George had made arrangements for a private ambulance to take Michael and Dr Mark Gilmore directly to the air ambulance at the airport. Mark Gilmore was furious and let the contact from Oversight know it -

"What the bloody hell do you think you're up to - I can't have patients shifted from the OR straight onto a plane for goodness sake! He's had otomicrosurgery and shouldn't fly until the tissues have had a chance to heal!!!!"

But his protestations were in vain - the threats were made once more that his indiscretions of the past would be made known to the appropriate authorities. He also owed it to Nikita to keep his word and look after Michael.

As Gilmore accompanied his still unconscious patient into the ambulance he found a hand thrust at him -

"Hi - my name is Corallie, we are now working for the same boss."

"Are you a nurse?" he asked, noting the very firm handshake of the pretty young woman that greeted him.

"Not quite - but I am trained in advanced first aid techniques. I will also be acting as a bodyguard and liaison agent. Your job is to be a doctor - think you can cope with that?"

"You want to play doctors and nurses?" he responded with a lecherous grin.

"If I do you'll be the first to know." Quipped Corallie taking him slightly aback - there could yet be hope he thought wistfully.

They settled into their seats as the driver made his way to Dubai airport. Corallie handed over the documentation required - passports and visas as well as the relevant letters of introduction to assist their progress through the red tape awaiting them at Hassan Althani airport in Morocco. She explained that Mark Gilmore's role would be as attending physician to Michael and he was not to concern himself with any other matters. Then she turned her attention to the man on the bed, dressed in nothing but a hospital gown that was barely covering him.

"So this is Michael," she said in an appreciative tone and Gilmore could visualise her licking her lips, although she wasn't... not another one he thought pessimistically.

Corallie had reached out to take hold of the gown that had slipped away from Michael's chest and in that moment of hesitation where her wicked alter ego was prompting her to remove it completely, Michael's eyes opened and she was caught like a deer in the headlights of his gaze. Despite the after effects of the anaesthetic his eyes still gleamed brightly and with his next words Corallie was trapped inexorably in his power.

""Who are you? Where are you taking me?" The voice was husky and the sensual French accent was like the irresistible bait on a hook as far as the squirming Corallie was concerned. She gulped as she tried to regain her normally assertive demeanour and while she struggled to regain control, rescue came from an unexpected quarter as a perky Australian twang pulled her back from the edge -

"She's Corallie and we're on the road to Marrakech."

Michael shut his eyes again briefly wondering if the bizarre nightmares were once again tormenting his tired mind.

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

Meanwhile Nikita had talked Majid into taking her to his stables in Morocco to convalesce from her injuries suffered at the hands of Hellway's knife wielding thugs and an over ambitious shark in the Persian Gulf. She had told him that Michael was being looked after elsewhere and had not bothered to set him straight on her feelings - allowing him to believe he was back in with a chance at her affections. The deception rested uneasily on her conscience but it did at least help persuade Majid that a trip out of the Emirates would be good for both of them.

His stables were based in an old Moorish building out of the city itself - a romantic setting amongst groves of olive trees and orchards of almond, orange and pomegranate trees. Nikita took in slow breaths of the fragrant air and watched as Majid cantered his beautiful white stallion around the dressage arena. He wore a loose white shirt and tight white jodhpurs enhancing the outlines of his muscular thighs as he controlled his mount's every move as they wove their path in the sand, circling and trotting in diagonals from one side to the other. Nikita was mesmerised by the sight of man and beast working in partnership and recalled when she too had felt the firm control that his legs could muster.

She had received a message that Michael's operation had been successful and that he would be ready to meet her in Marrakech the following day - that meant one more night in which to resist Majid's gentle yet insistent advances. It wasn't that she did not desire the comfort and pleasure on offer, but rather that it felt like a betrayal of Michael to succumb to her feelings of lust for another man, whose demands were simple and uncomplicated. At that moment Majid rode towards her and sprung from his saddle to land lightly on his feet by her side. -

"Come ride with me?" He requested.

"No my stitches are still a little sore ...." She shook her head - knowing he was not going to take no for an answer.

"Well come in front - I'll take all the pressure -" he put his hands on her waist and smiled in such a way she couldn't help but agree.

He hoisted her easily into the saddle and then leapt up behind her - taking the reins from her hand in his left hand while sliding his right hand about her waist and pulling her towards him. She could feel the warmth emanating from his chest on her back through the light cotton T- shirt she wore and could smell the musky aroma of his body. She wasn't sure if what else she felt pressing into her back was the saddle or Majid - but it was hard and sent a quiver through her body. She thought of making an excuse to get down and go back indoors - but the prospects of an excursion into the beautiful countryside made her feel warm inside and she bit back the protest before it escaped from her lips.

The white stallion trotted gently out of the courtyard and towards the orchards. Nikita felt the animal beneath her taking proud steps across the springy grass, as her hips moved in time to its gait, she could also feel Majid's hips move against hers in a rhythm that matched that of the horse. His arm drew her closer to him and she could sense him smelling her hair...

"Mmmmmm - I wasn't sure if it was you that smelled so sweet or the orchards - but I believe your scent is more enticing by far...."

"Majid-" she started to warn him off, but stopped mid sentence as she felt his hand pressing into her groin which had become inexplicably hot and damp-

Nikita placed her hand over his and although her intentions were to move it away she found herself guiding it into the front of the baggy trousers she was wearing. He did not need too much encouragement and slowly slid his fingers down to feel the moisture that was spreading out. She felt his thighs behind her grip tighter to the sides of the horse prompting it into a faster trot and then a canter. Without pausing for thought she succumbed to the pleasures brought on by the touch of his hand, the rhythm of the horse's gait and the rocking of Majid's hips against hers... Majid could sense her desires and slowed the horse down as they entered a thick copse of orange trees heavy with pure white blossom. He brought the beast to a halt and dismounted first, then held up his arms to lift Nikita off of the horse and then down onto the springy turf ...

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

By the time the air ambulance had reached Morocco, Michael had recovered consciousness and had been fully briefed by Corallie - they had sent Gilmore into the pilot's cockpit for the duration which really wound him up, but when Corallie drew a gun on him his protests soon quietened down.

Michael had bandages wrapped around his head to hold the dressings behind his ears in place. The surgery had been adept but had inevitably involved the removal of a small portion of the mastoid bone on each side of his skull to allow access to the inner ears in order to drain away the excess fluid. The vertigo had almost ceased although unbeknownst to Michael he had been given an injection of Diazepam to relieve any lingering symptoms. His head still throbbed but that was due to the surgery- he gingerly felt the side of his head and could make out the stitches with his fingertips. Before he got dressed he also noticed his leg had been redressed - he could also feel the tug of stitches there - more of the good doctor's handiwork no doubt.

Corallie made a Herculean effort to concentrate on relating the mission profile as drafted out by Oversight - she tried to ignore her racing pulse and sweaty palms as Michael stood up in front of her and ingenuously dropped his hospital gown to the ground. He stood naked and in Corallie's eyes not unlike a Greek god as he selected a shirt from the bag of clothes she had brought for him, he threw the T- shirts to one side - far too difficult to pull over the bandages.

"As I said we'll be staying in a suite of rooms at the Al Mounia Hotel in Marrakech."

"It's the Al Mamounia - the Al Mounia is in Casablanca" - Michael corrected her.

"Um yes - that's right," she said rechecking her PDA - amazed at the man's knowledge.

He listened attentively to what she had to say and while standing there he prompted her occasionally to continue with her briefing. On one embarrassing occasion he had to dip down to make eye contact as the female operative found her gaze irresistibly drawn to a point just beneath his waist, the valleys that slunk around his hips drawing her eyes downwards like the lines on petals only visible to bees seeking nectar. She pretended to have a coughing fit to mask her red face and got up to have a drink of water, on which she nearly choked. Michael came to her side and placed an arm around her shoulders -

"Are you alright? I thought you were meant to be nursing me."

"Yes - yes - I'll be fine. But I really think you should get dressed before we land-" He was standing behind her wearing nothing but a black shirt which was still unbuttoned. Corallie thought that the doctor would be useful right about now, as she was sure she was having palpitations.

"Of course - perhaps you could help me with the jeans - I can't bend down very easily -"

"Sure." She managed to squeak as he passed her a pair of black jeans and she realised he wasn't going to bother with underwear.

Michael placed his hands on her shoulders as she helped him step into his jeans and as she tugged the legs over his thighs he took over and she looked up as he bestowed her with a smile that reduced her insides to jelly. She opted for staying kneeling on the floor rather than making a fool of herself once more.

Michael held out his hand to help her up - for a man not long out of surgery his muscle tone had returned amazingly quickly, she could feel the strength that flowed through him as he effortlessly pulled her off the floor and sat her down on the bench seat next to him.

"So Nikita will be meeting us tomorrow?" The faraway expression in his eyes brought Corallie back to earth with a thud.

"Yes. Hey Doctor - you can come back in now!"

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

The grass was soft under Nikita's back and she felt an almost euphoric sense of displacement as if it wasn't really her - just her body that sought fulfilment. Then as she gazed up into the sky she saw a vapour trail across the cloudless sky and her thoughts were drawn to Michael - she remembered how he had looked when she'd last seen him - distrustful of the doctor - frightened almost and then so pale and helpless, strapped to the gurney, his eyelids battling to stay open and defeat the premed anaesthetic that coursed through his veins. She had not been there for him when he came round - and she wasn't there for him now.

Michael's devotion to her was a peculiar thing - he would have sex with other women if it was under orders, but as far as she was aware he did not do it out of lust. She berated him for his ruthlessness but she couldn't imagine him succumbing to anything as primal as lust- jealousy, yes, she'd seen the results of his feelings regarding her with Jurgen. Again that was an occasion where she'd been prepared to sleep with a man for comfort and for physical satisfaction. She believed him to be a good man, kind; not particularly attractive in the way that Michael could make heads turn, but dependable. She would have gone all the way with him had it not been for Michael's inopportune phone call - later she realised he'd been listening. Would she have done the same in his place? Yes and she'd have hated every bone in his body for going so far in the first place.

"Nikita? Are you there?"

"Funny you should ask Majid - no I'm not here. I'm miles away - can we go back now?"

"Are you sure that's what you want?" he leaned over her - his eyes like those of a child taken to a sweet shop and being told not to touch.

"I'm sorry Majid - but I can't do it - not today."

"I somehow think I'm sorrier than you - it is fortunate that I am a gentleman!" He pretended to scowl and then scooped her up from the ground and helped her back into the saddle. He didn't get back on the horse himself, but took the reins and led the stallion back to the stables - giving them both some personal space to come to terms with Nikita's decision. Majid glanced up at Nikita, she was gazing upwards and her wistful smile showed that she was happy and as far as he was concerned that was fine with him.

Nikita looked up into the sky but could no longer see the vapour trail - but in her head were fragments of lyrics of an old Crosby, Stills and Nash song - corny but meaningful to her in her current frame of mind...

Looking at the world through the sunset in your eyes, Travelling the train through clear Moroccan skies ........... Sweeping cobwebs from the edges of my mind, Had to get away to see what we could find. Hope the days that lie ahead bring us back to where they've led listen not to what's been said to you.

Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express. Wouldn't you know we're riding on the Marrakesh Express, they're taking me to Marrakesh.

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

Madeline entered Operations' office warily - disturbed by his curt demand for her to meet with him immediately. From below Birkoff watched as the windows darkened shortly after Madeline had walked in to the room.

It had only been ten minutes since Birkoff had routed a message through to Operations from Hellway in the Middle East and Operations' reaction had been so extreme that he could only assume that Michael and Nikita were safe for the time being.

