(Thud) "Stop it Jake!" Nikita laughed "I told you no more!" Michael opened the door to see Nikita being held against the wall by another operative. Curious he stepped closer. Jake's head was blocking Nikita's view of Michael, and he heard her say ...

"Be good, and I'll give you more tonight."

Jake began laughing.

Michael interrupted startling the operatives who immediately let go of each other and stood up straighter. Nikita was tucking in her shirt.

"Everything okay?" he asked taking in the general disarray of both operatives.

"Yep!" Nikita said while walking away.

Michael followed her with his eyes then turned to stare coldly at Jake. Jake too was following Nikita with his eyes. He had a smile on his face when she turned over her shoulder and waved at him. He waved back. When he caught Michael's angry glare, he returned it coldly and walked away.

Michael stood there pondering what had just happened. He looked at Jake's retreating figure and Nikita at the com center joking with Birkoff. He returned to his office. Nikita and he were going on a mission together so he had a good excuse when he called her into his office.

They went over the plans carefully together. Nikita seemed no different then before. Ordinarily she would have flaunted her social life to him, and the fact that she wasn't now disturbed him deeply.

Casually he asked if she thought Jake would be a good addition to the mission. It didn't quite come out as nonchalantly as he had hoped.

Nikita eyed him carefully and then looked back at the file she was holding. " No, Michael, I think we have everything we need for this mission."

She glanced up at him again. He seemed to be in one those funks where his face was expressionless, but one could tell his mind was going 90 miles an hour.

"You know, Nikita, " he began slowly hardly looking at her, "we will be acting as a couple again , and I thought..."

"We've played husband and wife before," she said standing up eyeing him evenly, " I don't think we have anything more to discuss." She turned to leave.

"Nikita, " he hated himself for asking, but convinced himself he had to know, "What's going on between you and Jake?"

"It won't interfere with the mission, Michael ." she said without turning around. She left when she realized he would not press the issue any further.

Michael got up and went to see Madeline.

"I think we need to put a tail on Nikita" he said.

"Why? Has something happened?" Madeline studied him and then motioned for him to sit.

He shook his head both to answer her and to decline the offered seat.

"Has Nikita done something wrong?" Madeline pressed sensing his discomfort coming up with a plausible reason for surveillance.

Again he shook his head and refused to engage eye contact.

Madeline gave a knowing nod. She sat down eyeing him like a prowess.

"You can't waste surveillance on Nikita every time she gets a boyfriend, Michael"

Michael finally looked at her (frowning) then looked away again. "It could interfere with this mission."

"In what way?" she opened her eyes wider almost enjoying his discomfort.

He looked down.

"Nikita cares for you, Michael. I just doubt she would intentionally hurt you."

He nodded and turned to go.

Madeline stood and with her back facing Michael. "Michael," he stopped in the doorway "...Nikita cannot read your mind nor can she tell you what your heart is saying. "

He left. In the hallway he saw Jake flirting with another operative in the hallway and seethed.

"Jake" he called

Jake turned seeing Michael; he snorted and started to walk away. Michael held his shoulder.

Jake turned, his eyes flashing warning. "I'm not your student, Michael!"

"No, but Nikita is, and I have a right to know what's going on between you." He said returning the stare.

Jake laughed aloud, then stepped nose to nose with Michael. "If it doesn't concern the mission, then it doesn't concern you. Leave it alone!!" His eyes matched, perhaps even outdid Michael's coldness.

Inwardly Michael was taken aback by the coldness he saw in those eyes. How could Nikita go for a guy like this? His face gave nothing away.

"Hey, how's my two favorite men?" Nikita had witnessed the confrontation from across the hall. She wrapped an arm through each of theirs trying to lighten the mood.

Jake immediately warmed, kissing Nikita on the cheek, smirking at Michael then leaving. Michael stayed cold. He disengaged Nikita's arm from his and spat "Let's go!!"

**********

Michael and Nikita were in a cab, supposedly husband and wife, on their way to meet their contact Basile. Nikita reached to hold Michael's hand, but he sullenly removed it and continued to look out the window.

