Perform for me" surfaced in her memory from the Bauer mission. Yes, they would be performing as lovers for the person who was spying on their activities. It was not very different. But yet they were very different.

It was as if a lifetime had passed. She was no longer that rebellious, naïve girl, and he, no longer the emotionless trainer. The barriers were stripped away leaving the naked, raw emotions that had always been there. With the addition of trust, these emotions grew into something stronger, something more tangible. A love that both built them up and ripped them apart. A love that was necessary and yet detrimental to their survival inside Section. For them, survival was a way of life, but love allowed them to live.

Her fingers eagerly grasped his shirt. With Michael's help, she pulled it over his head, revealing his bare chest. Lovingly, her hands traced his muscled chest and back, admiring his strength and beauty. Nikita could see the desire flickering in his eyes.

Holding her in his embrace, Michael gently guided her down onto the soft grassy earth. Nikita shifted her legs to allow Michael to push her skirt upwards. Fire erupted within her as his touch moved against the sensitive skin of her inner thigh upward to tease her moist center.

"Please..." slipped longingly from her mouth. Michael reached over Nikita, joining their lips again. Tasting, touching, feeling, they could not get enough. His body covered hers as the embrace intensified. Nikita felt his throbbing manhood pressed against her, released from the clothing that once covered him.

Their bodies melted together as passion overtook their senses. It wasn't just a mission or a charade anymore. The fire between them was genuine, a pure blue flame, hot with intensity. It burned deep within them, down to their core existence.

Each stroke, each breath, fanned the flames, consuming them. As their synchronized movements quickened, the force of their passion threatened to explode. Michael's control slipped away as their lovemaking engulfed them, obscuring the world around them. With their shared release, the blazing passion eased to a glowing warmth surrounding them both. Nikita's body protested as Michael lifted himself from her.

"I think she has gone, " Michael whispered as he rolled to his side. Michael's words brought Nikita back to the reality at hand. She would have preferred to remain wrapped in his arms, protected from reality, but now her confusion and uncertainty had returned.

"She?" Nikita asked incredulously as she repositioned her skirt.

"Yes." Michael simply replied. "She witnessed a pair of lovers wandering off on a romantic interlude. There should be no suspicions of anything other than that." Nikita wondered if Michael knew the woman's identity and whether he planned to tell her if he did.

"But why the suspicion in the first place? Why follow us?"

"We've been watched all along Nikita. It's about control. They know our every move and they control the watcher as well. The watcher gets rewarded for supplying the information--rewarded with praise and promises of being in God's favor." Michael explained.

"Does that mean we're not the only ones being watched in this place?"

"Exactly. Everyone is watched. Everyone is controlled. Your hypnosis was an attempt to make you more favorable to that sort of control. To make you perceive the minister as the highest authority, to be trusted with your most intimate details."

"Do you think I would have revealed anything from my real life under this hypnosis?" Nikita asked as the fear gripped her.

"It is always possible. However, Section conditioned you to resist interrogation. The hypnosis required to allow him access to that sort of personal information would have needed to be very deep and intensive."

"So, you think there is nothing to fear from this episode?"

"My only fear is that Quentin might detect your previous conditioning-your previous mind control experience. But, that would likely require him to be looking for it. I doubt that he would have any reason to do so. We should follow the assumption that our cover is still intact for now. But we should monitor for any change in attitude. Tonight, I will contact Section and report our progress. We'll see how Mad'laine wishes to proceed."

"You don't think she would allow us to abort the mission?" Nikita asked looking for a glimmer of hope.

"No. Not unless our it was confirmed that our cover was blown."

~~~~~

Nikita heard the deep chime of the clock ringing in the 11 o'clock hour as she lay in bed with a book open on her lap. It was a text written by Quentin. Much of the Quentin's writing seemed pretty harmless. The average person would see it simply as a text on Christianity and would never suspect Quentin's connection with terrorism. However, Nikita was reading it to get a better understanding of how Quentin's mind worked.

But soon unease crept into Nikita. Michael had departed over a half hour earlier to contact Section using the pretense of taking a walk in the mild summer evening. She was concerned that someone may have detected him. What could be taking so long?

Nikita refocused on the afternoon's events. She had come to the unsettling realization that it could be so easy for an outside force to control one's conscious thoughts-not just anyone's, but her own. It was one thing to be able to choose between right and wrong. But to have that ability taken away?

To accomplish his goals, Quentin exploited his church members, inherently good people, to do acts not normally in their nature. Under the pretext of pleasing God. For a greater good.

The door opened interrupting her deep thoughts. Nikita found Michael hard to read as he entered the room.

"How was the walk?" She asked, hoping nothing unexpected had happened.

"It was fine. A mild evening with a clear sky. Great night to view the stars. You should come with me next time." Michael said as he gently sat on the bed beside her. Nikita felt vulnerable as she perceived his green eyes focusing on her. He could read her like an open book despite her attempts to hide her emotions.

His fingers gently touched her face. She looked into his deep green pools filled with concern. Nikita struggled to give him a smile, biting her lip instead. His arm reached around her to hold her close. Nikita, in turn buried her face in his chest. She felt the soothing touch of his fingers stroking her hair. His warm lips delicately touched her forehead. Nikita wished she could remain in the safety of his arms forever.

Instead the book slid from her lap and fell to the floor with a thud. Michael released his hold to reach down and pick up the text. He scanned the cover and then placed the book on the night table.

"It's getting late. Some sleep will do us both good." Michael said before gently taking her hand and placing a kiss just shy of her wrist.

~~~~~

A pair of heels purposefully tapped on the concrete floor, echoing down the hallway. Madeline confidently climbed the stairs to reach Operations' perch. He had just returned from a trip to Oversight where he met with George and the other Section leaders. Upon his arrival back at Section One, Paul had summoned Madeline to get an update on the status of the current missions in progress.

Madeline concisely briefed him on each mission, keeping the Quentin mission for last anticipating that they would need to discuss it in more detail.

"Michael reported in 24 hours ago indicating that there was a small chance of exposure. Quentin used a hypnotic technique on Nikita. Michael did not witness the incident and Nikita's memory is not intact. It is unclear whether Quentin detected her previous conditioning. This is highly unlikely, but still a possibility if he was already suspicious. I instructed Michael that they should remain in place unless it became clear that their cover was compromised."

"I see. What is your read on Quentin?"

"I suspect he's treating Nikita like any other recruit. He is using hypnosis to condition her in order to make her more favorable towards his propaganda. We know from experience that women are more susceptible to mind control and persuasive techniques. And by controlling her, he also gets some amount of control over Michael. The cover story is such that Quentin believes Michael is doing this for Nikita. It is she that wishes to grow spiritually. As long as she wishes to stay, Michael will, too."

"So you are confident that the hypnosis incident will not compromise the mission." Operations restated in his own words.