Operations paused in his pacing to glare at Madeline.

"We have a problem."

"What now?"

"Hellway has been in touch wanting to know if we were aware of Oversight's reassignment of one of her operatives."

"What has that to do with us?" asked Madeline confused.

"The operative was a Corallie Gurman - she'd been working with Nikita over the past couple of weeks prior to the incident at sea..."

"Is that all she said - reassigned - no details?"

"She traced the young woman as far as the American Hospital in Dubai and then lost her. It would make sense that she was to meet someone who had been admitted for treatment."

"Then you think that Nikita is not dead and if she is alive-"

"So is Michael - yes dammit. That means they will be en route to Morocco unless I am very much mistaken. Suggestions?"

"It may be advisable to allow them to seek their goal - it will make it easier for us to recover the material -"

"As long as you are sure Michael doesn't know what it is - if he does, it's too risky-"

"He doesn't know yet and I don't believe he has made the connection. He will no doubt seek out Lamia Bensouda and we shall be waiting. At least we know her location."

"Can we trust Hellway to organise that?"

"It will be her last opportunity to redeem herself - I shall make that clear."

"Good. One more thing Madeline - just reassure me that every trace of Bensouda's connections with Jurgen have been purged from our systems."

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

The paperwork that Corallie had handed Mark Gilmore had expedited a speedy processing of their travel documents at the Hassan Althani airport. Corallie had pushed Michael in a wheel chair while the doctor had dealt with the officials. They hired a large estate car at the airport - big enough to stow the wheel chair and medical kit in the back. Corallie drove to Gilmore's surprise - he was expecting that she would want to sit in the back seat with Michael, but then again if she had figured out the close connection between him and Nikita perhaps she would give up her pursuit of the unattainable as quickly as he had - a reluctant surrender but a wise one he felt.

Gilmore woke as they arrived at the hotel in the Avenue Bab Djedid - a grand old edifice of the Al Mamounia or La Mamounia depending on whether you acknowledged the French or Arabic naming system that seemed to work in tandem in the old city of Marrakech. Their bags were unloaded after Michael had been sat in the wheel chair and taken to their suite of rooms.

Gilmore looked around the suite - there were two bedrooms - one with a double bed and the other with twin beds - a large lounge with a balcony and two bathrooms. There was also a small kitchenette with a fridge into which he transferred the temperature sensitive drugs he'd gathered together in Dubai. He would give Michael another shot of Diazepam later and hope the man did not realise he was administering Valium, he just felt safer if Michael was slightly sedated and anyway it was helping suppress any lingering effects of vertigo.

"OK - so who gets the double bed? And don't tell me all three of us are kipping down together!"

He wasn't sure which of the two sent him the fiercest glares but he was caught in the crossfire, so grinned and tried to recover his status quo.

"Fine - I'll take that as a 'no' to threesomes - just as well, I prefer the two women variety myself."

"As opposed to using two hands instead of one I guess!" Corallie shot him down with a well aimed attack on his ability to get off with anyone never mind two women at once.

Not only did her attack succeed at shutting him up it also amused Michael, who almost smiled.

"Someone could always sleep on the sofa." Michael suggested innocently.

"Not you - if we're here for you to recuperate that may seem strange. You take the double Michael and I'll share a room with Doc Strangelove - and don't worry I can take care of myself if need be."

Gilmore nodded in acquiescence - that would suit him fine for now - nurses' outfits had always done things for him, pity he was a real doctor with professional responsibilities...

"I'd like to check those dressings and give you a shot of something for the vertigo and infection."

"Later."

"Now - I might not have a say as regards the sleeping arrangements, but I am the doctor around here, say Corallie can you give me a hand?"

"Sure - I'll get your kit."

"Thanks sweetie."

"Don't call me that again or you won't want to close your eyes tonight."

"Promises, promises...." mumbled Gilmore.

Gilmore was a tall man - maybe an inch or so taller than Michael, slimmer but he obviously worked out - he gestured for Michael to sit down at the dining table and was prepared to get physical if necessary. Michael was quietly appreciative of the work the doctor had done so far and co-operated, he found the man crude and brash, but he was undoubtedly good at his job.

"How are the headaches?"

"Not so bad."

"But still bad? I'll give you something for them. Vertigo sensations? The flight wasn't a good idea messing with pressures either side of the middle ear membranes - I need to know they held - so be honest with me fella, no bullshit."

"I felt nauseous on the plane but that has passed - still slightly disorientated but it is improving - I can move my head from side to side without feeling as though I am about to fall over."

"That's good - the earlier nausea could have been due to the anaesthetic. What happens when you tip your head forward - try it now-"

Michael tucked his chin on to his chest and felt the room whoosh over him in multiple waves like a cine-film run too slow...

"Fine."

"Liar - I could see the nictitating movements of your eyes - I said no bullshit and I meant it. Don't worry - it will probably pass soon enough as your brain re-equilibrates to the new pressure levels in your ears. "

Gilmore replaced the dressings with Corallie's assistance - the bleeding had stopped and the stitches were holding fine - it would be important to keep the area clean to prevent any infection getting to the mastoid bone. He then gave Michael a shot of antibiotics and one of Diazepam.

"That may make you a little drowsy in a short while so if there's anything you need to sort out with 'nursey' do it soon OK - I'm going to have a shower..."

"Thank you."

He left the two at the table quietly discussing secret plans while he headed for the bathroom attached to the twin bedroom.

Michael discussed the tracing of the aircraft from Azerbaijan via Sharjah with Corallie and left her to work on it while he retired to the main bedroom and lay on the bed - he did indeed feel sleepy. Before he dozed off though he called the hotel reception and asked for a number to be looked up for him- he needed the telephone number and address of Lamia Bensouda - Mounia had said she had settled in the city.

Corallie walked into the twin bedroom and as she was unpacking her case turned as she heard the door to the bathroom open - obviously Gilmore hadn't expected her to be there - for the second time in one day Corallie was treated to the sight of a nude man. If it wasn't for the flush of red on his otherwise deeply tanned face she may have suspected him of doing it on purpose - but she couldn't help grinning as he clutched his nether regions and back tracked to grab a towel.

"Sorry!" he called out.

"Don't be..." she smiled to herself and slipped out of her nurses' uniform.

Gilmore re-entered the bedroom with a white towel wrapped about his waist - it showed off his tan superbly. He had a broad chest on which sun bleached curls of hair still dripped water from the shower, his stomach was flat and trim - Corallie wondered how far down the tan went. Meanwhile Gilmore was also staring as the remnants of the nurses uniform which lay in a crumpled heap on the floor and the young woman who was now sitting on the edge of the nearest bed in nothing but her bra and panties ... and her stockings. He gulped and they both looked up simultaneously catching each other's guilty expressions and saying-

"Sorry " - in unison.

Corallie recovered first -

"Get used to it Gilmore and close your mouth or you'll catch a fly."

"If we're going to be sharing - please call me Mark. Fancy a drink on the balcony?- I noticed a minibar in the kitchen."

"That sounds cool - yes - shall I?"

She made to get up at the same time as the doctor tried to walk past her and as they collided the towel yet again allowed gravity to take hold - this time Gilmore's hands weren't quick enough to cover what was now a seriously aroused part of his anatomy.

"Jeez..."

"Is that what you call it?" teased Corallie.

"If I say I'm sorry again will you believe me?"

"Not this time sweetie - but it seems a shame to waste it doesn't it?"

Gilmore couldn't believe his ears and had to double check the naughty grin that was spreading across Corallie's face - he had just reconciled himself to the fact that he was possibly being used as a Michael- substitute when she forcibly shoved him back onto the bed and straddled his prone body.

Michael was sound asleep in the other room and only woke briefly when he thought he heard the word 'Markel' yelled out in the night.

The following morning Michael sat on the balcony sipping coffee and idly nibbling on a croissant. As his medical attendants did not seem to be awake he took the opportunity to contact Lamia - she agreed that they needed to talk, but would only agree if he was alone. He knew Nikita would be furious, but her train was not due to arrive until early evening. So he arranged to meet with Lamia in La Palmeraie mid-morning and hoped he could slip away without Corallie or Gilmore noticing - now would be a good time he thought as he overheard subdued giggles from behind the closed door of the second bedroom. He left a note saying that he was meeting an old friend in town and would be back by late afternoon.

Marrakech itself was a city of high red walls set in palm -groves and over-looked by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains - near the centre was La Palmeraie, a beautiful red stone building infamous for its lively night-club. Michael felt nervous as he wandered through the streets taking in the warm ambience and preparing himself for the meeting with the younger sister of the old friend he had killed so recently.

When he arrived at the hotel he took a seat at a table in the coffee bar and although he normally drank coffee it seemed to disagree with the medication the doctor had given him so he settled for a glass of milk and a French language morning paper.

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

At about 900am Gilmore and Corallie ventured out of their room, Corallie once more in a freshly starched nurse's uniform and Mark in chino's and short sleeved white cotton shirt.

"Well it looks like our patient is still out for the count - let's go see how he's doing - it's time for another shot of Diazepam."

"That's Valium isn't it?"

"Um - well yes - but it controls the vertigo."

"Yes and it also suppresses the nervous system delaying reaction time - thank God Michael isn't in the field - that sort of medication can be the death of an op in action."

"I wish I knew what you're on about - but it's OK if he's tucked up in bed right?"

"Well - yes - but don't let him know that's what you've used on him. I'll get the hypo - you wake Michael-"

"Aren't you the nurse?"

"I'd rather not - just in case- "

"In case-?"

"Well he might be undressed and I wouldn't want to embarrass him-"

"I don't believe that's possible - but I'm not sure you could control yourself -"

"Get in there and wake him - now before I inject you with Valium! "

"OK - I get the message and I'd rather you exercised your fantasises on me anyway!" chuckled the doctor who felt as if nothing could possibly spoil the exuberant mood he was in - he was wrong-

"Shit! He's not here - Corallie quick! There's a message..."

"You idiot!"

"Me? What did I do?"

"No -me you fool - I was meant to be the body guard - I was supposed to keep an eye on Michael until he was fully fit again. Give me that note!"

"Here it is - look the guy must have slipped out real early - before we were awake, what were you meant to do - lock him in?"

"A friend in the town? How the hell am I meant to find him from that?"

Corallie was flustered - she had allowed herself to slip and that could cost them dear - she had been trusted by Nikita and Oversight and she had failed. She called down to reception and asked them to send up a list of all calls made from their room since their arrival. Michael must have contacted this old friend from the hotel room.

"I'm getting changed - make some coffee, strong, black and with three sugars-"

With that command she returned to their room and dug out her case from under the debris of the night before - blankets and sheets were thrown all over the floor along with a soggy white towel - she kicked it in passing as if it was to blame by falling to the ground at precisely the wrong moment. She threw her uniform into the mess and slipped into a slim line bullet-proof vest, baggy black T- shirt and tight black combat trousers. She loaded a cartridge into her handgun and slipped it into one of the voluminous pockets and popped a pair of long range binoculars into another.

By the time she left the bedroom she was calmer and was thinking fast- she gulped down the coffee that Gilmore gave her and then checked through the call list that had been delivered to the suite in her absence. Apart from her calls to various departments at the airport and cargo companies, there was one call to a private number in Marrakech. She dialled the number and waited for a reply - no one was in but the ansaphone message which was in French and Arabic identified the number as belonging to a Lamia Bensouda.