"Michael" she said urgently.

He turned to her his eyes coldly staring through her. The driver saw the exchange and looking in his rearview mirror he asked "Everything okay?" He seemed uncomfortable with Michael's brooding attitude.

"No, everything's not okay!" Michael's voice was angry, and he continued to stare vacantly out the window.

Nikita stared unbelievingly at him. Was he deliberately trying to screw things up she wondered. She kept looking at him trying to read his blank face, trying to pick up the clue that she must be missing. Not knowing what to say, she again tried to soothe him. She put a hand on his shoulder.

He grabbed it so hard she let a small "Oww!" She hated herself for vocalizing her pain, but after he released her hand she could see a bruise developing. She tilted her head down shaking it unsure of what to do next. She turned towards him. He looked at her sending arrows with his eyes.

Why am I the subject of all this anger she asked herself. His behavior was definitely not part of the profile Madeline put together.

She leaned over to him and whispered "I don't understand" she looked imploringly at him begging him with her eyes for a reason for this outrage.

"Jake" he said it so quietly she barely heard it.

"Jake?!!" she practically keeled over in her seat. She sat back biting her nails and stealing a glance at him. She bit her bottom lip and pondered the one word Michael had directed towards her since they'd started.

She noticed the limo was slowing. It stopped near a curb. The driver opened Nikita's door.

She attempted a smile, "Are we there?" she asked sweetly.

The driver shook his head and tilted his head in Michael's direction "I think we will have to arrange another meeting when you don't have so many problems to resolve."

"Problems," Nikita protested, "There's no problem."

The driver leaned in close to her and whispered, "It's okay, sweetie, if I had a looker like you for a wife, I'd be jealous too." He chuckled under his breath and let his hand linger longer than necessary while helping Nikita out of the car.

She withdrew her hand and managed a weak smile hoping she had achieved a kind face, because inwardly she was raging. She thanked him, apologized for her "husband" and assured him they would work things out.

"I'll give you guys 24 hours, and then if things aren't better," he said looking at Michael's pacing figure, "we will look elsewhere for a buyer."

Nikita nodded and walked slowly to the curb where Michael was pacing. She turned and waved at the limo as it pulled away. Her smile lingered even after she could no longer see the vehicle.

She turned to look at Michael. He paused and looked up at her and stood still a few feet away from her. She closed the distance between them and looked at him defiantly.

"What were you trying to do, Michael? Get us both killed!" her face was contorted with anger and confusion.

Michael continued to look between her left shoulder and the sky.

She decided she didn't want to even try to talk this out now. From the looks of it, he wasn't going to own up to anything. She suddenly felt very tired, and she walked away leaving Michael standing there by himself.

She took her time getting back, knowing they were not expected. But when she entered the Section, Ops was there at the door waiting for her.

She contained her surprise and attempted a weak greeting.

"What happened?" he demanded.

Not expecting this sudden onslaught, she stammered for something to say and ended up just asking, "Where's Michael?"

"Michael is no concern of your right now!" he shouted at her inches from her face, his face ablaze with anger.

"All right" she sighed rolling her eyes "I'll tell you!"

She looked him straight in the eyes and calmly weaved her story. "They felt the meeting was premature and wanted to meet in 24 hours. The virus wasn't ready, and they didn't want to risk losing out on our money." Her voice never wavered. Her eyes seemed to convince him her story was true. He looked at her searching every aspect of her face.

"Can I go home?" she asked

He continued to stare at her for what seemed forever and then turned his head to the left and nodded. "Just be ready" he turned back to look at her once more.

She nodded. Just as she got home her telephone started ringing.

"Josephine" the voice was Michael's. "I need you!"

***********

Back at the Section, Briefing room.

Nikita is sitting next to Michael. Both are obviously upset and avoiding eye contact with each other. Ops seems oblivious to the undercurrent of emotions within the two operatives. He tells them of the phone call, and the meeting time. He tells them they can go. As they rise and exit the room. He calls out after them.

"This time, Michael, you will behave yourself." Ops threatened. Michael and Nikita turned around. Michael looked accusingly at Nikita. She held his gaze briefly then turned to walk out.

