written by Tammy
Chapter 15
Raymond had made his final decision. He was going to find a way to make her think that Taylor had killed Michael. It would have a chilling and shattering effect on her. He hoped that she would not come to in a very violent manner. The possibility of that was very strong. She had been still for the past couple of hours. He had been unable to feel anything from her. Raymond took that as a sign of contentment. And that she felt safe again.
Closing his eyes, he concentrated on the image of the cabin's interior that he had gotten from Madeline. Then he inserted the image of Taylor, once again compliments of Madeline. He imagined Taylor walking around the cabin. Opening doors and drawers, picking up objects and moving them. Then he envisioned Michael coming down the wrought iron stairs with Nikita behind him. Taylor turned gun in hand and fired once. Michael was hit once in the chest and fell backwards into Nikita's arms.
Then he stopped and intentionally blanked his mind, shutting down all thoughts. He replayed the scene again in his head and then again and again. Raymond had no idea how this was going to out on her end. He wasn't even sure if he was getting through to her. But it didn't squelch his effort. Tonight she was coming out of it. One way or another.
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
Michael carefully went down the list of incoming and outgoing communications of Madeline's that Birkoff had sent him. So far, he had been able to match each with a legitimate operative location or other source. Though he had told himself this could take a while, he could not help but be disappointed. He had hoped that Madeline would try and contact Claude right away. So far nothing.
But he wasn't about to give up. Even if Nikita came out of her self-induced catatonic state on her own, he still wanted to know where Katie and Reese were. Face it Michael! It's not a want...it's a need. You're getting just as worried about them as Nikita is. He looked briefly towards the window of his office. I just want my ....family protected....if now is not the time for us to be together....then to know they are safe will suffice...for awhile.
He took a deep breath and leaned forward pinching the bridge of his nose. He'd been fighting the headache all day and now it was stronger than his force of will. With a sigh, he ran his hand up through his hair to the back of his neck. Resting his palm against the side, he tried to massage some of the tension and pain away. After a minute or two he gave up. It wasn't working.
A bittersweet half smile flickered on his lips as he thought of Reese and Katie. I wonder what the two of you are up to right now. He leaned back in the chair, his jaw hardening in determination as he checked his file again. "I'll figure out where they are, Kita. She has to make contact eventually. And I'll know it" he whispered to the screen.
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------
Darcie propelled Reese forward as Nikita and Michael came down the stairs. "Tell Mommy what you told me, Pieces."
He shook his head vigorously as he looked up at Nikita with huge eyes and his thumb in it's favorite spot. Michael bent down and pick him up. Reese gave him a hard hug. "Daddy smells good."
Nikita smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a light outline of her lips. "He always does, after he takes a bath. Like you do."
"I think she's picking on us, buddy. What about you?"
With a serious look on his face, Reese shook his head. "No Mommy right...me have smelly feet." He wiped at his cheek, obviously feeling the lipstick.
Darcie started to giggle and Nikita smothered her own laughter. Michael looked in shock at Reese. "You do? Oh yuck...that's it. I'm going to have to trade you in. Get a model that's not smelly. But I think I better check you out first. Don't want to make a long distance phone call for nothing."
Reese let out a peal of laughter as Michael flipped him upside down. Holding him with one arm, Michael tugged at one of his socks. "Daddy...no tickles....no...stop...no tickles!!"
"You want to check it out, Mommy? Maybe if you tickle those toes, he'll tell you what he told Darcie."
Tilting her head, Nikita looked at Reese who was giggling uncontrollably now. "I don't know if I want to touch that foot."
"No...no...Mommy...no tickles...please...no" He let out a screech as Michael run a finger along the sole of his foot. "Daddy!!! NO!! Stop!!!" Gently Michael lowered him to the floor. Reese rolled over unto his back and looked up at them, holding his stomach. "Daddy you bad"
Michael stuck his tongue at him. "Rather be bad than smelly." He crouched down and held out his arms. "Gotta hug for me even though I'm bad?" Reese scrambled up and threw himself at Michael.
"Love you Daddy." He gave Michael a big kiss on the cheek and another hard hug.
"Love you, too, Pieces. Be good for Darcie, OK?" Reese nodded his head up and down. "We'll check on you when we get home." He gave him another quick kiss on top of the head then stood up. "Kita, I'm going to go start the car."
Nikita watched him go over to Katie's bedroom and rapped on the door. Katie's voice was muffled but Michael's was clear as he opened the door and stuck in his head. "Five minutes then off. Got it?" Katie's ok was loud and over dramatic but she knew better than to say no. A smile spread over Nikita's face as he went out the front door.
"Still the best looking man I've ever seen." Darcie announced as she stood up from the couch. She looked Nikita up and down. "I like that on you. I doubted the color when I saw the first time but now ...you look great. You might have more admirers than the art in the gallery. "
Smoothing down the waistline of the skirt, Nikita moved slowly in a circle. "Yeah I know what you mean. I wondered that too. Emerald green is not my usual color but I think I like it. I like the fit, slim but not tight"
"The pearls make it. Present?"
"Yup...anniversary."
Darcie gave her a sly smile. "You must have been a very good girl."
Nikita returned the smile. "Oh I always am." She looked down as Reese tugged on her dress.
"Mommy, you the prettiest in the world." He looked over at Darcie with a shy smile. "See I told her."
Scooping him up in her arms, Nikita hugged him fiercely as he gave her a big sloppy kiss. "And you are the cutest guy in the world. We make a good pair. I love you Reese."
"Love you Mommy" he said as he gave her a hug. "Later we give Daddy tickles." He had that serious expression back on his face.
"OK I'll hold him down...you can have his feet. Deal?"
They high fived each other. "Deal, Mommy." Nikita handed him to Darcie and her expression got serious.
"Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it. You have everything you need?"
"Loaded and ready, ok? Go... have fun. I can handle anything that comes up. You taught me well."
"I owe you one."
"No, you don't. Now go."
Nikita smiled at her and went to Katie's door. "Remember what your father said. We will probably not be home till 1 or so. I expect you to be asleep...got it?"
"Maggie, I got to go." Katie hung up and looked at her mother. "There I'm off. I will be. History test tomorrow. I've got to study. "
"Then get to it."
"You look pretty. Tell Dad he looked good too."
"Thank you and I will. I'll talk to you in the morning. Keep your window locked tonight please?"
"Why?"
Nikita frowned at her. "Just do it. Ok?"
"Alright. Love you Mom."
"Love you too. Bye." Nikita turned from the door and went out to meet Michael.
