continue on to Promises to Keep, Part 5
Return to La Femme Nikita Fan Fiction
©1998 La Femme Fiction
This page hosted by
Get your own Free Home PageChapter 7
CC kept the light in the office off and the brightness on the monitor as low as she could and still see the screen. She had never seen herself as a desperate woman. No, always as calm cool and confident. If she had a doubt, she kept it to herself. No sense in ruining a good reputation. But the situation with George had pushed her to the edge of desperation. The man had been too careful and too clean about everything he did. She wanted out of this one way or another. Her skills were more appropriate for Section One anyway.
That was finally how she had gotten here. Michael and Nikita had to come home with that baby before they were truly compromised. Martina had made her promise that she would make sure that Nikita and Michael took care of Reese. The woman had been a cherished friend, almost a sister to her. She didn't want to let her down but Reese belonged outside of the Section's care and with someone better suited to him. Besides Section operatives couldn't be parents and do their jobs. No, she would see to it that Reese was otherwise taken care of.
With a murmured curse, she pulled the disk out. It was the seventh one she had gone through and nothing. She held up the last one and crossed the fingers of her other hand in front of it. Inserting it, she waited for the information to come up. Numerous files appeared on the screen. They were just a scrambled bunch of letters. CC knew George loved to use the first letters of the words that made up his files to name them. That had became evident 4 files into the first disk. The damn man was anal. He had a copy of every mission profile and its outcome for Section One in this pile she had found under a corner of the carpet in the foyer of his office bathroom.
If anything CC was thorough, she tried to never miss a detail. That was what made her good at what she did. Even looking for a lead in a man's bathroom was not beyond her. Subduing the excitement as she had pulled up the carpet to find the niche and its treasure trove had been hard. However the hope that this would have been a quick and easy look on some disks had died quickly.
She scrolled through the list. It was pretty similar to the rest. One file caught her eye. "MF64....hmmm...." CC scrolled further to find another one. " PA71.... WC88.....MF62....RI97 ..... CE54....CI38....What the hell are these? Only one way to find out..." She stopped scrolling and opened the first one she saw; MF64. It took several seconds to load up and as it finished CC's jaw tightened and her eyes widened. 1964, Mai 20....enfant masculin...sept livre et huit once a Raissa et Chancier Samuelles....."
CC stood shaking. "Oh shit....it's Michael's birth certificate...Are the rest of these..." She selected another file. "A girl..Kathryn Nadine....5/6/88 Taylor Foller, father....Nikita S....Oh my God ...she's got a little girl. This can't be happening. How the hell did he get all this stuff?" To be sure of what she had, CC selected a final file. As soon as she saw the Italian start to fill the screen, she closed it down. She had found it. She ran a hand over her face, feeling a slight sheen of perspiration starting.
Removing the disk was dangerous. There were always eyes around here and all exiting the building were searched. Her fingers started to fly over the keys. The connection established quickly and CC sent off the contents of the file to the one place where she knew it could be hid until she could get to it. As it was still sending, she put the other disks back. Never before in her life had her hands shook so badly. "So he was right. I can't trust you." The voice froze CC in her spot.
Swallowing hard and trying to quell her fear, CC looked up into the barrel of the .45 George had to her head. With a rock steady hand she pushed the gun aside and stood. "Right, that's why I 'm putting these back. I came for that file on Section's CMO. There was a girl in here. I've never seen her..." The story sounded lame in her ears but if it preoccupied him for just a moment.
"You're actually going to out and out lie to me." CC noticed the slight relaxation of his finger on the trigger as the incredulousness of her story hit him. And then CC hit him with a fist in the face. He reeled backwards and yelled in pain. He was however quick on his feet. Prepared for her kick , he sent her sprawling to the floor. She heard the click of the trigger and flew up at him. Her deflection was just enough to askew his aim and the computer burst into sparks. The distraction was enough for CC to dash out the office door.
The glass in the translight next to the hall door exploded into shards as she grabbed for the handle. The flying glass hit her arm. She drew back in pain as another bullet ripped into the door. The third one hit her shoulder. She hit the floor in the hallway from the impact of it. From her new level she could see the black combat boots of security. Struggling to her feet, CC barreled down the hall. She ran past a blue box. Hitting it with a bloodied fist, she hit 5 numbers. There was a 'whoosh' of air and a door dropped like a boulder from the ceiling.
