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Chapter 13
George set the clip hard into the gun. Casting a hard look at the two individuals in front of him, he sized them for strengths and weaknesses. Half way through categorizing, he gave himself a mental shrug. All that really mattered was that they were loyal and not afraid to accompany him inside. He had his story all set up. All that was left to do was to get things moving.
He had gotten intel that Michael had been spotted within the past half hour within the surveillance perimeter of Section One. A smile spread across George's face. Now that he knew where Michael had been hiding, it was simple to release the info to Jon Jae. Let him go do his own dirty work. Well, he actually wouldn't be able to, but that was only going to be half the fun of what was going to go down.
Signaling the other two agents, he pressed a hand against the red panel on the door. It shifted to blue. With his smile widening, he leaned down, letting the panel take its reading and waited patiently while the computer ascertained his identity. The elevator doors slid open and he motioned the two into the car. *Knock, knock. Guess who's coming for a visit.*
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Michael finally realized why he hated the smell of Medlab. It smelled artificially clean, almost unreal feeling. And that was a feeling he had been fighting to keep away for a long time. He was just a shadow of a real person. He'd done so much that ate through him and he was able to fade so easily into the background, almost forgotten, that it was easy to perceive himself like one. The longer he dwelled on it the more sure of it he became. But something inside welled up precisely as he had himself convinced. The thirst for life, perhaps, was what that something was. Time after time he had willed himself to almost beat it down for good but it always came back. Only since Nikita had come had come back from Israel had he finally been able to do it.
The grate tilted loose from its framework with a slight scraping noise. He waited several seconds then twisted and pulled it in towards him. Lightly he jumped to the floor and fit it back into place. Things were quiet in here. Unless they were engaged in a major operation, it usually was. There was no need for activity in the morgue, if no one was coming in. Slowly, Michael made his way down the middle of the room till he reached the end of the drawers. The last one on top had a combo lock.
The dial spun freely and he had no problem opening it. Reaching in he pulled out, a .45 and several extra clips. He jammed one in place and slipped the others into the kangaroo pocket on the sweatshirt. Closing the door, he spun the lock. He bent down adjusting his boot. The knife was in its pocket at an uncomfortable angle. A whirring noise caught his attention and his head spun in the direction of the sound. A heat sensor had detected the increase in ambient room temperature and tripped on the surveillance cameras. He slid into the space between the end of the drawers and the wall.
Holding his breath, he waited for the camera to switch back off. With an audible click, it did and he moved back out into the room. The sensor was now active so he couldn't stay here long. He had to find either Birkhoff or Walter to head off Simon and Christine. Then to finish things with Oscar and Madeline. It was time to end the game. He was sick of playing.
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"There was no one there. Furniture was still in place, clothes in dressers and closets, food in the cupboards and refrigerator. But no pictures Oscar...I could see where they once were but they were gone." Madeline sat down in the chair in front of Operations' desk.
"Well, wasn't that the plan you said you had set up with this individual?" Operations asked her.
Madeline shook her head. "Not exactly. To go on my signal. This person followed other instructions. But whose? Or was it a forced move? I don't know..."
Operations leaned forward. It was time for her to reveal some facts to him. "I haven't pushed on this at all. I figured I would give you time to come clean. But you are still hedging it. I want all of it now, Madeline. Who are they with or who were they with?"
She settled back down into the cushion of the chair. Coolly and steadily she appraised him. * Claude is on the move now. I do not know whether he went because of Michael or he was forced to leave. I need to trust him again. Might as well start big.*
"Michael has had a friend for a long time that very few people know existed. He was how we found out about Michael in the first place. They have an unusually tight bond, similar to the one Michael shares with Nikita. And he would do anything for Michael. I have trusted Claude with one of my most precious secrets. Let me ask you something. Have you ever wondered where the children go?"
He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "They are sent away, Madeline. You're responsible for them going away. What does Michael's friend Claude have to do with this?"
"In exchange for my silence about his existence and continued contact with Michael, he takes the babies, the toddlers, the older ones for me. There have been others over the years. He and his wife make me rest a little easier at night. Just a little though. Michael believes we think, that they are homeless and we know nothing about Claude. I had him go to help Nikita get Michael out of there. I assumed with people around him that he had no doubt as to their loyalty to him, he would go without a fight. Obviously the pressure was more than he was able to withstand. They had problems."