---------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
Nikita watched Michael mill around the people who had come from the opening. He was gracious and charming, smiling and laughing easily. And as she walked him move, incredibly sexy in his black tux. As if feeling her eyes looking him over, he turned and gave her a smile that made her heart stop. He motioned for her to come and join him. She returned the smile and started towards him.
"Mrs. Louis?" Nikita stopped at the voice and smiled at the woman who stepped in front of her.
"Mrs. Tilly...thank you for coming. I know it means a lot to Michael. Have you been able to convince him yet?"
The elegant white haired lady shook her head. "No and that's why I want to enlisted your help. Do you feel like you might be able to do some old fashion bribing with him?"
Winking at her, Nikita chuckled. "For you, I think I can make the sacrifice."
Mrs. Tilly grab a hand in a warm squeeze. "You are the sweetest girl Nikita. He is a lucky man." She looked over her shoulder. "And that lucky man is waiting patiently over there for you. Now get to work."
"Gladly." Nikita started towards Michael. That was when the shout rang out.
"MICHAEL! MICHAEL LOUIS!" With a puzzled look on his face, Michael turned to skim the balcony behind him. The shot rang out before Nikita could open her mouth to scream. The bullet hit Michael in the chest and he fell to the floor. Chaos broke loose and she had to fight her way to his side.
She could hear Simon's voice over the commotion. "Foller! Stop!" Then Nikita heard the next shot but it seemed so far away.
"Michael, can you hear me? Michael, please open your eyes." Nikita felt lightheaded and her heart beat too fast and too hard in her chest. She knew what was coming. Taylor's aim had been too accurate.
In almost slow motion, he opened his eyes and lifted his hand to her cheek. His voice was barely a whisper. "...ita...mon...coeur...love ...you." His eyes rolled back in his head and his hand fell back to her lap.
Suddenly Christine was at her side. "Nikita let me in. Let me look at him." Nikita got up and slowly backed up, shaking her head from side to side. Christine stood, tears rolling down her face. "Sis...I..."
Nikita's scream matched the wail of the siren as it pulled up in front of the gallery. "NO!!!!"
-------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------
Christine shook her head at Michael. "No, Raymond said he wanted time alone with her. And Madeline said he was suppose to have it."
"Then I'll ask you again." Michael 's voice was hard and there was a definite note of annoyance blended with concern in it. "How long has he been in there?"
Rolling her eyes, Christine did a quick calculation in her head. "Maybe 3 or 4 hours. Everything is fine."
Michael looked towards the hallway that lead to the private rooms. His feeling of apprehension was strong. The urge to protect her was almost overwhelming. He knew something was going on. Then a scream came out of the hallway. Michael was on the move before Christine could even blink.
Nikita fell to her knees as she rolled off the bed. The tile was cold against her bare feet and legs. Things around her seemed eerily familiar but out of place. This looked like Medlab but she had been sure she would have ended at the hospital. Chris' first move would have been to sedate her after....
Breathing shallowly and rapidly, Nikita hauled herself to her feet. Her whole body trembled as she felt the threat from her side. He was here. This was some kind of hell he's brought her to. He'd killed Michael and kidnapped her. God what did he do to Katie and Reese? What about Darcie?
She reached out, eyesight still blurry and felt her fingers close around a metal pole. With a scream of rage, Nikita whirled and swung the pole as hard as she could. It missed Raymond by not even an inch. His heart in his throat, he went for the door. "Taylor, I'll kill you." Her voice was raspy from her scream and the dryness of her throat.
Just as he touched it, it slid open and he almost fell at Michael's feet. Down on one knee, from the corner of his eye, he saw the glint of metal as she swung the pole again. Michael caught it on his upraised forearm and grabbed it with his other hand. Raymond saw the grimace of pain across Michael's face. The pole had hit him hard. Her strength upon coming to amazed Raymond. Whatever he had been able to accomplish had produced a powerful reaction in her that was as violent as he had feared..
"Nikita, let go of the pole before you hurt yourself or me." Her grip remained tight as she stared at him with huge eyes, tears pooling in them. He dropped the commanding tone from his voice and made it softer, as if it was just the two of them. "Mon coeur, I'm here. Everything is ok. I won't let anything happen to you. Let go and let me in."
Tears spilling over and down her face, she let go of the pole and started to back up. Her hands covered her mouth as she moved her head sluggishly back and forth. "No...dream...all a dream." Michael stepped over Raymond, arms at his side as he approached her. Hesitantly she reached out a hand and touched him.
As she touched him, Nikita had to acknowledge the fact that he was real. And he was alive, not laying dead in a morgue. Had it been a dream? Everything had been real before, she had touched and been held by him. They had made love, fought, talked and laughed together. They had hugged and kissed both Reese and Katie. He had even grounded Katie for a week after she pitched a fit about watching her brother one afternoon. Hadn't she and Katie sat snuggled together on that beat up old couch in the library and read a fashion magazine together last week waiting for him to get home from work. Then there was the other night when they had slept all together in the bed upstairs because of that horrible thunderstorm.
The night they had shared after he came home from Paris, the way it had felt making love with him. Then the night of their anniversary and how they had sat on the shore by the lake. He'd given her the pearls that night. A hand strayed to her throat as she felt for them only to find the necklace from Martina.. He had sat there, bare feet in that frigid water and told her a because for each pearl. It had seemed so sappy but incredibly sweet then, now it wasn't real? A sound of agony came out of her and she rapidly moved backwards until she hit the wall. Raymond flinched at the sound. It was the one from the woods in his vision.
Michael drew near, a hand out beckoning. "Kita, it's just me. Everything is ok. You had an accident with the car a couple of days ago. You've been a little out of sorts. I brought you back here so Christine could take care of the bad cut and bruise on your head." She cringed from his hand and he hesitated, unsure of how to reach her.
"We...we ..at the gallery.. Taylor shot you in front of all...you were dead. AHHHGGHHH!" She slammed a fist against the wall. "Is this a dream and him killing you real? Or is it the other way around? Is everything here the real thing and the life I've been living the past few weeks a sadistically sweet dream?"
Thinking rapidly Michael took a deep breath. He was just going to keep telling her what was real. Build tangibility for her again. "You hit a moose with the car. You went down into a ravine." He pointed to Raymond. "Raymond found you and was able to keep you safe until I got to you. There is no Taylor. You haven't seen him in 10 years. There is no gallery. You're at Section One. You're in Medlab. Reese and Katie are still with Claude and Annie."