Let him think that I ratted on him. What do I care? He did screw things up, and all because of Jake. Even as she pondered the whole situation, it just seemed stupid.

"Nikita," Ops stopped her with his voice, she turned to face him with a sullen look. "Next time, don't cover up for your "husband." His eyes look semi-amused as he saw Michael turn and look at Nikita.

Nikita glanced briefly at Michael whose eyes had managed to register something close to shock, but then one never knew. She rolled her eyes and walked briskly out of the room.

Michael caught up with her and grabbed her arm turning her toward him and bringing her close to himself.

"I don't need you covering up for me, Nikita." He was very close to her. She could feel his breath on her cheek, and she knew we could feel hers. His eyes were full of concern. "Did you hear me?"

Gee, it's hard not too with you in my face she thought.

Instead, she bit her bottom lip, freed her arm, and tilted her head back "That's right," her voice dripping with sarcasm "I keep forgetting you don't need anyone. Do you Michael?" She couldn't hide the intense anger she felt at this moment. She didn't care if she hurt him. In fact, that was what she wanted.

Michael took a step back, his eyes still holding hers. His eyes looked somewhat watery. He put the back of his hand to his lips. He looked as if he were going to say something, but something caught his eye behind her. His expression went blank. He turned and left.

Nikita looked behind her and saw Jake. His eyes were on Michael as he strode to his office. His gaze shifted to her and his eyes questioned her. He raised his eyebrow, shook his head and left.

Nikita dropped her head shaking it. I just can't do anything right!

A few hours later, A van was taking Michael and Nikita to the drop-off point. Michael was still barely looking at her. Birkoff's voice was heard through their com sets " Okay guys, five minutes"

"Five minutes." She said aloud. She looked at him. Her face drawn.

"What do ya say, Michael, surely we're not in for a repeat performance of "Bob" the wife brutalizer." The sarcasm is her voice was her only shield. Her eyes denied that that was how she truly felt.

He returned her gaze and got up to sit next to her. Taking her hand in his, he rubbed the bruise he had inflicted. Too much of a reminder of past events, she withdrew her hand and addressed the subject neither of them had talked about yet.

"Jake, doesn't mean anything to me, Michael. I ..."

He interrupted her looking away, "I know better, Nikita."

She raised her eyebrows and tried to repeat herself. He raised her hand to his lips kissing them as the van slowed. "Let's go!"

They emerged holding hands appearing happy, but both knew enough to see that smiles for both of them were forced.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, and whispered in her ear.

***********

Nikita and Michael make contact and all goes well. After picking up the vial of radical coccimiodysosis a Level V virus, they pay the contact. Nikita places a tracker under the limo when she drops her glove; the briefcase of money contains a tracker as well.

Back at the Section they assemble a team to take down the bio-lab and get back the money. Eight operatives are chosen ...

"Jake, what are you doing here?" Nikita asked somewhat shocked that he was on a mission with her.

"Same as you, darling, I'm sure." He smiled at her and winked and both turned their attention to Operations as he explained the tactical procedures. Nikita could feel Michael's eyes burning a hole in her, but she refused to even glance his way. She purposely set her hand on the desk very close to Jake's and let her pinkie finger stroke his wrist ever so slightly before raising her hand to her face. She felt Jake's leg brush against hers, and she almost had to laugh. She returned her mind to the mission at hand.

At the plant, operatives took out various guards and were securing the perimeter. Nikita, Michael, and Jake searched for the serum lab. Not a word passed between them as they covered each other moving like one smooth unit; one body united in its mission checking each crevice of the building.

As they approach the south wing of the building, they hear a humming noise in the far room. They all freeze. Nikita and Jake look at Micahel. Michael motions Nikita to move to point. She starts to move, but Jake holds her back. He shakes his head furiously and points to himself. Michael stands up straight, lowers his gun, takes Nikita's other arm and pulls her in front of him all the while glaring over her at Jake. Jake lets go of Nikita's arm, and she moves into position, and is ready to move when the door suddenly opens.