"You haven't seen me fight yet. And I think to avoid some problems you better start to come up with some answers."
Both Madeline's and Operations' heads turned at Michael's voice. He stood with his back to the door. His face was impassive and his eyes were dark and cold. Madeline repressed a shiver as she looked at him. His usual stiff straight posture was replaced with one where he was obviously positioning his weight of his left foot, leaning away from his right side. He struck her as being ready to defend himself by spinning with a kick. Slowly she stood. "You are alive. It is good to see you Michael." Relief evident in her voice. The plan had worked. Nikita had pulled it off.
"I thought you were on our side." he said softly. She had seemed quite untroubled sitting in the chair from which she had stood. He walked towards her until they were inches apart. "Please, sit down and be quiet. I need to say a few things."
"Now Michael..." Shock flooded her face as he pushed her into the chair with hands on both shoulders. He leaned down to look into her eyes, a hand on either chair arm.
"I asked you to sit down and be quiet. Right now your life depends on it." Still without a hint of emotion or any other expression on his face, he gave her seat a push backwards. She moved out a few feet and stopped. Then she started to stand up. "I SAID TO SIT DOWN!!! I AM QUITE SERIOUS!!!" Though there was still nothing being displayed on his face, Madeline could hear the absolute rage he held inside in his voice.
"What are you doing Michael? Trying to frighten us?" Operations' voice carried a tone of quiet, subtle command.
Michael turned his head in Operations' direction and then started towards him. He stopped about a foot from the man and fix him with a cold passive stare that reminded Operations distinctively of death. He didn't have to worry about George anymore. His biggest threat stood in front of him. "No, I'm here to finish my mission. Remember the assignment? Both the profiled one and the real one? Profiled is done. It ended when you had Greg killed. It's the real one I'm completing here. Protect Reese, at ANY cost from ANY thing. But I've added a few details to it."
"I can explain."
"I'm not ready to listen. I will tell you when I am. You're the one who is listening QUIETLY! So you can hear me and understand everything I am about to say to you. I will not repeat myself, so listen carefully. For years I have been your favorite toy, your favorite weapon. You have forgotten I am a human being. That I feel and experience pain as well as other emotions. In your quest to be the best, you took a broken ruined young man and built him down into a crippled emotional mess with your deceptions and your manipulations. You maintained me like a cherished possession. Dead on the inside, deadly on the outside. By doing that, you have been taking me apart bit by bit perhaps to see how long before you could see right through me. You almost succeeded." His voice was quiet but brittlely strong. He stood almost as ease with his hands clasped in front of him as his focus remained riveted on Operations.
The older man reached out towards Michael and found his arm twisted behind him and his body shoved forward. Michael regained his position. A hand flashed out in Madeline's direction, a finger pointed directly at her. "Sit, Madeline." She eased herself back into the chair.
Realizing there would be no physical contact unless Michael initiated it, Operations said, "What I have asked you to do..."
"I told you that you were to listen to me. I am not ready to listen to you. I expect you to respect my request." He waited for a reaction from Operations. When he only got silence, he went on. "Almost 3 months ago you sent me on a made up mission. I was visibly on the outer limits of my control when you sent me. But as a good pawn, I went. I was thrown into a scenario that has almost destroyed me and the woman who is not only ...and I mean this most sincerely.... whether you can handle it or not.... my heart but my soul. Things you ripped out of me piece by piece. And I have begun to ask myself why. What was this for? Why do you want to get rid of me? It's because of who and what I am. The things I know, the things I've seen. You've used me too much and allowed me too much access."
"I'm hearing a lot of words Michael."
"Then hear my next words very clearly. When I walk out that door, I will be done. This is my last debriefing. This was my last field mission. I have paid back every last thin dime I owed you on my account. I will continue to pay every night when I close my eyes. But the daylight is mine now. I am finished. Nikita is finished. I will continue to do one thing. I will continue to protect that child. But he will be raised as our child. Not as a pawn for Section One or for Red Cell. I will allow neither of your poisons to touch him. I am done. There will be no more out of me. I have given everything I can. There can be no more!!!"