CC threw herself to the left, the door smashed into the floor inches from her right foot. The clear material separated her from the security team which pummeled the barrier with their weapons. Breathing rapidly, she ran down the hall further and rounded a corner. There was the door to the stairway and to the left of it a computer terminal. She logged on, fingers shaking from stress and blood loss. With her security password still working, she started to jam up doors and other exits. Her plan was to leave herself a clear pathway to the first floor. She keyed in her lock out code. The next blue box was her final target on this floor. She cracked the cover on that one and jabbed at buttons. Another door came crashing down. CC had her route, hopefully it was secured one and that 'cab' she called for was waiting for her out front.
She leaned against the doorframe to the stairs for a few precious seconds to catch her breath. Her heart was racing and she knew she was losing a lot of blood. The cut on her arm was gushing which meant an artery. *God , I hope you got that Birkhoff.* Holding her arm upright, she hit the crash bar with her hip.
------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------
Birkhoff's shout grabbed Operations' attention instantly. "She's got it but she needs help and fast. She's afraid she's going to be caught. Thinks she's been there too long."
"Send a team. Who's ever on the floor. Now!" Operations' switched lines as activity erupted below him. "Madeline!"
Her face came up on the screen. "Yes?"
"CC got it. She's downloaded it to us. I'll meet you at Com?"
"On my way." Madeline broke the connection. As much as CC irritated her, she had to admit the girl was good. If she could get them home safe and alive, then maybe CC McHughes wasn't so bad. Madeline counted silently the number of days Simon and Christine had been gone. They totaled 6 now. Soon they would be back. Until then it was communication blackout. The intel they had been able 'to obtain' from Red Cell still said that Michael and Nikita had been killed. While she was reasonable assured it was a ruse, a little doubt still lingered. She refused to believe it until she saw all of them herself.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Security swarmed the lobby by the time she hit it. Red hair and height made her easy to spot. The entrances were guarded with IDs being scanned. They had been alerted and were watching and waiting. CC knew her only chance to get out was by force. She hit the first guard she saw full force and he crumbled like a piece of paper. Grabbing his weapon she pumped the entire magazine into a window. It cracked but didn't shatter. With the gun empty, she threw herself at it. The cement came up to her chin too fast. Screams filled the air as shots rang out.
Hands grabbed her, a hood over her head.. *Not like this George. I will go down fighting...* She was roughly shoved around and then stuffed in a van, fighting the entire time. She connected several times, knowing she was hurting but still not able to find her way free and clear. There wasn't enough strength left in her. The van was speeding away from the building and judging by the turns it was taking was heading to the north side and the highway. Highway meant the mountains and the lake. No one would ever find her there. Panic set in.
CC found her chin in a firm hand with rough wrinkled skin. "Stop it now CC. You're hurting people!" The hood was pulled off and she was released.
That voice! She knew that voice! As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, a smile flashed across her face. "I think it's time you guys gave Birkhoff a raise. He does a great job."
Walter pushed her hair out of the cut on the side of her head. "I'll be sure to tell Operations. Now hold still. You're as bad as the other two. What is it with you kids and getting the hell beat out of you?"
"The attention we get when we get home?" CC asked as she watched another operative tightly bind her still bleeding arm. Walter's reply was only a short grunt. With a small laugh she leaned her head back against a warm shoulder. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Madeline tapped the pen in her hand against the screen. "This is where it ends. No informant. No burial records. Just the cert. Got to be just a case of bad recordkeeping or very good record erasing. I suspect the latter. She's still alive and Michael knows right where she is. George knows about this child too. He could use her trail to get to Reese."
"Could is the key word. We know how Michael works. We know what to look for. We don't know what name is being used now, the name Nikita gave her or the one the adoptive parents did? Do you think George does?" Operations leaned over and used the mouse for a minute. "Did you notice this?" He pointed to the screen. "That's the ten mil and it corresponds with the substation getting wiped out in Israel. He got L' Araigne out. 4mil deposited to...." He clicked up another. "...this account here. Impressive activity."
"Yes it is. A lot of cash involved." She took the mouse from him and pulled up the main file. "Did you notice the notes after each of the birth certificates. He was very detailed in his ideas and other items of interest shall we say."
"I take it you don't appreciate the compliments?"
Madeline looked out of the corner of her eye at the rugged but still handsome face that peered over her shoulder. "Do you?"
He frowned as he covered her hand on the mouse and closed the file. "No I don't especially the ones about you. His opinion doesn't mean anything. You do know that ,don't you?" Taking her silence for unsurety, he leaned in to her ear.
They both looked up as the door slide open. CC entered slowly and sunk into the chair in front of Madeline's desk. "Did the kid do good?"