Three men standing with machine guns send a spray of bullets over the operatives as they drop to the ground. Nikita rolls over takes out two of the guards, and Michael takes out the other one. Nikita stood slowly making her way into the room. She turns as she clears the doorway. Michael is leaning against the wall, and Jake is checking the bodies. She moves forward taking out another man as she enters the room.

She secures the room, and Jake joins her. They find set explosives around the room. And set a charge to go off in 10 minutes.

"Where's Michael?" Nikita asked suddenly aware that he wasn't with them any more.

Jake shrugged and scurried out of the room. "Let's go, Nikita! Michael can take care of himself!"

Nikita followed, ignoring Jake's advice she looked for Michael on her way out. She saw him leaning over a table near a doorway, holding his chest. She ran to him.

"Michael?" she said gently kneeling beside him. He had this shocked expression on his face like he couldn't believe he had gotten shot. Nikita gently took his hands off the wound surveyed the wound, bit her lip, then looked into his eyes.

He closed his eyes after seeing her face "Not good?" he started to laugh.

Nikita looked puzzled and then concerned. "Can you walk?"

He nodded, but as he stood she could not support his weight. He was swaying and muttering incoherently.

Just then Jake came running back and took in Michael's condition. He saw Nikita struggling to support Michael's weight. He saw desperation in her eyes. He paused, part of him wishing to help and the other part, ....well. She looked up and saw him. She didn't say it, but he knew from her eyes she was begging him to help her.

Without a word he took Michael's other arm and carried him fireman's style out of the building. By this time, Michael had passed out.

**********

Michael had extensive surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his sternum.

1 Centimeter to the left and you could have died - the words of the surgeon kept ringing in his ears. Part of him wished that he had died.

He had been in here three days as far as he could remember, and no one had come to visit him. No one except... Birkoff who dropped of a computer magazine for Michael to pass time with. Madeline visited to check "how he was feeling," and he was sure she wasn't talking about his health. Ops even dropped by , but only for a debriefing about the incident. Point was he thought Nikita hasn't visited.

At that very moment, the door opened and Michael was surprised to see Jake enter.

Jake didn't say anything at first. He just threw a neon wire flower to Michael. Michael caught it and stared at it, taking in its exquisite shape.

"Nikki sent it," Jake volunteered "It took her a while and a lot of kissing to convince me to bring it, but here I am." He smiled, appreciating Michael's stoic look. Jake knew inside Michael was raging. He could tell by the way Michael's jaw tightened.

Jake sat down in the bedside chair taunting Michael with his eyes. "Nikita and I have been very busy lately, otherwise she would have dropped by sooner." Jake took no measure to hide the meaning of his words. He knew full well the way that Michael would take the cryptic message

Michael's face remained expressionless. He was carefully tracing the shape of the flower. In his mind thinking of Nikita making it. He heard Jake, but chose not to respond on any level to him.

Jake got up and stood at the foot of Michael's bed. "She doesn't care about you, Micahel"

Michael looked up at him briefly then returned his gaze to the flower, She does care he thought.

"You know, Michael, I don't know what I like more about the way Nikki kisses the passion or the vulnerability." He studied Michael's face as he spoke.

Michael's eyes flashed momentary anger, and he clenched one of his fists

"She's really got great skin too don't you think? Who would think that skin could be so soft." Jake was really enjoying tormenting Michael.

Michael had had about enough. He was close to killing Jake, and he had the power to do it. Instead with enormous control he lifted the flower, "Tell Nikita that I said 'Thank you'" His eyes met Jake's evenly.

Jake smiled an evil smile of triumph, the door behind him opened and in walked Nikita. His demeanor quickly changed and he smiled at Michael and then at Nikita.

"Hope to see ya back in action soon, guy!" He kissed Nikita on the cheek and then turned to leave. Michael only lifted his chin to acknowledge Jake.

Nikita could sense something was wrong judging by Michael's stony gaze and clenched fists.

"There's my flower, " Nikita said picking it up off his lap. "I was looking for that. I wanted to give it to you. How did you get it?"