Madeline spoke out. "It isn't that easy. You just can't say you're done. You do not have the right."
He turned his blank face to her. "I said before that I am a human being. I have the right to a life, to a family, to some measure of happiness wherever I can find it. I know where it is and I intend to go to it. You see Oscar..." Michael walked closer to him so their chests almost brushed. "I know the dirty little secrets you were trying to hide along with Martina. How you two let all those operatives in Israel die, how you let Nikita think she shot a faceless woman as part of a mission, only she wasn't faceless, was she?"
Operations looked away and then back at Michael. Slowly he started to move so his back was to Madeline. He was intensely worried about what his second in command had in mind. Whatever it was he was going to make sure he was between it and her. "No, she wasn't. No she wasn't faceless." Madeline looked on incredulously.
"You had Nikita help you fake Martina's death. Only problem, George was ahead of you. Made sure that gun went with armour piercers. Ripped Martina apart and she died slowly and agonizingly. And you sent Nikita to seduce and destroy the man Martina was married to, sent me to protect a child that could be the twin of my own dead child. And then you try to KILL US!!! WHY? I DEMAND AN ANSWER!!!"
"Because I knew you would do whatever was necessary to get the job done." Operations replied softly.
"That's absolutely correct but we have a small problem. You people will not be able to keep him safe. I'm the only one who can. And there is only one way to be assured of that. To make sure you never abuse me or anyone else as you have in the past. " Slowly he pulled out his gun.
"There are parts of this you don't understand, Michael. Parts you don't know. I wasn't trying to kill you. I didn't send them." Operations kept his voice calm and even.
"That's not what Nikita was told or what was relayed to Simon and Christine. Who else would have know where we were? Who else has the motivation to get rid of me? You're the only one that comes to mind."
Madeline swallowed hard. She knew now they had pushed too far on this one. The timing was perfect though to get some answers out of both the men facing off in front of her. "Michael, he wasn't trying to kill you. That's entirely George's doing. He's working with Jon Jae. You don't know this but..."
Michael sneered but kept his eyes on Operations. "Jon Jae is Reese's father and Martina is his mother. She was working both sides and got a little careless. So you end up with this child who you people want to conceal and they want to get rid of. Where do you go from there? You've got this volatile situation occurring here with Nikita and I. We're too close and flaunting your ultimate directive. You get this brilliant idea to take care of several problems at once. Especially knowing who this child looks like. You knew exactly how to play me."
"That's not it. You're wrong! I needed you two bonded to make this work. It is the only way. I need you to listen to me. You need to know that real story." Operations knew the only way he was going to get to Michael at this point was to let the real reason for needing to protect Reese out into the open. He had even kept this from Madeline. He swallowed passed the sand dry patch in his throat as he felt the cold metal on his forehead.
"You can't say anything to change my mind. I'm done. I want to go home." He flipped off the safety. Michael fought the urge of his body to shake. The rage he felt that day in the room with L' Araigne and 'those people' who had hurt his colleagues. That could one day aim themselves at the man who balanced his life on his fingertips. Michael flinched as he heard the gun shot in his head followed by his mother's scream. It hurt to admit that he had somehow cared for the man he had to kill.
Madeline saw the conflict that was going on inside of Michael. Guessing what he was remembering she said gently, "If you do this, it will only become another regret. You'll see Oscar when you close your eyes just like you do your parents."
With an indescribable sound, Michael pointed the gun on her. Momentarily focusing on her instead of Operations. "Salope! Shut up!!"
She continued in the same vein. "Isn't that what you're seeing in your head Michael? Hearing the gun, hearing your mother scream, seeing them slump to the floor. Do you remember what you were wearing that day?" *You're cold Madeline. Using this against him again. It's the core thing that tortures him and you use it to save your own skin. You are a bitch. * His hand begun to quiver and she could see his inner struggle for control begin to manifest inside outwardly. "What do you think Reese and Katrina would think of you if they knew what you've done?"
He shook his head. The quiver progressed to a tremour. White hot absolute fury kept pushing to get out. She was heartless. First his parents, his most deep seated nightmare and regret thrown in his face. And now the children and how they would see him if they knew his past. That she would have the audacity to tell them about that horrible...The fury broke out in a howl of agony. He fired rapidly at the same time Operations lunged at him and Madeline dropped to the floor. The bullets hit the glass. It was protected on the outside from gunfire but not from the range it came from inside. It shattered and fell outwards in large pieces into ops.