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

Lamia spotted Michael before he saw her, she noticed that he seemed to have some type of surgical dressing behind each ear, she wondered what sort of injury he had received. He looked almost the same as he had all those years ago when he had stayed with Mounia and her family - his hair was shorter now and seemed lighter. He was still as handsome as she remembered - she had once had a crush on him, but now she wanted to hear how her sister had met her death and then she wanted justice.

Lamia was too preoccupied with thoughts of revenge to notice that she had been followed from her apartment that morning, she failed to see the shadow that crept from behind the pillars in the hotel lobby and stalked her as she walked into the coffee lounge.

"Michael?"

He swung round to see Lamia Bensouda - a slim woman, with straight, long dark hair, unlike the tight curls of her sister. Her voice was deeper than he remembered - but she was only a child then - and despite the richness of her accent it was spiked with a bitter tone. Michael stood up as she approached the table and gestured for her to take a seat. She just stared at him - her dark eyes boring into his soul -

"Was I told the truth? Did you kill my sister?"

"Yes."

"Then I shall kill you one day Michael - maybe not today, but your life is mine now, in forfeit for what you have taken from me."

"I understand."

"No you don't - you never did, you just thought you did."

"Please sit down - we need to talk."

Lamia reluctantly took a seat opposite Michael and ordered an Arabic coffee from the waiter who was nervously watching their table from a discrete distance.

"Mounia was set up I believe in the same way that I was, it was my shot that killed her yes- but the people who were responsible for placing us there are not satisfied with that sacrifice. Lamia-" Michael reached over and held the woman's hands in his, he had to convince her that he was being sincere. "You must trust me - nothing is as it seems, someone was using Mounia and I now believe that they are using you."

"Why?"

" Mounia told me that she had been instructed to exchange me for a terrorist -"

"I do not believe that - yes Mounia blamed you for what happened, but if she wanted you dead she would have killed you herself, she would not hand you over to your enemies-"

"I am sorry Lamia - but she nearly did - she was killed in the crossfire between those very terrorists and myself." Michael held Lamia's hands tightly as he told her this - not wanting her to pull away.

"No this does not ring true ... there is more to this than meets the eye!" Lamia blurted out angrily - still sad at the loss of her dear sister and equally saddened by the fact that this man who she used to adore from a distance had been the cause of her death.

"Exactly!! I knew that you would see that, no-one else does, because they did not know Mounia. She said that she was doing what she did because your life had been threatened, she was under the impression that you were being held captive."

Michael released her hands briefly so that he could move his chair around so that he was sitting next to Lamia; he put an arm around her shoulders and lifted her face to mop away the tears that had spilled down her cheeks. She was prettier than ever - and he could still see that her attraction to him had not faded with the years.

"That's not true - I was away on a seminar to the US for a month but I had left a message-"

"Were you invited to the seminar -"

"As a matter of fact yes- you think I was lured away so that Mounia would think I was being held against my will -"

"Yes - but something went wrong. I think the people behind this were after something else and they didn't get it - did Mounia give you anything to look after?" Michael lifted her hand and clutched it in his as if trying to prompt her memories.

"Michael - please tell me you did not mean to kill her - please say it was an accident-"

"I had no choice- I wished I could have avoided it, I'm sorry ma chere, after it happened I wanted to join her - I nearly did." Michael shut his eyes as the memory of crouching in the back of the ambulance, blood pouring from his side, trembling with grief and desiring oblivion came back to him.

However, he was suddenly pulled back with a jerk to the present as someone in the restaurant screamed out-

"Mon dieu - elle a un pistolet !!!!!!! Appelez la police!!!!!"

Michael did not hesitate to grab hold of Lamia and push her down to the ground covering her body with his - a single shot rang out and ricocheted off the cast iron coffee table where they had been seated. He rolled them under the table for protection and stayed there holding her close, feeling her arms wrapped around his waist and inhaling her exotic scent. Her heart was beating rapidly and her breathing was fast and frantic - he pressed his lips to her ear and whispered -

"Hush - I'll take care of you - do not be scared ma petite-"

Lamia moaned as she felt Michael pressing down on top of her - an old fantasy come true - and as she looked up into his beautiful green eyes her senses seem to take flight -

"Michael -kiss me."

Michael leaned down and kissed Lamia softly at first teasing her lips with his before sliding his tongue between her eager lips, she closed her eyes revelling in the stolen pleasure only to feel him pulling away from her. She leaned upwards anxious not to lose the connection..

"No - I cannot do this to you - it would be wrong- besides which we have been exposed -"

Michael kissed her gently on the tip of her nose - reminding her of how he would do that when she was a teenager with a massive crush on him. She sighed with frustration as he rolled over taking a gun from his belt and surveyed the coffee lounge and surrounding restaurant area from between the legs of the chairs they had knocked over. Their would be assassin appeared to have fled - the police had arrived and were interviewing a witness who was pointing towards the fire exit.

"Quick - get up, we're leaving."

"Where to?"

"The Al Mamounia - "

"Huh - that dump, it was always a favourite of Mounia's - probably for the same reason she liked the Al Mounia in Casablanca..."

Michael got to his feet as gracefully as he could considering that the room was still spinning and offered his hand to Lamia. She took it and held on even when she was standing up and allowed him to lead her out of the hotel and onto the street. Michael hailed a taxi and got it to drive around the streets for ten minutes in random directions before heading towards the Al Mamounia.

Lamia sat silently next to Michael thinking that he probably thought he could make her more malleable by seducing her - and she had no problem playing along with that approach, except she would use it against him and her to enjoy herself into the bargain. They hadn't instructed her how to find out what Michael knew - only that she was not to take her revenge until they were satisfied with the answers she could draw out of him.

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

Meanwhile back in the hotel Gilmore and Corallie were poring over a street map of Marrakech circling all the restaurants and possible meeting places where Michael may have gone. The phone rang from reception - they were apprehensive and with good cause - Nikita had arrived early - apparently she had taken the earliest train possible out of Casablanca.

Moments later there was a knock on the door and Corallie sheepishly opened it to an exuberant Nikita - she dropped her luggage on the floor and rushed over to give the smaller woman a big hug and threw her large straw hat and pink rimmed sunglasses onto the sofa -

"Hiya doc- how goes it? Where's Michael then - still in bed?"

"Not exactly - he went out..."

Nikita frowned at Corallie -

"I didn't see him downstairs.."

"No - I meant he went out to meet someone-"

"Hang on a bit - why didn't you go with him?"

"He left early - we, um I mean I was still in bed..."

"Oh my God - how long did it take him to get in your knickers sweetie?" Nikita turned around and slapped Gilmore around the head "As for you - you lecherous old bugger, you were here for a different sort of bedside manner!"

"Hey - she jumped me-" Gilmore started to protest.

"Never mind that - so who is Michael meeting?"

"Lamia Bensouda - do you know her?"

"Jesus - yes I know who she is! Michael killed her sister! How long ago did he leave - where was he going?"

"Look I'm really sorry Nikita - but we don't know the answers to either of those questions- we were just drawing up a list of possible locations-"

"Shit - and to think I thought back up would be a good idea! OK then - we split the city in three and take the hotels one by one."

Nikita took the map and tore it in three - handing out a segment to Corallie and a smaller one to the doctor - they both looked like apologetic school kids.

Without further ado she opened the main door to the suite and ushered them out.

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

An hour later Michael and Lamia returned to the suite - they had returned through the deliveries entrance at the rear just in case anyone was watching the reception. Unfortunately by doing this he missed the message left at the desk from Nikita.

Michael was suffering from severe headaches by this time as a result of lack of medication and was rather peeved to find Gilmore and Corallie missing when he returned. He assumed that after a night in the same room they wanted to spend some time apart - he couldn't blame Corallie. Lamia suggested he lay down for a while. He was feeling muddled and decided to take her advice - along with a glass of water - it tasted strange - rather sweet - it must have been bottled water he thought dismissing it.

He kicked off his shoes, took off his shirt and jeans and slid under the dark covers of the large bed - a rest would be a good idea he thought, after all he wanted to be at his best when Nikita arrived that evening.

As Michael drifted off into a semi- conscious slumber he was only just aware of the warm, naked body that slipped beneath the bedclothes to join him - he murmured softly as he imagined light finger tips travelling upwards along his thighs. He dreamt that hands were touching and caressing him in the most intimate of ways and as he turned towards the source of these sensations he smelt an exotic scent - strangely familiar. Then lips met his in a sweet kiss - and a deep husky voice whispered -

"Don't worry Michael- it's what we have both wanted for a long time - I forgive you -"...

Michael opened his eyes with a start realising that his dreams were too vivid and far too pleasant to be just that - Lamia seeing his eyes open with horror, moved on top of him while clutching fiercely that which she had previously been caressing so gently....

"Come on now Michael - let's play nice - if you want to help me remember if my dear sister left anything behind anywhere...-"

Michael tried to dislodge her but she was making his eyes water -

"Come on Michael - you can do better than that - your reputation as a stud has gone before you - if you'll pardon the expression." She pushed away his arm as it tried to grab hold of her hand -

"Forget it - muscle relaxant in the water - you won't be able to fight me off -

"Lamia - please stop before we both regret this - "

"You have more regrets on your conscience than you know how to deal with Michael, so I doubt if this will bother you - meanwhile as for me - I'll let you know if you're disappointing me. Oh by the way - Nikita's in town- she left a message in reception - her and her merry men will be back in two hours time - plenty of time in which to play!"

With this she began to run her hands over his body - now he was awake there was no need for subtlety - she felt his pectoral muscles - large with such potential for power, but now weakened by the drugs she'd slipped into the water. His chest felt so good under her body as she crouched over his hips, holding him still by clenching her thighs around his waist - she scraped her long fingernails down his front leaving red weals from his collarbones all the way down to his pelvis. Michael grabbed feebly at her wrists to no avail - the damage was done and the marks were made.

"Please - there must be something else-"

"Am I hearing right - Michael begging for mercy - from a mere woman?" she laughed out loud as she flicked her hands about taking hold of his arms and pushing them down to the pillows above his head.

As she held his hands out of the way she assaulted his mouth - savagely kissing him and biting his lips, whilst rubbing her breasts against his chest and grinding her groin against his hips. Michael twisted his head away from her face and spat at the blankets in an expression of disgust - this had the desired effect and riled Lamia - she reached back one hand and slapped him full force about the face. A stinging blow that almost knocked him senseless, but it achieved the effect of unbalancing her and Michael used her own momentum to roll her off of him and onto the floor beside the bed. He leapt down and made use of his weight advantage by pinning her to the ground.

The resounding crash as they landed on the ground - knocking the bedside cabinet flying - deafened them to the sound of the key in the lock and a door opening.

"Michael - is that you?" He heard Nikita's voice and begged that she wouldn't come into the bedroom, he put his hand over Lamia's mouth and tried not to call out as he felt her sharp little incisors sink into his thumb.

"Gilmore - if you're playing with Corallie again - I'll personally skin you alive -"

The door to the bedroom was flung open - but Nikita could see nothing from the doorway - it was only as she rounded the bottom of the bed that she recognised Michael's unmistakable rear end lying on top of a young woman with long dark hair - they were both stark naked. Nikita didn't stop to ask questions; she strode over to the two bodies -

"Michael!" she screamed. He bent his head low wondering how the hell he was going to explain this to Nikita. After disentangling himself from Lamia he staggered to his feet briefly before collapsing onto the edge of the bed. He wiped the blood from his lips with the back of his hand and looked up to see Nikita carefully observing the state he was in - from the claw marks on his chest to the blood and spittle trickling down his chin. She could see his pupils were dilated - thank God he'd been drugged she thought to herself momentarily. If he had got himself in this condition willingly she'd never have forgiven him. She turned her attentions back to the female on the floor.

