SHADES OF GREY VI

Chapter 30

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"Michael!" He stopped as he heard Walter call out his name. Running a hand up over his head to rub the back of his neck, he turned. Walter's steps echoed off the walls of the corridor. It only added to the dream like state Michael had begun to feel he was in. 72 hours and nothing yet. He had no doubts as to the sincerity of Operations' words. He only had about 48 hours left. Only two days before he'd never see her again. He leaned against the wall as Walter caught up to him.

Walter saw the weariness in Michael's face and the look of defeat in his eyes. He knew about what Operations' had said. Birkhoff had switched on the microphone in the loft just in case. After the exchange, he had hightailed it in to tell him what was going down. Walter was concerned but he didn't think Operations would actually go through with it. He would be cutting his own throat if he did. Frustration and Anger had been uttering the words, not Operations.

"Did you find out anything Walter?" There was no emotion in Michael's voice. It was flat and dull.

"According to most of the ones I contacted, things have been real quiet. Only thing that sounded remotely interesting was that Perry Bauer was doing some recruiting. He's working for somebody."

"Yeah we'd heard that. I know he was responsible for the set-up at the amusement park. Nikita told me the guy who attacked her on the ride was Ornett. I wanted him questioned about it but I was overruled once again. George insist on letting it go for now. Operations agreed. Was your contact able to tell you who he was working for?"

"Yeah, somebody named Phil Raines? Heard of him before?"

Michael shook his head. The name was new. " No. Get what you can from your contact and give it to Birkhoff. We'll add to the database just in case." He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.

"How are you holding up?"

He looked directly into Walter's eyes. He made no attempts to hide his fear and defeat from the man in front of him. "I'm scared." He leaned his head back against the wall and looked up at the ceiling. "She's out there alone. God knows where and I've got 48 hours to find her. I've hit more dead ends than I can count. She's disappeared like the images of a dream you have just as you're about to wake up. There are glimpses of memory but it's incomplete. It slips passed your grasp." Reaching out he clenched his hand into a fist. "I know she's out there. I feel her waiting for me to come for her. Like I promised. I just can't find the way. And with what she has on her, damn it! I'm failing her and I'm failing the rest of you. I've screwed this up so much."

"Michael you didn't plant the thing on her."

"Martina's isn't the only one she has," he blurted out as he looked around.

Walter stared at the man leaning against the wall in a new light. The fact that Michael had been lying to the whole Section caught him off guard. He had never seen Michael as deceptive, just good at side stepping an issue. At least in all his dealings with him.

"You have had it the whole time."

"It's in her ring."

"That's why it's never been found. And that's why Red Cell only hit more established operatives. When they hit Nikita, they were looking for the operative that used to live there. They were looking for you in the first place. She got caught in the middle of things. What the hell were you thinking?!"

"I didn't think she'd be wearing the damn ring again, Walter. I never intended this to happen."

"You let her keep wearing it!"

"I couldn't bring myself to tell her to give it back. To tell her why. I certainly couldn't call her in Israel and tell her. Then she was home. I'd just gotten her back. I couldn't let go enough to do it. Maybe I liked what it supposedly said. That our bond is more than just attraction and the situation. That it's more than just for now.... I'm rambling. Forget it!" He pushed off of the wall and started to walk away.

Walter put out a hand to grasp his shoulder. "Believe it or not, son. I understand."

"Thank you." That was when he heard an obnoxious laugh. A laugh he and Walter both recognized.

Walter smirked and gave a disgusted snort. "Speak of the devil, sounds like he's making an appearance."

"Yeah and I wonder why."

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Bauer had been nervous about coming to Section One in light of recent events. But he was not one to back down from a challenge. That challenge was to let Michael know about Nikita but stay alive so he could get her back from L' Araigne for himself. He also knew that Oscar would be up his butt about the amusement park incident. He had to make it look good.

Michael decided to avoid any contact with Bauer. He was in no mood to hear any of the man's obnoxious comments. He went instead to Strategics. He thought that maybe by reviewing the files from Martina's section, he might get a lead as to who had taken Nikita. Who knew, maybe this was connected somehow to a profile that had been worked there.

Sighing, he settle into the chair and started to run files. His attention didn't hold though. He couldn't keep his eyes open. His body's need for sleep was stronger than his force of will. Slowly he nodded off, even though at a glance he appeared to be intent on the screen.

The dreams did not take long to start. It was one of his mind's reoccurring favorites. He was a child being kidnaped from his home and the destruction and devastation he witnessed during it. It was different this time though. Nikita didn't appear in it. All he could hear was L' Araigne's laughter and his voice mocking him.. "Mine...Mine...always mine."

Michael flinched from the scene at his childhood home, closing his eyes so he didn't have to witness it anymore. Then he heard a voice and opened them to blackness that hung like a cloak of heavy velvet. 'You lied to me.'

Michael turned in a circle. He knew the voice. ' No I haven't. I love you. I wouldn't do that to you.'

'You've done it before. What's stopping you now? Nothing has before. Why didn't you come for me? Why did you break your promise to me?' Her voice was pleading and full of sadness.

'Nikita why can't I see you?'

'You can't see me anymore. There's nothing left to see. I'm nothing anymore.'

'What are you talking about? God!! Just tell me where you are! I want you to come home. I need you!! Stop hiding from me!'

'I'm not hiding. But I can't come to you. Not anymore. You've let the Section win and now I can't. You failed again. I thought you had changed. I was wrong and I paid for that mistake. I shouldn't have believed in you.'

'Nikita please. I don't understand.'

'One wears black for mourning, Michael. Why do you think everything is black. It's the color of your failure. Your lack of heart and love. Of truth and soul. Without them you're not human. And Michael you don't. So guess what? You failed me.'

'I'm trying. I haven't failed. You're my heart and soul. I have them because of you.'

'Not anymore...'

'I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU"RE GETTING AT?!!!??'

'I'm dead. Your failure killed me, Michael..all your fau...'

Another voice joined in, "My angel, she knows the truth, it's time you accepted it. Accept what you've always known, always felt....

Michael woke so suddenly that he almost fell from the chair. A cry was on his lips but he was able to catch it before he let it loose. Taking a deep shaky breath, he leaned forward. Clasping his hands together in front of him, he lowered his head. With a growl bursting from his throat he was on his feet, pacing the room.

"Damn it stay out of my head! You're dead and gone. God, Nikita! Why can't I figure it out? Who has you?"

He started at the voice behind him. "Maybe she got tired of you, Mike."

The grin on Bauer's face was the first thing Michael saw as he turned. "You should not be wandering around here on your own." He reached for the intercom.

"Wait a minute. George told me it was o.k. to come down and talk to you. I want to offer an apology."

For a moment Michael was still and silent. Puzzlement knitted his brow as he looked intently at Bauer. "What?"

"For the screw up at the amusement park. I'm sorry. I got set up too. Ornett was working for somebody else. I guess he sold both of us out."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Rapidly Michael was trying to figure out what Bauer was up too. There was not the slightest possibility that he believed the liar. Bauer had been the one who set it up. However, the reason behind it was unclear. And he really didn't care what it was at the moment. Later, maybe. He waved a hand at him.

"Fine. If you're done Bauer, just leave. I just don't have the time right now."

"Yeah, ok." He started to leave but stopped and reversed his direction. He came closer to Michael who eyed him warily. "I have a question for you."

"Yes?"

"How did you tame the little hellcat?"

"Excuse me?"

"Ya know, Nikita, how did you tame her? Get her to please you? Get her to beg for more?"

"Get out Bauer!"

The malicious laugh he gave slightly unnerved Michael. The man was dangerous. He should have been cancelled a year ago. With his hands clasped behind his back, Bauer slowly moved backwards to the exit. The smirk never left his face. Michael studied the man. He looked weak, but that was deceptive. He lived easy making others do the scut work for him. He never got his hands dirty, figuratively or literally. For some strange reason, he wondered if Bauer had ever played in the mud as a child. He had to try very hard not to laugh out. The image was so ridiculous to him that he almost missed the next thing Bauer said.

"She looks good in your clothes."

"Get out of my hair now Bauer. Before I physically move you myself. I don't want to hear anymore." Michael was focusing so much on Bauer the man that he was not absorbing the comments. He hadn't stopped watching the older man as he backed away. He was disgusting, even his choice of attire was uncouth. The royal blue jacket with the blue silk shirt was loud and out of place in the Section. Not bothering to conceal the sneer on his face, Michael showed his back to Bauer, signaling an end to his participation in the conversation.

With a snicker, Bauer let decided to drop another hint. Wondering if Michael would catch it.

"Were you able to find a safe place for the brat?" There was no reaction from him. Bauer frowned. Maybe he hadn't said it loud enough. He continued to back away slowly. He wanted to be able to be out the door in case Michael snapped.

Michael had already tuned him out. Instead he was trying to concentrate on the Lucite map in front of him. Locations and mission statuses were all indicated by the different colored marks. Everyone was in play at the time. Except me. I need to be and I can't. I might as well tell him to get it over with.

"Did you know that Nikita lost the silver necklace that matches her ring?"