He looked at her with blank eyes, seeming to be unsure if she was telling the truth. "Jake" he said then averted his eyes to the door

Nikita followed his eyes to the door, and the she sat on the side of the bed. "Listen, Michael, I wanted to stop by, but Jake has been keeping me pretty busy..."

He closed his eyes, wincing as if her words were poison. He turned his head. "I'm tired" he interrupted, "Would you mind leaving?"

Nikita gulped and wrinkled her eyebrows. She slowly got off the side of the bed dropping the flower on the sheets beside him.

"Of course not," she tried to sound cheerful, "but Michael about Jake.."

He opened his eyes, but remained turned away from her.

"Later, Nikita" he stopped her again. Her shoulders slumped. She rolled her eyes. Thanks , Nikita, I really appreciate you saving my bacon, however can I repay you, she thought. She snorted Sure, no problem she answered him in her mind.

When he heard the door close and her echoing footsteps outside, he sat up in bed. He ripped out his IV, unplugged the monitors and got dressed.

**********

The next day, Nikita stopped by Michael's hospital room before a debriefing.

She walked into the room, saying as she entered "Listen, Michael.." she surveyed the room. Only a startled nurse look up from unplugging the wall suction.

Nikita surveyed the room, nothing of Michael remained. Then she saw it, her wire flower on the bed. A lump rose in her throat.

The nurse continued with her duties hardly acknowledging Nikita's presence.

"Where is he?" Nikita looked towards the nurse.

The nurse shrugged whether from indifference or ignorance, Nikita couldn't tell.

She signed deeply, then turned to leave. As she exited, she met Jake directly outside the door.

"Thought that I might find you here," he said taking her hand. His face was smiling, but his voice held something different.

"Ohh?" she said absently still concerned about Michael. She slipped her flower in her jacket pocket and managed a weak smile. "Thanks for dinner last night."

"I was just a little disappointed in dessert, though, Nikita." He said as he pushed her gently to the wall kissing her. Her response was weak. He stepped back looking at her. She avoided his eyes and she seemed very distant.

"You know Michael and I had an interesting talk yesterday about you," she looked at him suspiciously.

She stifled her initial response, and only raised her eyebrows to him.

"Yeah, he said that he had seduced you once, he really highlighted the fact that he felt nothing but pity for you afterwards. In fact, he mentioned that he found the whole thing rather humorous." His eyes never left her face.

She dropped her head, her eyes watering from anger. "I gotta go" she said weakly pushing back his arm that barred her way.

He caught her hand and kissed it briefly bringing to his lips. Then allowed her to leave. He watched as her hand went to her hair subconsciously twiddling it her eyes roaming. He knew she was deep in thought, and he congratulated himself on painting a very poor picture of Michael for her. He smiled and then left.

Nikita was thinking about what Jake had said. She was seething at Michael. How could he, How could he tell Jake! She imagined how the conversation might have went and physically shuddered. "I wish you dead, Michael," she said under her breath.

Three days later, Nikita returned from a mission worn out and tired , her arms ached. Jake and she had been on eight consecutive missions now and she knew all she needed to know about him. Her mission was complete. That evening, she had met with Ops giving him the incriminating evidence against Jake. Madeline had convinced her to continue her relationship with Jake until he was canceled.

She had every intention of complying, but tonight she had to rest. She had been up 48 hours straight and she was ready to sleep.

This covert assignment with Jake had not been bad. She wasn't really attached to him. Hey and the physical part had been great. She needed the care and attention he gave her. In a way, she thought, she would miss him.

She arrived at her apartment and slumped on her bed. Wearily she took off her shoes, and fell back too weary to take off the rest of her clothes.

She had just started to sleep when she heard, "Nikita."

*********

"Nikita!" the voice said softly.

She sat bolt up right. "How did you get in here?" she asked but knew the answer by looking at him.

"You know I have a key" his voice chiding her. His voice sent shivers up her spine, but she felt hot at the same time. Her heart was pounding in her throat. She had never seen him like this before.

"Why are you here?" she asked bravely lifting her chin and giving her most defiant look.

He looked her up and down, "Let's just say, I don't like the way you have been treating me lately. I know your tricks, Nikita and they won't work." He walked slowly around the bed waving his gun in the air.