"Yes. Unfortunately, it appears that Quentin is working to mobilize his people. The question is, what is his next target? It may be too soon for Michael and Nikita to make their move. They remain closely monitored by Quentin's people and it may be difficult for them to gain access to the information we need." Madeline explained.

"That may not be good enough. Quentin is necessary to get at the next level. We're running out of time." Operations replied, showing his impatience.

"Perhaps in a few weeks, we'll be in a better position. It's hard to say. Nikita's open personality is making it easy for her to fit in quickly. Michael, on the other hand, is much more difficult to read. Quentin will likely want to watch him longer. In combination, they are convincing as husband and wife. That does work in their favor." Madeline surmised.

"It is to our benefit to have Michael contained for an extended time. But now we may not have the luxury of time. George is getting impatient and wants closure." Operations retorted.

~~~~~~

Christy had decided that it was time for Nikita to learn how to sew. She had suggested that working on a quilt together would be a good project for Nikita to start out on. After a few lessons and needle pricks, Nikita was attempting to stitch together the colorful blocks of a children's quilt. It was likely for Christy's daughter Jessica. At least that's what Nikita guessed. The little red-headed sprite was outside with the other children, playing hide and seek.

"I almost feel left out." Nikita blurted out as she her fingers pulled the needle, trying to make straight, even stitches.

"What you mean, Nikita? You shouldn't feel that way. You and Michael are fitting in just fine."

"No, I mean...I seem to be the only one here without children. I hadn't noticed it at first. Now I see each of you taking turns caring for the children each day. Helping each other out. You all know what it takes to care for a child. But me, I'm not used to handling babies. I don't knowing what to do for coughs, diaper rash, that sort of stuff. And kids aside, I'm not terribly domestic" Nikita explained as she undid the last few crooked stitches.

Christy let out a small laugh. "We can't all be Martha Stewart. You do quite fine Nikita. I don't see Michael complaining." Christy winked. "How long have you and Michael been married?"

"Just over 6 months. Actually it'll be seven months on Tuesday. " Nikita said, following the story set in the mission profile.

"God will bless you when the time is right. You haven't been married that long at all." Christy answered with a smile.

"I'm not worried or anything. Michael and I have been so busy these last few months. We've been lucky to have any time to ourselves. I'm not even sure we're ready to be parents yet."

"Jacob and I have been married a little over 5 years. I can't believe it's been that long but then on the other hand, it seems like a lifetime. I became pregnant with Jessica pretty quickly, so our lives changed dramatically over a matter of months. I know Minister Quentin preaches of honoring God by adding to the flock, but I don't always see the reasoning for rushing into these things. When God thinks you're ready, it'll happen."

"Christine, that's blasphemous, questioning the minister like that. If you don't curb that tongue of yours, you'll find yourself burning in Hell," scolded Judith before rushing off in a huff.

Christy chuckled, "I'm not trying to be blasphemous. I just know how much responsibility a child is. It is a lot to take on, especially if you are not ready."

Nikita flashed a smile at Christy. She really liked Christy's intelligence and good nature. Nikita was beginning to consider her as a friend. She had so few friends throughout her life.

"I need to check on Jeremy. Want to take a break and come along?"

"Sure." Nikita followed Christy up the main staircase. Christy and Jacob had a front room. The neighboring bedroom was shared by Jessica and Deidre's two children. As they entered Christy's room, Nikita could hear the little baby cooing.

"So, you are awake, little guy," Christy said affectionately, as she picked him out of his cradle. "You need your diaper changed, don't you? Don't you?"

"Here, Nikita, hold him a minute while I open a new box of diapers."

Nikita was caught off guard by this. Hold the baby? She had never held one so little before.

"Don't worry, he won't break." Christy added as she saw the unsure look on Nikita's face. Placing the baby in Nikita's arms, Christy instructed, "Just make sure to hold his head up. You'll be fine. It'll be good practice for you."

Nikita felt a bit awkward at first. Gradually she shifted him into a more comfortable position--for her anyway. Jeremy didn't quite see it the same way and he began to fuss.

"Hold him real close to you, up against your chest. That way he'll feel more secure. And just sway back and forth a bit. The motion will soothe him." Christy added.

"Okay." I'll try anything, Nikita thought. Christy's advice appeared to work.

"Now put him down on the table. I'll talk you through how to change a diaper."

Nikita was beginning to feel very inadequate for this mission. What was Madeline thinking?

"First, you place the new diaper close by. Then, you unfasten the tabs. But don't pull the diaper off until you have the new diaper strategically placed. Little boys are known for whizzing the minute you remove their diapers."

Both women giggled, as Nikita tried to maneuver the baby out of the old diaper while holding the new diaper in place. As she stuck the tabs in place, Nikita looked to Christy for approval.

Christy inspected the diaper. She detached the tabs and pulled the diaper tighter, reattaching the tabs. "Just needed to be a bit tighter. Don't want anything leaking out. But a very good first try."

Nikita began to make faces to entertain the infant. Delight overtook her as the baby presented her with a wide toothless smile. Nikita toyed with his toes and looked into Jeremy's big blue eyes. He was absolutely beautiful and perfect. Ten little fingers and toes. Two tiny ears. Soft baby hair on his head.

At this moment, Nikita secretly wished she could have a baby. One with green eyes, she thought with a smile. But she quickly chased that thought away. Section life was her reality. It was no place for an innocent baby.

~~~~~

Push...push...almost there...Push!

A baby's cries filled the air. A sweet, beautiful baby. Mine.

Joyful tears filled Nikita's eyes as she reached out to take the crying newborn. But instead the child was pulled away and carried out the White Room door.

A pair of heels eerily clicked on the sterile floor as Madeline moved into view and addressed her. "Well done Nikita. The mission was a success. You've produced a healthy new operative."

"Operative? Where's my baby? Is it a boy or a girl? I'm the baby's mother! I have the right to hold my baby!" Nikita became indignant, confused by the series of events.

"It shouldn't concern you whether it's a boy or girl. Section will play the parental role now. Your work is finished." Madeline stated matter-of-factly.

"So you're going to cancel me now? What about Michael? It's his child too. Will you cancel him as well?"

"No, Michael understands how things work here. He's accepted it and moved on."

"No, he wouldn't do that. He loves me. He wouldn't allow you to do this....to cancel me...."

"Who said anything about cancellation?" Madeline asked with a raised brow.

Then the White Room door creaked open. A sinking feeling enveloped Nikita as she watched the pair enter with their yellow cases in tow.