"OK- let me introduce myself - I'm Nikita, what's your name - Minx? Trollop? Well it won't matter for long 'cos I'm going to teach you a lesson you won't forget - "

Then she grabbed hold of Lamia's hair with her left hand pulling the woman to her feet and then swung back her right fist before neatly connecting a killer right hook to her jaw. Lamia went flying through the patio doors and onto the balcony, the curtains saving her from the shower of glass shards that accompanied her passage.

Nikita followed her victim out onto the balcony and kicked her to make sure she could hear what she had to say-

"Ever try that on Michael again and I'll kill you - got it?"

At this point Gilmore and Corallie walked in - the short blonde woman took one look at Nikita's face and backed out of the room rapidly, nudging the doctor's elbow as a hint that he, too, would be best off out of range of Nikita's wrath. Unfortunately Gilmore's eyes had been drawn to the naked woman at Nikita's feet - tangled in curtains and glittering with broken glass -then he saw Michael's naked body on the bed -

"Can anyone join in - or is this a private party?" he managed to enquire just as a hotel ashtray came hurtling towards his head - damn he thought -should have followed Corallie's example and made a hasty exit. He ducked in time to avoid the missile and belatedly looked at Nikita.

"OUT! NOW!"

"Does anyone need a doctor?

"You, if you're not quick - I'll call if I need you..."

It was at this point that Michael collapsed onto the floor -

"Well - you may not need me - but it looks like my patient does - so if you don't mind-" Gilmore rushed to Michael's side -but not before Nikita got there.

"What is it?" She demanded.

"Not sure - hang on," he lifted an eyelid and seeing the dilated pupils, frowned.

"Hey - what's this?" Nikita picked up a small vial that lay next to a smashed glass amongst the debris on the floor.

The small vial was empty - but the label said 'Sanlinocaine'.

"A proprietary oral premed - used as a muscle relaxant and mild sedative prior to minor ops - but it shouldn't have knocked him out like this. Oh shit-"

Nikita leaned over Michael's body like a preying mantis about to strike -

"What is it?"

"Um - well it may have had a synergistic reaction with the medication I've put him on -"

"Which is?"

"Valium..."

"No wonder he didn't see her coming - what the hell did you think you were doing giving him a damned sedative?"

By now Nikita had her hand around the doctor's throat and looked ready to squeeze tight - Gilmore glared at her in return and growled -

"How the hell can I prescribe a drug regimen for a patient that takes off whenever he's not strapped down and when I don't know his itinerary for the day includes being molested by psychopathic nymphomaniacs wielding anaesthetics!"

Nikita ceded his points reluctantly and relaxed her grip on his neck.

"OK - well what can you do for him?"

"Nothing - he'll just have to sleep it off. I would recommend that someone stays with him to keep an eye on him."

"I'll do that - you and Corallie take 'that' out of here, get it dressed and tie it down, I'll deal with it later."

Gilmore helped Nikita lift Michael's limp body off the floor and into bed. Then with Corallie's help they took Lamia out using the curtain as a makeshift stretcher.

Nikita sat next to Michael on the bed and absently stroked his hair as she studied his bruised and bleeding lips -

"Just wait till you wake up sweetie - I'm going to have to have a little heart-to-heart with you."

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

The reason for the early return of Nikita and her 'merry men' as Lamia had referred to them was due to the shooting incident at the Palmeraie. The three had arranged a rendezvous after one hour of searching at the Minaret Al Kutubiyya - an edifice over two hundred feet high, that Nikita thought even the doctor wouldn't be able to miss. They had all heard about the gun shots fired in the Palmeraie and Corallie had agreed with Nikita that they had found where Michael had met with Lamia. Discrete enquiries at the hotel revealed that the woman who had fired the shots had escaped, but no one had been hit. As for Michael and Lamia - yes the receptionist recalled a man with bandages who had been sitting in the coffee lounge with a young Moroccan woman, but she didn't remember them leaving.

Corallie assumed that the woman lying on her bed was Lamia - Gilmore had checked her over, he was concerned that she may have a fractured jaw - the bruising was becoming quite resplendent as it seemed to blossom along the woman's chin. If that's what Nikita could do - he decided he wanted to be on her side in a fight.

Lamia began to stir - then noticing that her hands were tied, she sighed wearily, groaned as the pain hit her and shut her eyes once more-

"I take it Nikita wasn't happy to see me?"

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

Nikita would deal with Lamia in good time - but for now her concerns lay with Michael. She did not want to imagine how on earth he had managed to end up naked and on top of a woman who had sworn to kill him. However, she felt obliged to give him the opportunity to explain - after all she had ended up in similar scenarios with Majid and without the aid of drugs... and without the claw marks and bloodied lip she mused.

"Poor Michael - why can't you stay in one piece long enough for me to sate my desires on you rather than substitutes..." she spoke her thoughts out loud assuming Michael to be out cold.

"I don't suppose you'll believe that I was saving myself for you?"

"I thought you were asleep - open those eyes now!" she shook his shoulders roughly.

"Ouch - please, enough rough treatment in one day-"

"It looked like you were enjoying it rough when I came in earlier!"

"I had been drugged - " Michael started to explain nervously.

"It's OK - I know about the drugs - you passed out not long after I knocked out the scraggy little minx that was all over you-"

"You knocked her out?" asked Michael incredulously.

"Too damn right - she was lucky you've got a balcony or she'd be splattered on the veranda below by now."

Michael propped himself up on his elbows to get a view of the broken window that bore witness to Nikita's anger.

"You didn't-?"

"No, she's not dead- yet. Doc Gilmore is looking after her I expect."

Without warning Nikita ripped the blankets off the bed and swung one of her long muscular legs over Michael's body before pulling him up from the mattress by his shoulders so that his face was within inches of her blazing blue eyes-

"And as for you - I should beat you senseless for pulling a stunt like that - next time you wait for me. I don't care if you are team leader - you went outside of mission parameters and could have got yourself killed."

"I don't think she would have killed me-" Michael flicked his eyes from left to right in that almost coy way he had of avoiding her direct gaze.

"Yeah - but I might have if she'd have gone any further!"

With that Nikita pushed Michael back onto the bed and leaning down over him she began to plant soft kisses along the red marks that disfigured his chest - starting from his neck she worked downwards, her fingertips following the path of her lips....

"Kita- " moaned Michael as her tender ministrations went lower and lower - the feel of her lips on him such a contrast to the way in which Lamia had treated him. She stopped and began again near the top of the neck - only another seven to go she thought with a smile as her tongue flicked out to lick at the raised edges of the scars.

Nikita looked up at him through a curtain of blonde hair - her eyes now sparkling mischievously -

"You had better persuade me that you deserve to be kissed better," she drawled.

"Perhaps if you allowed me to -" he sat up and clasped Nikita under the arms so that she was sitting up with his legs folded around her waist and her legs in turn wrapped around his. He held her face in his hands and kissed her slowly and gently, she could taste blood on his ravaged lips and was struck with anger that his beautiful mouth had been so savagely assaulted- she made a mental note to split that bitch's lip in return.

"Kita - I missed you."

"I missed you too-"

As they sat there encircling one another, time seemed to stand still, their eyes met - linking their souls in a peaceful nirvana where only they existed. Nikita knew it would never feel like this with any other man, they were mere apéritifs in comparison to the entrée that held her in his arms.

"This won't do-, " said Michael suddenly.

He took hold of Nikita's dress and lifted it over her head - she wore no bra and all that lay between them was a skimpy pair of panties. With an evil glint in his eyes Michael reached down to grasp the flimsy fabric in his hands and tore it apart - he couldn't help but smirk at her expression of outrage-

"You'd better replace those!"

"Later- " With that he pulled her closer to his warm chest so that her breasts were pressed against his skin and with her legs spread wide around him he lifted her slightly as he entered her slowly, teasing his way in. Nikita pushed herself down onto him holding him closer than ever as they united - the circuit complete, the electricity that forever crackled about them now flowed like lightning between the earth and the clouds.

As Michael and Nikita rejoiced in each other's love for one another, dark shapes closed in on their zone of peace, dark shadows like the wraiths from some netherworld crept onto the balcony while others slunk along the corridor outside their suite. The leader of these minions stayed out of the light for now - she allowed her creatures to circle her prey first, then she tightened the noose and fell in behind her men as they stormed the enclave.

In the midst of an island of rumpled sheets Michael and Nikita leaned into each other's sweaty bodies, the afterglow of their union surrounding them in an almost visible aura. Nikita nuzzled against Michael's shoulder while he held her close and kissed the top of her head. By the time the dark figures came crashing through the windows it was too late for either of them to react, one of the men dragged Nikita off of the bed while another swung his rifle butt into Michael's face as he reached out to defend her. Nikita screamed in anguish and tried to tear herself out of the grip of her captor, but stopped short as the rifle was turned rapidly around and the barrel shoved against Michael's chest.

The door to the master bedroom opened and in walked a petite woman with a smile that was as warm as a resort on Pluto. She wore a dark suit and neat patent leather shoes that looked absurdly shiny.

"Nikita - " her smile broadened "What an unexpected pleasure, I didn't think we'd be seeing each other again after you slipped over the edge of my boat. You should put the dress back on - your nudity is quite tawdry and is distracting my men." She plucked the dress that lay inside out on the floor using her exquisitely manicured fingertips and with an expression of distaste as if the item would soil her hands should she take hold of it. She beckoned for one of her men to pass the garment to Nikita.

"And while you're there - I want Michael standing over here - I'd hate for him to miss any of this."

The man grinned as he threw the dress to Nikita and proceeded to drag Michael from the bed feet first so his head cracked on the floor -

"Careful - you fool I didn't ask you to knock him out."

The brute then pulled Michael to his feet and held him in front of Hellway - he would have struck out if he hadn't seen the gun pointed at Nikita's head. Instead he endured Hellway's perusal of his body as she raked her eyes over him front and back. She then stood in front of him, put a pair of leather gloves on and proceeded to reach down a dainty hand to grab hold of his balls and twist with a force that belied her stature. Michael gasped in agony and bent double despite his intentions to show no signs of pain in front of this woman. He slowly straightened with tears forming in the corners of his eyes to see a malicious smirk on the lips of his enemy.

"Bitch!" yelled Nikita, only to find herself tugged back by her hair.

"You disappoint me - both of you - copulating like beasts in the woods while we tracked you down." Hellway sneered at them with disdain as she said this.

"Tracked us down?" demanded Nikita.

"Lamia had a tracker in her bag - she's been very co-operative and for that she'll be well rewarded."

"What do you want of us?" asked Michael through gritted teeth.

"From you Michael - assistance and if you refuse, Nikita will pay the price. Take her."

The guard nearest Nikita felled her with a sharp blow to the back of the head - she crumpled to the floor like a rag doll.

Michael rushed forward to crouch beside Nikita - he was filled with rage when he saw the blood that oozed from a cut on her head.

"I swear I will have you for this - " he flung himself at Hellway - his hands reaching for her throat, with no concern for his own well being, just wanting vengeance. The woman just smiled at Michael and nodded to the men standing over Nikita - one of them lifted her up from the floor - an arm wrapped about her waist, her head lolling forward - towards Hellway. The other pointed a gun at her limp body.

"Michael - you will co-operate. I won't have them kill her just yet, but maybe a shot to the legs or the arms to start with..." He stopped in his tracks as he caught her eyes and saw no compassion there, they were colder than his had ever been, she would have no compunction in ordering her men to shoot at Nikita, wounding her repeatedly if need be.