Raymond had gotten to his feet and come around so he could see Michael's face. Nikita cringed again as she sensed him but she was afraid to take her eyes off of Michael. There was a desperate look in them that said everything would fall apart if she did. Michael shot a look of anger at Raymond as he watched her reaction to him. His words came through clenched teeth. "It's ok. He's a friend Kita. He won't hurt you! "
Grounding his teeth together in an effort to control the wrath he want to beat Raymond with, he forced himself to take another deep breath. Christine came up beside him, but was more daring. She went up to Nikita and let her hand slide down the back of Nikita's tangled hair. Nikita reached out her arms and Christine pulled her in for a hug.
"You're safe. Everything is ok." Slowly she moved Nikita towards the bed.
Sobbing Nikita pulled away. "No it's not. I was there. It was all....everything...it was perfect! We were married and Reese and Katie were with us. We were a family. You and Simon, you were married and had CJ. He was such a cute little boy. Katie has ....had this huge crush on Willie. OH GOD!!!" She rubbed her eyes as if she was trying to remove images from inside them.
"I told you not to do this! There was another way. It was being handled!" Michael snapped at Raymond.
There was no doubt in Raymond's mind that he had stretched the thin thread of trust with Michael to the breaking point. "We had to do something."
"Taylor was not it!"
"Would you rather have fooled her into believing the children were here and come to, hoping to see then only to find out that was unreal too?" There was no comment. The only sounds in the room were Nikita's soft sobs, Christine's murmurs of comfort and Michael's rapid angry breathing. "I was asked to do what was necessary." Michael made a sound of disgust at Raymond's statement. Needing to make a point, Raymond grabbed his arm. "Does the sound of your own words bother you that much?"
"How long has it been?" The washed out quality of Nikita's voice made both Raymond and Michael focus their attention on her. Her face was still wet from her tears. The fear and bewilderment were now gone. But it had been replaced by nothingness. Even the light in her eyes was gone. Michael felt a wave of alarum rush over him. He hadn't seen this look in a long time. He had hoped he would never see it again.
Sounding breathless, he kept his eyes on her. "Four days."
"Thank you. Christine, get them out of here."
Michael started forward, "Kita..."
She pointed a finger at him. "I want space. Back off." Feeling hurt and confused, he looked to Christine, the need for an explanation to her behavior plain in his eyes. All he got was a subtle shrug. He looked back to Nikita.
"Why do you want me to leave?"
Nikita had been staring at the floor. She felt numb and completely drained at the same time. Twice now that dream of someday had been stripped viciously from her fingers. This time it felt like skin and blood had been taken with it. And twice now it had ended here in Section with him standing there, looking as if he needed forgiveness and understanding. It wasn't in her, nothing was. Except pain so strong she had to let some of it out before it broke her into pieces.
"I have no more forgiveness or understanding for you anymore. They let me touch the future twice now. And just when I almost have my fingers completely around it, they tear it away. And you let them. You let them take Reese and Katie. You brought me back here. You give in because it's 'necessary'. That's what you always use as an excuse."
Christine watched as the hurt melted from Michael's face and was replaced by that neutral look he hid behind when he felt the need to slip away. When he couldn't face what was coming at him or when that something couldn't be avoided and he had no other choice. She wanted to go over and wrap her arms around him. The sadness that she sensed from him was growing stronger.
"Was that the same excuse you gave your parents? It was necessary? What about Simone? If you knew Merle was sick, why go away? Maybe L' Araigne was right...maybe you are a coward." She took a deep breath as Michael looked away from her and then turned towards the door. "Yeah, go on... do the usual Michael thing. Refuse to face the truth by using the blank stare and leaving. What's the matter? Does it hurt that much?"
Michael stood stiffly on the threshold of the door as it opened. "You know the answer to that as well as I do." and then he was gone. Raymond took one more look at Nikita before he followed Michael out of the room.
Christine looked at Nikita in shock. Her words had been so hurtful. "Why did you say that to him?"
Nikita looked at her, pain and bewilderment back in them. "I don't know" she choked out as the tears started again.
Raymond caught up with Michael just as he was entering ops. He could feel the cold fury and the equally strong sadness that filled Michael. "She was speaking those words out of profound pain. She probably regretted them as soon as she said them."
Michael looked at him with an expression that was beyond anger. "I'll deal with it. I'm good at that."
"And how do you expect to deal with it? Hide or face it?"
"By doing what everybody says to do. Let go of the past. This is step one in my own personal 12 step program." He started walking again towards the center of ops. Raymond saw his target and understood immediately how Michael was going to vent.
His loud words caught their attention. "Michael don't do it! It won't solve anything! It will only be worse!" Simon and Doyle were in the back of the area and came forward as they heard Raymond.
Both Simon and Doyle immediately knew a confrontation was coming. Simon knew Michael would only go so far. He hung back watchful and prepared. The worst wasn't about to happen. But Doyle didn't, he stepped in between Michael and Operations. Michael's warning was low and malicious. "Stand down now."
"Back off then." Doyle swallowed hard as Michael shoved his gun against his mouth, the chamber loaded.
"You have till the count of 2." Simon yanked Doyle out from in front of the gun's barrel. Michael slammed the weapon down on the console. "I'm done. You want to stop me. Cancel me. The bullet's ready." He brushed past Operations and strode through the doorway. Silence hung like a lead lid over ops. Raymond stood confused. He had assumed Michael was going to finally explode. The danger had been imminent. Then nothing. What had he determined wrong?
Operations reached out and gripped Birkoff's shoulder. "Have him followed as best as possible. Have whoever make sure he doesn't do something stupid. I'd like him to come back in one piece, at least physically." He looked up at Raymond. "This wasn't the solution I wanted from you and Madeline."
-------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
Madeline frowned as she studied Nikita on the monitor in Christine's office. "We've seen this reaction from her before. Who knows, it might even be for effect. Eventually she comes out of it. How is she physically?
Christine exhaled loudly. "We've seen it before Madeline but that doesn't mean it's healthy or ok. Physically she's dischargable. The stitches are already out. Amazingly she only had a slight concussion. Though I really don't consider any blow to the head slight. We don't know all the facts about the long term effects on the brain. She might have some residual dizziness. And I'm expecting some problems to crop up from her back too. She was still having some pain from the bullet wound. Though it could have been psychosomatic. I'm a physician not a head quack."
The sarcasm and target of her words were not missed by Madeline but she decided not to return the shot. She had other ways of dealing with Christine. Not only was there the whole slat of weapons involving Michael but Christine's other secret was not as safe as she thought either. Madeline knew of her relationship with Simon. The signs were easy to spot after looking for them so hard with Michael and Nikita. Claude's suspicions had only helped her to see it earlier than she had allowed herself with the other two.
