Birkoff treaded cautiously towards Walter's workstation. All week long, the older man had been snapping and growling at every operative that came near him. Nikita hadn't been able to flirt him into a good mood.

Even Michael's cool façade had slipped a little the other day when Walter had shoved a loaded Glock barrel first at him. To see him in such a grouchy mood was rare. Birkoff wondered if his advanced age was catching up to the usually with it weapons expert. And if Walter was giving in to the pressure of Section life, that didn't bode very well for the rest of them.

Michael and his team were at the station, preparing for a mission to the Ukraine. Birkoff smiled tremulously at Michael, who raised an eyebrow at him and shook his head slightly. Was that a warning? Oh, well, Birkoff thought. He had been given the unenviable task of informing Walter of a briefing and he would carry out his duty with haste and then steer as far way from Walter as humanly possible.

"Hey, Walter." He stammered.

Walter gnarled a greeting and slapped a panel on the table before a tall, burly operative named Dorsey. Dorsey reached out and snatched the panel up, then gave Birkoff a sympathetic look before he high-tailed it to van access.

Birkoff was tempted to beat his own speedy retreat, but his friendship with Walter caused him to hesitate. How many times had the older man come to his aid when he was down? He decided to make an effort to at least find out what had put Walter in such a foul mood.

"Uh, Ops wants you at a briefing in twenty minutes." Birkoff delivered his message.

"Yeah, whatever." Walter muttered as he slapped another panel on the counter towards Michael.

"You okay, Walter?" Birkoff ventured to ask, ignoring the uncharacteristic choking noise Michael was making. "You've been kinda grumpy lately."

Walter turned to him with blazing blue eyes. "Grumpy? You trying to say I'm old, Birkoff?"

"Uh, n-no, Walter. I was just -- "

"Well if you got something to say, just say it!" Walter snarled.

Birkoff held up his hands defensively. "I was just concerned about you, jeez! Why don't you follow your own advice? Life is too short to waste it being pissed all the time."

"When the hell did I ever say that? And that's easy for you to say. You still got a sperm count!"

Birkoff's eyes widened in understanding. "Oh, this is about --. Hey, Walter, don't worry about that. You still got it. And the sperm thing is a myth. Look at that Tony Randall guy."

"Get outta here, Birkoff!" Walter waved Michael's Uzi at him.

"Relax, sheesh!" Birkoff moved away.

Michael approached Walter with trepidation. Few things frightened the Level Five operative, but Walter on a bad day holding a loaded Uzi did. He held out his hand and Walter gave him an evil look before plopping it in his palm. Michael questioned the wisdom of his next request, given Walter's mood, but he was the only one he trusted with his precious secret.

As the last of his team members moved towards van access, Michael gave them a nod. "I'll be there in a moment." He looked around to assure himself no one would overheard their conversation, then he moved closer to Walter and lowered his voice to a whisper. "I need a favor."

"Hell no!" Walter shook his head and moved away.

"Pardon me?"

"I said hell no! No more encrypted messages for you and Sugar! Get a room!"

Michael rolled his eyes. "That's not what I wanted." He dug into his combat jacket and pulled out a small velvet box. He looked around again as he pressed it quickly into Walter's hand. "I need you to keep this for me until I return tomorrow. I just bought it today and haven't had time to find a good hiding place for it."

"What is it?" Walter eyed him suspiciously.

"An engagement ring." Michael whispered. "I want to surprise Nikita. Don't say anything to her."

Walter shoved the box in his pants pocket. "Don't worry, I won't."

"I mean it, Walter." Michael warned. "If you tell her I will kill you."

"Yeah, me and a dozen other people." Walter snorted. "There are more operatives waiting for you to follow through on your death threats than there are in the abeyance pool."

Michael stood stunned as he realized the truth in those words. "Better kill someone so every one will take me seriously." He thought as he moved away.

Walter sauntered into the briefing a full minute late. Operations, Nikita, and Madeline watched him as he took his time finding a seat. When he was finally settled, Operations aimed an exasperated glare his way, then activated the hologram. A picture of an attractive older woman hovered above the center of the table.

"This is Celeste Corné. Mid fifties, very wealthy. No children, divorced three times. She comes from very old money. She owns several wineries and a coffee farm. We believe the coffee farm is a front for illegal manufacturing of explosives which she sells to some of the most corrupt terrorist organizations."