"I don't know what you mean," she said looking for any opportunity to attack. She stood up slowly.

"I think you do, Nikita. Don't try to stop me with your pathetic feminine vulnerability. It won't work. We work together, remember? His voice purred, "Now, SIT DOWN!" he roared.

She sat down looking around for anything to use as a weapon.

"You're right of course, I do plan to kill you." He said it so frankly, so uncaring.

She looked at him calmly and sarcastically replied, "Gee, and I thought you loved me."

Her plan worked, his face became outraged, he hit her with the gun, and as he did she grabbed his arm. They fell back on her bed struggling with each other.

"You never loved me," he accused "You lied!"

"I tried.." at that very moment he overpowered her. He outweighed her by 50 pounds and he had the advantage. He restrained her.

Her chin was trembling and he held her down with his weight as he reached for his gun. She refused to beg. And try as she might, she could not lift her body from under his.

"Nikita, darling," he said sweetly, "my only regret is that we never made love."

She spat up at him. He laughed at her. "The thought of making love to you makes me ill" she hissed.

He backhanded her, she licked the blood from her lips her eyes frantically searching the room.

"Your one weakness, Nikita is why you are her now. The eyes Nikita, I could always tell what you were truly feeling by looking into those wonderful eyes of yours."

She let out a small sob. And choked back another.

He cocked the gun, "Good-bye, Nikita!"

***********

Nikita felt her body tense and she braced herself for the shot.

Instead she felt Jake's heavy body fall across hers. It took her breath away. She rolled from underneath him and saw Michael standing there.

She stood weakly to her feet, hating herself for crying, but the whole ordeal had been awful. Pretending. Deceiving. Manipulating. She hated it.

She looked back at Jake, still crying. She hated what she had become.

Michael comforted her. He hugged her awkwardly. Not sure if she was crying because Jake was dead or what.

"How did you know?" she mumbled into his shoulder.

"Didn't" he pulled her back his eyes very sad looking into hers. She looked at him briefly, embarrassed that she was still crying she turned away. Wiping her nose with the back of her hand. She turned to look at Jake's dead body and started crying even harder. She had no idea why.

"Then.." she sniffled, "Why are you here?"

he turned his head slightly a twinkle in his eyes. "I came to get the flower. The nurse said you picked it up."

She let out small nervous laugh still hugging herself and shivering. She looked at him and then picked up her jacket and gave removed the flower.

She held it up looking at it, turned to Micahel and smiled. She handed it to him.

He wiped one of the tears from her face. She stiffened. He noticed her response and looked down.

"Thank you, Nikita, for the flower."

"Thank YOU, Michael." She hugged him briefly.

She walked out of her room and to her kitchen. She fixed herself a drink and motioned for Michael to help himself. He just sat across from her taking in her shaking hands and tear-stained face as she hurriedly drank the liquid.

She let out a sigh of contentment as the fluid warmed her body. Then she looked over at him. This was the first time he had been in her apartment since he had tried to seduce her.

Michael saw her look and understood what she was thinking. "Do you want me to go?" he offered hoping inwardly that he would be allowed to stay.

"No, I need someone to talk to, if you don't mind." She wished it wasn't him that she had to talk to , but he would do.

He nodded and leaned forward as if to say "I'm listening" She tilted her head downward not knowing where to begin.

He waited patiently watching her struggle with her emotions.

"Jake was a double agent, Michael" she started enjoying his look of shock.

"You mean..." his lightened with understanding.

"I guess not only bad guys go for knock-out blondes," her laugh was nervous. And her eyes kept darting around. This had been difficult for her on every level. It was the first time she had done something of this magnitude.

Michael nodded.

"He was to be canceled; I had already given the information to Madeline and Ops, it was just a matter of time." She continued gaining strength.

"Did you love him?" Michael asked.

She looked at him, but his face and eyes held nothing.

She shook her head back and forth and snorted "Not hardly!" she seemed amused by the very idea.

"Could have fooled me," he said looking towards the bedroom.