Forcing herself not to submit to a smug smile, she said; "Does she know he's disappeared?"
"No, she doesn't know. And I don't intend to tell her, I don't feel she can handle it right now. She said stuff she wasn't ready to say or even understood entirely why she said it. And he certainly wasn't ready to hear anything of that nature. No, it will only be internalized and I know Nikita will see it as all her fault. She's all ready extremely despondent over what she said and over being back 'here'. She's grieving, I can't describe it any other way. Could we perhaps arrange..." She looked at Madeline expectantly.
"No." Madeline's answer was sharp and poignantly short. Christine lowered her head and closed her eyes. There were times when she felt Madeline was horribly unfeeling. Almost to the point of brutality. She wasn't even going to bother with a comment in return. Wearily she raised her head to find Madeline gone. A glance at the monitor told her where Madeline had gone to.
"Was this how you brought him back last time, Nikita?" Madeline was not about to sugarcoat anything with the young woman at this point. Billie had lost Michael over 24 hours ago. Nikita was the only one of them who had a fair idea of how Michael thought anymore. Even Simon had been unable to figure out where he could have gone.
"Who?" The deadness in Nikita's voice raised a bit of doubt for Madeline. Maybe this wasn't the best way to go about it. Then she pushed it aside.
Nikita waited for Madeline's answer even though she had a good idea that the 'he' she was referring to was Michael. She was fully aware of how she had lashed out at him. Her words had hurt more than anything else she could have done to him. And what made it worse was that she didn't even think or feel that way. Deep down she knew he had brought her back here because he only trusted Christine to take care of her. And now if he did hurt her somehow he tried to make it right anyway he could. But that hadn't happened he hadn't been through the door in hours. That meant he wasn't here.
Exhaling hard, she turned her eyes from the shadow on the wall she had been studying to the woman standing next to her bed. Nikita knew acting as she was, there was going to be no chance to apologize to Michael or find a way to get to Reese and Katie. She had to get on the board and play if she was going to have any chance at winning. Michael had shown her how to do it. He was a master at this. Though there were times that they blindsided him with a move, he would find a way to use it. Now she had to apply what he had taught her. Because he had decided to leave the game and it wasn't done yet.
What was that saying Martina had used? She had made it during their conversation about mothers and daughters. Something about not playing 'tit for tat' with your child because they would only hate you in the end. Nikita kept the smile from her face. That didn't mean she couldn't play it with Madeline. Hadn't Madeline played with her enough times and in enough ways?
"I'm waiting." Short and neutral.... Come on Maddie girl...I see your wheels turning, trying to figure me out. Forget it! I'm not letting you get the chance.
"Michael's been missing for a little over 24 hours."
"He's a big boy. I think he can take care of himself. I've seen him do it. He can even tie his own shoes without your help." Nikita couldn't help the sarcastic comment.
A thin smile curved Madeline's lips. "There's no question as to where Katie gets her sharp tongue."
Nikita sat upright. Her full attention focused on Madeline. Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest. "What's that suppose to mean?" Talk about getting blindsided.
"She's beautiful girl, Nikita, looks very much like you. Reese is very attached to her already. She's like a little mother with him. They do miss you and Michael though. Katie sees me as a bit of a wicked witch. Fitting I think ...since you've been in Oz for the past few days."
She was able to repress the look of hate but not the automatic denial. "I don't know..." Nikita's head was spinning. She had seen Claude and that meant she had seen Katie. That would be the only reason of this. She knew and Nikita realized there was no way to explain this away. No, she just had to figure out how to compensate. Was Michael the way to do it though?
"No more lies Nikita. I know Katie is alive. I know what Michael did to try and hide her. Claude has been Section just as long as Michael. How do you think we got Michael? Claude asked us to 'save' him from Red Cell before L' Araigne got him killed. He was too damn good not to take Claude up on the offer. And well I think you've heard most of the rest of the story. Anyway, I want to thank you for the glowing recommendation you gave Katie about me."
Nikita shook her head and gave Madeline a mocking smile. "Wasn't me...try your 'gift' from Claude. I bet he painted a beautiful picture of you. Pencils and brushes are not the only things he can draw with. He's great with words too. They can cut you to pieces or stroke like the fingers of a lover. However, only seeing you in action can you get the true picture of the... I don't know... bitch personified?" She saw the hardness start in Madeline's eyes. "Don't push me Madeline... I'm not in the mood."
"I don't appreciate the performance."
"Then we're even. I've have very little appreciation for your performance then and now... But hey I can tell you're not in the mood either." Nikita felt more and more angry as she tried to stare down Madeline. "What do you want of me now?"
"I told Christine not to worry about the way you were acting. And that was just, wasn't it? An act?"
Closing her eyes for a moment Nikita took a deep breath. "No Madeline, I'm not acting. I hurt so much I'm bleeding inside. I can feel it. Do you have any idea at all what I've been experiencing? Do you know what it's like to have your dreams severed from your hands time and again? To have your child ripped out of your arms? To be threatened with never seeing that child again? To feel the need to be mother to a child because you've taken the world out of his hands?"
She stood up off the bed and leaned closer to Madeline. "To love a man who is so torn between his past and his future that he can't see straight? To try to help him heal from the hurt he carries inside only to add to it at every turn? To watch him try to make everything right only to screw it up on him? To watch him submit to you people time and again even though it eats him up to do it? Can you answer any one of those questions with a yes? I doubt it."
Madeline stared stoically at her. The words stabbed again and again. Nikita was more like her than either of them could or would admit to. Her voice was tight as she answered, "You have no idea. You have one thing to do right now. Figure out where he is, bring him back and I might think of leniency."
"Leniency....hurts for you to say that word doesn't it? What if I find him and we take the opportunity this time to just disappear?"
"I'll make sure the whole 'family' is cancelled. Am I clear?" She was through being nice. Nikita had finally pushed too far.
"Like a lead crystal bowl..." Nikita stopped forcing the sneer from appearing on her face. She wanted to call her exactly what she thought of her but held her tongue. For the moment it was a draw. "I want to talk to that guy who was with him. Then I'll decide where to go from there. Just keep in mind. This is my show."
"I'll think about it." And with those words left the room. Nikita sagged against the mattress. All her energy spent. She had maintained her strength against the woman but it had been extremely difficult. Her chin dropped to her chest as her head sagged. She felt like a sacrificial lamb but it was ok because it was for Michael and the kids. They were what mattered most, she didn't.