Chaotic motion ran over ops as Birkhoff moved several of his counterparts out of the way of the falling glass. In shock they watched the altercation above them. Oscar fought with Michael for control. He could feel that the younger man was not physically able to beat him, he could hold on for a short time but Oscar knew he was going to be the victor here. He fell backwards onto the desk, Michael's hand dug into his throat. They struggled for command of the weapon.
* You fool! You lose here. They go after Nikita and the children.* His thoughts gave him strength to fight harder. Operations could feel the change and tried to match him. "I will have a life back. No more of this insanity!" Michael said through gritted teeth. Suddenly he felt a muzzle of a gun jammed in the nape of his neck.
"Now, now gentlemen.....let's not kill each other just yet. I have something else in mind." Michael had frozen in place as he felt the gun. Operations as he saw it happen. "Move away, Michael." Slowly he released Operations and stood straight. George didn't move the gun but shifted himself as Michael moved. It was almost as if they were starting an intricate dance. George stopped in front of him, the gun inches from his chin.
Michael took in the scene as he stood. Madeline was in the far corner, a man in front of her with an AK. Another hauled Operations to his feet and pushed him into the other corner along the same wall of glass as Madeline. "Put the gun on the floor." He didn't move. "NOW !!" Gradually and reluctantly, he bent his knees and lowered himself to the floor, releasing the gun gently onto the rug.
Operations watched Michael's movements, their slowness had to be exaggerated. It was as if he was testing something. Then he noticed the hand on the pant leg. As he moved at the same speed back up, Michael moved it up so it snagged on the cuff of the low soft boots he was wearing. Obviously he had some kind of weapon concealed there, either a knife or another gun.
A quick movement in the doorway of the briefing room caught Michael's attention as he stood up. It was only a momentary glance but he had seen enough to know that Nikita had followed him. He didn't let on that he had seen anything. By the direction she was moving, she was heading for the catwalks to come up from the other side and across the walkway. He was glad she was staying away from the stairs. But not glad she was here. She was supposed to be on her way with Claude and the rest of them. He had been hesitant about taking her along. Had he planned something else instead?
George sneered at him, "Can you move any slower?"
"I'm sorry. I've recently been injured and am not healed yet. The struggle with Operations was a bit much."
"Yeah, melodramatically too much. Though I have to admit, letting you two kill each other would be a great sight. Like a lion and a gladiator fighting to the death but...I'm going to get too much good for the two of you to let that happen. So...where is the little bastard? And for that matter where is long and leggy? Leave them waiting in the car?"
Michael shook his head. "I came alone."
Heartily George laughed. "Come on, you two are a package deal. Where one goes, so goes the other. You couldn't have left her at home with both brats?"
"There is no both. There is just the baby." Michael turned slightly so he was directly across from the doorway.
Did you come with a whole platoon full of these grunts, Georgie?" Operations asked sarcastically from his corner.
George matched Michael's movements never taking his eyes from the cold green ones that stared into his. A smile crossed his face. "No, didn't need too. They were just what I needed. By the way, tell them to back off down there. Especially your watchdog. Can you do that faster than you put the gun down, Mr. Invincible?"
From where he was standing, Michael could just make out four fingers curving around the doorframe. The ringed finger told him, she was waiting outside, surveying the situation and listening. Nikita would have the better chance at inflicting the most damage and distraction at once. Simon was quick but not as quick as the close range the two others had. "Simon, hold back for now!"
Simon frowned and gradually eased up the pressure on the trigger. He motioned to several other to lower their weapons. He flicked his eyes to where Christine was plastered against the wall. No one from above could see her but the angle she was at lent itself to a clear path to George's head. She started to lower her weapon, watching him. He shook his head slightly. The two of them had the most powerful weapons on the floor. They had to stay at ready.