Bauer was out the door before Michael had a chance to turn around to retort. What had Bauer been saying? Something about Nikita losing something? He replayed one of Bauer's comments in his head. She looks good in your clothes. Michael snapped his head around to look out the windows that encased Strategics.

"You haven't seen her in my clothes, Bauer. The only time she wore them was my pullover the night we ... were..." He put his hands up against the map. Taking a deep breath as a thought occurred. He shook his head. "No Michael don't go there. He doesn't have the guts. He wouldn't be that stupid." Were you able to get the brat safe? He closed his eyes. Bauer knew about Katie. A groan escaped his lips. This couldn't be happening. His body started to shake as the rage built. ....please you, ...beg for more...? The meaning behind the question was clear. And too damn intimate in its knowledge. There was no way for him to know that unless he had heard or ...God, seen us. He was in the cabin. He was there and watched us make love. When... His eyes were now wide open and his breath came in rapid gasps. Bauer's shirt...that color...it's the same color as her gown...that I couldn't find that morning. He was there the night I came home from Marseille. He watched us that night. He pulled a hand up through his hair. The full impact of Bauer's comments weighing down on him. He had mentioned her necklace was missing. How could he had known she wasn't wearing it unless he had seen that. I only just found it. He couldn't have known....My God!! It was him!1 The bastard took her!!

He was moving towards the door before he even finished the thought.

"BAUER!!!" he shouted as he burst out of the doors. Heads turned in his direction. "WHICH WAY DID HE GO?"

An operative Michael couldn't immediately recall the name of spoke up. "He went with the driver who brought George."

"Where's George?"

"The loft."

Michael dashed across Systems and hit the stairs to the loft, taking them two at a time. He threw the door open without announcement. He moved to stand even with George who had stood along with Operations as he had entered.

"Where's Bauer going? Where was your driver to take him?" His tone was demanding with fringes of panic.

Operations stepped in and pushed Michael backwards. "I don't know what your problem is but control it and back off!"

George looked at Michael with a puzzled look. He was becoming more and more intrigued as he heard and saw how the relationships were changing among the Section One members. There was open defiance in Michael's eyes and clear belligerence in the way he held himself. There was wariness and uncertainty in Oscar.

Watching him physically push Michael back was just more evidence of the change. Oscar didn't like to touch anyone. Michael flinched from being touched by anyone. Neither was in their usual role. Yes major changes. The effect of these changes however was still not evident. Good or bad, he'd have to wait to find out. George lowered himself back into his chair. He was eager to see the exchange between the two men.

Michael visibly struggled to regain his control. He knew he had been inches away from finding Nikita and getting her back with the Directory intact. However he felt those inches rapidly growing into miles as he dallied here with Operations.

"It was Bauer." His voice was still thick with emotion but there was a hardening edge to it.

Operations could tell that Michael was changing himself into machine mode. Something had happened between Bauer and him. Something to make Michael act as if a profile was suddenly going awry.

"Talk to me, Michael."

Taking a deep breath, Michael managed to pull his mask together and with it his control. George watched the transformation and was amazed by it. He had heard it from reports and see examples of him operating in it but never had he witnessed it actually happening. It was something to keep, to remember.

"Bauer was the one who attacked Nikita and me at home. He was the one who took her."

At home...now that's interesting. How far have you allowed the relationship to develop Oscar? George was quite curious now.

"How do you know it was Bauer? I thought there were no leads as to where Nikita was?"

"There weren't until a few minutes ago. Bauer said things to me that he shouldn't have known. Couldn't have known without seeing Nikita."

"That's not enough Michael. I'm not convinced!" Operations was trying to salvage this before George realized how close Michael and Nikita had gotten. Before he could understand that the two operatives were involved outside the perimeter of the Section. He stood right in Michael's face, trying to back him down.

He gave no ground to Operations. Michael was not going to let himself appear to have been dominated in front of George or anyone else for that matter. Nikita's life as well as everyone's in Section One was in danger. He had to stop the unthinkable from happening. His voice was low and pitched to be heard by Operations' ears only.

"His shirt was made from Nikita's nightgown. Do you need more proof than that?"

Operations lowered his voice to match Michael's. George really didn't need to hear any of this.

"How can you be so sure? Has she moved clothes to your cabin?"

"No, I gave her the gown. It disappeared from the floor of my bedroom where it landed when I pulled it off of her as we made love. Do you need more? I know I need answers and I need them now!" Michael hissed the sentences at him. There, the whole relationship was out for Operations to know about and now free for him to use as he wanted.

Taken back by Michael's candidness, Operations was silent. They had been able to move ahead in their relationship further and faster than he had been able to with Madeline. Maybe Madeline was right. Perhaps they were stronger than either of them had been. The resulting effects on further missions were suspect. Could they still be effective as operatives being involved as they were? Operations had his doubts. However, he would have to wait til opportunity presented itself to test the situation and their resolves, both as operatives and as lovers.

Michael focused his attention now on George who had raptly been watching their exchange. "Well? Can you answer me please?"

A smile played across his mouth, George was enjoying himself immensely. But he was not one to play with operative lives. Especially one with the kind of information Nikita supposedly unwittingly was carrying with her. Besides good operatives were too important to the success of the Agency's goals.

"Danny was taking Bauer to a hotel on Laurent. The new one. Then he was coming back to get me."

"Thank you." Michael broke for the door. Time had be running from them as they had fooled around.

Operations' voice followed him down the hall. "This will have to be discussed Michael!" He turned back to face George. The smile was up on his lips again.

"Oscar, close the door. Let's discuss this ourselves. I'm very interested in knowing just what's been going on around here...."

Michael's movements and commands were precise and controlled when he reached Systems. He knew he had to be on the mark with everything he did in the next few hours. He had no room for the slightest error. There was too much as stake. Bauer knew too much. And Nikita knew too little.

"I want just Simon and Mullin with me at the hotel. Remainder of A as a backup. Notify B just in case. Stand by here. Have Chraider run that one."

"Are you sure about this Michael?" Birkhoff's question stopped him dead.

Birkhoff had never expressed doubt over Michael's ability to do anything to his face. It hurt and it bothered him. His actions lately were causing others to doubt his effectiveness and skills as an operative and a leader. He had to get himself under control and back to normal. At this point though he was unsure of what that was now.

It sure wasn't like he was before he had admitted to himself how he felt about her. It wasn't possible with everything that had happened. He couldn't go back down that path. Somewhere there had to be a way to find a new one. He didn't have time to look for it in the midst of what was happening. They'd have to trust in him to take care of it later.

"I wouldn't do this if I wasn't. Tell Simon and Mullin to meet me in Transport." Even to his own ears the words sounded hollow and rung with the hum of a lie. Yes he was unsure. He could be wrong . But he was unwilling to risk the chance at bringing her home safe.

Chapter 31

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Michael and Mullin entered the hotel together. Striding through the lobby to the desk, heads turning as eyes of people in the lobby, followed Michael's passage. His coat trailed slightly behind him. It snapped almost with the same energy he gave off. If the old cliche 'man with a mission' was to be used to describe someone one, he's it, Mullin thought with a smirk. As Michael pulled off his sunglasses to better see in the lobby, Mullin leaned in to whisper in his ear.

"I think they're wondering what movie you were in."

They stopped at the desk and Michael leaned against it, catching the clerk's attention. With a cocked eyebrow he said to Mullin, "Huh?"

"You turned every head in here with the way you walked in here. Like a movie star or something."

"Wonderful." Michael said sarcastically. His mood was sour and all he wanted to do was find Bauer and choke him. After he told him where Nikita was. The clerk approached and smiled at them.

"May I help you?"

As planned Mullin answered, Michael wanted to observe. Having been in Bauer's 'camp' before, he would recognize any of his men more quickly than Mullin. At least that was what they hoped for. If Bauer had been planning as Michael believed him to be. So many maybes, I have to make all the right moves, I can not fail.... He was nervous but it didn't show. He oozed calm aloofness.

Mullin smiled warmly at the clerk. "Yes, thank you. We're here to see Mr. Perry Bauer. Unfortunately when he left the message on our machine, he forgot to leave the room number. Just told us the hotel and time."

"Oh of course. Mr. Bauer left instructions to have you go right up. He's waiting there for you." She smiled at Mullin but then smiled even more at Michael.

He returned it with a curt "Thank you" and continued his stiff backed hard stride to the elevator. They got in and Michael stabbed at the button. Folding his hands in front of him, he stared at the doors. Mullin shook his head.

"You got it coming in all directions."

Michael flashed him a look. "Can it. I'm not interested. Bauer knows we're coming. He knew I'd come after him. He knew I'd take the bait. I'll take lead, you back me up." Slowly he withdrew his small automatic from inside his jacket and brought it down to his side pocket.

As the elevator stopped, both men moved to the side as the doors opened. They were greeted with silence. Quietly, they moved out. The door to Bauer's suite was to the left. Michael moved first, withdrawing the weapon from his pocket. There would be no surprises from Bauer this time. He was going to be sure of it.

It was slightly ajar so he gently pushed it with his foot. The door swung inward effortlessly. Nothing stirred. They entered with weapons drawn. Michael motioned Mullin toward the kitchen area, he took bedrooms. After a few minutes, he heard Mullin's soft curse in his ear.