Not needing to look up to see who came in, Nikita asked softly. "Is she lying to motivate me or is he really missing?"
Christine sat on the bed letting her feet dangle. Like a little kid sitting in too big of a chair, she swung them back and forth. "No, he's gone. Simon..."
"It happened at Claude's, didn't it? When you followed him after he blew up at Michael?" She looked over at Christine's bowed head. "If I can tell, don't you think Madeline can?"
"3 yeses." She took a deep breath and stretched her neck, eyes focused on the wall ahead of her. "We got married and had a kid, huh?"
"Yeah...cute little guy.... Carmichael John. Part your brother and part Simon's father. Reese was really attached to him. Simon was so proud and you were happier than I'd ever seen you." Nikita took a deep breath as a rush of sadness flowed over her again. To know now it hadn't been real but something her head had come up with....
"Do you love him, Chrissy?" There was silence so Nikita tried again. "I know you're scared to say it. Cause once you do, it kills to take it back. But don't be afraid to, because fate might cheat you out of the chance. You know he's been interested in you for a while. I think he decided to go with it because he saw us doing alright. It gave him hope. Does he know about..."
"Yes, Claude blabbed it. Don't ask me how HE figured it out. I admit the attraction had been building, he was here so much. How could I not? He's kinda hard to ignore." She could see Nikita nodding to the side. "I'm worried it was too fast. And I'm worried he's going to do something stupid."
"You already did. You acted out and created a relationship." Nikita looked down at the floor, praying that Section wouldn't try and suck the life out of Chris and Simon too.
"But it feels so damn good." She looked over at Nikita and they both started to giggle. "We shouldn't be laughing about this."
"I know we're in a big black kettle over a big fire." She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to keep the laughter in.
Christine stretched her arms out in front of herself, lacing her finger together. The knuckles cracked as she reached up over her head. "All I know is that he makes me stop thinking about how bad life is and makes me feel like ...I can't even describe it. I tried to tell myself it was just the sex, you know. Two people working off a little mutual lust but it's more than that. He's a friend, a lover, a listener...the way he makes me laugh, holds me, kisses me, touches me..... he gives one hell of a great backrub. My god, I don't know what massage school he went to but whoa..." They started to giggle again.
"Then they must have gone to the same one....." She looked over at Christine who was shaking her head. It felt good to talk to another woman without there being an ulterior motive. Kinda like it was to talk to Martina Nikita missed her and the heart to heart talks terribly. Maybe she and Christine could build on this friendship. "Yeah you love him. You ought to see your expression right now. 'Darlin' you're glowing'....." She giggled again and then her face and eyes hardened as she thought about Michael. "But seriously...what did Michael do after he walked out of here?"
Looking down at the floor, Christine began. "He went to ops, Raymond in tow. They exchanged some words. Michael narrowed in on Operations and Doyle went to get between them..."
"He's still at it?"
"Yeah, even after that big fight. Doyle doesn't understand when he needs to back off. I think he thought he was coming back as Mr. Number One and discovered he isn't anywhere close to it. Michael pulled his weapon and shoved it into Doyle's mouth. Gave him to the count of 2. Simon yanked him out of the way because for an instant he thought he saw a look in Michael's eye that said he was going to really pull the trigger. Then he slammed the gun down and told Operations ...... now this is a quote... "I'm done. You want to stop me. Cancel me. The bullet's ready." And he walked out. Billie tailed him for about 12 hours and then lost him. We haven't seen or heard from him since."
"Who's this Raymond?"
The voice brought both their heads up. "Maybe it's time we got to know each other Nikita. Or more aptly, maybe it's time for you to get to know me." Raymond stood just inside the door, a grave expression on his face. Nikita looked over at Christine. She didn't look happy either.
********************************************************************************
Chapter 16
Nikita swiveled the chair side to side in a slow and easy fashion. Her eyebrows knitted together as she stared at transparent top of Christine's desk. After Raymond had 'introduced' himself, Christine had ushered them into her office; more private she had insisted. In other words, she'd recently swept it and it wasn't infested. They'd talked for several hours and she still wasn't quite sure if she liked him. She certainly didn't trust him. Section had let him in way too fast. Let him too close to too much.
Why? Was he a plant? Had the brakes on the car been tampered with? Had he been the one to do it? She gave her head a slight shake. No, too neat and a damn bit hard to do. How the hell could they have known she was going to accelerate at that spot and been able to put a moose at that end of the curve. Talk about seeking out conspiracy theories!
So that let the other possibility, the one she really didn't want to consider. That the guy was here for a reason and as he stated to her at least a half a dozen times, that reason was to help. He didn't feel sorry and he didn't feel pity. He didn't feel that he was out to save the world. In a way he had explained they were a self-redemption for him. If he was able to make them 'whole' again, then he had made up for his mistakes. He would have accomplished the task that had been set before him.
Raymond's sudden about face floored her.
"Do you ever wonder what happened to your mother or to Taylor?"
"Rotting in hell is all I hope." She remembered sighing and pointedly saying, "Don't start trying to figure me out. Madeline has already plenty of material."
"I've seen it. Interesting reading."
Getting up, she stood behind him. "Tell me again what you said to Michael before he went over to Operations."
Nikita has listened carefully and then she began to query him about what else they had discussed. It all boiled down to the past and how he dealt or more accurately didn't deal with it. And what that was resulting in. He had then started talking about some disorder that they both were exhibiting symptoms of that she quickly tuned out. Right now it wasn't important information for her.
No, the important thing was what he and Michael had been discussing. She rolled the part around about trying to make him draw his family. It lead her to think about the talk they had about it too. Bits and pieces of other talks and of course arguments came back to her. The past and letting go of his parents, Simone and of course Merle. No matter what his part in it had been, laying them to rest finally.
After two hours or so of talk about Michael and dodging questions about herself, she was exhausted physically and mentally. Amazingly Raymond had honored her request to be left alone without argument. Exhaling deeply, she leaned the chair all the way back. She imagined a whole black expanse in her head. There were colored blocks scattered all around. Now if she could figure out how they went together, then she would have the picture she needed.
Or at least an idea where to start looking for him. Nikita chewed on her lower lip as she thought about her harsh and bitter undeserved words to him. What she had initially been upset with him about was dragging her back to Section One. Now what was she trying to piece together to do to him? Sometimes they made an awful ugly circle together that one day she knew was going get them in big trouble. It was funny in a way how lately it had become her duty to keep him safe and out of trouble. Wasn't he always doing it for her in the past? When had the torch been passed? Nikita didn't remembering grabbing it, somehow it had just appeared.