He cast an apologetic look towards Walter. "I hate to do this to you, Walter, but we need someone with your knowledge of explosives in there. You and Nikita will pose as father and daughter laborers. We've already secured temporary positions for you. You will find out what besides coffee processing is going on at that farm. If you find any evidence of illegal activity, I want the both of you to first report your findings, access and download any and all pertinent information regarding Corné's dealings, and destroy the facility."

"You mean blow it up?" Walter said incredulously. "With all the explosives that could be in that place?"

"Don't worry, Walter." Madeline told him. "Michael worked up this profile himself. We have a very safe egress route mapped out for the two of you. Get with Nikita for the details; you leave in two hours."

Walter sat for a moment as Operations and Madeline left. He glanced at Nikita, who laid a comforting hand on his arm. "It's cool, Walter. I won't let anything happen to you."

***********

On the short flight to the northern region of France, Walter issued a quiet curse. Nikita, who sat next to him dressed in grungy work clothes, looked over at him. "What is it?"

"Nothing." Walter patted his pocket, cursing himself for forgetting to find a safe place for the engagement ring Michael had entrusted with him. He had slipped it in his shirt pocket upon changing into the working man clothes he had been forced to don. He doubted if he would be able to hide it on the coffee farm, so he would have to keep it on his person at all times until the mission was complete.

They made it to the farm and were escorted to their quarters by the farm's foreman. Walter was made to bunk with several other men, while Nikita was put in a cabin with another female worker. They were allowed to settle in and rest for the evening in preparation for their first day of work the next day. After a shared meal in the mess hall reserved for the laborers, Walter and Nikita took a stroll around the grounds, well out of earshot of the other workers. Nikita tucked a lock of hair behind her ear as she pressed the com unit hidden there.

"Birkoff, you there?" Nikita whispered as she pretended to converse with Walter.

"Yeah." Birkoff's voice floated inside her head. "You guys find anything?"

"We haven't started working yet." Nikita told him. "We'll explore a little tomorrow and get back to you."

"I'll tell Madeline. Be careful."

Nikita tapped the com unit again and searched Walter's face in the darkness. "You doing okay, Walter?"

"Why is everyone asking me that?" Walter grouched.

"Because you've been so nasty lately." Nikita observed. "Your leather thong too tight?"

"Cute, Sugar." Walter said angrily, more annoyed that he couldn't really pinpoint the source of his sour disposition. "And my thong is lace."

"Ugh." Nikita grimaced. "Now I've got this image in my mind…ugh!"

"Why in the hell didn't Ops get someone else to do this crap? I was through with field work."

Nikita shrugged. "Who knows what goes on in Operation's shit-clogged brain." She patted Walter on his shoulder. "But if you need to talk to someone, I'm here."

"Yeah, yeah." Walter walked her back to her cabin where other workers were lounging around outside. Nikita turned and gave him a bear hug. "Night, Papa."

"Night." Walter grumbled and made his way to his quarters.

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

The next morning at six, Nikita and Walter began their workday. Nikita was sent into the field to pick beans while Walter was put to work in the soaking area. The work was hard and grueling and he was plotting his revenge on Operations when the owner of the farm walked in. Celeste Corné was an extremely sophisticated and beautiful woman with her silver-blond hair and dark green eyes. From what Walter could see, she worked hard to maintain her voluptuous figure and she had a great set of gams.

As he shoveled coffee beans into the vat, he slyly watched her inspect the facilities. She quietly issued orders to a good-looking, bespeckled young man trailing after her. In her arms, she cuddled a tiny black poodle, which held his nose as high as his mistress did. As Madame Corné made her way towards him, Walter feigned great concentration in his task. She stopped in front of him and spoke to him, her seductive French accent perking up his senses just a bit.

"You are new, oui?" She asked him.

Walter ceased his shoveling and turned on the charm. He grinned at her as he took her bejeweled hand and raised it to his lips. Ha! Michael wasn't the only one with moves.

"Yes, ma'am. I'm Walter Randall. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Forward, aren't we?" Madame Corné pulled her hand back, a little twinkle of amusement in her green eyes. She usually went for younger men with more stamina, like her secretary, Francoís, who stood attentively at her elbow. But this Walter Randall seemed different from most men his age. She was intrigued.