Operations smiled at her. "Yes you did good."
"It is enough? I didn't have time to read it all." She shifted uncomfortably in the chair. Her shoulder hurt and she knew she had interrupted something between the two of them. That soured her a little. There were supposed to be rules. They were flaunted by Michael and Nikita. Now she saw why. That would be put to an end very quickly.
Madeline inclined her head to her. "I think it will be; if we combine it with what I was able to uncover. We just need to pull it together and follow all the paths to their destination. Why are you out of Medlab?"
"Well the dragonlady isn't there so...Are we sending someone to bring them back?"
Operations started to open his mouth to reply when Madeline jumped in. "No, this isn't complete yet. Once it is then we make the move. I want no chances taken."
CC's eyes narrowed as she focused on Madeline. "You don't like me and you don't trust me either, do you?"
Cool appraising eyes lifted to the level of CC's. "I didn't say nor did I imply that. I prefer to err on the side of caution." Operations straightened up and moved back to the wall. Maybe it was time the two women found common ground.
"What are you working on Madeline? More time with the baby for them? They will not be allowed to bring him back here, Madeline. No matter the strength of the bond, they can not be allowed a family arrangement either. Reese is too valuable to the organization."
Operations managed to smother the wince he felt at CC's statement. What they had feared was the goal here. He knew Madeline had made plans as a failsafe it this came up. He wasn't privy to most of them but he knew some of what she intended. He had seen a glimpse of the papers she had drawn up. "That's not the intent here, CC." It was as if he hadn't spoken. Both women ignored him. There was a battle being fought here. Operations suddenly discerned part of what CC was doing. Pushing Madeline aside and making a grab for power. George's game was played out and she needed a new homefield.
A tilting of her head was the only reply CC first got from Madeline who continued to study her. The hard silence went on for several moments. As it got oppressive enough to even make Operations feel uncomfortable, Madeline choose to speak. "I know that right now you need to feel that you have a secured position. That you deserve to have a reward for a job well done. The reward will not come from me or through Section One. We will give you our gratitude for your service to us and a job that is nearly complete. But I have no desire to step aside. I do not have a spot for a protegee. Positions are filled. I am quite pleased with the people I have and the work that they do."
There was no comment from either Operations who looked down to his shoes to avoid looking at either of them. Or from CC who continued to keep her hard edged steel grey eyes focused on Madeline. "And let me further say, I have watched both Michael and Nikita developed from scared young recruits to skilled operatives to a team that is not surpassed by any in this organization. Their ability to work together under very difficult situations, the connection they have and the willingness to make the decisions that will do the most good for all will one day insure the continuation of this operation. I protect them in my own way for that reason. I protect all those I work with for what they bring to this place. And I will bring down anyone who attempts to interfere with that. We may shake sometimes but we have never toppled. Am I clear?"
CC's jaw had tightened and her mouth was a thin line. "As a mountain stream." She got up and stiffly walked from the room.
Operations came forward and sat on the edge of the desk. "What was that for?"
Madeline looked up to him. "I told you I had someone else helping them. I have already given instructions as to how to handle Reese. She intends to eliminate all access. No, it will be extremely limited but not ended. I can't do that. I don't want to see the consequences. Do you?"
He seemed to chew on his response. "I can see your point but I can also see hers. Children are a liability. You know that."
Madeline looked down at her hands and then back at him. "Yes I do but I don't want him used as a pawn or as an object for revenge. We've already seen the outcome of that kind of upbringing. Just what do you think they are thinking about doing right now. What do you think their plans are?"
"Are you asking my opinion or my guess?"
"Aren't they the same?"
Operations shook his head. "I know what they should do. What would be the best thing to do but I also know what their other thoughts might be. They are probably trying to decide whether to run or come back in."
"And if it was us when we were like them, what would be your decision? I know mine."
"I don't know what mine would be. I think a lot would depend on you."
"Yes I suppose it would. I'll go to them tomorrow. They probably plan to leave when Simon and Christine do."
"And you have an idea of where they might be?"
"A fair idea of where but I can't tell you the location. I need to set some things in motion to ensure Reese's protection and to find out if my suspicions are correct.
Operations knew better that to ask about the plans. She had been tightlipped about them up till now. There was no reason to assume she would not remain that way. "And those suspicions would be?"
"One is that Katrina or Kathryn is still alive, Michael found a place to hide her and she is with them as we speak. I also want you to watch CC. Assign someone to her. She will make an attempt to get to them. Prevent it."
