note: Most of this story is set during Nikita's first winter in Section. She is a new
operative and in training.
written by Fluffles
Weather reports warned of heavy winds and drifting snow. They were supposed to get between 12 and 20 inches of snow overnight and that only added on to the 10 they already had. It was bitter cold and the city was a ghost town. The wind was the worst. Nikita squinted her eyes against the painful bite of the wind on her face.She tromped through the snow across the lot to her apartment building.All she had on was some thin pants a sweater and her raggedy jean jacket. She stuffed her hands into her pockets and continued to the door.
Once in, she stomped and shook the snow from herself. She smelled something wonderful, chicken or meat of some sort. Her neighbors were really good cooks she decided. Their dinners always smelled so good. She quickly ran up the stairs to her apartment. She was hungry.
Upon reaching her refrigerator she searched through its scarce contents. She found a bottle of water, a bag of week-old salad mix, a bottle of ranch dressing, a tub of butter, and a leftover hamburger from yesterday.
She grabbed the burger and threw it in her microwave, then she tossed the salad into the trash. She exited the kitchen to go change and wait on her "dinner" to heat up.
When Nikita returned she was wearing a log sweatshirt and a pair of men's tube socks. She had cranked the heat up and settled on the windowsill to eat and watch the snow fall.
Section was down through the weekend. No missions,unless emergency would leave out of the local substation until the weather broke. Nikita was thankful she was not out on a mission and unable to come home.
All airports were closed and the interstate,too. Nikita shivered as she heard a gust of wind push against her window. She remembered winters on the street and how awful they were.
Nikita heard a knock at her door and stood. She wrapped her blanket around her and walked to the door with it trailing behind her.
It was Michael. Why was he here? She sighed and reluctantly opened the door.
"May I come in?"
"Sure." she walked away leaving the door open for him. She heard the rustling of paper bags. Michael was carrying in grocery bags.
"I thought you might get hungry this week." he stated with a slight tinge of sarcasm.
"Oh." Nikita smiled faintly.
Michael opened her refrigerator door and grimaced. He gave her a scolding look. "Its worse than I thought."
Nikita began to examine the bags. She made pointless conversation as he finished stocking her fridge and pantry.
"Wow... you know I will never eat all of that." she smiled.
Michael just smiled back at her. He was drawn to this woman somehow. Her personality, her friendship, her..... innocence? Whatever the reason he unwillingly trusted her.
At first she had annoyed him with her presence. Section had tried religiously for three months to "replace" Simone. They discovered after it was too late that he performed his best with a partner. He had been cold and cruel to his material, he had few friends. The thing that he could not get past on Nikita was her determination. All throughout her training he could beat her down mentally and physically, and she would still smile and wave to Walter or Birkoff on her way out.Not only did she impress him with her unbeatable spirit, but she kept coming back for more. He had to know this woman, she was different... special.
"What is this?" Nikita asked interrupting his reverie. She pulled a pair of sweats and a toothbrush out of one of the bags.
"Ah...." Michael retrieved the items and placed them back into the bag "well, with your permission I would like to stay here tonight... or at least until the storm passes."
Nikita studied him a moment. "Do you really think it is going to get that bad?" she pulled her blanket tighter around herself. She walked to the window and peered out. She could not even see the building next to hers. She looked back to Michael.
"Our winters are always bad. I feared you would not know what to expect... be unprepared. I knew if I even made it here I would be stuck. I apologize... but f you would lend me your couch I....."
"Of course." she interrupted "Of course you can stay here." she paused "thank you for bringing me food... I never expected this." She looked out the window again.
"I guess we should review survival methods?" he began to grin.
"No thanks!" Nikita laughed.
That evening Nikita and Michael had been fairly untalkative. Thinking intensely about one another, but occupying their time watching TV and weather reports. Michael laid on one couch while Nikita curled up on the other. It was beginning to get dark outside.
Suddenly there was a loud bang from outside and the lights went out. Michael and Nikita found themselves both holding a defensive stance with guns aimed out the window. After learning a transformer had blown due to the weight of the snow they relaxed. They noticed each other's startled appearance and began to laugh.
"I suppose we are both a little edgy." Michael admitted.
Nikita kept laughing but her laughter faded then slowly stopped. "Michael without power I have no heat."
Michael stopped laughing and rubbed his chin. "Well, lets light these candles."
Nikita helped him then sat on the couch. "It's getting colder." she rubbed her arms.
"Why don't you go on to bed. You can bundle up and get warm."
She looked at him a moment then stood and moved the coffee table. She threw the cushions off of the overstuffed couch and pulled out the king sized bed out of it . Michael watched her deft to help as she threw blankets and pillows onto the makeshift bed. She dove into the linens and bundled up, spreading out the layers. "Michael please don't take this the wrong way, but I had rather be down here with you. I am a little spooked and want the company... not only that, but it is colder up there. See there is plenty of room for both of us here." She persuaded him into bed.
Michael knew she was being honest, not seductive. How could anyone be seductive in a Section-issued sweatshirt and a pair of men's tube socks? He told himself that,but the fact is he was attracted to her naiveté. She had a certain innocence about her.
He slid into her mountain of blankets and they settled down. They spoke a little about trivial things, some about training, but all in all they were glad to be there together.
After the candles had burned out, and Nikita was asleep, Michael laid and watched her. He could see her breath. It was really cold now. He could hear the men working outside on the electricity dilemma. He hoped there would be heat soon.
Nikita rolled over against him. She was still wrapped in blankets, but he instantly felt the heat she provided.
" 'Kita...." he whispered " 'Kita wake up a minute" She opened her eyes, she hadn't been sleeping too soundly... too much on her mind. That name? What had he called her? She raised up slightly.
Michael tugged at the quilt and pulled it free from beneath her and placed it over them both. They instantly felt the heat that the other's body provided. Nikita scooted closer, but turned her back to him.
"You are right this is better." she said.
"May I?" Michael asked as he laid his arm under her pillow and under her neck. He placed his other arm over her hip.
Michael felt not only physical warmth when she accepted his actions, but also emotional warmth. He had been without... love... or caring of any sort for what seemed like years. This woman offered him that freely. That thought both ignited a ferocious love for her and scared him away all the same. This would be a difficult life for her to accept. He pulled her closer and rested his forehead against her shoulder. This was going to be a hard life for him as well.
Sensing his moment of need, Nikita squeezed his hand. "Thank you for being here with me..."
"Goodnight Kita."
"Goodnight," she answered to her new nickname with a smile before returning to sleep.
Nikita smiled remembering that night so long ago. How he had needed her so. She watched the snow blow from her windowsill.
"He still needs me'' she thought.
A gentle knock at the door woke her from her daydream. She had not been the only one thinking of that night. Nikita smiled.
The End
written by Fluffles
©1999 La Femme Fiction
people
have read this fic since May 1st, 1999