Hellway had her men restrain Michael - they tied his hands above his head and to the headboard of the bed.

"Where is Lamia? I do hope no harm has come to her - search the other rooms!" she ordered the two men that stood behind her.

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

Meanwhile, despite Gilmore's assertions that they should help Michael and Nikita, Corallie had persuaded him that there was little she could against four armed thugs and her previous boss, a bitter calculating female with no scruples and few morals. She convinced him that the best way they could assist Michael and Nikita would be to disappear. They took the precaution of blindfolding Lamia before slipping out onto their balcony and shimmying down the wall to the balcony below. Corallie had gathered as much equipment as she could before their urgent departure and broke into the rooms below with no problem. Luckily the occupants were out, giving her time to put in a call to reception asking for a hire car to be ready at the front of the hotel in half an hours' time. They sat in silence exchanging grim looks as they listened to the thuds on the floor from the rooms above.

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

Lamia was brought through to the main bedroom wearing a man's shirt that she'd been dressed in by the doctor. Her cuts had been treated and a few plasters were stuck on the worse ones. Her face was badly bruised and she looked extremely unhappy - she asked to speak to Hellway in private. Ten minutes expired before they returned and Lamia looked pleased with herself, she walked across to Nikita's still unconscious form and lifting her chin she spat in her face.

From his prone position on the bed Michael struggled to get free - his Nikita was vulnerable and there was nothing he could do to protect her.

"Michael - it appears that Lamia is not happy with how you have been treating her - this situation must improve - if I do not hear that it has, I shall have my men rape Nikita - " She snapped her fingers at the man holding Nikita.

The thug slid one hairy, callused hand under Nikita's skimpy dress and began to fondle her naked body, running his fingers down where the fluids from her brief interlude of love with Michael still moistened her soft flesh-

"You bastard - don't touch her - " screamed Michael.

"Stop there - it's time we left - take good care of Lamia Michael - if not, I shall know - she is due to contact me in two hours time... you have until then, nothing will happen to Nikita until that time...

Hellway left two of her men with Lamia to make sure Michael did not get the chance to overpower the woman. They winked at Lamia as they shut the door to the bedroom, telling her they would be just outside if she needed them.

"Well - let's try again Michael - I have something you want, the trouble is you are not the only person who wants it - and the other bidders came up with a much better proposition-"

"Then why do you still need me - what is it that Hellway wants that you cannot provide without my assistance?"

"That would be telling - anyway for now we shouldn't be wasting time, should we-."

Lamia walked over to the bed and started to savour Michael's body - she ran her hands along the length of his body from his shoulders to his feet relishing his strong legs. These were not restrained - but if he tried anything violent she knew that Hellway's henchmen would help her out. She almost felt tempted to call one of them in anyway - to add to her amusement...but they were such ugly brutes in comparison to Michael. It was a shame they'd made his nose bleed earlier, it added to the disfigurement that she'd inflicted on his lips that were now swollen. But his bloodied, bruised body was if anything more beautiful in a raw, sensuous way - she found that his pained expression of barely sublimated anguish turned her on. There was something incredibly sexy about a powerful man brought to his knees and at her mercy - it was as strong an aphrodisiac as any that she had ever encountered. She bit her lip in anticipation of the hedonistic pleasures she would seek from his reluctant body.

"How do I know that she will not harm Nikita anyway?" Asked Michael - deliberately trying to distract her from her progress from his chest to his hips.

"You don't - but after that slut hit me, I have asked for the chance to get my own back. You have everything to lose by failing to co-operate. You 'perform', as a Valentine operative so I am informed - that means you are able to rise to the occasion no matter what your personal feelings are - doesn't it? " As she spoke these words she stroked him softly daring him not to respond. She had now got onto the bed and was lying over him facing his feet - her pendulous breasts brushing over his chest through the open shirt as she bent down and caressed his length with her hot wet tongue. She found herself to be even more aroused by the taste of him and the feel of him upon her lips - she didn't care that Nikita had been there first, she would make sure he wouldn't forget this encounter for the rest of his life - however much longer that may be.

"Damn you to hell - if you want to be f---ed so be it, but hold this thought in your depraved mind - each second you can trust that I will be loathing every centimetre of your despicable body and I shall see your corrupt soul in hell." Michael enunciated every word slowly and with perfect articulation as if uttering a curse on her - indeed he was, for if any ill befell Nikita as a result of this creature he would accompany her into the abyss of Hades, his hands about her throat.

"I couldn't give a damn what you feel Michael - as long as you satisfy my wants and needs, otherwise Nikita will be treated in the same way - any harm you do to me will be revisited on her threefold."

A stand off between two dark souls determined the fate of Nikita - who was fortunately oblivious to the trade that Michael was about to make to keep her whole.

Unbeknownst to either Michael or Lamia the door had opened a fraction - just enough to allow a camera lens to seek its target. Hellway had to know for certain that Michael was co-operating and it also provided her with material to use against Lamia if necessary.

Nikita came round to find herself tied to a chair in what appeared to be a private villa. The curtains were drawn but it was still daylight...as she focussed on what had happened she cursed herself for not being more professional - she should have let the doctor care for Michael and she should have interrogated Lamia instead of knocking her senseless. She should not have allowed her emotions to dictate the course of events, she'd been furious seeing the two of them naked on the floor together and as soon as she had worked out what had happened she'd wanted nothing else but to take out her feelings on Lamia. What would Michael have done she wondered - if the roles were reversed -if he found me drugged and naked under a potential enemy, she smiled to herself ironically wishing that he'd have reacted the same. However, she should have acted on the fact that their position had been compromised - they should have evacuated the hotel immediately. That error had resulted in her capture and God only knew what they had done with Michael. She wondered if he was in another room of this building ...the last time she had seen him he had been assaulted by that foul Hellway - the memory brought tears to Nikita's eyes and she swore to have revenge for that act of malice.

She heard the door behind her opening and heard Hellway's voice -

"I am sorry we cannot offer you more comforts Nikita - but to alleviate the boredom why don't you watch some television, I am sure there is something on that will take your mind off your own situation."

A remote control clicked behind Nikita's ear and a television screen in front of her suddenly sprung into life...a fuzzy image of static initially until the channel was changed. Then, with horror, Nikita saw Michael tied by his hands to the bed where they had been clasping each other so fervently earlier that day - only now the expression on his face was one of disgust not lust, he looked as if he was about to vomit. The curtain cords were cutting into his wrists as he struggled. He had been hit - she could see that blood from his nose had smudged the pillows with red stains. Then the camera panned down to show the reason for his distress ...Lamia was forcing herself on him. The witch's mouth was sucking greedily at that which was not hers - her lips tight about his girth. Her hands were clawing at his upper body mindlessly as if to tear pieces of him for herself - the nails ripping his flesh and drawing blood. All the while her hips were gyrating against him as she rubbed her body up and down lasciviously on his legs...

Angry hot tears spilled from Nikita's eyes and she could taste the salt on her lips as she uttered with a vindictiveness she didn't know she possessed -

"I warned you bitch - for this you're dead."

"I do hope the wretched whore can do better than that - he is under orders to please the wench - or you take the consequences..."

Hellway turned the volume up loud just in case Nikita tried to shut her eyes to what was happening on the screen in front of her. Then she left the room. But Nikita did not shut her eyes - she committed to memory every scene of the degradation of the man she loved. The camera moved back at one point as the door opened to the room so that one of Hellway's guards could attend to Lamia's call for assistance. He strode in and she watched as he untied the restraints and continued to watch on as Michael was ordered to submit to carnal acts that humiliated him and debased him. He didn't fight back - Nikita could guess why not - because of threats made to her safety no doubt... she sobbed until her throat ached and her tears burnt the skin of her face. She would kill every one of the bastards she swore. Not fast but slow - she wanted to see them suffer as they were making Michael suffer now.

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

Corallie and Gilmore had observed Hellway's exit from the hotel with two men and Nikita's body draped in the wheel chair they had used to for Michael the day before. The choice was to stay and help Michael or pursue Nikita - it seemed to make more sense to at least identify the location where Nikita was to be taken - even if they could not actually effect her rescue between them.

They followed Hellway's Chevrolet Suburban through the crazy rush hour traffic and eventually pulled into a car park next to a small grocers not far from the gates they had seen the car drive through as they rounded a bend in a side road. Corallie gestured for the doctor to get out of the car and sprint to the walls. She had briefed him as much as possible - he refused to take a weapon, which did not surprise her, but she stashed the extra gun in her belt - with any luck Nikita could use it. She ran after him keeping low to the ground and carrying her Heckler Koch rifle under her arm.

Luckily Gilmore was fit and agile - he had no trouble hoisting Corallie's lithe body up so she could swing over the wall and he managed to vault up behind her as she held out her hand to pull him up. They quietly jumped down into the gardens below.

"We'll check out the perimeter first ...with any luck they won't be expecting a rescue attempt so soon," whispered Corallie.

"So you're really Emma Peel in disguise?" asked Gilmore - "Can you wear those really high boots and vinyl pants for me?"

"If we are successful - it'll be your reward - so shut up and do as I say!" She pushed him forward as she made a dash for the wall of the house.

As they made their way past one window - the curtains of which were shut, they could hear the loud sounds of a TV blaring out - it sounded as if someone was watching a porno movie - but one with no music.

"There must be someone in there - we avoid that room OK? - But the noise will mask our entry if we try the next room - got it?"

Gilmore nodded - perplexed as to the sounds that emanated from the darkened room - grunts, groans and cries in a mixture of French, Arabic and English by the sounds of it...

As they reached the next window they could see into an empty room - the patio doors were locked - but Corallie had her lock pick with her and made hasty work of the poor defences.

Once inside they waited patiently - Corallie listening at the door to the hall. After what seemed like aeons they heard the crisp English tones of Hellway giving instructions to a guard by the sounds of things.

"I will be back within the hour - you will be on your own - do not go into the prisoner's room on any account. You will await orders from me."

Then the front door opened and they heard as she issued yet more commands to her driver - too indistinct to be made out. Then they heard the Chevrolet drive off, its wheels crunching the gravel in the driveway.

"Is it always this easy?" grinned the doctor amazed at their good fortune.

"No - and don't tempt fate by saying it is!" hissed Corallie shoving him out of the way as she slowly eased open the door to the room in which they stood. The guard was sat on a chair outside the room with the drawn curtains reading a newspaper - he didn't know what hit him as Corallie calmly shot him.

"Shit - you shot him! He might be dead - what the hell's going on!" screamed the doctor behind her rushing past her to check the pulse of the wounded guard. Corallie grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall.

"Shut up - we don't know he's the only guard for certain - and I don't care whether he's dead or not. He is the enemy - don't waste your time."

Gilmore gulped hard but stood his ground he reached up to take her shoulders -

"This isn't the woman I held in my arms last night - where did she go?"

"Mark - this is the real me. It's what I do. Get used to it - at least for the rest of the day - you're going to be needed for Michael and maybe Nikita - so please come to terms with it for now - save your trauma for later."

"OK - for now I go along with it - but we've got to talk this out later. Promise me!"

"I promise -" she smiled at him briefly before pressing him to the wall as she undid the catch on the door and used her rifle barrel to shove it open. She spun round scanning the room for hostiles - seeing none she put the lights on to illuminate the gloom and then saw Nikita slumped into a chair her arms tied behind her back. Corallie immediately dropped to the ground to untie the ropes and then took a good look at Nikita - the woman's face was reddened and stained with numerous tear trails - her lips puffy and her eyelids swollen.