Maybe if she went back to the beginning, because she was now starting to go..."Whoa Nikita! Bring that back again." She got to her feet, feeling like she was on the verge of something. Her thoughts had sparked an idea. This had started when he was 6 years old. That was the beginning of this never ending journey. "Where did it start, Nikita? If he was going to work on that 12 step program he mentioned so sarcastically and getting out of Section One was step one, where does step 2 start? What does it involve?"
Nikita started towards the door, ready to go to his office to break into his files when it all came together. He'd gone home. Not the cabin but that cottage in the woods where it had all started. No wonder nobody could find him. They didn't know where it was. She went out the door so fast it was only half open by the time she was through it.
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------
Autumn had kissed the trees here. Nikita wished she had the time to sit back and admire Mother Nature's artistry. But right now he was the important one. Even though the weather was turning cooler, the brush was still thick and fairly green. It made her park the Range Rover and hike in. She had already lost valuable time finding the damn locator beacon on the thing. Then there had been the difficulty in remembering how to get here. It had only been once and in the dark that she had even left here. She had no recollection of arriving there with L' Araigne. Just that she had been in a strange place and in a hell of a lot of trouble.
Dawn had been about an hour ago and dew made the debris underfoot was slick. Cautiously Nikita approached, it would not be a wise idea to sneak up on him. He would be completely on his guard. And would probably do the 'shoot first, ask questions later' deal. Suddenly feeling overwhelmed she stopped and looked around. She hadn't really thought of this place at all but she couldn't ignore the unsettling emotions she was experiencing. Especially the panic that was beginning to rise up from the pit of her stomach.
It was all coming from her memories. The short time here had been frightening. Not only had she been afraid of what could have happened to her but once Michael had arrived the harm that L' Araigne had intended. Somehow she had been able to use the fear then, she just needed to that again. Everything was so based in the past! Why was she letting this happen? She had always been able to get around it before. Nikita realized she tolerated it in herself but was unwilling to do the same for Michael.
Michael had made a lot of headway in contrast to herself lately. Nikita was beginning to feel like she was slowly slipping backwards. She hadn't told anybody, not even him but she was proud of the way he had been acting. Emotionally he seemed freer, able to express his strong feelings towards her, Reese and Katie. He was willing to fight if he had to for what he wanted most of the time. And smiling a bit, she thought about the sarcastic comments he was throwing out lately. I mist be rubbing off on him. But he was still in deep turmoil. And all she did was add to it by not only creating more of the same but then by dragging him deeper into her problems.
Her problems...there was a joke...impulsively she hugged herself. A cold shiver rattled through her. Nikita took a deep breath, feeling the panicked sensation from her stomach working its way up her body. She moved forward three steps and then whirled around. She had felt a presence just hanging over her shoulder. It hadn't been a good one either. "Concentrate on Michael, Nikita. Stop acting like a fool." There was no one there but she had felt a definite chill. Like someone walking on my grave.
Closing her eyes for a second along with taking a deep breath, Nikita sought some kind of control over her imagination. She leaned against a tree, back to the shell of the cottage. A grim frown formed when she discovered she was shaking.
Harshly she whispered to herself, "It never mattered before, why am I letting it matter now? It happened! Got it? I can not change that fact. But it is over! It is done! I overcame it and I survived! Better than he did! I'm strong and I'm smart! I'll never be that little dope again! And I have a gorgeous little girl! I am FINE! I AM NOT AFRAID!!!"
She shook her head and stood up straighter. "Over....no more past. I worry about now and getting through it so I can get to what I want after all this is over. Because someday it will be! I fight for it in any way I have to." Taking another deep breath, she pulled her weapon and checked to make sure it was ready.
Craning her neck, she looked towards the cottage. "MICHAEL?" Her shout disturbed some birds who were nesting in the bush a few feet away. They protested the noise loudly. But there was no answering voice or warning shots from the building. Moving on the run and using the brush as cover she slide up next to the door frame. Worry picked at her a little. Maybe she had figured this wrong. Or worse somebody had been here when he got there. After all hadn't he said that the bracelet and knife Jon Jae had left at Claude's was a warning? Michael just didn't tell her a warning about what. But still....
Slithering up the splintered wood, she raised her arms, "Michael, it's Nikita. Are you ok?" Still no answer. She whipped around the framing and aimed into the living room. Nothing stirred. Slowly she entered. Things had been moved and it looked like someone had started to clean. Most of the broken furniture was piled in the far corner of the room by what she saw now was a fireplace. The last time here, it had been too dark to tell.
An image of L' Araigne crumbled on the floor pulled her eyes to the center of the room where the couch still sat. She exhaled deeply as she saw the spot where she knew he had fallen empty. But now in its stead was a large hole. Curiosity got the better of her and she approached cautiously. It was really too deep to see very far in but obviously the wood had been deliberately smashed in. Whether it was by Michael or someone else, Nikita had no way of knowing.
Slowly Nikita stood. There was an eerie quiet still about this place. Almost as if time had stopped and was waiting for someone to urge it forward. The condition of the cottage was worse than she had thought before. Michael had pulled the boards from windows to let light in. Not wanting to admit it, she knew he wasn't here. Had at some point in the recent past but obviously his attention had been drawn elsewhere.
To assure herself she was right, the other rooms had to be checked out. Most only needed a cursory glance. They were bare and filthy. The last room at the end of the hallway had a huge hole in the wall that lead out to the forest again. There were some things in here; a chair and a makeshift table, crumbled papers and other litter. A object on the table caught her eye. Going over she picked it up. It looked like it had been a brightly colored clown in its heyday. The head hung by threads to the body and it was missing both arms. The face and the bright colors were dirty and faded.
Fighting back tears, she put it down with a shaky hand. Turning, she kicked by accident one of the pieces of crumbled paper . Impulsively, she leaned down and picked it up. Slipping her gun into the waistband of her pants, Nikita smoothed it out on the table. It was nothing really, just some shapes that had been drawn with what looked like charcoal. She touched a line and it left a black mark on her finger. Instinctively she knew that charcoal didn't smear after 25 years. Rapidly gathering other litter from the floor, she smoothed each one out.
Michael had been sketching and certainly not thinking clearly if he had left signs of himself like this. There was the cottage, the lake, the cabin, even an outline that looked like the museum on several pieces. Other pieces revealed those faceless heads again. Anger was evident in these. There were heavy black streaks that sought to obliterate what was under them. Opening a small one showed her headstones. Blanching she shoved it aside with the others. Now he was drawing from his dreams. The last one was of the clown that laid on the wood inches from her hand.