"Why are you so worried about her? She's not vindictive, just driven."
"She has ulterior motives here Oscar. She plans to ensconce herself here. To prove herself at the expense of people who are valuable to us. She 'saved ' Section One from the bad guys and now she thinks she should have a piece of it. No, she can stay right where she is. She wants responsibility, reward, let her find it in her world. Not in ours or at the expense of ours. Do you agree with me?"
Operations inhaled deeply. This was one game he was not interested in playing. There were never any winners; just unsatisfied players. "I'll see to it." He turned and walked out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
George curled and uncurled his fingers as he sat in the chair in front of his desk staring at his ruined computer. The C/D laid in front of him, completely wiped clean. Somehow their little computer god had managed to wash all the info it contained out. He knew it as just a matter of time now and a matter of who.
His carefully mastered plans had been ruined by their combined efforts. There was a reason they were the best. Section One was the number one organization because Oscar knew how to pick the best and get the best from them. * I should have made sure that the attempt on Michael in Lyon had been a little more determined.* But then again, he had thought the girl was out of the way at the time as well.
Planting his feet up on the desk, George considered where he had made the wrong decision. There had been several. The first had been getting involved with Jon Jae and L' Araigne in the first place. But the money and the thought of finally having all the control and say was more than he could resist. The second had been to underestimate Martina, Oscar and the people who worked with them. The third had been Michael and Nikita. They both had this uncanny ability to stay alive and keep the other one that way too. They should have been eliminated before anything else had been started.
Now he was the one who was next on the list for elimination. He knew the two of them were still alive regardless of what the intel said. They had that child and were in hiding him until they felt safe in surfacing. Maybe at this point he needed to be proactive instead of reactive. George stood. Yes, it was time to do his own work. Make his own way out of this. Yes indeed, it was time to get to work.
------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------
The white room was a curious place to think but it was by far the quietest and most isolated. Nobody came down here willingly. *And that's the way I want it.* CC thought to herself as she sat in the metal chair in the center of the room. One knee drawn up to her chest, the foot resting on the edge of the seat, the other dangled down, swaying to and fro. Her elbow was positioned on her knee and she worked with her teeth on her ragged fingernails.
In an explosion of movement, CC was out of the chair, pacing. Her bare feet slapped on the cool tiles. She held one out as she surveyed the condition of the nails. "So much for that great manicure. $35 bucks down the fucking drain. Agh!" She spun on the ball of her foot and paced back to the other side of the room.
"Thinks she so high and mighty. Miss Queen Bee...so proud of her little hive and its drones. Makes me sick! Do you HEAR ME? MAKES ME SICK!!!" She started chewing on the thumb nail again. She leaned against the back of the chair, staring at the large entrance to the room. "Your people...your job...may shake but don't topple...what lame ass shit.." CC pushed herself off the chair and resumed her stalking pace across the room.
"Come on girl think...what's it gonna be? Give in or fight for what you deserve? She treated me like a child...like a little nothing. I deserve something here. I deserve a reward here. I did the DIRTY WORK! I'm the one left with my hand out and no place to go. If nothing else give me George's job!"
----------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------
"Yes sir. I understand. Full latitude to deal with the issue. A full report as well?... No problem... Yes I will keep it out of the papers. And my other request, sir? ...CC McHughes that's right she is George's second in command...Do I feel she can do the job?...Of course.... ...however I admit there may be some friction in the future...Yes I understand...Yes I would be willing to...Who?....Your office? Yes sir I can do that ....Thank you... Yes you're welcome...til later...I will...Good bye."
After the phone was hung up, Operations slowly pulled it from his ear and set it down. He hoped the solution would be amenable to all concerned. CC had been sniffing around, Madeline was right, looking for a handout of some sort. As much as he liked the work she did, he knew she would never make it with this group. She was already irritating Madeline, not a good thing to do. He could vouch for that from personal experience.
Michael would stoically deal with her but CC would not put up with that. She would be on his back constantly, looking for a reaction. And knowing how most women wound up acting around Michael that meant Nikita would be a major problem. And if CC was working on Michael, it would not be long before Nikita was, as he had heard it so poetically said, "up in her face." Just what he needed, another battle over the man.
No what he had proposed and what had been accepted was the best solution for all. Operations could handle both Nikita and Madeline. Besides, he had Michael to deal with Nikita. He had permission to deal with George as he saw fit. Permission to place CC in that position, the plan for Reese whatever he felt was fitting and thus hopefully a win all the way around. That was if they came home. If they all made it through this. There was a new wrinkle he hadn't mentioned on the phone. They didn't know where George was anymore.