Nikita took a deep breath as she leaned against the wall. Her heart beat rapidly and fear rolled around inside. A hostage situation in Section One. The 'no loaded weapons' rule was usually flaunted, most carried while inside. George had been able to walk in, armed and ready. No questions asked. Probably had a plausible reason on the tip of his tongue, too. She focused her attention on the voices inside as they started to speak again. Operations' question had already given her one answer. Now for some more, she hoped.
She willed herself to be steady. Too much depended right now on her keeping her cool and listening carefully for an kind of signal from Michael. He had to have seen her fingers on the wall. *Please let's get this finished. I don't want to be here. I need to go back to them. We need to go back to them.*
"Oscar, you were telling Michael that there was a real story behind why Reese was so important. Care to relate it so all of us can hear it?"
Operations smirked at him. But inwardly he was trying to figure out how to get Michael to understand what to do here. That no matter what George threatened, he couldn't allow Reese's whereabouts to be revealed just yet, maybe not ever. Then he frowned at himself. Michael wasn't going to tell anybody anything. Of that he should have never doubted. "It was only about what your real intentions towards getting Reese back are about. How you want to control his father and ultimately everything under the umbrella. How you want to be the one we all answer to."
"I figured that out on my own. I didn't need you to tell me. 'Kita and I had that determined already, days ago." *Understand me Nikita!*
Her ears had perked up at the 'real' comment but nothing new was revealed. Then Michael had said her name but had shortened it, grabbing her attention. He only used that when he really wanted to get her to listen to him or to warn her...And there was the emphasis on those words... Nikita slid around the doorframe into the room and like a cat pounced on George
George felt the arm wrap around his throat. Michael moved like a blur grabbing the gun from his hand. Nikita swept his legs out from under him and dropped backwards snapping him down on her now upthrust knee. He howled in pain as they twisted onto the floor. Michael fired at the one grappling with Operations. From his boot he pulled a knife and flung it at the other one who was turning and aiming at Nikita as she rose from the floor. Madeline was slumped against the wall, obviously already hit.
Michael's aim was accurate as the knife struck the assailant's throat. He grabbed at it with a choking sound as he fell to his knees and then over. The one Michael shot didn't stop. He whirled as the bullet ripped into his shoulder and swung the rifle. It caught him in the side of the face and flung him backwards. Stunned he sagged against the wall, fighting to keep his senses from shutting down.
Nikita slammed Michael's attacker in the face with both hands wrapped around her gun. He moved back a few feet and struck back at her. She was able to dance out of the way as Michael tackled him down to the ground. One quick movement from Michael quieted him. George grabbed at Nikita's leg and tripped her. She came down on one knee and twisted to shove the gun in her hand into his cheek. "One more quiver from any part of you earns you one big hole."
Operations was helping Madeline to her feet. She was holding her abdomen and was barely able to stand up straight. "No, no...back to the floor, Madeline. Wait till Christine can look at you." Gently he helped to lower her to the floor and crouched down beside her as she leaned against him. "Simon, where's Christine? I need her up here now!!" he bellowed.
Slowly Nikita rose and forced George to follow her by jamming the gun into his cheek harder and lifting. Michael staggered to his feet and grabbed George. Shoving his arm up behind his back, he pushed him into the wall and held him there. To Nikita he didn't look good. He was pale, sweating and breathing hard. Within seconds the room was crowded. Christine brushed past Nikita and cocked her head in Michael's direction. "Get him to Medlab. I want him checked out." Then she went to Madeline.
Two operatives took a hold of George and Michael moved away. He turned to Nikita and started to propel her to the door. "Let's go," he said hoarsely.
"Good, we're going to get you checked out. You don't look good. And you will only leave Medlab when she says so."
"No, we're done. We're going back to Claude's." He sounded weary and sad.
"Where are you going?" Operations demanded of Michael as he turned in their direction.
"Didn't you hear anything I said? I'm done. This was my last debriefing. Find another flunky. I have a family to take care of."
George started to laugh. "So you think so, huh?"
Nikita stopped dead in her tracks, causing Michael to pause too. "What do you mean George?!"
"Jon Jae should have been there by now. Should have taken what he wanted and left." He giggled and then started to cough. "Lost a son again Michael...I feel sorry for you. And for you too Nikita. Jon Jae likes little girls. He'll raise her right."