"No, you'll just forget that this ever happened."

~~~~~

"No Madeline! You can't do this! Noooo...." Nikita woke with a start. Each breath hurt as she swallowed the air into her heaving lungs.

"It's okay, Nikita. It was just a dream. A bad dream." Michael said as he gently rocked her trembling body. Nikita felt his fingers smoothing her tousled hair. She gripped him tightly as she sobbed against his bare chest.

Catching her breath, Nikita started, "It felt so real."

"I'm sure it did. But it's not real. We're here, safe and sound in bed. Just let it go. Relax and clear your mind." Michael instructed before placing a light kiss on her forehead.

In other words, Michael felt this was not the place to discuss the dream. Did he know the dream was about Section? Had she said Madeline's name out loud? Nikita swallowed hard as she realized that she had.

Michael leaned back against the pillows, holding her tightly. His fingers stroked her back as her arms clung around his neck. Nikita felt the adrenaline rush begin to subside, but she knew sleep would elude her for the rest of the night. The dream had set her nerves on edge. Not even Michael could bring her relaxation after such a vivid, frightening dream.

Nikita's mind wandered back to an incident two years prior. Nikita never did find out the fate of Terri, the pregnant operative that she tried to help. Rumors circulated amongst many of the operatives. But no one knew the truth. Nikita feared that truth wasn't too far from what she had just dreamed. Despite the contraceptive injection, Nikita knew that she wouldn't sleep well until her period came again.

~~~~~

The midday sun shone through the stained glass window coloring the room with its rich hues. Nikita listened intently as Quentin's words held the church members captive. He spoke with such vigor and charisma that even Nikita found him intriguing.

How does a man who speaks so reverently kill in cold blood? What drives such a man? Passion? Insanity?

The thing that toyed with Nikita's instincts was that Quentin seemed likeable. Upstanding and intelligent. And handsome. But she learned early on in Section that looks could be deceiving. There was 'Julie', the woman whom she thought was her childhood friend. She turned out to be using Nikita in order to find and assassinate Mijovich. Then, there was Alec Chandler, the charming philanthropist who didn't just launder money. He turned out to be a child slaver. The memory of being smitten with him disgusted her.

And of course Michael was an enigma from the start. She never was sure whether she could trust him. Most times she didn't. But now she would trust him with her life.

Voices sang the chorus of the closing hymn. The service was over and everyone filed out of the building. Outside the church, Nikita began chatting with Christy and Deidre as Michael stood patiently waiting.

As Nikita turned toward Michael, the minister stood before her. A startled look appeared on her face as she stuttered, "I...I didn't know you were standing behind me. I almost plowed right into you."

"That's quite alright. I didn't mean to startle you. I was hoping that you and Michael wouldn't mind stopping by my office for a minute or two." Quentin replied.

"Certainly. That shouldn't be a problem. Right, Michael?" said Nikita, giving Michael an inquisitive look. The minister had taken her by surprise again. But this time Michael would be accompanying her.

~~~~~

"What did you think of Quentin this afternoon?" Nikita asked Michael as they walked in the cool dusk air. The sun was a ball of orange dipping down to meet the horizon. Its reflection shone down upon the rippling water of the lake.

"He seems comfortable with us. Encouraging us to become more tightly bound to the church."

"Quentin was particularly interested in our finances. Wanting us to sell 'our house' and to give our savings to the church." Nikita mused. The meeting had gone fairly straight-forward. She had let Michael and Quentin do much of the talking.

"It was to be expected." Michael simply replied. "However, being invited to his office was the break we needed."

"How so?" Nikita asked surprised by Michael's statement.

"I was able to get a good look around the room. It was smaller than I had anticipated from the outside."

Nikita held a confused look, uncertain of what Michael was getting at.

"There must be a hidden room adjoining the office. Too much space was unaccounted for. It's not uncommon for a house of its age. That's probably where Quentin keeps his more private documents in regards to his organization. We need to contact Section and determine how we are to proceed."

~~~~~

A smile crossed Nikita's lips as she caught sight of Michael grooming Phantom. He had certainly become attached to the majestic creature. Nikita knew that soon Michael would return to Section and have to leave the horse behind. She sensed it would be a sad parting.

"I thought I might find you here." Nikita announced as she approached the two. Michael looked up and gave her a warm smile. She gave him a questioning smile back. It was so rare that he smiled like that.

"Are you free for awhile?" Michael inquired as he paused for a moment, still smiling at Nikita.

The irony of the question stuck with Nikita. Yes, free for now. Free to openly love you. But that will soon end with this mission.

"I just finished some chores. I have a bit of time. What did you have in mind?"

Michael's eyes met her as he took her hand. His thumb caressed the back of it seductively.

"I'd like to take you out on Phantom. We can ride past the lake. Spend some time alone."

Nikita felt the involuntary response rising within her. He spoke few words but his body language implied much more. Chewing on her lip Nikita barely nodded. She was a bit nervous about riding the horse, but her desire to be with Michael was enough to push that fear aside.

Once Michael was atop the black stallion, holding him steady, Michael held a hand out to Nikita. With his help she awkwardly climbed atop the horse. She felt Michael's body press up against hers and his arms wrap around her as he urged the horse forward at a walking pace.

"Try to stay upright. If you lean forward he'll think you want him to increase his speed. We'll start out slow until you feel comfortable."

Phantom's hooves clopped against the dusty meandering path that led toward the lake. Tall grasses whispered as they swayed to and fro in the wind. The hot sun shone down on them whenever it peeked through the white cottony clouds.

"It all ends tomorrow, if everything goes as planned. Then it'll be back to Section for us." Nikita mused.

"Yes. But I didn't bring you out here to talk about Section."

"Oh." Nikita answered, surprised by Michael's response.

"I want you all to myself for now," he breathed into her ear.

Nikita smiled as she relished his closeness. Her ease was interrupted by the sudden increase in the horse's speed at Michael's urging.

The wind blowing against her face felt exhilarating as the powerful beast propelled them forward. Her fingers gripped tightly to Phantom's mane, though Michael held her securely in place. Several geese took flight as Phantom sped in their direction. Nikita broke out into laughter as the horse slowed.

"I thought we were gonna start out slow." Nikita teased as she pushed the stray hair from her face.

"I changed my mind. Didn't I teach you to be prepared for anything? To expect the unexpected?" Michael said as he dismounted from the stopped horse.