********************************************************************************
Chapter 8
Reese had risen as early as the sun and in 15 short minutes had the entire house up. Nikita now sat quietly in the kitchen with him as he munched on toast with butter, dry cereal and milk. The rest of the house moved around on the floor above her. And by the sounds of it, some of the movement was very reluctant. Nikita looked at Reese seriously. "Keep in this in mind. You are a little boy, not a rooster. You don't need to crow at dawn." His only response was to rub at his nose with a buttery hand. Stifling a yawn, she started to gingerly stretch.
Nikita started as she heard the voice beside her. "Is he always going to get up this early?" Katie stood there, eyes still puffy with sleep and hair tousled from her pillow. She leaned into Reese's face. "Pieces, you're noisy." She turned and plopped herself in the chair on the other side of the table. She put her elbows on the table and put her chin on her fists.
Nikita lifted an eyebrow at her "Pieces?"
"Peanut butter M n M's...you know, Reese's Pieces?"
"Oh..." she replied softly.
"Tante Annie said your name is Nikita and the other man is named Michael. Are you two married?"
Nikita leaned her shoulder against the back of her chair and studied her daughter. She liked to get right to things, smart way to do it. Reese flung out a piece of toast in her direction. She caught it without looking and deposited it back on his plate.
"Good catch. Do you like to play football?" Katie had changed the subject like she had turned a page in a book.
"No, not really sure how. Do you?"
Katie nodded quickly. "Oui...oh, I mean yes. A lot. It's fun. So are you?"
"Am I what?" The subject had been changed again. She had a hard time keeping the giggle down. Katie was like a wave, she swept in and swept back out....only to rush back in again. Nikita could see Reese's next move out of the corner of her eye. The cup was in prime throwing position. She placed her hand on it and forced it down to the tray, holding it there until he stopped pulling and started playing with pieces of cereal.
"Married to Michael?"
"No."
"Is he your boyfriend?"
The smile that took over her mouth was impossible to stop. "You can say that."
"Oh." Katie got up and open the refrigerator. She pulled out a can of soda and looked over at Nikita. Slowly Nikita shook her head no. With a shy smile, the can of soda went back in and the jug of milk came back out. "Would you like some?"
"Sure, thank you. So Annie and Claude are your aunt and uncle?"
Reaching into the dishwasher, Katie pulled out glasses and poured some milk. "Kinda I guess. They're watching me until my mommy and daddy.... I mean my new mommy and daddy can come for me. Their jobs are keeping them busy right now. I hope it will be soon. I want to meet them." She sat back down.
Nikita leaned her folded arms down on the table. "You don't know who they are?"
"No, not yet. The lawyer didn't tell me who they were. They did leave some nice clothes and a really pretty stuffed cat here for me though. Would you like to see the cat?"
"Sure."
"OK, I'll be right back!" She ran out the door and Nikita could hear her pound up the stairs. Christine ducked her head in through the screen door.
"Do you want me to take him so you two can talk?"
"Do you mind?" Nikita was grateful for the offer.
"No, need a partner for cow tipping anyway, whatever that is? Simon wants to show it to me."
Nikita laughed. "OK. Be careful, he just ate," she instructed as Christine lifted him up from the highchair. "He knows how to enjoy his food in unique ways." she quipped as Christine pried bread crusts from between his fingers and then wiped them quickly with the cloth Nikita held up.
"I'm a doctor remember? I can handle anything. Even greasy butter fingers or this cowtipping thing. Let's go, Superdude. Wave bye to mommy." Reese waved as Christine carried him out the door. Katie barreled back into the room. She practically skidded to a stop next to Nikita. In her arms she carried a life size stuffed cat. With great care she inspected the tabletop and then set down the toy.
It looked like a Persian with pushed in face and abundance of fur which was as white as new snow. Its eyes appeared to be glass and were a faceted bright green. Around its neck was a thin black collar from which hung a small heart shaped charm with the word 'Reveur. "Isn't she pretty. Her name is 'Dreamer.' See how soft she is." Katie grabbed Nikita's hand and placed it on the back of the cat. "Am I right?" With her heart hammering wildly inside, Nikita said softly, "Yes."
Sitting back down in her chair as Nikita absentmindedly stroke the cat, Katie studied her. "Was Simon telling the truth when he said you and Michael were in an accident?"
"Yes we were."
"What kind?"