With a scream, Nikita went at him. Michael caught her. "Wait, 'Kita. He's lying. Claude was already going. It was part of the plan, especially after we heard from Madeline yesterday."
"Not me," she choked out from the corner.
His head snapped in her direction. "What?" he barked.
"Not who called," her words came out with great effort.
George giggled and coughed again. "Cell phones...voice synthesizers...CC isn't as good as she thinks...not hard to get a fix on them...technology is wonderful, isn't it?"
Michael and Nikita looked at each other. They were alone and unprotected. "Katie and Reese...Michael," she whispered. Madeline lifted her head to watch them with an odd smile even though her face was a mask of pain and deadly white.
Operations went into action. "Get to the roof. They'll be ready to take off when you get there. Go now! Move it!"
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Each room had been checked. Every door had been opened, closet contents shifted. They were nowhere to be found. Someone somewhere had gotten them out in time. The trail was absolutely cold. Jon Jae stood in the kitchen, hands on his hips. Anger boiled over and he grabbed a chair. He slammed it into several of the glass fronted cabinets. The panes shattered along with the dishes behind them. He threw the chair across the room. With a growl he pulled the copper bracelet from his wrist and slammed it down on the kitchen table. From his jacket he pulled a long knife.
With a blow that shook the table from the top to the feet, he plummeted the knife into the metal of the bracelet. It sliced into the soft metal and into the hard wood of the table. The handle of the knife vibrated back and forth as it stood straight up in the wood. "Remember who had one just like this? We're not done...not yet...you owe me, you bastard. You're mine...one way or another."
He strode through the living room. Still enraged he pushed over a recliner and then with a heave the couch. Smashing the front door open, he exited the house and then turned to look the way he had come. Memories floated through his head. Margeaux and how he had thought he could trust her. The pride he felt whenever he made L' Araigne proud. The anguish he felt finding his 'father's' body at the decrepit little hovel in the forest, his skull cracked...then he heard her laugh...the way it used to sound so happy. It would almost make him smile.
A howl of rage tore out of him again. He grabbed a chair from the porch and hammered it into the front window. Panes of glass exploded into the living room. "Retribution mon ami, Michel!"
And then he left while the breeze played with the white sheers in the shattered window sash.
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CC surveyed the knife that protruded from the kitchen table and the piece of copper that it was thrust through. She shook her head. It was certainly a message but she didn't get its meaning. It obviously was not meant for her. Taking a second glance around, she frowned and pushed her way back into the living room. There she took in the overturned furniture and the shattered window.
"Whoever showed up didn't find them either. I didn't think they would run so fast. He and Michael must have talked. And then he booked with the kids. Damn it. Another step ahead again. Why am I playing catch up here? That whoever was pissed and it wasn't George because that ass went to Section. That only leaves Reese's father...that Asian Red Cell leader, Jon Jae. This ain't over yet. Not by a long shot."
Then she heard the sounds of a rapidly approaching chopper. "Damn it!" Next came the sounds of it landing. Taking a deep breath she steadied her self in front of the door into the living room. Readying her gun, she aimed chest high and waited. "Always go down fighting!"
With the sounds of the chopper in the background, Michael and Nikita approached the house. Operations exited a second chopper with several other operatives armed and in jumpsuits. It was eerily quiet and it was giving Michael an ominous feeling. Nikita was white with fear and her eyes shadowed with a picture she didn't want to see.
They exchanged glances as they stepped onto the porch. There was no noise and the shattered front window was evident. After Nikita nodded affirmatively to Michael, they entered with drawn guns. Only to come face to face with CC who sighed in relief and lowered her gun. Michael glanced at Nikita quickly but did nothing to stop her from going after CC.
CC put her hands up as Nikita came closer. She didn't like the look in the other woman's eyes. Neither Operations nor Michael was saying anything in her defense. "Whoa Nikita, what's wrong? Back down a little."
"You friggin' bitch! You called here yesterday. George had you tapped and you led him and Jon Jae right here." Nikita grabbed a handful of hair, her other hand forming a fist. "What did you do with those kids?"
Wrapping her own hand around the one dug in her hair, she tried to pry off Nikita's grip."I wanted to flush Michael so George would make a move They were gone when I got here. I don't want to fi..." The fist flew into her face before she could get out another word. Nikita didn't let go and hammered her again. She flung CC away from her and stormed up the stairs.