"That's not all you taught me." Nikita said wistfully as she slid from the horse into Michael's awaiting arms.

~~~~~

"What else did I teach you?" Michael playfully said as he kept his hold on her. Her eyes averted from his as her cheeks flushed pink. She slowly pulled from his grasp and took a few steps away from him.

Finally Nikita looked back and answered, "Lots of things. Most of all you taught me to survive."

"Nikita, you've always been a survivor. It was you that taught me to survive while keeping a piece of my soul intact." Michael replied. He couldn't imagine what his life would be without her in it. It was she that gave him the strength to continue when he was forced to let go of Adam.

Michael tied Phantom's lead to a nearby tree, allowing him to graze. Taking Nikita's soft hand in his, he suggested they walk alongside the lake. The silence between them was welcome. No words were necessary. Michael wanted to soak in every last moment with her. Returning to Section brought an uncertain fate, one they had little to no control over. That lack of control was difficult for Michael to accept.

Eventually they came to a small stream that was little more than a trickle. The cool water glistened over the smooth pebbles. Lush green grass grew thick around the stream, like a soft natural carpet surrounding the sturdy trees that lined the banks. Michael eyes intently observed Nikita. Her sparkling blue pools greedily tried to take all the detail in. Nikita's face beamed like a child discovering all of nature's beauty. He hadn't seen that innocence in her in a very long time.

Desire welled within him as he noted how Nikita's thin sundress hugged against her curves as she bent to pick a few wild flowers. Finding himself enraptured by the valkyrie that stood before him, Michael moved behind her, placing his hands gently around her hips.

"It's beautiful here." Nikita murmured as she placed the flowers in her hair.

Nikita leaned into his embrace, turning her head towards him. Michael pulled her closer brushing his lips against her cheek. His hands reached down, one around each leg, slowly moving upward toward her inner thighs. Her body leaned back against him, responding to his touch. He sensed her yearning was as intense as his. Meanwhile Michael's lips and tongue nipped at her neck, tasting the saltiness of her skin. A soft gasp escaped her lips as his fingers found her moistness. He could feel her trembling in response to his gentle stroking. Soft, pleading moans accompanied her rapid breathing as his stroking increased pace. Michael took in a deep breath as Nikita pressed her buttocks against his rigid length.

Suddenly he turned Nikita to face him, wrapping her in his passionate embrace. Michael then led her beneath the shade of a large tree nearby and gently set her on the soft green carpet. He knelt down beside her and painstakingly worked to undo the buttons of her dress to expose her firm tipped breasts. As his index finger traced around each hardened nipple, Nikita, lacking his patience, anxiously worked to free him of his shirt. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a fervent kiss.

Michael toyed with her anticipation further. He leaned in as if to kiss her again, but instead slowly smoothed away a stray piece of blond hair. Nikita pushed the game further nipping his neck with her teeth. Michael then forced her back to the ground holding her wrists firmly.

"Despite my best efforts, I still haven't been able to teach you patience." Michael teased playfully.

"I guess you'll have to keep trying until you succeed." Nikita replied in turn.

His lips teased hers before he slipped his tongue between her lips, wanting to taste her, to have all of her. His tasting moved downward. Finding her breast, his lips nipped and suckled it, sending maddening sensations coursing throughout her. As he paused to relish the effect he was having on her, her hands feverishly traced his chest downward to his pants. Michael assisted her in removing his trousers. His breathing deepened as her gentle fingers took hold of his member, stroking and teasing him. Then she leaned back, resting on her elbows, giving him her best come-hither look.

As he pressed his hard shaft against her, he whispered. "Am I getting warmer?" Nikita slowly nodded her head as she bit at her lip. "And now?" Michael whispered as he began to enter her warm folds.

"MMmmmm....yes." she barely breathed out.

"What was that?" He teased as he thrust into her.

"Yes!" She gasped, "You're very warm...hot even."

Nikita's name escaped his lips as he felt her position change, urging him to enter her deeper. With a few gentle strokes, he then quickened his pace, thrusting deeper and harder. Reaching. Closer. And closer. Michael wanted all of her at once. Their bodies moved together in natural rhythm, building in pleasure. Everything else was a blur as the sensation of their joining was all that existed.

Michael felt his control melting away. It was only with Nikita that he allowed himself such emotional intensity. A few raindrops fell on Michael's steaming back causing a cool tingling sensation pushing him to the edge.

A few moans slipped from Nikita's lips as thunder crackled in the distance. Electricity lit the sky. A storm was coming, but its energy was eclipsed by the intensity of these lovers' tempestuous climax.

Michael clung to her relaxed form. His heart was beating wildly, as he lay over her in sweet exhaustion. He felt the soothing touch of Nikita's fingers running through his damp curls.

Michael rolled over so that Nikita lay on his chest. His lips met hers, slowly kissing her. Their tongues entwined as their bodies had done so previously. Why couldn't they stay like this forever?

Another clap of thunder boomed, this time much closer. The leaves rustled with the wind, beckoning the darker clouds that had arrived to let forth their cool, cleansing rain. The drops splattered down on Nikita's back. Nikita's hold tightened around him as another bolt of lightning lit up the sky.

Suddenly the heavens opened up, bringing a torrent of rain down upon them. The two jumped up, quickly pulled on their damp clothes. Nikita screeched as Michael pulled her along behind him, beginning to run.

They needed to get out of the rain.

~~~~~

Nikita gripped tightly around Michael's chest as Phantom raced through the woods. Heavy raindrops pelted down, drenching their thin summer clothes. Wet hair plastered her face as the cool water splashed down on her. Lightning streaked across the sky, erupting the air with booming thunder. Nikita gripped Michael even tighter. Tree limbs swayed violently with each wind gust as the storm intensified.

The house was coming into sight as the sky erupted in lightning again followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Nikita's skin prickled with both exhilaration and fear. Finally reaching the barn, Michael dismounted and helped Nikita down. Michael quickly pulled open the gate and released Phantom into the paddock. Then Michael and Nikita laughed as they made the mad dash toward the house.

Entering the backdoor, their laughter echoed eerily breaking the uncomfortable silence of the house. Aware of this, Michael and Nikita composed themselves and quietly crept up the back staircase. Nikita turned back catching a glance at a pair of watching eyes. Those eyes belonged to the minister. He made no move nor did he utter a word. His watchful gaze gave Nikita a strange chilling feeling, prompting her to pause. But the tug of Michael's hand forced her to stumble up the steps. That weird feeling was quickly replaced by the fluttering of her heart at seeing Michael's laughing smile.

Once inside their room, Nikita caught sight of her image in the mirror. She looked like a drowned rat covered with specks of mud and a few stray leaves. The thin summer dress had become quite transparent in its soaked state. Nikita's cheeks flushed understanding that the minister had witnessed her in this revealing state.

Nikita turned around to find a soggy, but still attractive Michael observing the current state of her dress as well.

"Should get you out of those wet clothes before you catch cold," Michael whispered as his eyes cast downward, tracing his finger against her firm tipped breast before reaching for the top button.

"I think I'll go wash some of this mud off...." Nikita's voice trailed off. Michael held her arm preventing her from going any further. He wiped a bit of mud from her cheek with his thumb. Nikita detected a certain glint in his eye.

"We're filthy. We really should wash off...."

Michael's lips quieted her mild protest. Nikita felt herself being steered toward the bed. Only one more night...dirty sheets won't matter much.