"Car." There was the automatic lie. It was much better here than the truth.
"You looked very bad when Simon carried you in. I'm glad you're better now. The boys say they don't know you but they've heard Michael talk about you. They were wondering what you looked like. Jerrod thinks you're really pretty and that Michael is really lucky. At least that's what I heard him telling Willie. Where did Reese go?"
"With Christine and Simon to see about cows."
Tipping her head to the side, Katie knitted her eyebrows together. "To see cows? OK, Reese is little though, he will probably like that. How old is he?"
"About a year old."
"Smart for a little kid. I'm 10 and they used to say at school that I was really smart. I guess we'll see when I start school here in a few months. I was a grade ahead of everybody else there who was 10. Are you and Michael his real mom and dad?"
To say Katie was inquisitive was an understatement Nikita was beginning to realize. The rapid fire way her mind worked was a little bewildering so early in the morning. But she relished in the opportunity to get to know her little girl. It would just make the decision she and Michael had made last night that much more difficult to stick to. "Now we are, I guess. He doesn't have anybody else. His mom and dad are both gone."
"Oh you mean they're dead. I kinda know how that is. Even though I was really little, they said that's what happened to the first people who adopted me."
"You were adopted?"
"Yeah as a baby. My real mommy couldn't take care of me. Pieter said she was an angel for making sure that someone could."
"Who's Pieter?" *They told her I was an angel for giving her up. For making sure her life was ok. That makes me feel better, I think.* "My grand-mere Rosaline's brother. But they're both dead too. They were old just like Tante Edlyn. She's with them now too."
"Do you miss them?" Nikita was curious about how her feelings about being here with Claude and Annie. She wanted to make sure Katie was comfortable about this home.
"Sure but I was getting really lonely being at school all the time. And there weren't any kids my age at Grand-mere's. Or any kids at all. I like it here though. It's fun to have the boys to play with. Girls at school didn't know or like football. The boys wouldn't play with me because I was a girl. I like Claude and Annie too. They're really nice. The boys are ok too I guess. Most of the time they're pains but I don't let them pick on me too much."
A feeling of relief came over Nikita as she listened to Katie. She liked it here and that was the important thing. It still didn't make things any easier but at least her being miserable wasn't in the foreseeable future. The sound of rapidly descending feet reached the kitchen. Katie sprang up from her chair and grabbed the cat. "I don't want them to tease me about the stuffed animal. I'm going to go back upstairs." Stopping to push in her chair, Katie ran out the back door. Nikita could hear her feet hit the deck as she ran across it.
Looking up to the ceiling, Nikita smiled widely. "Thank you, Michael."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"We're no further than when we started 4 hours ago!" Simon exclaimed as he shoved the kitchen chair backwards. "We've gone in one big circle for so long that I'm getting dizzy!"
Michael looked up from the spot on the table he had been staring at while he contemplated Claude's question from earlier; *Would you ever feel safe if you disappeared?* They were discussing the decision he and Nikita had made last night. None of them knew though the one he had made for himself. Later he would discuss it with Claude. His friend would have to know what was going on. Michael looked over at Nikita who leaned against the refrigerator, her arms crossed in front of her. She looked up as she felt his eyes on her.
"You know what my answer is." she replied to the question in his eyes.
"We can't do that." His tone of voice was stern. Nikita wanted them to stay here until Michael was healed and strong again. Then quietly fade away and find another life. It wasn't possible and she knew it. But she still fought it. The others in the room exchanged glances. None had heard a question but Michael and Nikita were already in the middle of their conversation.
"Ya know I hate it when you two do that."
Nikita snap her head around to look at Simon. "Tough!"
"It's bad enough when you do it in the field. It's eerie but it has kept us alive in some tight spots. But man it isn't needed here. It's rude to shut us out. This included all of us...not just you two"
"Thank you for the observation, Mr. Emily Post! I'll take it to heart and learn to be more considerate."
It was time to stop the argument before it went any further. However, Michael knew what Nikita was going to do before the movement even started. "Nikita, wait..." His words were cut off by the slamming of the screen door behind her. He looked to the ceiling for a moment. Christine got up to follow but he snagged her arm as she started to go behind his chair. "Leave her be."
She tugged her arm away and glared at him. "She's upset and still under my care. I intend to check on her."
"Yes, she's upset, that is why she left the room. She's looking for some privacy to calm down in. You should respect that."