"My god Nikita - what did they do to you?"

Nikita just shook her head and gestured at the rifle that Corallie had placed on the ground - she passed it up to Nikita scared of what her intentions may be -

"Please leave me for a minute - shut the door." Nikita croaked - her voice hoarse and breaking with pain.

"OK - you sure you're alright?"

"I'll join you shortly - please." Corallie backed out - but not before catching a glimpse of the TV screen and she gasped as she realised the torment that Nikita has been going through, she turned and left the room.

Behind closed doors Corallie and Gilmore listened as a burst of gunfire and the crashing of glass followed the dreadful sounds of Nikita screaming. The sounds from the TV were brought to a dramatic halt as the tube blew up.

The doors opened again and Nikita came storming out - dressed in nothing but a tattered summer frock - it's bright summery print spoilt since Michael had lifted it over her head before making gentle love to her. Her blonde hair was matted; no longer carefree and shiny - the only parts of it that shone now were tiny shards of broken glass. Her face was grimy and grim - her eyes burned fiercely behind the swollen red lids and her normally full lips were pressed into a tight line as if holding back a torrent of anger. She clutched the rifle so hard that it looked as though she could snap it. She swallowed once and without looking at either Corallie or Gilmore said in a voice eerily lacking in emotion.

"Take me back to the hotel - and don't get in my way when we get there - they're mine - every single one of the bastards."

The journey back to the Al Mamounia was a silent one - Gilmore was trying to reconcile the cold-blooded killer with the warm and tender woman he'd shared his bed with, a woman who chuckled softly and cuddled up so sweetly. Corallie drove as fast as she could - dodging taxis and bicycles - hoping for all their sakes that they got back to the hotel in time. Nikita's thoughts were in a turmoil - the Michael she knew should have been able to manipulate his way out of that situation, seeing him abused and hurt distressed her on so many levels - her gut reaction was sadness that he was being put through such torment. On another level she was angry with him for allowing himself to be misused - Hellway had called him a whore - he really didn't seem to care what use others made of his body, was there an underlying self-loathing so immense that he just could not care. The last thought caused her more grief than the first - she could deal with those that had assaulted him, but she didn't know how to deal with Michael's psyche - that seemed damaged beyond repair.

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

The silence that greeted them as they stood outside the door to the hotel suite was ominous. Nikita took charge automatically and nodded at Corallie indicating that she should enter first and that Nikita would cover her - after all she was still wearing her Kevlar vest. Corallie pushed her way in and took position as Nikita followed her through - both with guns ready - but they weren't needed - the suite had been abandoned.

Nikita put her finger to her lips indicating that they should proceed without talking in case the place had been bugged. She pointed to the twin bedroom for Corallie to check - not wanting anyone else with her when she checked the master bedroom.

Corallie and Gilmore found their room had been ransacked - as if someone had been looking for something - luckily Corallie had gathered together all the important equipment into a small rucksack before they had exited over the balcony. She sat on the edge of the bed and opened the bag now - taking out a small device that lit up with bright lights when she activated the switch. Gilmore sat with her and was curious - but relieved when he saw a smile on her face. She turned and gave him a big hug - he needed it - the tension had been getting to him and he relished the opportunity to welcome back the woman from last night.

Nikita stood in the centre of the main bedroom - her gaze drawn to the curtain ties on the headboard and the bloodstains on the sheets. There were tufts of hair on the pillows - strands of his hair torn from his head. Michael's clothes had gone from the chair where they had been neatly folded earlier.

She went to the hall and picked up one of her bags - Hellway's men had pulled out the contents and left them strewn over the floor. She wanted to get changed - she popped her head around the door of the other room and waved a pair of trousers to catch Corallie's attention - letting her know that she would be a few minutes longer.

Nikita ripped the dress off and tore it into pieces - then she dressed in black t- shirt and black mission pants.

She went to the bathroom and her heart sunk as she saw the evidence that someone had been violently ill - Michael she assumed. Once dressed she wandered back through the bedroom pausing briefly to pick up a solitary curl of his hair from her pillow and tucking it into a pocket on her pants.

The three left the suite as quietly as they had entered - in the elevator on the way down Gilmore innocently remarked that they should call house-keeping to inform them about the state of the room. He never did find out why his two female companions smiled at one another as if sharing a private joke.

When they got to the car - Nikita allowed herself to exhibit her feelings - she kicked the side of the vehicle, sighed loudly and exclaimed -

"Where the hell have they taken him?"

"It's OK Nikita - Lamia has a tracker or two under the sticky plasters - I have her location!" Corallie grinned as she showed Nikita the device she had looked at earlier.

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

Michael had been taken to an apartment block on the outskirts of the city, he assumed it was where Lamia lived - she had given instructions to the taxi driver from the front as the two heavies had sandwiched him in the back of the car.

He reflected on what had happened to him back at the hotel - part of the reason for his acceptance of his fate had to do with guilt. He felt remorse for the death of Lamia's sister Mounia and guilt over Nikita's involvement in this - Majid had been right, her association with Michael had brought her nothing but pain and danger. Lamia had taken out her hatred of him for her loss in a far more exacting revenge than if she had had him beaten by the guards left with her. By parodying the sexual act that had felt so perfect with Nikita she had increased his self-revulsion. He didn't think he would ever be able to make love again to Nikita without images of the abuse he had allowed himself to undergo. The sheets had still smelt of her fragrance, light and summery, and he recalled painfully being forced onto his stomach and catching a glimpse of a long blonde hair lying on the pillow - like a gleaming filament of gold in a cesspool of mire. His recollections that were so fresh of their hallowed union had been smashed to pieces, the fragments thrown asunder - the memories defiled.

He was bundled out of the car and from the heat of the afternoon sun into the dark hallway of the building. Lamia led the way to the elevator and onto the 11th floor. He had assumed correctly - she took a key from her bag and opened the door of a small apartment - hung with tapestries and rugs, a bright cheerful place.

Lamia opened the door to what looked like a spare bedroom, full of clutter, and a small desk with a computer sat amidst a clutter of postcards, coasters and used coffee mugs. She switched the machine on and then opened a file in her documents folder - it was gibberish - either encoded, or opened in the wrong format.

"This is what Mounia left for me - it was sent in an email attachment a week after I was informed of her death. She said it was valuable - at the time I was too grief struck to care what it was. Then I had enquiries -offers, people asking if I had anything of Mounia's. Our mutual associate - Hellway came to see it - but she had no luck interpreting it."

"She has facilities -as do her superiors, who could decipher this, why do you need me?" asked Michael suspiciously.

"Because of this - the letter that came with the attachment-" Lamia opened her email programme and clicked onto the inbox, opening a message from her late sister-

Lamia - if this reaches you, I am dead. People from my past and no doubt my killers will probably want this. My trainer sent the information to me. He protected our family while he lived and arranged for this to be passed on to me when he died - as I send it to you. It can only be opened by another who was trained by him - only those of us who knew him will know how to open this Pandora's box without the contents being destroyed.

"Well Michael - Mounia told me once that her trainer had also been yours - isn't that the case?"

"No - I do not know who Mounia's trainer was." Michael lied, suddenly realising what it was that she held- what it was that Operations and Madeline were so anxious to recover and what George would be most grateful to receive.

"He is lying." An authoritative English accent cut through the still air of the small room - Hellway had arranged to meet with Lamia at her apartment before she had left the hotel.

"Michael - we both know the truth, so do not deny it, you were both trained by Jurgen - over the years that man's trainees either went from strength to strength as you did or they were destroyed along the way."

"I was trained by others - not just Jurgen - Madeline for one..."

"Stop stalling - you will open that file and then we will know for certain..."

"Know what? What do you think is in this file? Why not destroy it? If it is damaging - why not?"

"You ask too many questions for the good of Nikita - I suggest you try to co-operate before I have to carry out a few of my earlier threats." Hellway took her cell phone from her pocket and keyed in a number - there was no answer - she frowned at the device and redialled manually.

It was while she was distracted that the door to the apartment exploded into a shower of splintered wood and a cloud of dust - two figures in black came bursting in amidst the confusion -

"Payback time!" a woman's voice shouted out above the chaos.

Hellway spun round quickly - but not fast enough as Nikita let loose a round of bullets staring at her feet and working up towards her chest, bringing her to her knees in a bloody mess -

"Ni-ki-ta -NNNNNOOOOO!!!!" yelled Michael - he needed answers that only Hellway possessed.

They had taken out the guards outside the apartment on their way up before setting a charge to blow the door. Once inside - Nikita had headed for Michael and Lamia while Corallie picked off the remaining two guards - she was at least merciful in the accuracy of her shots, taking them out quickly with the minimum of agony. Then Nikita had tossed down her gun and threw herself after Lamia who had fled from the room as she witnessed the assault on Hellway.

Nikita caught up with Lamia in the kitchen - the smaller woman had grabbed a kitchen knife and was waving it about in desperation trying to defend herself. Nikita was far more competent at unarmed combat than Lamia would ever be and she cornered the Moroccan woman with a feral grin and a glint in her eye that was alike to the last sight seen by any prey animal as the hunter cornered it and snuffed out its life. Nikita bared her teeth and hissed -

"I warned you bitch - but you didn't listen - I swore I'd kill you and I will - slowly. I'm going to rip you apart with my bare hands, I wanna tear your head off and spit down your wretched neck."

As Lamia parried with the knife Nikita kicked at her arm causing the knife to drop to the ground- she scooped it up and tossed it from hand to hand while not breaking eye contact with Lamia. She advanced and holding the knife by the blade suddenly threw it at Lamia - as it spun through the air it gathered momentum and pierced the woman's right shoulder - pinning her to the door she stood in front of. Her face contorted in agony as she grabbed the handle of the knife in her trembling left hand and shuddered as she tried in vain to pull it free.

"Nikita - stop - please." Michael's voice was strained with tiredness and pain beneath a thin veneer of control.

Her bloodlust temporarily satisfied, Nikita turned to look at him to see how he was - in her rage to seek vengeance she hadn't even stopped to see if he was all right. He wasn't -his face was ashen beneath the bruises and his eyes red-rimmed. But what worried her most was that his eyes looked hollow - empty of feelings. He just wanted her to stop - that was all....

"Michael - are you OK?" she asked foolishly realising there was no way on this earth that he could in any way be described as being OK - not after everything he'd been through.

"No - but I doubt if I ever will be, so please do not ask me again." He looked at Lamia and went to her as she began to lose consciousness; he pulled the knife from her shoulder swiftly and then lowered her to the ground gently. He did not blame her - if he had not accepted the punishment he would not have allowed it.

"Nikita - there's something you should see - it could buy you your freedom - follow me-"

"What? I have unfinished business here - Michael - get out of my way." Nikita had grabbed hold of Michael's arm and was trying to get past him to continue to exact her revenge on Lamia.

Michael took Nikita roughly by the wrists and pulled her attention away from the wounded woman on the floor and back to him-

"Nikita - I said now."

The way he looked at her and the force with which he was holding her made it clear that he was giving her an order, one that was urgent - she'd finish with the miserable minx later she figured - didn't look like she'd be going any where in a hurry.

Michael led Nikita back to the small bedroom - on the way commanding Corallie to watch over Lamia, leaving Gilmore to wait in the hall, shaking as he relived the carnage he had just witnessed.

He shut the door as they entered the room - Michael did not want anyone hearing what he had to tell Nikita.

"Listen carefully - Jurgen's files were not all destroyed -"

Jurgen's name caused Nikita to take a quick intake of breath - what was Michael on about?