Only one more night. Nikita thought with a sigh.

~~~~~

Nikita took a gulp of the cool, tangy lemonade. All the members of the ministry were harvesting the fresh produce and working on other outdoor chores. Nikita had excused herself, citing the excess heat. Teresa insisted that Nikita help herself to the fresh pitcher of lemonade and then get some rest. Soon Michael would use the excuse of checking up on her in order to return to the house. They needed to enter the minister's office without detection. With the minister not expected back until the evening and everyone else working outdoors, this was their best opportunity.

Michael stepped out from behind the clock as it began to chime. Only a nod was exchanged between the two as they met by the Quentin's office. Michael effortlessly picked the lock within seconds and slowly opened the door to the vacant office. He wasted no time in beginning his meticulous scanning of the bookcase searching for entry to the hidden room. Meanwhile Nikita checked through the desk, looking for documents of interest. Finding only religious writing and texts, she looked up toward Michael just as he triggered the door within the bookcase.

At a quick glance one could see, a few monitors along with a CPU. Michael quickly took a seat before the computer. His fingers tapped at the keys bringing up a series of suspicious files. Inserting a disk, Michael initiated downloading the ones that looked like they could contain vital intel regarding Quentin's organization.

Hearing footsteps within the house, Nikita pushed the door closed, leaving Michael within the hidden room. It was unlikely that anyone would enter the minister's office, but Nikita was still prepared for the possibility. The footsteps stopped. Nikita held her breath as she heard a key being inserted into the lock. With the turning of the doorknob, Nikita had made her decision to remain in sight. She hoped to divert whomever it was from discovering Michael within the hidden room. An iciness came over her as she saw the graying man enter the office.

"Nikita, what are you doing here in my office? I'm afraid it is off limits." Quentin calmly explained, but his face sought answers.

"I'm sorry. The door was ajar and I thought I had heard your voice. I wanted to talk to you...I had some questions about your last sermon. I peeked in, but found no one. That was right before you entered."

That's good Nikita...now you better remember what it was he was talking about! You had better come up with something good!

"Yes, child, what is bothering you?"

"I feel very welcome here. Very much at home. But I don't think Michael feels completely the same." Nikita started shakily. "Life has made him much more cynical than me. He holds in a lot. His feelings. His emotions. He won't say that he doesn't want to be here, but I know him. I can sense it. He's doing this solely to make me happy. I'd like for us to remain here, but I don't want him to stay just to please me. It's not good for either of us."

"It is true, only Michael can open his heart to God. But we can help him find the right path. Perhaps tomorrow the three of us can sit down after services and discuss this. Are you sure that's all that is bothering you?"

"How? I mean, what reason could we give? It would be awkward for me...having Michael know that I came to you like this." Nikita explained as she wringed her hands.

"He needn't know that. I've sensed his reluctance and distance. I'd be more than happy to act as the initiator."

Nikita felt reluctant to leave the room. But she could think of no pretext to have the minister leave with her. She could only leave without arising suspicion and hope Michael could find a way out without being detected.

Thanking the minister, she turned toward the door. Quentin laid a hand on her shoulder stopping her departure. "Marriage has its challenges. My door is always open to help you sort through those challenges. God has his reasons for testing us. He has a plan for us all."

Strangely, Quentin's hand remained as his probing eyes studied her. There was something about Quentin that made her uneasy. Like an impala catching the scent of an approaching lion. Nikita feigned a smile and turned once again, anxious to leave the room. But with a cracking blow, everything went dark.

~~~~~

Michael scanned through a series of folders on the PC before finding several that were crucial to infiltrating Quentin's upper organization. Names, meeting places, bank accounts. It was all here. Through his Comm link, Michael relayed to Birkoff what he had uncovered.

An upload of this size was going to take some time. With the closure of the room's secret door, Michael knew that Nikita had detected movement within the house and was taking the necessary precautions. No one but Quentin generally accessed the room.

"Birkoff, we may have been detected. Nikita is trying to assess and contain the situation. Is Quentin expendable?"

Operations voice responded instead. "I want Quentin alive. His cancellation would prompt the organization to go underground. We can't afford such a setback. This is our best opportunity to dismantle it. Find a way around this obstacle, Michael," Operations' voice insisted

After several moments of silence, Michael heard Quentin's voice in addition to Nikita's. He indeed had returned early. Michael listened closely as Nikita explained her presence in the room. It seemed as though Quentin was accepting her story. There was still another 10 minutes for the file upload to be completed.

Michael carefully examined the small room for another egress. The bare walls showed no hint of any other secret panels. The hidden door in the bookcase was the only way in or out. With any luck, Quentin would not need to access this room. Otherwise, Michael was a sitting duck. He would have to rely on Nikita to find a way to defuse the situation.

Michael could feel the tension build in his shoulders. All he could do was listen and wait, having no control over this series of events. Nikita was excusing herself from the room. As Quentin began to speak again, the clock began to chime, filling the air of the small room behind it with the clock's deep tones.

"Damn clock," Michael thought with irritation. "Still another few minutes on this upload."

He no longer heard Nikita's voice. Assuming Quentin to be alone, Michael scanned through the channels on the monitor. Hopefully, the minister was paranoid enough to have a camera mounted in his office.

Michael scanned through several empty bedrooms, including the one with their lavender and white quilt-covered bed. Michael could almost smell the sweet peachy scent of Nikita's long golden hair. His arms wrapped around her as they nestled together in the early morning light. Peaceful. Content.

Putting aside his personal thoughts, Michael continued to scan through a few more shots until the view of Quentin's office appeared. Michael felt revulsion seep through his body, as he was not prepared for what he would see.

The minister was still in the office. But so was Nikita.

Unconscious, she lay on her back, draped over the mahogany desk. The minister's fingers caressed her skin in perverse admiration. "You really shouldn't have let me find you alone in my office. You are much too beautiful a creature. There is nothing quite like trying something new. Tis a shame you're unconscious--this time. I'm not sure how receptive you would have been given how little time I've had to prepare you."

Michael barely heard Birkoff confirm the upload to Section was complete. His jaw clenched as he watched in disbelief. The minister's face held an eerie smile before moving position. Michael now could only see the man's back, until he saw Nikita's legs on either side.

Disgust and rage overtook his senses knowing what this so-called holy man intended. Watching as Nikita was violated was not an option.

Even filled with anger, Michael moved like a panther, in fluid stealth prepared to pounce on his prey. Quentin sputtered as Michael hands took firm hold around his neck. Quentin tried to gasp for air as Michael forced his body against the wall of books. The minister's eyes pleaded with Michael to release his death grip as his face turned ashen. Despite those pleas, Michael's powerful hands crushed the man's windpipe in an effortless manner. This man's life meant nothing to Michael. Releasing his grip, Michael watched as Quentin slid to the floor like a sack of bones.

Michael turned his attention to his unconscious lover still lying on the desk. Sitting in the chair he took a hold of her, cradling her close to his body, as he felt the onslaught of emotions rushing from within.