Simon observed the battle of wills between the two. It surprised him that Michael didn't recognize her or least sense who she was. He had to admit he enjoyed watching her in action. What he had started to feel yesterday or more actually admitted to yesterday was getting stronger. He attempted to ignore the way she had caught his attention all those times in Medlab and around Section One. You weren't supposed to get those type of feelings about your doctor. Hell, she knew your body better than you did. And you really didn't want her to know you were attracted to her in any way.
Christine backed away from him and sat back down. She regarded him for a minute. His voice had held authority and requested compliance at the same time. She was getting a better idea of who her brother had become. Their lives at Section One kept them rather separated from each other. Studying him and getting to know him had been difficult. He avoided Medlab like the plague. Needing to be there, in his eyes she had come to know, equated to showing weakness. And that was a condition he refused to have any connection with. He was a leader and he was very good at doing it.
Slowly Michael turned to look at Simon who had forced his attention back to Michael and then everyone else. "Fighting amongst ourselves will not get us any further in this discussion than we all ready are. Nikita and I spent several hours last night talking this out too. We wanted everyone's opinion and thoughts on it. It's our fault that you are all involved with this. And before we made anything final we wanted your input. All of you. I'm sorry. This was not how we imagined it was going to be. But we are both appreciative and grateful for your help, loyalty and friendship." He seemed to retreat inward again as he looked back to the table top and folded his hands together again.
Christine watched him as he had made eye contact with each person in the room as he spoke. He held each of their gazes for a space of a few seconds. Even just sitting there in a white t-shirt and a pair of jeans Claude had found for him, Michael looked like he was in command. She saw his head turn to the door and followed it. Nikita stood in the doorway. Christine hadn't heard it open but somehow he had sensed the woman standing there. She watched the way they looked at each other. Christine knew he was serious about the decision they had 'made' last night and that was why Nikita had walked out. She didn't like it but was aware that she wasn't going to change his mind.
Michael looked for confirmation of the decision they had made in her eyes. His mind wandered back to last night as he focused on Nikita's face. She had fallen asleep while he brushed her hair last night. For a while he had listened to her breathing, willing away the throb of his head and then contemplated their choices. No matter which way he turned, it only came back to one thing. Deal with the issue because if they didn't the rest of their lives became too uncertain for his tastes, even more than they were normally.
He had been sleeping fitfully, skipping from dream to dream when he felt her awake and slip over to sleep on her side next to him. He tried to make her assume he was still asleep but the ruse didn't work. After about 5 minutes of silence, she started to ask questions. They had wound up talking deep into the night. It had taken several hours to get her to acquiesce to his decision. It had not been what she had hoped for. It was not the one he wanted either but the choice was not entirely up to them to make. Putting the children through the stresses of their world and lives was wrong.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he refocused on Nikita. She looked away from him with a sigh and pretended to study the pattern on the tiles. He looked at his intertwined fingers on the table. "We wait till Simon and Christine leave. Because we're going with them... Claude and Annie... we're going to... leave... Reese and Katie in your care. At this point it is the only way that will be safe, relatively speaking, for everyone. Any comments?"
The room was silent but tense. It was evident to all that Michael had a hard time with his own decision. Claude looked at Annie who sat on a stool. She shook her head at him, got down from the stool and walked out of the kitchen, the door squeaking on its hinges as it swung. Simon was out the screen door with Christine behind him. Faintly, Michael could hear her asking for Simon to slow up. The kitchen door swung again behind Claude so that Michael and Nikita were the only ones left in the kitchen.
Slowly he got up and walked over to her. He reached out and touched her cheek as the first tear fell. Wrapping his arms around her and being careful of her back, Michael pulled her close. Nikita shook as she cried. This time giving her child up was worst. Because with her, Nikita felt she was giving up that someday she wanted so bad too.
"I know it hurts. I feel it too. There's no way to stop this. We've tried but...listen to me..." With a finger he forced her chin up so she could see his eyes. "'Kita, listen carefully. No matter what happens in the next few days, I want you to remember one thing. They will be safe. All right?"
Nikita tried to pull her chin away as she closed her eyes. She didn't want any false hopes. "Don't lie to me." she choked out.
He gripped her chin tightly and said fiercely but softly, "I'm not lying. They will be safe. Someday we will be together. Tell me you believe in that." She stared into his eyes and searched for how he was going to make it come true. "Tell me, 'Kita. If you believe in me, you have to believe in that." Unable to answer, she nodded. Michael felt no victory from her nod. The doubts she was unable to voice were ones he felt himself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Catching up with Simon was difficult. He was a big man who looked like the proverbial bull in the china shop but moved like a nimble mountain goat. Finally Christine had stopped, trying to catch her breath as she leaned against the tree trunk. It was easier to follow him in here. The trees slowed him but not by much, then she yelled, "SIMON!" He stopped in his tracks, looking to the sky which was obscured in places by the high trees.. Once he was stopped it was easier for Christine to catch up to him.