"Good," she said with a smile, "It's nice to be able to deceive you for once."

"Did you.." he searched for the words to say.

She widened her eyes, "Did I sleep with him? Is that what you're asking?"

He looked at her. She looked at him. Neither gave anything away with their eyes.

"Did you tell him about trying to seduce me?" she asked her eyes fiery.

A look of disbelief flickered across his face. He got up and walked over to sit by her. She held her ground. He sat down slowly as if testing the waters of how close he could get to her.

"Is that what Jake told you?" he asked his eyes gently covering her face. His gaze loving her where his hands could not.

She stood up unable to take this amount of closeness. He had saved her life, but her heart had not yet sufficiently recovered from his former betrayal.

"I suppose, we should let Section know what went on here," she said with her back to him .

He nodded. She couldn't see it, but she picked up the phone turned and looked back at him.

***********

The phone had no dial tone. She hung it up loudly disgusted. All her fear was turning into anger now. She was mad that she hadn't seen Jake's attack coming, mad that she had had to deceive Michael, and even madder that Michael had been the one to save her.

"Dead." She said disgusted, shaking her head. She walked into her kitchen opened her drawer. Her cell phone lay in pieces. She slammed the drawer shut.

"He broke my phone" she said more to herself than to Michael who hadn't taken his eyes off her.

"Let's get out of here" Michael said standing and walking within comfortable distance of her.

She stood there scowling, shaking her head.

"I don't want to go anywhere" she said. She threw the glass she had been drinking out of against the wall. Red liquid spilled down the wall and broken glass covered the floor beneath. Michael didn't even jump.

She was trembling now. So many emotions were flooding her. She kept trying to calm herself down. Suddenly, she wanted very much to leave this apartment. She stalked over to her coat closet, opened the door fiercely and grabbed one of her coats. She exited her apartment without even looking back at Michael.

She swung her coat around her as she entered the outside air, her breathing was heavy, and more tears started to fall down her face. She looked around out of habit. Michael had caught up with her.

"Nikita?" his voice penetrated her thoughts. Even through her coat he could see her body was rigid, and he could here her ragged breathing.

She turned her head toward his voice, but did not engage eye contact.

"I'm..." she hesitated "I'm fine, Michael." She said, trying to control her shaking voice. She moved her shoulders up and down and kicked the sidewalk with her shoe. "I've got to get out of here." She said absently looking around the courtyard. "Please don't follow me." She said looking at him briefly.

"You shouldn't be alone." Michael said softly his eyes creasing with concern.

She didn't respond to him. She just stuffed her hands in her coat pocket and started walking away.

He stared at her debating as to whether he should follow her.

She looked behind her and saw Michael standing in the street. She saw him turn around. She sighed grateful. She walked for miles before coming to the a beautiful inlet overseeing the ocean. She climbed into a tree overseeing the views. She felt the cool breeze gently erasing her tears. The salty air adding its salt to her tears. The lulling waves gave her peace. She fell asleep in the arms of her tree.

When she awoke a few hours later, dawn was just breaking. She stretched her tired muscles and tried unsuccessfully to work out a cramp in her neck. Serves me right for sleeping in a tree she thought ruefully.

The previous hour's events came flooding back to her mind. But it was time to get back to Section reality. Time to take care of business. She climbed slowly out of the tree. As her feet hit the ground she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around quickly - ready to defend herself.

She sighed loudly when she saw Michael standing there with a concerned looked.

"God, Michael, you scared me half to death." She said avoiding eye contact and wrinkling her forehead.

"Sorry."

"Have you been here all night?" she asked briefly looking up to catch his response.

He nodded.

She lifted her chin to acknowledge his response. She managed a weak smile.

He reached his hand out and laid it on her shoulder. She fell into his arms hugging him tightly, desperately.

"I'm so glad you were there. You're always there when I need you, Michael whether you mean to be or not."

He held her tightly and stroked her hair lightly with his left hand.

"I'm glad I was there too." He whispered into her hair. "Let's go!"

"Where are we going?" she said finally letting him go and wrapping her arms around her.

He smiled and raised his eyebrows, winking at her.

The End

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