Closing his eyes, he felt warm liquid threatening to erupt. He felt no remorse. Yet he realized what his actions meant for them.

In his moment of weakness and rage, he had just proven that their relationship would hold more importance than the end game. A fatal flaw in Section. One punishable by cancellation or perhaps something worse than death.

But as Nikita began to stir, Michael knew with certainty that given another chance, he would have done it again just the same.

~~~~~

Nikita slowly opened her eyes, finding a pair of green ones looking back at her with concern. A throbbing pain began to fill her consciousness. Nikita tucked her head in against Michael's chest, hiding her eyes from the light of the room. His arms held her body tight as he patted her back in a soothing manner. Gradually, the events of the afternoon started to filter back into her mind.

"He must have knocked me out...what happened after that?" Nikita squinted as she looked to Michael for some answers.

After a short pause where he appeared to be reassuring himself that she was okay, Michael replied, "There's no time to explain. We really should get out of here while we still can. Are you up to it?" His finger caressed her cheek lovingly. She saw the worry in his intense green eyes.

"I think I'm okay. I'm just gonna have a nasty headache for awhile, aren't I?" Nikita replied as she rubbed the back of her head and neck.

With some hesitance, Nikita shakily stood up. Michael moved to steady her, sensing her need. His arms remained around her until he seemed satisfied that she was capable of walking without his assistance. Nikita nodded to indicate she was going to be okay. She began to move toward the door, but stopped abruptly when she caught sight of Quentin's motionless body.

"Michael, he's..."

"Dead." Michael finished her sentence. "We need to go. Now."

Nikita understood from Michael's tone that the situation had gone critical. An explanation would have to wait. But Quentin's dead body didn't bode well.

~~~~~

Reaching the side door, Nikita and Michael cautiously exited. Nikita felt fortunate. The house appeared to be empty and no one had witnessed their retreat from the minister's office. The next step was to get off the property.

Nikita caught a glimpse of the group still assembled throughout the gardens, harvesting the summer bounty. Turning toward Michael, she followed his lead as he headed toward the barn. He walked at almost a leisurely pace, trying not to attract anyone's attention. She tried to do the same, but inside she felt guilty.

Nikita had started to become attached to their charade these last few months. She found a kinship to some of the church members. Especially Christy. Despite the ulterior motives within the church, Nikita felt accepted as if she were a member of their large family. It was what she had always yearned for since childhood. At one time even Madeline used that need in order to manipulate Nikita by acting as a mother figure and painting Section as the only family she could ever have. But Nikita had quickly realized Section was not some warm loving family. It was darker and twisted, beyond just dysfunctional.

At the farm, Nikita had found a glimmer of hope despite everything she knew was true about the Minister. It had been a welcome retreat from the killing and destruction that she endured being a Section operative.

And then there was Michael. Their time together was what she cherished the most. The little pieces she learned about him made her yearn to know that much more. He wasn't simply a ruthless killing machine, a brilliant tactician or a cunning leader. For her, Michael was a skilled lover, a compassionate friend, a soul mate of sorts. Someone who understood the struggle to survive within Section's living death.

In this time away from Section, their relationship had become more open. Here they had been free to express their passion and desire. Free to be intimate, both physically and emotionally. Their relationship was moving to the next level. But what next level was there in Section? What future could they hope for? Inside Section, each day was a gift. There was no past and there could be no future.

And now they no longer belonged to this reality. The minister's death cinched that. But would their former reality welcome them back or suffocate them in its icy grip?

Nikita thoughts were interrupted as she witnessed Michael pause in front of the paddock. The black stallion came toward him, snorting and tossing his head in anticipation of some attention from Michael. Nikita's heart felt heavy as she stood to the side, silently watching as Michael bid the horse adieu. He tenderly stroked and patted the Phantom's head, whispering something Nikita couldn't understand. But Nikita did understand the feelings behind the words. The horse was just one more thing they would have to leave behind. However, many memories from this mission would be tucked away.

~~~~~

Reaching the second barn structure, they found their Pathfinder waiting to take them back to Section. As Nikita went to pull the door handle, she sensed movement behind her. She turned to see Christy standing there in the doorway.

"Where are you going?"

"We need to stop in town for a couple things." Michael answered as he came back around the SUV to face Christy.

"I was in the house putting Jeremy down for his nap. I saw you both leaving the Minister's office."

Nikita felt unease with the silence following Christy's statement. She waited for Michael to make the next move, uncertain how this would now play out.

"I found it curious. So, I entered the office only to find the minister lying there, dead on the floor. And now I find you both in a hurry to leave. Who are you?"

"What do you mean-who are we? My wife came here to get closer to God. And instead that...that man tried...." Michael skillfully portrayed the distraught husband angrily waving his hands in the air, unable to utter the words.

Now beginning to understand the scenario, Nikita moved toward him in an effort to soothe his temper, gently brushing his shoulder. Nikita then directed her words toward Christy. "The minister tried to force me...Michael only tried to protect me. Please just let us leave. I don't want to deal with authorities, the publicity. I just want to forget the whole thing." Nikita said in a detached manner, as if unable to deal with the shock of it all. It was almost as if she and Michael switched personalities.

"I can't. The others will want justice. How can I be certain the words you say are true?" Christy cautiously answered.

"You know its true, though, don't you?" Michael answered gently, seeming much more calm in nature. His words struck Nikita eerily. What is he getting at?

"Your son...he's the Minister's son isn't he, Christy?" Michael's eyes focused intently on Christy.

Nikita could not hide the shock that washed over her face. What was Michael doing? And how could he know this?

Christy swallowed hard as she closed her eyes. When she reopened them, she looked directly at Michael. "How did you know?" Her hand nervously pushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

"The eyes. Jeremy has those same eyes. Otherwise the child looks like you. Your husband doesn't know, does he?"

"No, he doesn't" Christy replied with a tinge of regret. "I was having trouble conceiving the second time. So, I went to the Minister for counseling. I didn't understand why God was not allowing Jacob and I to have another child. I thought that if I could somehow purify myself in God's eyes, he would bless me. Somehow...it all just happened. I felt so guilty at first. But when I had conceived, I figured it was God's way to give me the child that I wanted. That we wanted."

"I'm sorry Christy. It wasn't your fault. The Minister used your trust in him for his own pleasure." Michael said as he approached Christy. Nikita in turn, moved nearer as well.

"Please just let us leave. If we stay we'll have to explain what the Minister did. I sense that you don't want to expose what has been happening here." Nikita pleaded their case.

After a brief silence, Christy uttered, "Leave quickly before I change my mind. I'm leaving your fate in the hands of God."

Nikita felt relief that Christy had chosen to permit them leave quietly, without a struggle. But Nikita sensed irony in Christy's last statement. For Nikita knew it was Section, and not God who held their fate.