"All right what's wrong? Can I help?"
"Nothing. It's got nothing to do with you." he bit out at her. He started to walk away again.
Now she was mad. Christine hated it when somebody walked away from her. "God damn you stay in one place and talk to me! Don't walk away from me!"
Simon spun on her. His eyes angry and his jaw tight. "Don't curse at me and don't yell at me! I don't want to put up with it. Got it? You want to talk to somebody? Fine! Go talk to your illustrious brother in there!"
"Simon..."
"Listen, it's not like we know each other very well or mean anything to one another or want each other so stop trying to act like you care. Take your bedside manner elsewhere, Doctor. I am not in need of treatment at the time!"
She backed away a little, knowing that hurt was showing in her eyes. "Pardon me for trying to be a friend. You know, our lives aren't the greatest in world. In fact most of the time they pretty much suck. And they are lonely and uncertain. I thought maybe we had some friendly interaction started here. You struck me as being a nice guy. I wanted to get to know you better. Find out what we had in common. Maybe what you like and dislike. Guess my judgement was way off. No wonder you ended up here. You must have been a real prick."
Christine turned on the last word. So much for that little fantasy she'd let run around in her head. Didn't mean much now. Hadn't been worth the time or the wasted thoughts. She was in a world that frowned upon friendship and any other relationship. What was the use? In fact, how much of this had been worth it? She was no closer to Michael than when this started and still hadn't found the courage to reveal to him the truth. And now it seemed the only other bright spot of this trip had completely faded from sight.
The little while they had spent with Reese watching the cows had been fun. Even with everything that had been happening, he was an entertaining and happy little boy. And being around him only made you want to be and act the same. Simon had even seemed to enjoy himself. There was something bothering him and he had been unwilling to discuss it with her. He had shrugged it off for a time but now it was back, worse than before. So, if that was what he wanted, then fine. There were more important things to do in her life than to try and get close to somebody like that. A lot more....
"Fine if that's what Simon says then I'll just back off. And while I'm at it...what the hell do you mean want each other? What ever brought that idea up? You wouldn't be the right one anyway!" Her tone was caustic. A strange desire to smack him grabbed at her and she pushed it back. What would it accomplish it she did? She didn't want to start an actual fight with him. Simon remained silent. There was so much anger in his face and in his stance that she felt a small pinch of fear.
He knew if he opened his mouth right now he was going to say something that would cause irreparable damage. Worse than he was already seeing. Simon wanted to get to know her and see if they had more in common than this attraction he was experiencing. And he knew that physical attraction was not the firm foundation that a relationship needed. He watched that disgusted movement of her head and the sound she made as she turned to walk away from him. That wasn't going to be what she was doing though. He wasn't ready for her to think of him as being the wrong one.
The unanticipated change of position forced a small scream as she felt the cushion of pine needles underneath her. Tensing herself for defense she focused on the face in front of hers. She had no chance but she wasn't going to let him hurt her easily. However, there was no mistaking the mood of the eyes she found staring down into hers. Simon wasn't exactly holding her down but she knew she wasn't free to move either. She relaxed as she saw the obvious message in his eyes. Hopefully he could feel and see her own message.
His head was yelling at him about what he had just done. *Moron! What are you doing? Did you forget who the hell she is?* Unable to help himself he had reacted to what she had triggered with her comments. He had not yet gotten out of his head yesterday afternoon or the thoughts he had in the kitchen. And a lot of the anger he had just displayed was a reaction to the frustration it was causing him. Being in Section One put everything in your life either on hold or made it impossible.
There was a chance here for something that was close to normal. He knew Birkhoff and Caroline didn't have the same rules to play by as the active ops did. Nothing had ever been said about their relationship. The only ones that had been frowned upon in the whole place was Michael and Nikita. And now that point seemed to be really dull now, so much that it seemed to be encouraged. Maybe things would be different for the two of them.
All those thoughts rushed through his head as he lowered his mouth to hers. "How friendly did you intend that interaction?" Her eager kiss was all the answer he wanted, besides her.
End of Part 4
continue on to Promises to Keep, Part 5
Return to La Femme Nikita Fan Fiction
©1998 La Femme Fiction
Get your own Free Home Page