"Shit. Michael, get to the kitchen." Dreading what he was going to find when he got there, he steeled himself.

What he saw didn't make him feel better. But at least it wasn't what he had felt in the pit of his stomach that they might find. So much for no surprises.... George's driver was propped sitting in a chair in the middle of the small gallery kitchen. A small spot of blood straining his shirt front. Mullin reached down and pick up shredded material from the floor. Michael snatched it from his hand and crushed it between his fingers. His face was a mask. The green eyes that caught everything but showed nothing could have been carved from marble. They were impenetrable and the coldness was a little unnerving even though Mullin had seen them like that many times before. Maybe it was because of Michael's words as he tossed the material in the dead man's lap.

"When I find the son of bitch, I'm going to rip the life out of him. Bit by bit. The Section be damned."

Mullin knew he meant it. And in an insane moment, he felt sorry for Perry Bauer. Michael was not going to kill him quickly and it certainly wasn't going to be pretty.

Chapter 32

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The mud was mixing with the egg yolks and broken shells. Momma had screamed at her as usual. She slapped her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground.

'God damn it. Can't you do anything without screwing it up!!'

Nikita was too scared to get from the muck and laid there until the door slammed shut. As the tears started to gathered in her eyes, she forced them to stay there. 'Momma isn't going to get me to cry no more'. Only thing she could hear now was the clucking of the chickens....yeah it was the chickens wasn't it? She struggled up to a crouching position and moved around to look back at the rundown farmhouse. But the dilapidated building wasn't there. All she could see was the concrete of a drainpipe and the foul sludge running from it that she had been laying in. The clucking wasn't from the chickens but the undescribable woman who leaned against the pipe.

'Told ya darlin' ya too mucha little thing to handle shit like that. Let me fix ya up with Collins...he do you up fine...just like this. Nikita closed her eyes before the hand was able....to hit again. She tried to get up but he pushed her down again. 'You don't have the choice to say no anymore. You gave that up the first time you said yes.' Nikita kicked at him and earned a slap in the face. In anger she grabbed his hand as he swung again. She didn't count on the other hand as it ....

Nikita's eyes snapped out as the sound filtered into her ears. She tried to bring her arms forward but discovered they tied as well he ankles. Realizing she'd been having a nightmare and knowing she was in the middle of a new one , she took a deep shaky breath. Russ wasn't real. It was just a dream. A stupid dream.... snippets of the dream floated through her memory. They were followed by the memories of the past few hours. She quivered slightly at the memory of Bauer. That's why Russ is back in my dreams. Put it back where it belongs girl! Now is not the time to deal with it!!

To break the back of her thoughts, she started to look around the room. It was run down and sparsely furnished. A threadbare couch sat in the center of the room. Its once rich floral pattern fade and ripped. A broken table laid on the floor and several parts of chairs were with it. Nikita leaned against a cracked plaster wall next to an old iron radiator. Plaster from the ceiling hang in ribbons. She thought she could hear the mewing of a cat. It smelled bad too. Like an old barn and it felt so damp. Some sunlight filtered into the room, casting most of it into shadows. A figure approached out of the gloom. Nikita held herself taut. She knew who it was.

"I'm glad to see you are awake, Nikita." L' Araigne knelt down in front of her. Nikita's eyes were glued to him. She harboured no trust for the man. In fact she was almost terrified just being in his presence. But she wasn't about to let him see that. Couldn't let it show. Operations used fear and its weakness as a weapon. L' Araigne would use it as a death sentence. Not only for her but she was sure for Michael, too. And at all costs she had to keep him safe, even if it meant she would die.

He knew where Katie was. He was the only one who did and only if he was alive could he continue to protect her. Maybe someday, be a father to her. But only if Nikita could keep him alive...only then. She knew it was a wild wish..that someday would come and she would be able to be a mother to her daughter and have a man like Michael to be her father... Only thing is someday doesn't exist in Section One...only tomorrow does...maybe...Mentally

Nikita shook herself. Being unfocused is a deathtrap here. I have to concentrate. Hold my focus. Do the job.

"I wish I could hear your thoughts, my dear. I know that they are in sharp contrast to the blankness and unemotionalism on your face and in your eyes. I know you are deep in thought. Perhaps you are analyzing your situation here, determining how best to escape from me. Or perhaps you are thinking about my angel? Yes that is it, more so the second than the first. We have that in common. I think about him a great deal. Magnificent isn't he?"

Suddenly he began to laugh

"Do you know what I have missed most about my angel? Not having him around to torment. I got such joy out of doing it. Immediate gratification. He was always so earnest to proof himself to me. Almost begging and craving the attention he got as I would torture him. I think he enjoys the pain. What about you?"

Her lack of speech and blank expression were his only replies. He sighed and stood up. Nikita followed him with her eyes, unwilling to take them off of him for fear of any sudden move he might make. Nikita knew one thing...This guy's 99 cents short of a dollar, I swear.

Standing over her, he smiled down. "He has trained you well and you have taken his lessons to heart. You apply them as they will work for you the best. You put on quite a display at Mr. Bauer's. I know Stephanie's cut throat was much fiercer looking than it really was. He learned that trick from me a long time ago. I am happy to see that it has been passed down. Yes I was most impressed. Not only by your own work but also what I have seen and heard that together you have accomplished. I applaud you for it. However I don't like it and I don't appreciate your closeness and attempts to 'repair' my work. There is nothing wrong with him. Except what you've done to him."

L' Araigne pulled a chair from the shadows and sat down on it. From there he continued his contemplation. She was a puzzle like his angel, flexible like a sturdy willow tree but with the strength of oak. He could tell that she shielded her own secrets behind those blue ice eyes. How many she had shared with Michel he could only guess. They were deep inside though. Deep but reachable. There were spots to reach in. Spots where her guard was thin. Places where he could reach in and pull the strings of being apart and retie them to his specifications. As he had done with Michael. She might even be a little easier. Ready to be put to use in the manipulation of her, the events of her life he had found out about would for now be adequate. Her life on the streets, her relationship with Michael and perhaps the most potent of all, the child. Guilt was a formidable weapon and he knew how to wield it like a sword made of the finest Toledo steel.

Michael was most vulnerable to that sword. It drove him unlike any other force in the world. Except perhaps for the force that sat against the wall here. L' Araigne knew how to use Michael against himself. He might be able to hide his vulnerabilities from most but not the man who fashioned him. Once Michael arrived and he was able to renew their bond, use the past to remind him of who and what he really was. Then the 14 years they had spent under the yoke of Section One would melt away. The two of them would be free. Things would be better, would be as they should be, would be as they should have been since that day....

Nikita noted his far away look even though his eyes still stared straight at hers. She refused to allow it to unnerve her. She keep her own eyes locked on his. What had turned L' Araigne into the man who sat in front of her? Had the 'betrayal' of Michael's father been so terrible to him that he had to punish the father through the son. And now still continue it after....My God....25 years. What the hell did Michael's father do? For a grudge to go on for 25 years. To touch as many lives as it had. Was the infiltration so bad...this has to be beyond a simple double cross...it is much more personal...could it be more intimate in nature...was there something here the Section didn't even know about?

"I found your silence most peculiar Nikita. Your file indicated that your tongue was one of your strengths as well as one of your weakness. Your favorite is biting sarcasm and you have a strong sense of the ironic too. I've seen no evidence of your sharpness. Are you on your best behaviour? Or are you afraid to speak because you think I will find something in your words to exploit?"

Suddenly he snapped his fingers, the sound like a gunshot in the room. Nikita viciously fought down the instinctive reaction to the sound. She refused to give into the quiver that was starting in her arms. She was tightly bound and the length of time without sufficient circulation was being to make itself felt. She swallowed hard, her throat felt like sand paper.

"You watch me to look for advantages. Don't bother...talk to me instead. You won't find any advantages, my beautiful one. They are too well hidden. I've had a long time to bury them. I would like to get to know you Nikita."

I'm not even 100% positive about who I am myself. How can you get to know someone who doesn't know themselves. As for advantages, there are some chunks out of your armour where I can see them. Michael is my first advantage. Then there is the original cause of all this. That's number two. I just need to figure out where the button is for that one. Between the two of us, L' Araigne you will come down from that pedestal you've put yourself on. Together we will come out on top. You're going to pay, believe me.

"Can I have some water?"

"Ah, she speaks. Tell me lady where did you find your tongue?"

"Some water please?"

"Of course, one moment." He disappeared and soon returned with a plastic bottle. Reaching down, he grabbed Nikita's upper arm and pulled her up to her feet. Slowly he poured some water into her mouth. It felt good going down. Some dribble out of her mouth. L' Araigne caught it with his knuckles, grazing her jawline. With a hiss, Nikita pulled her head back and then her body too. It was as much a reaction to his touch as to the pain it caused even though his touch had been fairly light. She had no balance and was unable to compensate for the lack of it. She started to fall.

Neatly he caught her and then picked her up. Nikita froze. She had no idea what his next move was. Gently he place her in a sitting position on the edge of the couch.