~~~~~

"How's your head feel?" Michael asked Nikita as the setting sun filled the vehicle with its warm glow. Its light shone on Nikita's hair giving her an angelic aura.

"I can still feel where he struck me, but I'll be fine." Nikita replied as she rubbed the area at the back of her head and neck. After a pause, Nikita continued, "Operations is not going to be pleased. He wanted Quentin alive. It's my fault. I should have anticipated the Quentin's move."

"No, I let my rage overtake my judgment. His death was at my hands." Michael spoke in a withdrawn tone.

"But if I had anticipated his move...."

"No." Michael interrupted succinctly. "It's my responsibility. The subject is closed."

Nikita said nothing in response, but her body language betrayed her distaste with his answer. He had answered her coldly. But he needed her to accept his intent to take the blame. It was indeed his rage that put them in this position.

"Operations and Madeline will target us both regardless of what you say. What do you suspect they will do to us?" Nikita slowly asked. Her tone was tinged with a bit of fear.

Michael understood it wasn't fear for her life so much as fear of separation. He knew the feeling all too well.

"Knowing Madl'aine, she considered such a possibility and already has something in mind."

After a long thoughtful pause, Nikita spoke again, "What is stopping us from just driving in the opposite direction? It would be at least 24 hours before they started looking for us. By that time, we'd have a good head start."

"Adam." Michael answered. He had thought of such a scenario before. The day Nikita walked back into his life after 6 months of silence and uncertainty. But just as he was then, Michael was still bound to Section through his son.

He looked over at Nikita and saw her chewing on her thumb. Michael knew no explanations were necessary. His implied meaning clearly troubled Nikita. For she had come to love Adam in the short time that she had interacted with him. Nikita's big heart was both her greatest weakness within Section and her greatest asset to Michael.

There simply was no choice. All they could do is find strength within to endure what roadblocks lay ahead.

~~~~~

Their footsteps echoed in the empty hallway adjacent to Van access. Birkoff broke that silence as he walked before them.

"Madeline wants to see you in her office." Birkoff directed his statement to Michael.

"Just Michael?" Nikita questioned. The fact that neither Operations, nor Madeline met them as they arrived was ominous at the very least.

"For now. She wants to see you afterwards. I wouldn't be too much in a hurry to see her. She and Operations are not happy." Birkoff remarked.

"Nikita needs to go to Medlab. Make sure she goes," Michael directed the young man, before turning and walking away.

"I'm fine." Nikita insisted as she began to follow Michael. Birkoff took her hand, trying to direct her the other way.

"You may be fine, but I won't be...if I don't do what he says. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to live and have all my body parts intact."

Nikita watched as Michael disappeared around the corner. With a sigh of resignation, she went with Birkoff in the direction of Medlab.

~~~~~

As Michael entered her office, Madeline noted his tired state. The lines under his eyes and the subtle change in his demeanor were the subtle clues. Yet, she detected he was still a worthy adversary, careful and cunning, the consummate chess player, despite his exhaustion. In fact, he had been her best pupil in all her time at Section.

Madeline looked directly at the man before standing before her. Michael simply stared back, awaiting her to address him.

Michael would be a fine successor, if handled properly. But Madeline was equally aware that underestimating Michael could be their downfall. His only real weakness was his propensity to love deeply. It was a weakness that could be used with extreme caution.

Interestingly enough the two women he loved deeply were very different. Actually, Madeline found it quite intriguing. She had assigned Nikita's training to Michael, hoping that she would distract Michael from his grief over Simone's 'death.' But her choice had more to do with what she hoped to accomplish with Nikita. The young blond needed a strong hand to guide her within Section. Under most operatives, she would have never survived the initial two years. Her headstrong behavior would not have permitted her to submit to the command of most men. But Michael had a charisma that even an abused girl from the street could not resist. It was no surprise that Nikita fell for her mentor. However, Madeline had never guessed that Michael would fall for such an uncultured and awkward girl. Nor to what lengths he would go to protect her.

"I'm sure you are aware that Quentin's death is unacceptable." Madeline started with the obvious.

Michael did not defer to her and remained unmoved, continuing to keep eye contact.

"What you are not aware of is Quentin was CIA. He has been involved in numerous projects involving mind control for the last 2 decades. The cult was simply a cover in order to test some of these methods on civilians."

"If Quentin was CIA and the cult was not a real threat, what was the purpose of infiltrating the organization?" Michael asked, showing little emotion. "And why were we not given that intel?"

"We have intel that suggested he may have been operating as a double agent, supplying some of his techniques and intelligence in the area to the other side. Red Cell, in particular. However, it is unclear who his connection to Red Cell is. We had hoped to uncover his organization and find the connection without alerting Red Cell of our intentions."

"I still see no reason for keeping Nikita and myself in the dark."

"With or without that intel, you disobeyed orders. Operations instructed that he wanted Quentin alive." Madeline stressed. "Now, there is no chance in getting to Quentin's connection. And there is no way of knowing if the breach of the CIA starts and ends with Quentin or if it goes deeper."

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Madeline continued, "Our intel indicates that Quentin was asphyxiated inside his office."

"Yes."

"The hand marks indicate his attacker was behind him. With the element of surprise, it suggests to me that terminating him was unnecessary."

"I take full responsibility for Quentin's death." Michael succinctly spoke, focused and without emotion.

Madeline, convinced that Nikita's safety played a role in the events that led to Quentin's death, added, "Operations indeed holds you responsible for this failure. With success, perhaps he could have tolerated your relationship with Nikita." With this, Michael's eyes grew colder. Madeline's unspoken message was loud and clear. This she was certain of.

As Michael began to turn towards the door, Madeline interjected, "I had Birkoff upload the intel for the Roucher mission to your panel. It should be going live within 24 hours. Michael barely nodded in acknowledgement before exiting the office.

Her decision was made. Intervention was necessary. Or they would lose two valuable operatives. Michael had a vital role in the future leadership of Section. Madeline had worked far too hard to prepare him for this role for it to be for naught. With a little luck, her plans for Michael and Nikita could proceed.