"You've got to know something. The real reason he has to be protected, Michael." Operations snagged his arm as he started away from him.
Michael shrugged off the hand. "Get out of my way. Leave, you are not wanted here. I have other things to deal with." He grabbed the end post of the railing and swung around onto the first step.
"Martina did the same thing to him that she did to Nikita.
"It's not because of who he is but what he has?" They both ignored CC as she got up from the floor, wiping a bloodied nose and a badly smashed lip. "Make her pay..." she mumbled as she pulled out a dining room chair and sat down. Holding her head tipped back to stop her nose from bleeding. *Damn she hits a hell of a lot harder than I thought. I really didn't think she had it in her. I think I need a doctor...* She gave a short snort. *Walter said I had to watch my mouth. No problem watching it now!*
"What are you talking about? You're not making any sense." He was moving from annoyed to angry.
"Nikita wasn't the only one who had a going away present from Martina. His is just on the inside."
"Don't toy with me. Don't lie to me."
"I wouldn't lie about this child's life!"
Nikita's scream from upstairs pulled his attention away. "Damn all of you straight to hell! You bastards!! He's just a small child!!!"
It was neat and clean. Nothing amiss except for the open closet. It the middle of the bed sat the white cat and next to it was Reese's teddy bear. Shaking so hard, she almost fell over, Nikita picked up the two stuffed toys and brought them to her face. "Katie, Reese..." she said with her face buried in the fur.
"Where are you? Where did they take you?" She felt rooted to the spot. In a daze she lifted her face from the plush and sank to the edge of the bed. She hugged the toys close to her chest. The smothering pain from earlier...no, yesterday now because it was almost dawn...was back. They had been so close and now that hope of someday was so far away she couldn't even think of how to get back to it. She wanted to cry so bad but there were just no tears. "They're just babies. How can you do this? They're innocent and so young. WHY?"
As if from far away, she heard the pounding on the stairs as Michael ran up them. He swung into Katie's room, at this point almost convinced of what he was going to see by the way Nikita had screamed. But instead he found her sitting on the bed clutching the stuffed cat he had sent to Katie from her 'new' parents and Reese's teddy bear. For a brief moment, absolute relief flowed through him. There wasn't anything to see that would haunt him. Except the look on Nikita's face. It was completely blank, even her eyes looked empty. *God, don't tell me I've lost her in this.*
He moved forward and sat on the bed. "Nikita..." There was no response, no hint she even knew he was in the room. Michael reached a hand out to her which she flinched from. His was no where near steady either. Seeing the stuffed animals suggested to him that something else was going on besides what everything else showed. Claude had told him when he moved he would leave something behind to tell them everything was all right. To Michael, that something was the animals Nikita had crushed against her. He knew he would hear from his friend, it was just a question of when and how. Now he had to find a way to stop the hurt for Nikita. He would deal with his own pain later.
Hatred and anger suddenly rose up in Nikita's throat. They had dared to threaten and attack both her and Michael. Their minds and bodies constantly ripped at and abused in the name of doing greater good. In the name of 'saving the world'. But this was not the greater good. Fragmenting a child's world was wrong. "They deserve paradise..." she murmured. "...and all we've given them is a living hell."
"Kita, listen to me, please..." Her explosion of movement at first shocked him as he watched her dash from the room in slow motion, the animals falling to the floor. He picked them up, feeling for a instant dead inside, too. Realization that she was going after them drove him to his feet and out the door. He chased her down the stairs. "Nikita!! No!! Don't!!!" He couldn't catch her before she had CC pinned against the top of the dining room table.
"Where are my children, you bitch? What did you do with them? I WANT THEM BACK!!!"
He grabbed her and tore her away from a furious CC before more damage could be done. Pain exploded through his torso as she fought him. "Nikita... stop...please..." In frustration, he grabbed her hair and yanked. It caught her attention. Green eyes tinged with silver blazed into blue ones burning with wrath. "You are hurting me...stop...please. Remember what I told you!"
CC hauled herself up from the table. That was it. The girl was going to learn here and now not to attacked those in charge. And it was a learning experience CC was determined the girl was never going to forget. She started to reach for Michael's shoulder to yank him around when Operations was suddenly in front of her, pushing her towards the kitchen door.