"Why did you pull away Nikita with that hiss of pain? I have not harmed you. But Bauer...let me see the side of your face." Reaching for the back of her head he forced her face to turned towards the window. "Now I see why you reacted that way."

He examined the bruise that in the light was now evident. It stretched from her chin to her ear. A smaller bruise highlighted her cheekbone. "He should not have hit you. Hitting a woman is wrong. Unless she is ready to kill you. I hope the blood I saw on him as he came down was his?"

"Yes."

"Good girl. He deserved it. Did he hurt you otherwise?"

Nikita flinched at his words and tried to pull her head away. "Please stop touching me." She couldn't keep the disgust out of her voice.

L' Araigne frowned. He wondered how much time Bauer had been upstairs with the girl. Hopefully not enough. It would be a shame to mar a spirit such a hers.

"Do not let a spiteful creature such as Bauer's extinguish the flame that burns in you Nikita. Relax here. I shall get us a meal."

With that he stood and disappeared into the shadows. She fell back against the cushions, letting out a loud breath.

Now what the hell was that suppose to mean? You just switch from one personality to another. Are you sane or insane? What do you have planned and how can I screw them up for you?

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Michael blew into Systems like a wind storm. He started throwing orders as if they were physical things. His tone was hard and terse. No one asked what had happened. No one had the courage to at this point. He was in a dangerous mood. His intensity and the reason for it were unmistakable. Things had not turned out good. There wasn't a single operative in the Section who wanted that intensity focused on them. Best to save it for the person it was directed at.

"He's on his way out of here. He needs to leave but he needs to pay for it. Bauer doesn't use paper. FIND ME A TRAIL NOW!"

Michael turned to bark an order at Caroline only to come face to face with Operations. Green ice that seemed to burn and rip through at the same time locked with cold grey unforgiving steel. Operations knew his answer before he even asked. Bauer had not been there. Michael was back almost to the starting line again. He could feel the rage and desperation radiating from the young man. Something else was going on here. Something beyond Michael's need to find Nikita and the Directory she unwittingly had on her. It was almost as if he was fighting for survival.

"Results" was all he said.

Michael spoke but his eyes never left Operations. He knew his time was up. He remembered Operations' threat. He dared Operations to stop what he had worked so hard to get started. A lead on both Directories but more importantly a lead on his heart. He had to get her back. He had promised and he was not going to fail her. He would fight to keep it no matter what happened.

"We found George's driver in Bauer's suite. Dead. No note...nothing except...." Michael paused. Would telling Operations anything about the shredded material of Nikita's nightgown serve any purpose? No, it would just dig his grave with the man a little deeper. No, it was best to leave it unsaid.

"Except what?"

"Just a personal message to me. Don't..."

"Michael I got a hit! It's not Bauer but it might do!" Birkhoff could hide the relief or excitement in his voice. "Stephanie's in Germany. She used a credit card at a dress shop in Frankfurt."

"Load it into a PDA for me. I'm going out."

Operations grabbed Michael's arm as he tried to rush past him. Michael looked from the restraining hand up to the face of the owner. Both their faces seemed to be set in stone.

"Be prepared, Michael. Be prepared for anything."

"Why do you have another surprise like Simone up your sleeve for me?" he retorted bitterly. With a final glare, he shook off the hand of the other man and continued his forward movement. It was time for this to end now.

Chapter 32

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Several hours later Michael found himself entering a luxury hotel in Frankfurt. The dress shop was not the only place Stephanie had been making purchases he had learned in a message from Birkhoff. The trick now was getting the desk clerk up to see her. Luck would mean that Nikita was there too. But Michael didn't believe in luck, it had never believed in him. There was only Fate and fate had never been fair with him. He knew the search was over, he was just on a different part of the journey.

Leaning on the desk, he caught the attention of the clerk, who came right over. Not giving the man a chance to speak, he plunged into the story he had worked up.

"Excuse me I am looking for Stephanie Bauer. There is a family emergency." His tone was hushed but with a desperate edge to it. That part at least was real, he didn't have to put much effort into it.

"I am sorry, sir, but..."

Michael cut off his sentence. "Please you must believe me. You have to understand the importance of this. Our mother is gravely ill. She is not expected to make it til the morning. For all I know she may be gone already and I have wasted these precious last hours looking for my sister. We are not always a close family, but at times like these......." He shrugged, leaving the ending to the clerk.

Unfortunately he was not following the script as Michael has hoped, but Michael had half expected that anyway. Nothing ever came easy in this world.

"But surely you must be aware of where your sister is staying. I can not divulge to a stranger whether on not a particular person is staying with us or not."

Michael ran his fingers through his hair, acting his best to seem a man in an extreme anguish. "Yes I understand that, but please, sir, I beg of you... Is she here? She and my mother... they fought. Stephanie fled. I was able to figure out only that she came to Frankfurt. Can I do or say anything that will convince you to confide in me?"

He let his voice start to get louder, a little more angrier and with more of an edge to it. "I need to find my sister! My mother can not go to her grave with this unresolved! It was a stupid argument. It shouldn't have happened. I an not important enough to argue over!!"

The clerk was still unsure, "Sir...."

Reaching out, he grabbed the clerk's arm. "What must I do? Get on my knees and grovel? I need your help! Have you no heart? No mother of your own? Can you not understand what this is doing to me?" He fixed the clerk with a wide eyed look of pleading. Michael watched the sand of the resistence of the clerk crumble from the sucking water of his lies.

"Frau Bauer is in suite 12B. The elevators on the left will take you up."

Michael gave the clerk a grateful smile and a squeeze to the arm. "I thank you. And I am sure my mother and my sister would thank you as well." Without further hesitation, Michael hurried in the direction indicated.

As he turned the mask slipped back down over his face. Time to see what he could uncover...

Fifteen minutes later, he was getting back into the car with Simon and Mullin. Simon glanced over at the rock like profile that settled into the seat next to him. He knew Michael well enough to be able to determine the status of the mission. He hadn't found Stephanie there. Mullin didn't know Michael as well and proceeded to find out what he had uncovered.

"Well?"

"She's at the canals. Some art festival. Let's go."

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With help from some operatives already stationed nearby, Michael was able to at least have all the exits covered and two more operatives within the confines of the festival himself. They branched out, working from one end of the gathering to the next. A German operative was the first to spot her.

Michael made his way to the stand as fast as he could. The festival was crowded and people were unwilling to be hurried. He made the stand just as she was melting into the crowd.

"STEPHANIE" he shouted.

She turned at the sound of her name, right in his direction. He noticed the dark sunglasses and the dark bruise that showed on her cheekbone despite her best efforts to cover it up. A white bandage covered her throat. Obviously she had made someone unhappy. And she wasn't looking forward to more of the same treatment. She ran. Michael followed her. Her panic allowed her to be careless and it was easy for him to catch up with her. He grabbed her arm and spun her to face him. He gripped her upper arms tightly.

"Where is he?"

"I don't know and I don't care. Let go of me!"

She flailed at him and he let go. He was not about to hurt or frighten her anymore than she already was. Stephanie was his only lead to Nikita. Quickly he looked over her shoulder. A neat ring was around her. She wasn't getting away and the crowd ignored it as well. What you didn't see you couldn't be a witness to.

She ripped off her sunglasses. Now Michael was better able to see the bruise on her face and the black eye she had been covering with her glasses.

"Does my face look like I care where the hell he is? He never hurt me until she came along! I hope they both wind up dead!" She pointed to her throat. "You see this! When you see Nikita tell her thank you for the permanent necklace she gave me. But I don't appreciate the gift!"

"Where is Bauer? Where does he have Nikita?"

"You fool, he's where you left him. What a laugh he must be having. He said you'd show up here."

Michael stared at the ground. Was the whole world going insane? He was being to feel like a mouse caught in a gigantic maze. Was he that predictable? Frustration and fury were making him seethe.

"Where does he have Nikita?"

Stephanie glared at him in defiance and anger. It was all Nikita's fault. She didn't care what happened to the girl now. In reaction, Michael grabbed her again. His eyes glued to hers and in them she saw something that scared her more than anything Perry could do to her. She swore she could see the desire to kill in Michael's eyes. Stammering in terror at this point,

"He..does... doesn't .. have her. His business associate does. Get..t..t P..P...erry then you can find her. I'm only here to divert you for a while."

He pushed her away from him and wiped his hands over his face bringing them together over his mouth. He pointed a finger at her.

"Start over. Bauer's not coming back for you." He looked over at Simon. "Get a hold of Birkhoff. Call all contacts. He never came to Germany. He never god damn left."

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Bauer stretched out on the luxurious bed. He was feeling quite proud of himself. He rubbed his head against the silk pillowcases and curled his fingers into the deep pile of the velvet coverlet. It felt exquisite and so did he. A malicious smile spread over his face. Sending Stephanie as bait to Germany with new credit cards was a stroke of genius. Sarcastically he thought Let her face the wrath of Michael. Serves her right for letting Nikita get loose. Maybe this will teach her a lesson. Besides it keeps the boy on the chase for a while. You want to play with the big boys, Michael then you've got to do the work of the big boys.