Madeline smiled to herself. "Here I am, relying on luck. How odd is that?"

~~~~~

Nikita sulked in the emptiness of her apartment. Her downtime, which normally she relished, this time she dreaded. Instead of seeking the late summer warmth and sunshine, she chose to cloister herself in the cool gray interior of her apartment. Nikita was waiting. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Waiting for news of Michael.

With their return to Section after the botched mission, Michael was abruptly sent out again. A Valentine mission. Or so she ascertained, after wheedling Birkoff for most of an afternoon. Finally the young man gave in, revealing to her the intel she desired and dreaded.

After being probed by Madeline during her debriefing, Nikita was certain that a punishment was in order for her and Michael. Fearing death and separation, Nikita was at first mildly relieved by the nature of Michael's mission. But with his absence of nearly two weeks, the uncertainty was eating at her.

As Nikita lay alone each night, her body ached for his touch. Sleep proved elusive and coming only in fits, filling her mind with distorted images. This night was no different. Lost in a maze of uncertainty and helplessness, she awoke with a jolt as the falling sensation enveloped her. Gasping for air, she saw the familiar surroundings of her unlit room. Her stomach writhed as she gripped the sheets tightly around her. Taking a few deep breaths, she tried to rid herself of the nervous reaction.

Nikita's body became rigid as she sensed the faint noise of footsteps in her apartment. Still disoriented from her dream, Nikita's fingers trembled as she reached for her gun. Gripping its smooth cool handle under the pillow, she lay in wait. Regaining her focus, Nikita realized her breathing was still labored and audible. Her Section training began to kick in, as she worked to steady her breathing and discern where intruder was positioned in her apartment. Her eyes took focus on the stairs at the base of her bedroom, hearing the footsteps approaching. With each step, Nikita felt her jaw clench tighter. Finally a dark form came into view.

Nikita let out a deep breath as she noted the form's familiar shape and movement. Michael. Placing the gun on the table beside her, she welcomed his advance. His fingers softly caressed her cheeks, as his eager lips moved to meet hers. Caught in his embrace, she greedily breathed in his scent. However, it was mixed with something stronger. Something very feminine. Perfume.

Her stomach churned as revulsion swept through her, causing Nikita to pull from Michael.

"What's wrong?" Michael asked, his eyes filled with concern.

Nikita couldn't explain her reaction. It made no sense to even her. She had known his mission involved a female target. A target that Michael certainly had seduced. She had accepted that. But the scent disturbed her. It made her physically ill.

"The perfume. It's the perfume." Nikita struggled to blurt out, suffocated by the flowery fragrance.

"Perfume?" Michael asked before the realization spread over his face. The woman's perfume had permeated his clothes, covering him with her scent. "Would you rather I leave?" Michael whispered. His face was filled with uncertainty and concern.

" No." Nikita said, shaking her head. That was not what she wanted. How could she explain it? "Could you maybe wash it off? Please...." Nikita pleaded.

"So you're telling me I stink and need a shower?" Michael asked, now almost laughing.

"Sort of." Nikita replied, biting her lip.

"Can I have a kiss first?" Michael teased, his lips coming dangerously close to hers.

"No." Nikita pushed him away again as the scent turned her stomach. "After you're clean," she instructed.

Michael gave her a short quizzical look, before slowly retreating to her bathroom just to appease her. Hearing the sound of water running, Nikita sank her head in her hands.

I miss him terribly and then I turn him away because he smells like perfume?!

Deciding to make it up to him, Nikita began to light the candles by her bed, spilling the room with the candlelight. After tugging off her nightshirt, she slipped back under the sheets, awaiting his return.

Within minutes, he strutted back into the room, with a towel hugging his hips. His wet curls hung from his head, dripping with water. Catching sight of her nightshirt on the floor, he broke the silence, "Does this mean you will be letting me back in your bed?"

"As long as you don't smell like that dreadful perfume." Nikita quipped back.

"Is it the perfume that bothered you or knowing what the mission entailed?" Michael queried as he set down beside her.

"I dunno why, but the perfume bothered me." Nikita replied, uncertain of the reason herself. "I understand that you were following orders. I won't say I'm completely happy with you sleeping with a target, but my reaction wasn't to that. Something about that perfume. It seemed so strong. Did the target bathe in the stuff?"

Michael smirked, amused by her hint of sarcasm. This put him more at ease. His lips pressed against her forehead. Nikita placed her hands in his as she looked up into her lover's gaze.

"I am glad you came." Nikita said as she felt her body's reaction to his closeness. "I wasn't sure how things would work now that we are back at Section. With everything that happened. Part of me thinks it would be wise to keep some distance. But the other part of me..." Her voice trailed off as they both smiled.

"Like a moth to a flame," Michael paused. "Attracted by the light, despite the danger of getting burned."

Nikita slid her fingers through his wet curls, as she teased apart his lips with her own. The scent of deodorant soap tickled her nose causing her to smile before kissing him more deeply. She had another kind of burning in mind.

Leaning forward into the kiss, the sheets slid down from her body, revealing her hard tipped breasts. His fingers grazed across them sending waves of excitement rushing through her. Another deep kiss, and Nikita found herself leaning back as his wet hair dripped cool water on her searing skin. A gasp stuck in her throat as his fingers continued downward, pushing the sheets aside. Her teeth bit the flesh of her lip, aware of his intent and proximity. Each time he'd get closer, then move away, making her anticipation greater. Maddening. Each touch ripped through her, causing her to practically jump out of her skin. Michael peered up at her, his glassy green eyes filled with desire and love.

Nikita licked her lips. She knew that the night would be long, but yet not long enough. Each moment was to be savored like a rich dessert, for it was never known when a famine might lie ahead.

~~~~~

Michael clicked the phone shut without a word. Nikita knew Section had called him in. Keeping her back to him, she asked, "Do I need to go in as well?"

"No." Michael said as his finger traced circles on her back. "Not for another few hours. Birkoff is still tracking the target and mapping possible rendezvous points. But I need to be there."

"No rest for the wicked."

"It's not surprising that they intend to keep me busy." Michael replied. Nikita could sense a hint of weariness in his tone. She felt a hint of guilt. If he hadn't come to her place, he might have gotten more rest.

After placing a soft kiss on her shoulder, Michael slowly rose from the bed. The warm early morning light bathed his naked form. Once he pulled on a clean set of clothes, Nikita bid him to return for a kiss. As the kiss expired, the two held their embrace, unwilling to let the moment go.

"I'll see you soon." Nikita calmly stated as she watched him head out her door.

~~~~~~

Nikita pulled the door behind her firmly. The call had come. Josephine was in play. However, a balding Englishman was blocking her path.

"Hallo, love."

"Yes, Mick. What do you want?" Nikita scowled.

"Want? Who says I want anything?" Mick replied taken aback.

"You always want something, Mick. I really don't have time today."

"Places to go. People to see. I know how that works."

"Good. Can I go now?" Nikita replied anxious to be rid of her underfoot neighbor.

"Don't let me stop you. But I must say, you look positively glowing today. Yes, glowing. I guess Michael might have something to do with that. I saw him leave earlier. I guess you two had a little of this..." Mick prattled as he mimicked pelvic thrusting motions.

Nikita covered her eyes in disgust, before charging past Mick. There was nothing she could say in response to his antics without throttling him.

As she made it outdoors, she suddenly burst into laughter. "What if everyone in Section could tell when we've had sex? Do I really glow afterwards? He sure makes me glow on the inside." Nikita thought with a wicked smile.

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