Without anymore ideas than when she started, she grabbed the clown and looked at it. "So do you have any ideas where he went? You were here with him. What was he planning?" She snatched the paper with the headstones on it. "What were you planning to do, Michael? Why draw these?" Looking at the picture, it hit her that there were four of them. Why would he draw four?
"....Tell me this will go away...that it will stop. I miss him...I still do...I never got to say good-bye. I never had the chance. Never had the guts to go. I want him back... It's not right. It's not fair. I want another chance. It's my right. I want another chance. I deserve something out of this. Something in exchange for all the hurt. Something to stop the pain. So I can put it away. So I can let it go."
The words seemed real and they made her look around. It had been his voice and there was no mistaking the pain or agony in them. But he wasn't speaking them from the present. He'd said them to her at her apartment that night when he had come to her for comfort and reassurance. He had been overwhelmed by the emotions invoked by seeing Reese for the first time. His heart raw that night, scraped open and bleeding. Nikita thought it had healed over. It hadn't.
Dropping the paper and the clown on the floor, she ran from the house and back out into the forest. The car and her phone, she had to have them now. Michael had gone to their graves. There were two ways he could let go. By saying good-bye to them or saying good-bye to her, Reese and Katie. "Please to them. Please God not to us."
Fumbling with the keys, she tore open the door with a howl of impatience. Hitting speed dial, she held onto the phone and yanked the car out of the spot it was. "Answer the damn phone!!"
"Yes?" She heard Caroline's cautious voice.
"It's Nikita! Patch me through to Christine right now!" The tires squealed as they grabbed onto the solid road surface, their rubber slick with the dampness from the grass. Nikita cringed as she fought for control. Images from the accident flashed in front of her eyes. Her fear came out in a harsh way to Caroline. "Hurry up!!"
"Is everythi...."
"Now Caroline!! I need to talk to her NOW!!!"
"Just wait..." There was electronic noises as she patched the systems together.
"Nikita?" There was strong concern in Christine's voice.
"Where are they buried?"
"What?"
"Your parents, Simone and the baby! Where are they buried?"
"Why do you need to know that?"
"Cause he went to say good-bye."
------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------
It was overcast and the wind whipped over the stones. Moving as if the weight of the world was on his shoulders, Michael pulled himself out of the car. The wind now whirled around him, whistling in his ears like snippets of past conversations. The terror of coming here was still strong. But he knew it had to be done. They wouldn't rest until he let them. To do that, he had to say good-bye.
That had been why he had gone to the cabin, to say good bye. He had accomplished some of it. He had been shocked to find L' Araigne's body gone. He had seriously expected to find a hideous thing on the floor. But all that had been there was the circle of dried blood staining the wood. Enraged he'd searched the house to find something to get rid of it. In desperation he had gotten the jack out of the trunk of the car and hammered the spot till it was gone. He burned every bit of it out back, watching the smoke drift off to the dawn the first morning there.
Nothing had been relieved in him though. Nothing had changed. The anger hadn't got rid of anything for him. It was all still there. Feeling completely at odds with himself, he had started to clean the living room and rip wood from the big bay window and the greenhouse window in the kitchen. Mama had been so happy with that window when Papa had put it in for her on her birthday. Michael decided he must have been around 5 at the time because Mama's birthday was very close to Paige's. He could remember celebrating her sixth birthday not long before that because they had gotten in trouble with the cat incident the same day....
Finding the clown had started his journey here. Papa had brought it home for Paige along with the window kit and... for the life of him, Michael couldn't remember what his present had been. It was lost with so many other memories. Buried back inside where he was too afraid to go. Stepping forward as his hair was thrashed around by the wind, he crept his way up the walkway to the four stones that stood side by side on the little rise.
A small clump of trees stood off to the side. He watched them for a moment as the wind methodically stripped the leaves from them, tossing them carelessly to the ground. Michael looked up to the overcast skies as a chill went through him. Winter was coming and the clouds threatened it too. It felt like snow and was it just his imagination?
Michael stopped about 3 feet from the stones. They were arranged as he had seen in his dream. First Mama's, then Papa's which was followed by Merle's and then Simone's . He knelt down and picked up a dried leaf that looked like it had been a brilliant red. Feeling lost and detached from the world, he crumbled in his fingers and let it dropped to the ground. The bits scattered in the wind.
He looked despondently from one stone to the other. Unsure what to say or even if he should be there. It had been so long since they had come here. Why had he waited so long to do the same? That had been wrong. But it was just another one to add to the wagon load, wasn't it? "Why have I waited so long to do this?"
"Because I'm scared. I'm scared of having to confront all the bad I've done in my life. I can't lay the blame on someone else and say I did it because they told me to do it. I have to take responsibility for myself and my own actions. Somebody else didn't fire the gun, set the charge or give the order that took those lives....your lives. It was me and me alone. I could have said no, but I never had the strength to. I just did , no thought of what it would do that person or those who he or she mattered to."
He stood, tears gathering in his eyes. "Papa, what did you see when you closed your eyes at night? Did you see the faces of those you had to kill? There weren't as many as I have, were there? Were you able to dream of us then? Were they good ones? I dream of all of you but it's never good. I always wake up terrified and alone, cold inside. The only warmth I feel anymore is from her and those two children. And what have I done to them? Just like I did to you and Merle, Simone. I make them stay in hell. You asked me to run. You asked me to try and make a life for us the day you found out you were pregnant. I told you it was impossible. That was the beginning of our end, wasn't it? There wasn't a big change but I felt it. I know you did too. I started losing you that day."
Closing his eyes for a moment caused a tear to fall from each eye and roll down to his jawline. He looked over to his parents, eyes bright and shimmering. "What did you think that day you saw me? As I stood there? I don't remember seeing you. It was just two people. I couldn't tell you if it was a man and a woman or two men....I don't know. I just had to do my job. I had to pull the trigger and get the job done. Take care of things as I had been told. Which I did without question. Did you see me for the unfeeling uncaring animal I was, still am? I deserve your hate and I deserve the blame!"
He silent for a moment staring at the ground now. "You know I am really something. I carry on about how I'm feeling and I don't even consider Paige. How the hell did she feel? She wasn't like me. She jumped at her own shadow. A thunderstorm would turn her into a teary eyed mess for days. A loud noise would make her scream her head off. How do I know he didn't do the same thing to her? Rip out her heart and soul like he did mine. Did he even let her live? Or was he merciful to her and just killed her right then? I've never looked for her. I guess I'm afraid I'll taint her too if I ever found her. Like I've done to Nikita."