"No, it ends now. You interfered in one of my operations. You were wrong. You have put everyone in grave danger. Do you have any idea how much?" He spoke through gritted teeth. CC had acted impulsively. The move had been stupid and ill conceived. Now they were going to pay the price. He hoped to hell it wasn't the ultimate one. He pushed her into the kitchen. "Did you make that call yesterday?"
"Of course, you know they can't be allowed custody of that child! He's too valuable as a control device to us." She wiped at her nose which was beginning to drip again.
"Don't preach that crap at me. He is a child. An innocent child whose mother has ...Do you have any idea what she did, CC?"
"You're getting rather cryptic there, Oscar."
"You're so...She had him implanted, CC. He's got the damn directory."
"WHAT?"
"You heard..." He stopped as he saw the kitchen table. CC watched as his eyes widened for a moment and his face lost color.
"Oscar? You ok? You know what this means? Is it a message for you?"
Operations shook his head. From a dry mouth, he softly said, "Not me, Michael." He spun on heel and shoved the kitchen door open. Michael and Nikita still argued in harsh undertones. Neither was giving any space to the other. As Operations let the door swing shut behind him, Nikita stopped struggling and managed to pull herself from Michael's grasp. She turned away from them, after she pulled the stuffed animals from Michael's hand. Operations motioned to him but he shook his head.
"This is important. I think you better see this, Michael." They followed Operations into the kitchen. With wide eyes, Nikita stared around the kitchen until her eyes came to rest on the table. Sullenly CC watched them from the area of the sink, holding a wet towel under her nose and on her swollen mouth. Michael stopped short as his gaze came to rest on the display in the kitchen table. She watched as his jaw tightened and the pulse in the side of his neck get more pronounced.
"What it this?" She reached out to it but he seized her hand in a vise like grip. His eyes were wide and he was breathing rapidly. "Michael?"
"Don't touch it! Look at me!! You remember what I told you the other day. Don't ever forget it. They are safe, no matter how it seems. Do you understand me?"
"I can't believe that right..." she started as he wrapped his hand around the handle of the knife and yanked it out of the table.
He held the bracelet up for a moment and then whipped around with the knife. He sent it flying into the door of the cabinet next to CC's head. She stood almost paralyzed as it vibrated in the wood from the force of Michael's throw.
"I'm waiting for you, Jon Jae." He caught Nikita's arm, yanking her with him. He stopped at the door and pointed a finger at CC. "We're not finished either."
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"They are adjusting well?" Madeline smiled at the answer the person on the other end gave her. "You do realize that for a while she will focus her anger on you. After all you did stop her from following her mother...Nikita is quiet and withdrawn. I can only describe her as cold. A colleague mentioned that he thought this has taken some of her spark. No, I don't agree. It will just give her something to strive for...Michael seems to be back to normal. Just about his usual self. More reserved, though. The relationships that Operations and I had with him are badly damaged. Whatever trust there was is completely gone. He avoids us most of the time..."
Madeline shifted in her chair and reached for the mouse on her computer. She nodded in response to something this time. "Their relationship seems to be fine. Perhaps even more settled and stronger than before. They are both rather busy and thus I haven't had a very good chance to observe it from this perspective. We had to replace a few people and in light of that, we pulled Nikita and Simon from Michael's team. ...oh, Simon has second and Nikita third...no, we kept that small...without you to fill in on third the way you were before, we've specialized it. I plan to use it as a training ground. Nikita is a good teacher. The recruits work well with her. She is just the right mix of hard and soft...dark and light."
Her door slid open and Christine stood there, PDA in hand. Madeline motioned her to the chair and started to make her goodbyes. "What was that? Yes I did notice that myself. I do plan to discuss it with both of them. Perhaps I can allow it to continue, I am undecided. Funny you should mention that name...yes you're right...I really must go...I have a visitor. We'll talk in two weeks...Good... and thank you for everything."
With a sigh, she flipped the phone closed. She smile her enigmatic smile at Christine who sat uncomfortably in the chair. "Thank you for coming, Christine. We have some catching up to do. I see you have the reports I requested. Shall we start there?"
The End
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