Anyway he wasn't interested in Michael catching up with him just yet. He knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant encounter. He knew leaving part of Nikita's shredded nightgown with the dead man's body would only further egg him on. Just another snub in the other man's face. But Bauer was enjoying playing with him. Michael thought too much of his self control; his ability to deal with any situation and resolve it. It was time for the little twerp to squirm. Bauer laughed out loud.

"Damn I'm having a friggin' ball!!" he yelled out to the empty room. It was a good way to start questioning how long he would get to enjoy it.

Chapter 35

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L' Araigne set a paper plate down between them on the couch and sat down next to it. A variety of cheeses, crackers and grapes covered it. He held up a piece of cheese to her mouth. Nikita turned her head. She didn't trust him. He was all the bad rolled up into one...Red Cell and Section One at the same time.

He frowned and popped the piece into his own mouth. "You can trust me when I tell you that I have no interest in harming you. I only want to be reunited with Michael. Once I have accomplished that you will be free to go. Unless he wishes you to stay. That will be his decision."

"What if he doesn't wish to stay?" Nikita watched for his reaction to the statement. It shocked her a little. It was not the answer she had entirely expected.

He shrugged as he picked up another piece of cheese. He offered it to her again first. Slowly Nikita took it from him and carefully chewed it.

"I had not completely considered that option, my child. I guess then that you would both have to die."

She didn't blink at his answer and made no other visible response to it. He reached over and gently pushed a tendril of hair back behind her ear. A gesture that eerily reminded her of Michael. Nikita drew back a little. She was distinctively uncomfortable being close to him. His touching her made her skin want to crawl off her body. He completely repulsed her. A faint smile skipped across his lips and he gave a small laugh.

" I can see what draws him to you Nikita. You have a light, an aura if you will about you. It pulls him in. You have what he craves. Warmth, love, light. Like a moth pulled to a burning candle. The wings maybe singed, maybe even burned through. But the moth keeps coming back, unable to resist the craving. No matter the danger the craving represents to itself. I can feel the draw myself. I can feel the life, the soul, the heart in you. You are a strong woman, Nikita. Life has not been easy for you but you refuse to let its dark side suck you under. I guess that's what attracts both Michael and myself. We are like swimmers who are struggling to the surface. You are that surface."

"Do you write poetry in your spare time, too?" Nikita was starting to get angry. What was he getting at with all these images and double meanings?

"Ah there's that sharp tongue! I knew it couldn't remain silent for long. My words are not to your liking? Perhaps some Shakespeare would be more to your liking." He leaned his head against the cushioned back and became to recite:

Nikita couldn't repress the shiver that went up her spine at his hollowly intoned words. His expression was soft, almost as if he was remembering.

"Who would have thought that after 3 centuries we would still be reading and deliberating the works of that man? Do you know what I went through to make Michael memorize that sonnet? He was not fond of Shakespeare. Too many hidden meanings for him. There was too many grey spots in Shakespeare he said. He preferred poetry that was more black and white. But what he choose was so depressing. Morose French poets and other ilk...nothing as cultured as I liked. Obviously a fault in him. Now tell me Nikita where is the beauty in that, the lilt the life. It was so dark and dreary!"

Nikita raised glimmering eyes to him. "You crushed the life in him. He couldn't see or feel the light because of you. He still can't. The past tortures him everywhere he goes. Even in his dreams. What was so bad that you had to do that to him?"

"His father." L' Araigne stood and walked into the shadows. Nikita could still see his back. She pressed the advantage. She had to know what was behind this. Why he wanted Michael to suffer the way he had.

"The concept of the sins of the father being carried on by the son is a little outdated, don't you think? Maybe for Shakespeare..." Before she could even comprehend it, L' Araigne was snarling in her face, his fists balled up in the front of her shirt and half lifting her from the couch.

"Not when the sins of the father are the son. Atonement has to be made by the son then. I demand it." He suddenly release her and she fell back to the couch, awkwardly and painfully landing on her hands and arms. She whimpered in response but he ignored her. He leaned down into her face again.

"Tread carefully my dear. I know of your child. Push me and I will find her. And turn her into a carbon copy of my own daughter. And I know how much you admired Elouette." Then he melted into the shadows.

Nikita stared into the deepening darkness with tears silently gathering in her eyes. Not since she had watched the Red Cell inquisitor lead Michael away that day to try to get the location of Section One out of him, had she felt this helpless. She lowered her head, in a gesture of defeat. God, what am I going to do now?

L' Araigne watched from the shadows. A smile on his lips but fury in his eyes. "His feelings for you Nikita will be a wonderful addition to my arsenal. Thank you very much Oscar. I will enjoy this gift from you."

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As Bauer opened his eyes, all he could see was blinding whiteness. As his eyes adjusted he realized that Madeline was standing serenely in front of him. As she watched his eyes open she smiled her usual cold smile.

"Hello Perry."

Groggily he laughed and replied, "Hi Maddie."

"I wanted to tell you that what you will experience in the next few minutes is of your own doing. Be warned no one from the Section or the Agency will intercede on your part. Anything that happens is entirely up to him. I made that promise to him after he agreed to leave Stephanie unharmed. Good bye, Perry."

The steel door opened and she disappeared through it. Bauer was a little puzzled. What did Operations have in mind now? He supposed the guy was a little sore. After all he had kidnaped one of his operatives and beat another up pretty bad. He gave a small snort this is going to be interesting. He heard a clunk and realized that the metal bands that had encircled his wrists had been released.

The sound of the steel door opening caught his attention an he slowly raised his head. Michael entered and the door slowly creaked closed behind him. The green eyes that Bauer had once thought looked beautiful now looked deathly to him. There was a fire in them he knew was going to burn him alive. He laughed nervously.

"No hard feelings about the nightgown, Mike?"

Slowly Michael walked forward, his hands firmly grasped in front of him. The desire to choke the life out of the bastard was practically uncontrollable.

"Where is Nikita?" His voice was low and deep. He was not merely threatening, he might everything his body language implied.

Bauer looked around on the floor. "Huh...fancy that. I had her here a minute ago. Can't seem to find her at the moment? What about you?"

Almost casually Michael placed a hand on either arm of the chair and leaned into Bauer's face. "I will repeat myself one more time. Where is Nikita?"

"Obviously not here." He saw Michael start to move as if in slow motion and then he saw red as he was back handed. The force of the blow bounced his head against the metal back of the chair. He could feel the blood start to ooze from a cut by his eye and from his lip. He wiped the lip and squinted up at Michael who now stood up straight, both arms hanging at his side.

Barely controlled fury came off him in waves. Bauer knew he wasn't leaving here alive. Might as well make it worth it. He noticed the ring on Michael's hand. It matched the one he had seen on Nikita.

"You know her ring leaves a nasty cut too. I made her take it off. I didn't want her to be thinking of you while I had sex with her."

"Liar." Michael snarled as he turned away from Bauer. You knew he would retaliate this way Michael. You were suppose to be ready for it. Deal with it. Find out where she is and then get rid of him. No before idiot. No matter how much satisfaction you'll get from it.

"Tell me Mike how many times you've been with her? From what I've seen you're still practicing. Would you like a few pointers? I've been there enough now that I think I'm able to say I'm an expert in the field."

With a howl of pain, Michael grabbed his shirt and yanked him from the chair. He held Bauer off his feet for several seconds to stare into his eyes before he moved. He plowed the other man backwards into the wall at the back of the room. One, two, three times Michael slammed Bauer into the wall. After the third time, he let go. Bauer slid to the floor, legs spread, back flat against the wall. A red streak followed him down the wall. He looked up at Michael breathing rapidly and shallowly. Slowly and deliberately in the progress of making his point, Michael withdrew his hand from behind his back. The muzzle of the 9mm was positioned at Bauer's crotch.

"Tell me where she is and it stays in one piece. I'll kill you quickly. Keep your shit up Bauer and I'll make sure you bleed to death slowly."

"I don't have her anymore. Phil took her and I don't know where he went." Bauer closed his eyes. Numbness was spreading from his head down, his eyes were heavy and his tongue was feeling thick.

"Who's Phil?"

"The guy who hired me to capture the two of you."

"Why?"

"Said he had to settle something from the past with you. If I got the two of you. I got to keep Nikita and the Directory. I didn't get you. I get her back when you show up there. He said you'd know where. You used to play there as a kid or something like that."

"What is Phil's full name?"

Bauer moaned. It was getting hard to think. The numbness had spread further down. What was that cliche about getting your head bashed in?

"Phil...ip...something French. Philippe La Rain or something like that.

Michael's eyes grew huge and his mouth dropped open. He shook from head to toe. Not in anger this time but in fear. "Philippe L' Araigne?" Please let him say something else. Please God don't let him say yes.

"Yeah that's it."

Barely above a whisper, Michael said, "God no." He was frozen in place, in time. He was positive his heart stopped. He wanted to scream till there wasn't any breath left in him. No

L' Araigne was dead. He had seen the corpse, hadn't he? He had planted bomb had killed him, hadn't he? Michael had the last words, hadn't he? He turned from Bauer, feeling physically ill.

Bauer saw the reaction and smiled. He knew he was close to losing consciousness if not the fight to stay live. He needed to fire one last jab.

"Hey Mikey. I answered my own question from the other night. She does always beg for more. At least she..."