"He had a back up, one he'd dismissed himself. Jurgen had stored the files on an Internet server. If the server was not regularly updated the files would be sent out to his previous trainees in an encrypted format. Anyone not knowing the correct code would trigger a worm program if they tried to open it. It was an executable file - incorrect details would corrupt all the data contained and also initiate a virus in the system's own programmes. That must be why they did not try to transfer the file out of Lamia's system."

"How do you know all this?" She asked suspiciously - thinking the whole mission had been a set-up with Michael yet again withholding the true profile from her until the very last minute.

"There is not time to explain everything- but the pieces are beginning to fit - before Jurgen died, Birkoff ran a purge on all his systems and located the server and the list of email addresses to which the files had been sent. Operations arranged for all recipients to be traced and the Intel destroyed - however, it would appear that Mounia had managed to open the files and was attempting to make a deal with Section. Like Jurgen before her, she had taken the precaution of setting up an account to distribute the files should anything happen to her."

"But if Jurgen set this up - why did he act as if he was ruined?"

"Because with the exception of myself - he was led to believe that all of his former trainees were dead- they wanted him to feel isolated. That's why he was so willing to strike up a relationship with you Nikita - he was alone." Michael's lips curved with disdain as he recalled the time that she had been with Jurgen and he involuntarily looked as though he had just bitten into something distasteful. "Madeline also manipulated me - by making me monitor your involvement with Jurgen, she knew that I would not take his side -"

"Well Michael - were you ever his friend?" Nikita's query was tinged with a hint of sarcasm.

"No - his job at the time was to break recruits, when he had finished with me he knew more about my hopes and fears than anyone ever will. He handed them over on a plate to Madeline - you can work out for yourself what use she made of them. No Nikita, I was not on his mailing list."

"I really thought he could help us Michael -" She thought back wistfully recalling Michael's vehement rejection of the notion at the time; she had acted like a brat then. "I'm sorry."

"Nikita - even I have used your hopes and fears against you - that is how Section controls its operatives - rewards and punishments. You should have realised that by now." His voice was bitter and Nikita wondered why he was behaving so antagonistically towards her. Perhaps she should have tried to comfort him after his ordeals - but it seemed that it was too late for solace now, he had closed down again - he had a mission underway and needed a result. He seemed almost impatient to be finished with this whole affair.

"Do you know how to open the files?" Maybe if she got back to business he could cope better, she thought.

"Yes."

"We could use them to buy a way out Michael," She was encouraged to make the suggestion taking into account Michael's earlier statement.

"Not us - you -" He shook his head vigorously.

"Why just me?"

"The only way to make sure the threat remains effective is for one person to stay behind - that was how Jurgen managed it - he lived as he wished, but within Section-"

"Well - we could do that -couldn't we?" Her head began to spin with the possibility of living freely with Michael.

"No - not both of us - they would exploit the possibilities of holding one or other of us hostage for the Intel - that is why Jurgen stayed alone... he used the files wisely in his own way. His failure was you - you were his weakness Nikita. If he had not taken you back to his home, he would have stayed safe." The words bit into her soul - she had been used to expose Jurgen, to destroy him and Michael had participated in that event.

"So - this is a one-person security vouchsafe?" She tried to make eye contact with Michael, but he had fixed his attention on the computer monitor and would not let her look into his eyes. Michael reflected on the concept that the eyes were the windows to the soul - and he could not afford for her to peer into the turmoil that writhed within his condemned soul.

"Yes - I can hold the files and use them to ensure your safety- but we would not be able to be with each other."

Nikita reached out to brush his hair from his face - it had fallen across his eyes- an innocent gesture she thought - but Michael angrily pushed her hand away, flinching from the affection.

"Don't touch me." He trembled slightly, knowing that she was his weakness also and if he was to redeem this whole situation he would need to be strong.

"Michael?"

"You do not have long to decide - I shall copy the files onto floppy discs and then erase all trace of them on this computer. I need to know what you want soon - otherwise I give them to George..."

"George?"

"Remember - I am meant to be working for him - this is what he wanted - he could destroy Section with this."

"But wouldn't that make us safe?"

"You - probably- but don't think that Madeline and Operations will go down without trying to take everyone down with them."

"Michael?" Nikita suddenly had a dreadful feeling in her guts- "Can the files also destroy you?"

"Yes".

Nikita spun him round determined to fathom what was going on in his mind - as she caught a glimpse past his long lashes and into the murky green depths, she saw fear, pain and resignation.

"What is it? Michael - what aren't you telling me?"

"Drop it Nikita - Hellway has no doubt been working with Operations to get me to open the files for them - once Mounia had been killed there was no-one else that could. For reasons unknown to me they no longer want the files destroyed but they want to use them for their own purposes. One such purpose would be to put me on a shorter leash - no good could come from that - not for you. That is why I cannot let them take the files - if George has them he will have the ammunition required to remove the top tier within Section 1 - including me."

"But Michael -?" Nikita did not yet understand the full implications.

"I have only one other option, use them to get you out of Section and tell George they were destroyed-."

"Two choices Michael - you can destroy the files completely - that way they cannot ever be used against you-"

"Or for you. Nikita - you will never get a better chance."

"Michael - I don't want that to be the price- they will own you-"

"They already do Nikita. There is no part of me that is not tainted with their stench. I cannot give you what you desire Nikita, I bring you nothing but betrayal."

Nikita took hold of his face, taking care not to press too hard on the tattered bandages that clung to the sides of his head, behind his ears. His lips were scabbed from the bites inflicted by Lamia, but there appeared to be deeper scars left from that encounter. A haunted look shadowed his eyes that hadn't been there this morning when he had clutched her to his naked body and took her swiftly and completely, embracing her in the purest of physical displays of love. Where had that man retreated? Why had he suddenly deemed himself unworthy of her? Why was he pushing her away?

"Michael - I saw what happened between you and Lamia - they were monitoring you-"

"Mon Dieu -" he looked as if she had pushed him over the edge of a precipice and into the flames of hell.

"Michael - they were the ones to blame - not you, they were forcing you-" she reached out to take his hands, but he withdrew from her touch.

"No -no - I wanted them to, don't you see Nikita - I wanted that, you should not have seen that - do not feel pity- what happens to me is what I deserve. "

Nikita couldn't help but think her mentor had been driven slightly crazy as a result of the torment he had been through and saw no alternative but to grab him by the shoulders and attempt to shake the nonsense from him -

"Michael - If you don't start making sense I swear I'm going to slap you round the face - don't make me do it!"

Unfortunately for Michael he allowed his head to fall downwards - not wanting to see her pity - she had seen what they had done to him and he couldn't live with that - anyone but her...

She had no choice as she saw it but to carry out her threat and swung her arm back to slap him hard about the face - once, twice - no reaction- but on the third swing of her arm he reached out and held her arm still.

"Enough Nikita."

"Are you going to speak sense now - no more feeling sorry for yourself? You've got to cut the crap Michael! We haven't much time - I've critically wounded a Section leader and we've got to remove all traces of ourselves from this place before the police arrive - I guess doors being blown apart and gunfire aren't the norm in any suburbs - even Moroccan ones. I need you to take control - of yourself and this godforsaken mess of a mission - are you going to help me or not?"

"All right - this is what we do - get Corallie to call local housekeeping services. I shall copy these files, we will decide what to do with them from a safer location-"

"Lamia-?"

"She is all yours - do as you will but I don't want to know."

Nikita left the room closing the door behind her to keep Michael's actions a secret from Corallie - she trusted the woman, but the fewer people that knew of their discovery the better. Hellway's body lay in a pool o f blood in the hallway and Gilmore was sat in a dejected huddle by the wall - his hands and clothes splattered with blood. He had tried to attend the guards that Corallie had shot.

"Corallie - contact the North African sub station and have them arrange house-keeping, we'll leave her for them to take care of. Then get the doc cleaned up and wait down in the car."

"You've killed three people and you're thinking of calling the damn janitor - Christ -are your main concerns mopping away the blood stains!! " Gilmore shouted - infuriated at the callousness he saw in the two women that he had originally thought of as gorgeous and cute.

"Just do as you are told - you've done your best. I want you to check out Michael when we stop next - he's not himself..."

"Do any of you folks actually know who you are from one minute to the next - because I'm sure as hell losing track with the character changes, it's like hanging out with a group of paranoid, schizophrenic sadomasochists!"

Nikita picked him up from the floor and held him upright against the wall, looked him square in the face and said -

"You don't have to like the job - just do it!" Where had she heard that before? She wondered briefly and then to reassure the doctor before his sanity decided to join Michael's - she leant forward and gave him a big kiss full on the lips - "There's a good boy". The grin finished him off - he allowed Corallie to steer him into the bathroom to wash off the blood without a word - meekness personified. Now if only Michael could be so easy to deal with rued Nikita.

But before tackling him again - there was unfinished business in the kitchen.

Nikita waited until Corallie assisted the shaky doctor out of the hole in the wall that bore testimony to their earlier dramatic entry - their exit was rather less exciting. After they had started to make their way down the stairwell, Nikita checked in on Michael once more - his fingers were flying over the small keyboard and he seemed absorbed in the task -

"How much longer?"

"Three minutes to download onto discs and then give me five minutes to wipe the hard disc and system of all traces. Ten minutes maximum - have you had Corallie call for 'housekeeping'?"

"Yep - I'll be ready in ten -"

Nikita returned to the kitchen - her fury at what the slim, dark woman had put Michael through still boiling beneath the surface - like a magma pool beneath a volcano, dangerously hot and ready to vent destruction. She kicked the kitchen door open, her hands on her hips about to pour invective on the prone creature - however, the opportunity was denied her as the woman had passed out - possibly through pain and blood loss as a result of Nikita's attempt to impale her like a kebab.

Lamia lay sprawled out on the floor - her shoulder bleeding from an ugly gash - the knife still on the counter top where Michael had placed it after gently removing it. Nikita paused only briefly to ponder his odd attitude to the woman as she had stood writhing in agony pinned to her own kitchen door by a carving knife.

She dragged Lamia to her feet by the hair and seeing a sink full of dirty, greasy washing up water she grinned as a thought crossed her mind as to how she could wake up the subject of her ire. She pulled Lamia across the floor and then shoved her head into the cold, murky water - the woman began to splutter involuntarily as the water rushed up her nostrils and down the windpipe into her lungs - the congealed grease hitting the back of her throat causing her to gag. Lamia's eyes opened to witness what looked like the remnants of her previous nights' supper floating before her - and the odd outline of what looked like a teaspoon. She suddenly realised with a start that she was beginning to drown - she screamed - only making the situation worse as water flooded into her throat choking her efforts to cry out for help. A pressure on the back of her skull suggested that she was being held under - her arms began to flail wildly - grabbing for her tormentor or anything that could assist in her escape from the water. Her hands grasped a thick cord that seemed firmly attached at the other end - she tugged desperately with out thinking for one minute what the cord belonged to. Shortly before her thoughts came to an abrupt end, she felt a large, heavy metallic object land heavily in the water, hitting the side of her skull.

Nikita did not see the toaster crash into the sink until it was too late - a streak of blue flashed across the surface of the water and she leapt back as sparks flew and the scene in front of her erupted with hissing and the smells of scorched flesh. She screamed out a bloodcurdling yell without being in the least bit aware of her reactions -

Michael ran to the kitchen fearing that Lamia had somehow managed to harm Nikita - he only just made it to Nikita before she tried to pull Lamia away from the sink -

"NO! It's too late - you'll get killed yourself!" he shouted hoarsely - his arms encircling Nikita's waist and pulling her away from the horrendous scene. He drew an arm protectively about her shoulders and steered her out of the kitchen and back to the small bedroom where he sat her down on the edge of the bed and hugged her fiercely. He held her shaking body tight against his chest and rocked her softly, as if he could coax out of her the terrified look in her eyes and the expression of horror from her face...