With an abrupt gesture, he shoved his hair out of his face, only to have it blown back. "She tells me it's not all mine. That there were other factors. That I need to let go. To put the guilt where it belongs. Only if I let go can I live? Do I deserve to live? Or should I just keep suffering this existence I allowed to control me? Do I deserve any happiness, any forgiveness, any joy at the prospect of being alive?" He could hear the limbs of the trees creaking now and rubbing together. He knelt down again.
"I can't deny I want to do that. I want to live. I want a life that includes her and those children. I know they're not mine. I don't care. I love her and I love them. Just like I love all of you. No matter what I've been through, I never stopped. Nothing could make me do that. But none of you are here. Nikita is, I think. After what she said the other day, who knows. Maybe she hates me like you all do. No, I can't think that about her. Like she says, you just can't turn off those feelings like a switch. Simone, Merle... I'm not replacing you. You both are here." He put his open hand against his chest.
"But Nikita, Reese and Katie are too. We've had our time mon columbe et mon petit merle. You have your places here. I can't take that away from you. But I've got to give them one too. She gave up freedom for me, loves me after everything that's happened, that I've done. I owe her. But it's not just owing her, I want to. I want what she wants. She's the future and life. You're all the past."
Michael up again and started to walk away. After a few feet, he stopped and turned back. "I don't like who I am. I don't like who I was. I'm caught between the past and the present. And I don't know how to move towards the future. I know I have to leave you all here so I can. But I can't. You four make me. Right? Or is that just the guilt talking again? Is the real me in this head somewhere? Is Nikita the way to find myself and that 'someday' we've dreamt up? Someday has to start somewhere, right?"
His only answer was the wind. With a sigh he looked up at the sky and pulled his coat tight around him. The clouds were starting to lighten, the dark underbellies gone. Glancing back down at the stones, he shrugged. "Yeah, I don't know the answer to that either."
With the wind at his back, pushing him down the slight incline, he made his way reluctantly once again to the car. With a final look back at them, he got in and pulled away. Nikita slipped out of the trees, wiping tears from her eyes. She walked over and touched Merle's stone with a light hand and then did the same to Simone's. " Hi....I won't let him replace you. I'll just take another spot."
Nikita moved around to face them. "Yeah I've talked a good game with him, haven't I? Tell him to let go and can I? I don't even know if my mother still lives. I don't even know my father's name. I never asked, I never looked, and I never cared. Does that make me bad? Mrs. Samuelle, you were a mother. Two wonderful children who have survived so many unthinkable situations and still they keep going and reaching out. I'll get them together, one way or another. I know they need each other. I'll make sure Simon takes good care of her too. They have a good start. They love each other, in spite of the world we live in."
She nodded as if she heard an answer in the noise of the wind. "Right, not bad, just neglectful. I need to fix that don't I? I promise I will. I'll try to do as good a job with not only my own child but that little boy too. Give me a swift kick, if I'm going the wrong way, ok? By the way, if you have gotten to know a woman by the name of Martina, can you tell her something? I miss her a lot. I hope I'm doing stuff the way she would approve of. I'm trying not to be afraid but it is so hard, you know?" The sun finally broke through the clouds and Nikita turned her face up to the warmth.
With a small reflective smile on her face, she looked from left to right. "Do you know how lucky you are to have him love you all so much? I'm just beginning to understand for myself. He is a rare man. I promise to love him as much as I can. I'll try to make him whole again, to let go of the bad and only leave the good. Someday, he'll be like we dreamed of. I promise. And I promise to make peace with the past myself. I can't ask him to do it and not do it myself."
Turning to the left, she started away as the light started to fade with a passing cloud. Nikita began to chew on a finger as she gingerly stepped over a few stones embedded in the ground. Stopping she changed direction and pointed at the stones. "One other thing, thank you. For him. Oh and all this is just between us. OK?"
------------------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------------------
Madeline looked up as the two people entered her office. One was tall, male around 45 or 50. He was fairly tanned with short straight light brown hair that had blonde and red highlights still styled away from his face. Pulling off his sunglasses to look at Madeline showed laugh lines that were at the corners of both eyes and his mouth. His eyes were a deep dark blue with hints of gray around the pupil. He smiled at her and showed off perfect teeth.
Looking him up and down, Madeline nodded her head in acceptance. The height and weight were correct. A bit more than he would have weighed 10 years ago but that was what time did. He was fit though. And would still turned heads if he was spotted in a mall or out on the street. The face was perfect.
She nodded again. "Very nice Brennan."
"You mean Taylor, I think." he said softly. A smile formed on Madeline's face. He turned and motioned the woman behind him forward. She came forward. "And may I present my wife, Mara Rowen?"
The scrutiny went from the man to the woman. She stood about 5'8" and was slim but not to the point of being boyish. She appeared to be a little older than the man next to her. Her ash blonde hair hung straight to her shoulders. Her eyes were nondescript brown and time had etched deep wrinkles around her eyes and her mouth. There was a hardness to the eyes and the face as well as a belligerent tilt to the chin. "Madeline," she said shortly as she inclined her head.
Madeline, a smile that seemed victorious on her lips, stood and extended her hand. "Your work so far seems impeccable. I'm most satisfied." She handed them a disk. "That's the rest of the information I felt you might need to deal with any problems that might come up. Were you seen?"
The man shook his head. "No, we slipped up the back."
"Good. Now you need to leave the same way and wait for my call. How soon would you be able to be in transit?"
The woman spoke up, "About an hour."
"Very good." All three heads snapped around as the door slid open again. Madeline went white. Michael stood there. He looked worn out but the Section mask was snug on his face.
Brennan had been smart enough to get the sunglasses back on and keep his face averted. 'Mara' pretended she was sneezing, both hands cupped over her face. Michael gave a cursory glance to both of them. Then back to Madeline. "We need to talk." His words came out was low and neutral. He could have been talking to a car for all the inflection in his voice.
With an acquiescent nod of her head, she looked to the two people in front of her. There was no recognition in Michael's eyes. He had no idea he looked at Taylor Foller or Mara Rowen. There were slight similarities between her and Nikita but they were subtle. "I'll speak to you both later." She motioned Michael into the office with her enigmatic smile, "Good to see you back, Michael. What do you want to talk about?"
******************************* THE END *********************************
written by Tammy
Return to La Femme Nikita Fan Fiction
©1998 La Femme Fiction
This page hosted by Geocities