He didn't finish. Michael turned half way and fired at him. As the report of the gun died, Michael let loose his scream.

___________________________________ _________________________________

Madeline was giving orders before Michael finished pulling the trigger. She knew an explosion was going to be coming out of that room. She should have seen it coming. The signs were there and she had chosen to remain blind to them all. L' Araigne had been orchestrating all of this since the day he managed to slip away from them. Now Michael and Nikita were paying the price for their lack of vigilance.

And she had to stop how much of a price Michael was going to pay before it got to high. She knew that as soon as he came out of that room he was going to go for Operations. She had to stop this from escalating. She was glad she had the forethought to have Simon and Walter waiting for Michael outside the room. The little bit of delay they would provide would give her time to get to Operations.

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Michael staggered from the room. His mind was reeling and his body was numb. I've been lied to for 14 years. For 14 years. That bastard's been alive the whole I've been in hell on earth. They knew he was alive. They've kept him alive for so long. They kept this from me. She was right. Nikita's been right all along. I was just too stupid to see it. I'm their trained pet. Committed to doing their bidding. He looked up as he sensed eyes on him.

Michael's expression was dead as he lifted his head. Walter stepped forward, a hand out. He didn't know what had happened in there but obviously the boy was completely devastated. His gesture was met with a raised gun.

"No, stay where you are. Don't come any closer to me." His voice was low and hoarse.

Walter noticed the trembling of the hand and arm that held the gun. He wanted to reach out to him but didn't know the words to use to make everything right again.

Simon stepped in front of Walter. Yeah he was scared Michael would use the gun but that was life in Section One, wasn't it? He put out his hand.

"Give me the gun."

Michael shook his head. His eyes were riveted on Simon, daring him to try and take it. He cocked the trigger back. The dead expression was slowing leaving his face. Cold fury was replacing it. Simon waved his fingers, his hand still out stretched.

"Don't fuck with me, man. Just give me the gun."

"I've been living a lie for 14 YEARS. DO YOU THINK I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU THAT EASILY!!!! BACK DOWN NOW!!!" There was a slight tone of hysteria to his voice. He was so close to the edge, Simon thought he was going to crack into a million pieces before his eyes.

"I don't know what's going on Michael, but let's work on fixing it." Simon closed his fingers over the muzzle of the gun. Slowly Michael released his hold on it as Simon eased it from his hand. In a flash, he was around Simon and past Walter. Simon threw the gun to the ground and cursed.

"Shit!" He slammed his palm against the intercom. "He's on his way! He's unarmed I think. But he's hotter than, I don't, hell I guess."

Madeline turned to look at Operations. "Are you sure about this?"

He nodded. "He's not going to hurt me Madeline. Yes, he is going to direct some of his rage at me. I expect that. But he's reeling right now. He's not thinking clearly. After he vents a little he's going to wonder why he's wasting time here. The longer she's with L' Araigne, the more chance he has to get under her skin. To figure out how best to use her against Michael. His instinct to protect what he loves will win over revenge."

The door abruptly slammed open and Michael walked in. First he looked at Madeline and then looked at Operations. Softly he asked, "Why?"

"It was necessary."

"Necessary to LIE TO ME FOR 14 YEARS? THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH! NOT BY A LONG SHOT!" In frustration he raked his fingers up through his hair. "The man who had condemned me to hell for eternity has been alive and living free for 14 years while I've been a prisoner. And you tell me it was necessary? FU...Ughhh GOD DAMN IT!!!" He wrapped his arms over his head. Squeezing his elbows to the sides of his head. "You lied to me. Kept secrets and now the woman I love is going to die because of them. Again I lose something I love because of you...WHAT THE HELL DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME?!?!? WHAT ELSE CAN I GIVE YOU?!?!? YOU"VE TAKEN EVERYTHING ELSE.....MY HEART....MY SOUL....DO YOU WANT MY SANITY TOO?!?!? MAKE ME MORE INHUMAN THAN I ALREADY AM!!!"

"It wasn't our decision to make Michael." Madeline offered calmly.

Operations nodded in agreement. "It was made for us. At the time it was the best decision for everyone involved."

Michael looked aghast at him. He couldn't believe his ears. He rubbed his forehead and once again raked his fingers through his hair. The volume of his voice lower now. "I'm not everyone. I'm the child he stole at 6 and turned into a killer, a murderer. A creature not fit to be alive. How was that for the best? If you've got an answer, I sure want to hear it!"

"I wasn't part of the process. I was told to do my job and I did it. If I could have changed things I would have. It's the past Michael. Give it up!"

Michael gave a short bitter laugh. "Kinda hard to give it up if every time you open your eyes it's punching you in the face."

"Then stop giving it power to do so." Madeline interjected. She could see that the fight was simmering down in Michael. His mind was still working over time but the physical urge to strike out for the moment was subdued.

He smirked at her. "Ironic coming from the one who holds all the secrets. Thanks for the advice." He pointed at Operations. "We're not through. This isn't finished. There's other things that need answers too. I'll be back for them." He turned to go but stop for a moment when Operations spoke..

"Michael where are you going?" Operations had a good idea but he wanted to be sure.

He turned his head just enough so he could see the man he once saw as a mentor and a friend. He had become just another betrayal in a list longer than he wanted to see. With a snarl of disgust, he replied, "To pull the plug on the fucking past." And with that slammed the door behind him.

Chapter 34

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The white Porsche stopped at the end of what was once a small country lane. It was now choked with weeds. Hardly looked like a lane at all anymore.

Slowly the door opened and Michael unfolded himself from the driver's seat. The sun was high and bright over head. Birds twittered and chirped happily. Spring was in full bloom. The few days of warm weather they had experienced had greened up everything nicely.

He pulled off his sunglasses, blinking in the strong sunlight. His jaw was set and the calm steady eyes and expression of the Section One operative at work was easily visible. He looked up and down the road. Seeing no one, he reached in and shifted the car into neutral. With a hard push he rolled it into the cover of the trees. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. It felt strange to be here again after all these years. He had never allowed himself the desire to want to return here. It would not have been productive.

Now as he looked at that decision again, he wondered if he had been wrong. Perhaps he did give too much power to the past. He seemed to remember Nikita saying something similar to him in the past. He looked up into the canopy that soared over his head.

"I'm sorry for everything, Nikita. I never wanted my past to hurt you."

With a sigh, he pulled off his jacket. The long sleeve black t-shirt underneath was tight to his body. His black pants were as well. He knelt down checking the laces on his boots. Slipping two fingers into the outer sides of his boots, he pulled out two knives. Reassured, he pushed them back in. He drew himself up and took off into the woods. No sense in keeping the inevitable waiting.

Michael stopped about 20 feet from the house behind some vastly overgrown shrubbery. He leaned against the greenery, looking back the way he had come. Sunlight dappled the forest but his passage could not be seen. It was as if he had passed through the brush like a shadow, like an insubstantial being.

He crouched to one knee and closed his eyes for a moment, trying to slow his heart a bit.. The events of the past 14 or so hours were beginning to tell on him. Michael couldn't remember being so tired. If it didn't end soon he was going to fall over from exhaustion.

He looked around the edge of the bush to peer at the house. Everything seemed quiet. But Michael knew what waited for him in there. Something he thought was only in his nightmares. Only thing was the nightmare had come true. He looked around the verdant forest he was kneeling in. Here in the midst of all this life, death was waiting only a few feet away.

Michael never thought it would end up like this. The demons that were raised here 25 years ago were still strong. He could feel their nearness. He looked up and then back at the house again. What the hell did I do to deserve this? Let me know how I fix it, make it o.k.?

The words echoed in his head. How many times when he was growing up, did he say those words to L' Araigne? Michael tried to pull away from the memories but here, in this place, their hold was too strong. He could feel the pain of the beatings, the burn of the humiliation, the sting of the words, the agony of the loneliness. One minute L' Araigne would be beating on him and ripping his spirit and emotions to ribbons. The next he would be hugging him, telling him how wonderful he felt he was and how lucky he felt to have Michael with him. Michel tu es mon seul ange. Tu es trop special. Then he would change again.

Michael never knew when or what would set him off. He pushed himself day and night to gain the monster's unconditional love and approval. So many times, it seemed the only thing he could find was scorn, ridicule and hate. He tried so hard to be perfect because only if he was perfect would L' Araigne look upon him with approval. People now wondered why he acted the way he did. If they only knew what he experienced growing up.

He'd had no friends, there was only L' Araigne. No play, no pleasure, there was only work. They had celebrated no holidays, no birthdays, no special occasions. There was only L' Araigne and what he wanted, what he said he needed, what he said must and had to be. There was never anything but pain and the drive to be perfect so he wasn't hurt again. Shutting off and hiding away your feelings. They were a weakness that he used against you. Learning not to cry or shout in pain, make yourself a shadow, invisible so it would eventually stop...