"Cute dog." Walter petted the pooch, who barked sharply at him. Walter snatched his hand back quickly.

"Now, now, Pierre." Madame Corné soothed the irritated poodle. "I am so sorry, Mr. Randall. He dislikes men."

"I'm not particularly fond of them either." Walter gave her his best come hither smile.

Madame Corné couldn't believe a subordinate was actually flirting with her. She was usually the one to make the first move. But she liked his boldness and definitely decided she should get to know this employee better.

"Well, I should let you return to work." She finally murmured. "Welcome to our little family, Mr. Randall."

"Merci, Madame Corné." Walter gave her a little bow and eyed her swaying hips appreciatively as she breezed away.

Later that evening, he and Nikita went for another walk on the grounds. "Did you find out anything?"

"Didn't have time." Walter told her. "They kept me busy all day."

"I think I may have." Nikita whispered as she touched her com link. "Birkoff?"

"Yeah, Nikita?" Birkoff's voice popped into their ears.

"Is Madeline with you?"

"Nope. It's just me. You got something to report?"

"Yeah." Nikita answered. "I saw a closed off room near the grading area, but I got caught before I could get a good look. I pretended to be lost, but I think the foreman was suspicious. I'm going to try to get back in there late this evening."

"I'll relay that to Madeline. As soon as you find something, I'll send in Michael's team. But have you any idea where their files are located?"

"I would think the main office building." Walter put in. "Maybe we can try there tonight too."

They all agreed and Birkoff signed off. Nikita and Walter made their way to their quarters to wait for their opportunity to investigate.

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

Someone roughly shaking his shoulder brought Walter out of his light sleep. He looked up into the shadowed face of Francoís, Madame Corné's secretary.

"You've been summoned to the main house." He whispered.

"For what?" Walter whispered back.

"Madame Corné requests your presence." Francoís hissed, a spark of jealousy in his voice.

Walter sat up and quickly searched the darkness for his jeans. "Gimme me a minute."

He dressed in the darkness and followed the young man from the cabin. He didn't hear the hushed snickers of his three cabin mates behind him.

Francoís drove them from the farm in a little jeep towards a large white house a half a mile away. He escorted Walter through the elegantly decorated home and up a huge spiral staircase. He paused in front of the large double doors and looked pointedly at Walter. "Go on inside. But don't get too comfortable. You'll be forgotten in the morning." With that, the young secretary huffed off towards his own suite as he cast Walter an icy stare over his shoulder.

Rubbing his hands together with glee, Walter knocked lightly on the door and then slowly pushed it open. Inside was a huge bedroom decorated tastefully in white silk and satin.

"Take your shoes off, darling!" Madame Corné called from another closed door on the far side of the room. "The white carpet is murder to keep clean!"

Walter pulled off his work boots and left them by the door. He moved towards the center of the room, gazing in awe at the opulence of it. He was somewhat amused at the dim lighting and the music playing softly in the background.

He smiled to himself. Oh yeah. I still got it.

He hummed along to the music as he plopped himself on the bed and awaited his latest conquest. As if on cue, the bathroom door opened and Madame Corné appeared. Walter's eyes nearly popped out of his head when he got a load of the outfit she wore. A leather bustier with all sorts of silver spikes jutting from it. Black fishnet pantyhose and thigh-high black leather boots. She stood at the door with a smile on her face and a whip in her hand.

"Bonne nuit, Walter." She grinned. She walked stealthily towards him, a lascivious gleam in her beautiful eyes.

"Well, bone nut to you too." Walter drooled.

"I know this is rather sudden." She panted as she propped one spiked heel on the mattress between his legs and wrapped the whip around his neck. "But I was rather taken with you when we met this afternoon."

"Uh, yeah, so was I." Walter heaved as she leaned over and his eyes beheld her ample bosom falling out of her bustier.

Madame Corné pressed a soft kiss to his lips, then roughly jerked him to her. "You don't mind if I'm a little rough, do you?"

"You can use me any way you like, Madame Corné." Walter sputtered as she pushed him back onto the bed.

"Call me Celeste." She insisted.

"Call me whipped." Walter groaned.

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

Walter awoke two hours later with the sweet voice of an angel buzzing in his ear.

"Walter! Walter! Where the f--- are you?"