"Michael - I didn't mean that to happen - my God - is she still alive - couldn't we help her?" Nikita sobbed.

"Hush - no Nikita - she's dead, I know you are not capable of such an act deliberately - shhh..."

He comforted her as she sat shaking in his arms, tears trickling down her cheeks as shock set in - she had never been so close to a person dying in such agony before - she hadn't meant it to happen. She felt guilty about her lust for revenge, her intentions of being as cruel to her victim as she had been to Michael. At the end of the day she did not possess the malicious streak necessary to carry out such retribution without judging herself to be as corrupt as the so-called enemy.

"We must go now..." Michael scooped up the discs from the desk and put them in his pocket, then he took Nikita into his arms once more and kissed her tenderly on the top of her head, ignoring the tiny splinters of glass that still clung to her dishevelled locks. She clung to him - grateful that his strength had returned as if in response to her need for him to be her rock.

They left the apartment without looking back - Michael's arm around her shoulders and hers about his waist. They took the elevator down, holding each other close, their heads on one another's shoulders, both drawing strength and comfort from the other.

Their was a relationship forged of fire - the element that can either nurture or destroy - in stolen moments of passion this exploded with the exuberance of a firework display - spectacular and heart-stopping. At times like this they were each other's candles which lit the gloom and provided a gentle glow in which to bask. As they stood in the elevator in silence they led each other's souls from the darkness that had threatened to engulf them and away from the shadows that kept them from the light.

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

Michael instructed Corallie to drive them out of Marrakech and towards Casablanca. After half an hour he told her to pull up outside a small roadside motel. Michael had taken control again - he left others in the car and went in alone to book two adjoining rooms. He also ordered some food - "brochettes, olives et du pain".

All four of them were in varying states of shock and exhaustion, with wounds both physical and psychological to tend to. Corallie helped Gilmore into their room - Nikita watched as the door closed behind them -

"What's going to happen to him Michael? - He's seen too much..."

"You know - he will either be recruited or cancelled - his options are limited."

They had no clothes to change into - they hadn't thought an emergency egress was going to be the order of the day. It was only this morning that Nikita had set off by train from Casablanca and Corallie had lain in the muscular, tanned arms of a bemused, but relatively innocent doctor. Michael had been recovering from his operation but had slept well for a change - probably due to the Valium injections courtesy of Gilmore.

Michael ran a hot bath for Nikita and without speaking led her by the hand to the bathroom and slowly peeled away the layers of blood grimed clothes. He helped her into the bathtub and gently sponged her shoulders- taking a flannel and squeezing out hot water which cascaded down her back and across her breasts.

"Join me?"

"There is not enough room-"

"That depends how close we get-"

Michael shed his T-shirt and jeans like a butterfly from its cocoon revealing such a beautiful body from the dull, colourless clothing - Nikita always appreciated the revelation of his magnificent physique, which was only hinted at by the outlines of his clothes. He hesitated at the edge of the tub and then turned away as if he couldn't get any closer -

"Michael- what is it?"

"I - I cannot - I feel - dirty...unclean -"

"Well that's what the bath is for-"

"No - not just my body - "

"I don't care Michael - I need to feel you, touch you - please don't deny me that because of what they did to you -

"You don't understand- "

"Come here - "

He turned and knelt down beside the bath - glancing up to look into her deep blue eyes he saw that there was pain there and flinched away, Nikita reached out to reassure him that he was not the cause of the distress. He looked away again, but not before she saw the tears that spilt down his cheek - they were tears of self -disgust and anger.

"No Michael - not now - I want you ... please let me hold you, I need to feel wanted " she thought if she emphasised her needs strongly enough, he would put aside his fears -

Michael stood up and then carefully stepped into the bath - sitting behind Nikita so that her head rested against his chest - he didn't want her to see that he'd allowed himself the luxury of tears... He wrapped his legs about hers and lathered up the soap in his hands forming handfuls of froth that he applied first to her neck - rubbing the slippery soap over her shoulders, massaging the knots of tension in the muscles. Than he reached over to use the lather to caress her breasts - slowly and deliberately tracing circles about the nipples which he noticed with trepidation grew erect as he teased them between his slippery fingers. Nikita began to slide back against his body, as the tension in her body eventually began to ease.

Michael sat in silence, concentrating on washing away the grime from the lovely body of the woman in front of him - he wished he could rinse away the bad memories and the anguish that lay beneath the surface. As he rubbed shampoo into her hair teasing away the shards of glass, oblivious to the tiny cuts they left on his fingers, he knew that if he could pray for anything it would be for the ability to clean away all the horrors that had touched her soul. As he washed her hair and skin he treated her with reverence, as if she were an object of worship rather than desire. After the recent whoring of his own body he did not think himself worthy of coveting her beauty, he barely deemed himself deserving of the honour of touching her.

He leaned forward to touch the top of her head with his lips, a gentle, chaste kiss and then he got out the bath. He did not care about his own nudity but selected the largest towel from the rail to hold out for Nikita as she reluctantly pushed herself out of the rapidly cooling water. As she wrapped herself in rough cotton towel Michael passed to her a smaller one for her dripping hair. She looked up into his eyes beseeching him to speak - she could sense a distance between them despite the recent proximity in the bathtub.

"Michael - please tell me what's getting at you. You're treating me like I'm made of china- as if you're afraid to break me - Michael, what's going on inside your head?"

He placed his hands lightly on her shoulders and met her troubled blue eyes with his that were glazed over with a shimmer of tears -

"Dry yourself and try to eat some food. I need the answer to a question - do you want your freedom? I shall have a shower - when I come out I need the answer, we don't have much time."

Before she knew it he had steered her out of the bathroom and had locked the bathroom door behind him. She could hear the shower running at the fullest pressure that it was capable of - she knew what he was doing, he would be standing under the scalding hot water as if trying to remove the layer of skin that had been soiled by the encounter earlier that day.

When the water had run cold he still stood there under the shower head, shivering and cold, letting the chill numb his head until he could think no more and all he was aware of was the cold and the sound of water running down the drain - taking the tattered remnants of his self respect with it.

Nikita sat on the edge of the bed staring at the bathroom door, waiting for him to come out - she was worried about him. What had he meant by freedom? Would he really consider using the data on those discs to buy her freedom from Section? At what additional cost to him she pondered? How could she pursue a carefree existence knowing that deep in the bowels of the earth in the underground vaults of Section1 Michael would be chained to the organisation for the rest of his life in order to ensure they did not go back on their deal...? How could he possibly believe she could do that to him? At what extra cost would her freedom come? What would they ask of him? She had not been able to enjoy the snatched six months of liberty before - for a number of reasons, not the least of which had been the separation from him. However, she couldn't say that to him, he would never accept her reasons - she knew instinctively that he would make whatever sacrifice demanded in order to secure her freedom if that was what she desired.

She heard the shower stop at last - then the sound of the bolt sliding open in the lock, he came out slowly, a towel clinging about his hips precariously.

"Have you made a decision?"

"Yes Michael I have - that information is far too valuable to waste on the purchase of one person's dubious liberty from Section1. I think we should use it to help as many from within Section as possible -"

"What do you mean Nikita?"

"Looking back on things I figure that maybe Jurgen used the potential too selfishly - sure he had a gorgeous house and he could stick a finger up at orders from Operations - big deal! Perhaps I could make use of it to escape from Section and live a life of luxury with Majid maybe-." Nikita found the idea tantalisingly attractive for a short span of time and by dropping in the name of a rival, she knew it might bring Michael around to her way of thinking.

"Yes - you could-" Michael conceded begrudgingly, he had not really considered that she would seek freedom with the handsome Arab - but at least he would keep her safe.

"No Michael - I could NOT - you're missing the point! I would rather we had access to that information as an extra lever, to swing the way that Section operates occasionally in favour of the innocents. To prevent operatives being cancelled for minor infractions - to protect Birkoff and Walter from the wrath of a pre-menstrual Madeline - I don't know exactly - but I want it to be used to make Section a better place, and not just for one person."

"Such as making sure Gilmore is not punished for being a good doctor?" Michael suggested. Nikita rewarded his almost facetious comment with a beatific smile recognising a turning point when she saw one.

"YES!"

"It will be dangerous- but if I can think of an explanation for Oversight, then I will have to speak with Operations and Madeline-"

"No Michael - not on your own, we go together, the security of what we possess -" Nikita shuddered as she recalled the last time Michael had stepped into the spider's web alone.

"Precisely Nikita - if it is clear that you also possess copies of the information and that should anything happen to either or both of us-"

"Do you think we can make it work?"

"Maybe - it will be risky, if it fails we will both face cancellation - are you prepared to take the chance?"

"Are you?"

"For you Nikita - I would risk everything."

"Michael - do not return to Section alone this time - for me?"

"I guess there are other ways of contacting Operations and Madeline..."

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

By dawn the plans were prepared, Michael would inform George that Section 1 had been supporting Hellway's corrupt reign in the Middle East and that the Bensouda sisters had been used by the chief operative in Dubai to trade with Red Cell on her behalf. He would also inform Operations of this as the lesser evil to actually telling George the truth about the copy of Jurgen's database. Michael would arrange to store copies of the files in everything from bank deposit boxes to Internet servers, in as many formats and locations as possible in the time available before Section attained a fix on their exact location.

Michael asked one favour of George in return for his uncovering of Operations and Madeline's dealings - he asked for the reassignment of both Nikita and himself to Section 1 with effect from one week's time.

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

Nikita pushed another piece of driftwood into the fire, watching as sparks flew up and were carried away in the warm sea breeze like dancing fire sprites.

"Well - did Operations buy it? Will it work?"

"Yes - he did not believe me at first, but there was certain information in the file - I mentioned something that convinced him that I had access to Jurgen's data."

"What was it? Some juicy indiscretion?" Nikita teased him - but stopped when she saw him look out to sea- sadness masking his thoughts-

"It doesn't matter Nikita, it is best that you do not know the contents, only the use to which they can be used-" - a typically enigmatic answer, but one which worried Nikita.

"Michael - why do I feel you're hiding something from me?"

"Trust me - if I am it is only for your own good."

"Michael!" she warned - but then what could there be in the files of Section from before her time that could possibly involve her, unless it was something about Michael himself? She stopped herself from pushing him too hard - no doubt she would find the skeletons in his cupboard in good time without having to wrench the doors off.

"Michael - I'm cold-"

He was about to offer her another rug from the car until she grasped his hand and pulled him back towards her. He smiled as he understood what she really meant, and sat next to her on the sand and wrapping an arm around her shoulders pulled her close into a warm embrace. The reflection of the moon rippled across the sea on the Gaultier beach and as each wave broke it sparkled with the iridescence of phosphorescent algae. Nikita snuggled up close to Michael, slipping her arms about his waist as she pulled him down into the sand and claimed his lips. She was glad he did not resist - he rolled her over to lie on top of him, unconsciously placing himself as a barrier between her and the damp sand. He folded his arms around her and sought sanctuary in her love as they lay as one. The moonlight cast its benevolent light on the two lovers on the beach, chasing away the shadows, which lurked as if conscious of the fact that the darkness awaited, brooding and malevolent.

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

"Are we safe?"

"Not yet - but I do not believe he will have the temerity to use it - if he does it will destroy him."

"Perhaps he doesn't care?"

"Well then - we must make sure he does."

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