Breathing raggedly, Michael stood up. His stone like stare directed at the house. He had always wanted to confront the bastard. Subject him to some of the pain he had been subjected to. The only time L' Araigne had been happy with him was when he imitated the monster. Praise him in front of people then beat him afterwards for not acting properly. Berate him for his inade-quacies, his failures, his weaknesses. No more...NO MORE!!! IT ENDS HERE!! I AM NOT THAT PETRIFIED CHILD!! I AM STRONG!! I AM NOT A FAILURE!! I THINK...I FEEL...I LOVE!!!

Love...L' Araigne made him believe that love killed. Anything you loved was killed by that love. He showed him that again and again. "Wrong L' Araigne...It's the only reason I 'm alive." Nikita, I'm here. Please don't have given up on me! Like a cat he stole through the brush leading up to the house.

Sadly he looked at it. It was a shell of the happy place it once was. He knew it would have broken his mother's heart to see it like this. His father would have been angered to say the least. Perhaps they both would have been ashamed. Someday, perhaps make repairs...make it a home again...fill it with what it was filled with when he was a child. Share it with Nikita and their children. He swallowed hard and closed his eyes. Section One didn't allow somedays. Her raised voice from within brought him from his reverie to focus on his mission. To bring her home....

Nikita shook her head. "You're wrong. You don't know him at all. He's not the 'creature' you think he is." L' Araigne paced the floor in front of her. He loomed in on her but Nikita stood her ground. He didn't frighten her now. She could defend herself if she had to now. He had finally untied her when he saw that her hands had started to turn blue and purple. Instead he had used a rusty chain to shackle her one hand to the radiator. When Nikita saw the rust on it, she'd made a half serious wisecrack about lockjaw. He had laughed her off, insulting her intelligence and calling her weak and cowardly. As usual she was the means to an end, but one way or another it was going to be an end to him. Besides she didn't like blonde comments made in a derogatory way. In fun was one thing but when the aim was to hurt...she got mad.

She could no longer suppress the urge to protect Michael as he protected her. She was finally starting to understand him. All that time he had protected because he cared. He had too many internal fears to show his feelings any other way. Those fears were what kept him alive. In the past few months she had come to realize many of those same fears herself. And now she was going to fight them the same way he did. Survive to protect. Protect to show how much you cared. And when you felt safe enough, show the rest of what you hide inside.

There was no longer anything black and white in the world. Everything had gotten jumbled together. It was like someone had taken all the world and all its objects, changing to colors. Then threw them up in the air and let them splash down, landing where they may. The colors all ran together and it became impossible to discern one from the other.

There were no longer any absolutes. No right or wrong. No enemy or friend. No truth and lies. Even the edges between love and hate had started to bleed into each other. The world was not made up of the bright colors of childhood but the shades of grey into which she had descended. How had it happened? Had she taken a wrong turn? Chosen the wrong door? Failed to listen to the right person?

No, she had allowed herself to constantly be the victim in life. To see herself as being a victim in life. She had admitted to being guilty of it that night in Michael's office after the nightmare. Momma had taught her those lessons well. It was time to somehow unlearn them. Take to work off the sentence she had imposed on herself. Time to take on what life was throwing at her instead of running. Instead of whining and complaining. It was a wild ride and those who didn't speak up were rushed along head first. Only those with heart and mouth enough were able to put their feet down and slow down the careening car for spots at a time. Nikita wondered if she was strong enough, hoped she was.

And if she wasn't, would Michael be strong enough for the both of them? Especially in view of what was happening now. 14 years of a lie was pacing the floor in front of her. She could only begin to imagine what this would do to him. He had been through so much lately. They both had their share of getting punched in the mouth. When is it going to stop? How much more can either of us take? She became aware of L' Araigne talking again and pulled herself up out of her thoughts.

"I shaped the man you're talking about Nikita. I know him better than you do."

"You haven't seen him for 14 years. That's a long time. A lot has happened to him. I've been with him almost every day for the past 4 years now. I think I might know the man he is now better than you do."

A malevolent grin revealed L' Araigne's teeth to her. "Those 4 years are what I'm counting on Nikita. To pull my angel here. And to make him acquiesce to my wishes. I know everything that has happened to him in the past 14 years. Want to try and guess how much I was the engineer of? I just didn't count on them coming up with you. However, you have been somewhat beneficial. And when I'm through with the two of you, I have another generation to work on"

Nikita curled her lip in disgust. There were those threats again. She'd had enough of them. From everywhere and everyone. "I am going to make you regret ever coming back here.."

"Don't waste your time. My life has been one very long regret."

"Starting off with your wife being unfaithful? Ahh...poor baby" She gave him a coy innocent look. Just come a little closer, darlin'. I'm waiting for ya.

L' Araigne stopped in his tracks. "What did you say, you little bitch?"

Nikita gave him a saccharin smile. "That your wife did a waltz with somebody other than you. Found somebody she liked better than you. And believe me, I don't think she had to look very hard. Most dogs are better than you are."

He came at her with a raised fist. A triumphant smile lit up her face. "Come on show what a man you are, you little bug. Hit me as hard as you can cause I'm ready for you." The hit with his closed fist hurt a lot. His knuckles caught the bruise Bauer had left. Nikita's head snapped backwards, just missing ricocheting off the plaster behind her. She cried out softly and lifted an arm in defense..in an effort to regain some senses.

Her eyes fought to focus as she thought about why men always hit to the face. Especially a woman, did they think it was a good way to slow them down? Hell, it only made her madder. Rage helped her clear the fog. However, she saw that L' Araigne was anything but clear, his eyes were glassy and far away looking. He's snapped...

At the first contact with her face. Once again the lying conniving little slut was with him. He would teach her to betray him, make him a fool, to lie to him. She would pay for every transgression. And she'd dared to stand up for not only the little brat but the bastard he called father too. L' Araigne was not about to put up with it. He didn't want to and he was going to make sure it was not done again. But she wasn't cowering this time. She was fighting back. She had no right to, she was wrong and had to pay for it.

He struck at her again. Nikita avoided him this time, aiming her own blow at the side of his head. He didn't seem to sense it. She flew her own fist at his face, catching him in the mouth. His hand flash out and dug into her hair. L' Araigne held her head still so he could slap her. Nikita tried to reach his eyes, her fingers curled. A scream of wild fury came from her as she half caught the slap to her head. He threw her against the wall, fists balling up in her shirt. Nikita lost contact with the floor and started to kick. Her left arm was pulled down by the chain, so she could only strike with her legs and one hand.

She was in trouble and knew it. He was too strong for her and she was in a bad position. It was hard to fight back from where she was. He hit her into the wall. It knocked some air from her lungs. He turned and was ready to smash her into the iron radiator next to her when a voice stopped them both. The softly accented voice sounded loud from the far end of the room.

"Don't hurt her anymore Philippe. I'm here. Leave her alone." Michael emerged into the brighter part of the room. His mask firmly in place. L' Araigne released her . As she slipped down the wall so her feet touched the floor again, momentarily Michael's eyes flicked to Nikita. She saw the briefest spark of relief in them before L' Araigne turned to see him, his eyes opening wide.

With his back to her, Nikita saw her opening and started to raise her chained arm. His neck was exposed. Now to just wrap the chain around...Michael understood what she was about to do.

"Nikita! No! This is my fight."

"Michel, mon obscur ange! Voila n'sera pas un combattre ici. Non entre nous. Je suis bien aise de toi voir." He moved towards Michael as if to grab him in a hug. Michael side stepped him and went to Nikita.

"I prefer Michael. Michel et Ange sont d'un autre temps. Un temps tout au plus reste mort." He reached out and brushed his fingers across her cheek and then his thumb across her lower lip. He slightly inclined his head to her never letting his eyes leave hers. She caught his hand with her own, intertwining their fingers. A gentle smile curved her lips, a smile she only gave to him. To her eyes, she could see some of the tightness in his jaw recede. He squeezed her hand tightly. Drawing strength from her touch and her presence. Her answer to his unspoken question was what he wanted to known. She was alright. If he needed her, she was there.

Not letting go, he turned back to L' Araigne whose expression had started to sour as he watched the interaction between them. Michael was still not sure if he was prepared for this. He had to be though. There was no turning back or away. The fears and the past had to be faced and beaten back. There was too much at stake.

"The key, Philippe. Now."

"I will not.." The idea of Michael with her disgusted him. He had no right to love anything. Nothing was allowed to love him either. It had to be stopped.

"If you give me the key, I will stay." With a bit of a frown, he tossed it to Michael who handed it to Nikita. He caught her eyes and mouthed "Trust me" at her. She gave the smallest of nods to him and leaned back against the wall. Then she started to work the key in the lock. Yes, she trusted him. With everything she was...that's when it hit her, he was the one real thing in the world to her. And she was the same for Michael. She could see it in his eyes. That was that look she could see every once in a while and couldn't place it. The man who saw himself as a shadow became real through her. It was frightening to come to that conclusion. She held an awesome power which only made it that much more precious to her. To be protected at all costs.

Releasing her hand, he turned to face the man that for years had haunted his every moment.

"Tell me what you want, L' Araigne. What will make you crawl back to whatever pocket of hell you came from?"

"I do not like the tone or attitude you are taking with me."

"So, are you going to change it like you used to. Beat me until I beg you to stop. Til you have me whimpering and cowering, then beat me some more to shut me up? I don't think so. We are beyond that. I am no longer that child who was terrified of you. I've conquered my fear of you."