"Huh? Nikita?" He whispered as he raised his head and looked around in confusion. He swore softly as his sore body recalled the events of the last few hours. He turned his head to see his little dominatrix soundly asleep, her firecracker whip still clutched in her hands.

Yep, I still got it. He grinned to himself.

"Where the hell are you, Walter?" Nikita's voice reverberated through his ear again. He quickly reached up and covered it, then tapped the com unit behind it. He slithered out of bed and crawled on his hands and knees to the far side of the room. Which was all he could do given that his back was ailing him something fierce.

"I'm here." He murmured, looking towards the bed.

"Where?" Nikita asked again.

"In Madame Corné's bedroom." Walter answered sheepishly.

"In her --. Ugh!" Nikita exclaimed quietly.

"Screw you, Sugar! Where are you?"

"In this laboratory next to the grading area." Nikita replied. "I'm not a bomb expert, but it looks like they're getting ready for Armageddon in here."

"Hey, that's my area. Hold your position, I'll be there in a sec."

"You were supposed to be looking for their files, Walter, not pumping the boss for a promotion." Nikita couldn't help but giggle.

"Bite me!" Walter told her as he crawled back towards the bed in search of his clothes. He caught a brief glimpse of his white briefs and made a grab for them. But something else was tugging on his drawers and he froze when he heard the low growl of an angry poodle.

"Nice doggy." Walter whispered as he tried to wrench his briefs from Pierre's sharp little teeth. The poodle backed up and struggled furiously to hold on to them.

"Come on, baby." Walter cooed in a hushed, singsong voice. "We don't want to wake your mommy."

Walter pulled again and winced when he heard a soft rip. "Shit!" He muttered. Pierre held on. Exasperated, Walter gave a mighty heave. "Gimme my drawers, you little furball!"

Hearing the forceful tone in Walter's gravelly voice frightened the pooch and he let go and hopped onto the bed. Walter fell backward and grunted when his head connected sharply with the floor. "Little motherf---er!"

"Walter!" Nikita's voice came over the com unit again. "I think I hear a guard!"

"Coming, Sugar!" Walter told her as he hurriedly dressed, glancing at the bed to make sure Madame Corné was still fast asleep. He could just make out Pierre's tiny body huddled protectively next to her.

He blew his one-time lover a silent kiss and then Walter tiptoed from the room, carrying his work boots in his hand. Downstairs, he ran into a guard who gave him a knowing grin.

"That Madame Corné is something else, huh, old timer?" The guard laughed.

"I'll say." Walter wriggled his brows. " I'll just take my leave now."

His aching muscles protested as Walter happily half-ran, half-limped his way back to the farm. He snuck in undetected and made his way quietly towards the grading area. He found Nikita huddled outside the building, a disgusted look on her face. "Hope you enjoyed yourself while I was nearly getting myself killed!"

"Sorry, Sugar." Walter grinned. "The boss lady got caught up in the Walter charm. I told you Michael was highly overrated."

"Whatever. I located their files and downloaded them to Birkoff. Michael's team is planting explosives now. Let's get to egress."

"Sounds good to me!" Walter chirped as he made to follow her, then stopped dead in his tracks. The mention of Michael's name made him pat his shirt pocket in search of the jewelry box he'd placed there earlier that morning. It was gone. "Oh shit!"

"What?" Nikita turned back to him. "We gotta go now!"

"For the love of God! I'm dead. I'm dead."

"Walter, what's wrong?" Nikita grabbed his shoulders and peered into his face.

Walter stared into her eyes, his life flashing before his eyes. Well, if I die tonight, at least I had a great lay before I faced the Angel of Death.

"Sugar, I promised Michael I wouldn't tell, but I don't think it makes any difference now."

"Promised Michael what?"

"He gave me an engagement ring to keep safe for him.” Walter spilled his guts in a jumble of rushed words. “He was going to propose to you. I couldn't hide it anywhere so I kept it on me. In my shirt pocket. And now it's gone."

Nikita was quiet for a brief moment. Her eyes widened in the darkness and her mouth fell open. Walter watched as her look changed from surprise to angry determination. With the force of a million hopeful, single women guiding her, Nikita shook the living s--- out of Walter.

"WHERE! THE! FUCK! IS! MY! RING!?"

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

"Michael? Have all the explosives been set?" Nikita asked as she and Walter ducked and creeped towards the soaking room.

"Exactly eight minutes. What's going on, Nikita?" Michael's concerned voice sounded in her ear.

"Nothing." Nikita replied as she pushed Walter along. "Just a minor problem. I'll contact you in a moment." She ignored him as she heard Michael calling her name and deactivated the com link.

"Are you sure this is the only place you could have dropped it?"

"Yeah." Walter acknowledged, more frightened of his Sugar's wrath than Michael or bombs going off before they could reach egress. "I remember now. I didn't have it with me when I went to bed. But we gotta hurry, Sugar!"

"You better hope we find that ring." Nikita warned as they entered the darkened room.

"Over there." Walter gestured. "I was working at that vat over there."

Nikita followed him as they climbed the ladder to the top of the vat. They searched around the area of empty crates with a small flashlight but saw nothing.

"Sugar, let's go!" Walter urged. "For Christ's sake, I'll buy you another ring!"

"No! I want the one Michael picked out!" She looked towards the vat. "Could you have maybe dropped it in there?"

Walter eyed the vat with trepidation. "Oh, hell no! I'm not getting in there! It's full of coffee beans, Sugar. If I did drop it in there, you'll never find it."

"Ni-ki-ta." Michael's voice came over the com unit again. "Five minutes to egress."

"Here." Nikita shoved her Uzi and the flashlight at him. Walter watched in horror as she lowered herself into the vat full of soaking coffee beans. She took a deep breath and dove under. Walter uttered a fervent prayer and nearly jumped out of his skin when she surfaced a few seconds later.

"Sugar, forget the ring!" He called to her.

"SCREW YOU OLD MAN!" She yelled as she dove again.

"Three minutes to egress." Michael warned. "Ni-ki-ta? Walter?"

A few seconds later, Nikita emerged, gasping for air and holding up the little box triumphantly. "I got it! I got it!"

"Thank God!" Walter leaned over and reached out his hand. "Come on, Sugar."

Nikita held tightly to the little box as Walter pulled on her arm. She felt something tugging on her pants and she tried to jerk free. "Oh shit, Walter! I'm stuck!"

"Well pull yourself free!" He shouted.

"I can't!" Nikita whined as she twitched and flailed in the vat of beans. "I'm really stuck on something!"

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Walter muttered as he dropped the gun and the flashlight and lowered himself in the vat. The water was fairly warm and coffee beans slid into his clothing as he pressed himself against Nikita and wrapped his arms around her back. "Hold still!"

Nikita wrapped her legs around his waist and Walter grunted as her breasts pushed up against his chest. "Are those coffee beans in your bra or are you happy to see me?"

"This is no time to joke, Walter!"

Walter sighed at not being able to enjoy himself. All this time hoping for a situation like this and they were in danger of getting blown to pieces.

"Hurry!" Nikita clung to him, her warm body rubbing against his as she leaned forward to allow him access to her jacket.

Walter huffed and puffed as he tried to free the fabric caught on a protruding piece of metal. He pulled with a mighty heave and the fabric gave way.

"Two minutes to egress."

"Oh shit!" He yelled as they pulled themselves up from the vat. Nikita grabbed up her gun and she raced after Walter towards the egress point. They were met by other operatives on the way. As she ran, Nikita kept her hand over her breast where the ring was tucked safely in her bra. They all clamored into the black mission van and Nikita and Walter collapsed in a soggy heap at Michael's booted feet.

He looked down at the heavily panting and dripping wet duo with a blank stare. "Go."

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

Walter whistled happily as he doled out equipment to Davenport's team. He punctuated his actions with an occasional 'Good luck' or 'Have a safe trip'. Every one eyed him strangely, amazed at the sudden transformation. Whatever had reawakened his good spirits, they were grateful. They tentatively returned his winks and smiles as they headed for van access.

Birkoff made his way to Walter's workstation, a question in his eyes. He pushed up his glasses as he stopped next to the workstation. "Hey, Walter."

"Hey there, buddy!" Walter slapped him on the back and gave him a vice-like half hug. "How's your morning going?"

"Okay. Not as good as yours apparently. What happened to you?"

Walter grinned as he began tinkering with a timing device. "Oh, just had a little French tart and some Sugar with my coffee."

THE END

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