Michael wished his words were as true as they sounded. He had not conquered his fear of L' Araigne at all. At the moment he was petrified. Not only for Nikita's safety but of not being able to stand up to the man. Of failing to show him that he was now stronger and better than he had been. That he was no longer a child. And thus no longer held onto childhood fears.

"You always were an ass! Too miserably thick headed to get anything until it was beaten into you! You used to infuriate me then. You infuriate me now!"

While talking he had closed the gap between him and Michael. Close enough now that he was able to slap Michael solidly across the face. His blow was hard enough to leave his finger and palm outline on Michael's face. Nikita winced. She knew that had to cause him pain but he gave no response. He just brought his head back to level his gaze at L' Araigne.

"Did that make you feel better?" he asked softly.

With anger flaming in his eyes and making his body taut, L' Araigne swung again. This time with a closed fist. Michael neatly blocked the swing and shoved the arm away. His other hand hit L'Araigne in the chest and pushed him back a step or two and knocked some air out of him. He eyed Michael. He had not expected this response. Cold silver-green eyes held eyes so brown they were almost black.

"It's time to let go of the hatred. It's time to stop placing blame. Give it up!" Nikita pleaded earnestly. In the pit of her stomach she knew this was going to get ugly. She had to do what she could to stop it from doing that.

However, her words had the opposite effect as she had hoped on L'Araigne.

"I'LL SAY WHEN IT'S TIME!! I'LL SAY WHEN IT HAS BEEN ENOUGH!!" His scream crashed into a snarl. "You are mine, Michael. I made you and I can destroy you as well."

"I vowed a long time ago to never allow anyone to treat me like their trained pet again. Especially you! You are not my master and I am not your slave."

"Ha! What do you think you've been for Section One these past 14 years?"

"A survivor. Existing until I could find what you ripped out of me. You scarred my soul and burned my heart. You tried to crush them both into dust. You never succeeded. You never will."

"What if I took what was left of your heart and soul? Disposed of it just like I did Simone and your son?" Michael greeted his words with silence and a stare. It affected him though. Nikita could see the tightening of the muscles in his back and his neck.

The emotional effect was not visible to the outside world but it had been like L' Araigne had slapped him again. He forced himself not to react. Not to lose control. Losing control could mean death. Losing control meant L' Araigne winning.

"How could I allow you to have what was denied to me? How could I allowed your father to have what was denied me? You both have to pay for it. I've extracted my payment from him. I'm not done with you yet."

"I am not my father! He's been dead for almost 15 years now. Remember you had me kill him. What did he do to you that I have to suffer for? What did he do that has made everything I love be taken from me?"

"I just wanted to raise my son, Michael. I just wanted you to be like me! I loved you as only a father could love a son. You know what that is like. You've experienced it! You understand it!"

Michael's mouth dropped open. He couldn't hide the shock from his face.

Quietly, Nikita place the now opened shackle on the floor. She had been gripping it so tightly the rust had rubbed into her hands. She knew Michael was losing his grip. To reassure him, she gently laid her hand on his shoulder. He didn't flinch but seemed instead to lean towards her. The world was spinning around him.

"You're out of your mind. It's impossible." Michael's voice was raw with emotion. It couldn't be true. Life could not be so cruel. Or could it? "You're completely delusional."

"Chancier came to Red Cell just as it was starting. He befriended me. He was like a brother. I would have laid down my life for him. I entrusted him with everything I was and had. He seduced my wife. He slept with her. He was working with them to destroy me. To crush my ideals and dreams under their boot heels. She got pregnant, Michael. She swore the child was his. I had too many doubts. She was my wife. I had been with her too. She ran away. Had you and gave you to him."

"Stop these lies!" Nikita hissed.

"Lies? There not lies. Look at him!!! He has her eyes! Same shape and color! Her hair! Wavy and that same shade of cinnamon brown. He's always tucking it behind his ears. Always has. It's a nervous gesture. A need to control when he can't control what's going on around him. She did the same thing! Same long face and jawline. Same open defiance and cold hard angry eyes. I'll show you."

He left the room. Michael sagged, lowering his head. His hands curled into fists. "No not true. Can't be true. L' Araigne is not my father."

Nikita stood stunned. This couldn't be happening. L' Araigne had to be out of his mind. Next thing she knew he was back, shoving a small frame into Michael's chest. He was unresponsive. Afraid that by touching the frame it would become real.

He jammed it into Michael's chest again. "TAKE IT! LOOK AT IT!"

With trembling hands, he took the frame. His own eyes stared back at him, set in someone else's face. L' Araigne had been right. It was a picture of his mother, Raissa, that must have been left behind. The frame slipped from his numb hands. He raised his head to look at the cruelest person he had ever met.

"You're a sick cruel bastard."

L' Araigne started to laugh. "Michel, you should have seen your face. Etait sans prix!! You believed me!! Mon Dieu!! Sometimes I surprise myself!!

Nikita looked at him in shock. She started forward, the urge to retaliate too great to resist. Michael brought out his arm to stop her.

"No" he whispered harshly.

L' Araigne stopped laughing for a moment. His expression completely serious. "When one has had his friendship and trust deceived and stomped into the mud by someone whom you thought of as a brother, a soul mate. How can you not be?" Then he started snickering again. "You really believed me there for a minute. That was almost too good!! Do you really think I'd want you as a son? S'il vous plait. Ne moi fait rire."

"You're a fungus, L' Araigne. A green mold. I'm going to go get some bleach. Get rid of your strain on the wall. Nikita, come on." Michael was in shock but he defended himself with words. He had to get them away from the monster of the night. Get both himself and her safe and sound. Blindly he reached for her hand and pulled her with him. L' Araigne lunged at him. He knocked Nikita out of the way and slammed Michael into the wall. He didn't resist. He was too numb.

"Tell me about the doubts in the back of your mind that have haunted you. Been your companion on those nights when the nightmares of the past have stolen your rest and your peace of mind! Who are you Michael? Section, Red Cell, the long lost son of Chancier or something that at one time was a man? At one time I loved you like a son. Glad I got..."

Nikita scrambled up and flew at L' Araigne. He backhanded her. That was all that was needed to goad Michael into action. His arm flashed out and his palm crashed into L' Araigne's face. Stunned, he staggered back. Michael had struck back. This was the second time he had done it. Where was his fear? He was shocked. Nikita struggled to her feet, swaying in place. No matter how unsteady she was, she would back him up, defend if she had to.

Michael lashed out with a kick that sent the other man crumbling to the floor. He grabbed him by the collar and held he up to his face.

"You don't show love by destroying the innocence of a child. Taking his identity from him. You don't show love by destroying someone's heart and soul. You don't turn them into a cold blooded killing machine like you did to me. You don't take a man's wife and child. Then come back when he's finally starting over and try to take that love too!"

A smile formed on L' Araigne's bloodied face. " You throw that word around like you know what it is. You don't. You never really will. I've made sure of that. That's exactly as I wanted it Michael. My angel. You are exactly everything I wanted you to be." Michael let go and L' Araigne pulled himself to his feet. "Strong, handsome but uncaring, unfeeling and deadly. A machine who can't love, shouldn't love because he doesn't know what it is. Will never know what it is."

Nikita could see the control shifting again. Michael was pulling into himself, backing down emotionally. She could see it in his eyes and she knew L' Araigne could too. He knew where to poke and prod. The words and doubts were getting to Michael. His own doubt and fears were being hurled at him like bullets.

"A shadow of what Chancier wanted you to be. A sniveling mass of emotional refuse. You're worthless. You're a shell Michael. That was a good line my daughter came up with. Are you real or are you Memorex?" He started to laugh again.

"Your family has a big problem, L' Araigne. You're all freaking insane. Michael don't listen to him. He's wrong. What he's saying isn't true. Do you hear me?" Nikita pleaded with him. Trying to reach him.

He heard her but couldn't push past L' Araigne's words or his own rage. It was choking him. He couldn't stop shaking. The words were true. That was what he was. He needed to stop the words. Stop the pain. Stop the hurting. He shoved L' Araigne away from him and bent down to his boot. The older man lunged at Michael again, but missed as he sidestepped the move. L' Araigne stood unsteadily. He saw the weapon his angel now held. He repressed the smile. He was getting what he wanted. Michael motioned for L' Araigne to come at him.

"You want to see what you created, L' Araigne. Then come on. Try and beat me like you used to. I want to show you what it's like. How it used to feel."

"I've made you completely mine. You want to so bad, don't you? That makes me feel good. Do it. Don't fail at this like you've done with everything else in your life. Become something other than a shadow. What I started you have to end."

Neither one notice Nikita as she grabbed a piece of wood from the floor and moved behind L' Araigne. She couldn't let Michael do this. It would become more guilt for him to heap on himself. L' Araigne's torture would never end. It would eat Michael up in the future. Just as it had been doing. Besides she owed L' Araigne, he had caused all the pain she's had lately. He had threaten her, Katie and Michael. She had to look for an opening. She was going to protect what she felt was hers.

Michael glared at him. He gave into the fury that was filling him up. He lashed out at the nightmare but L' Araigne moved at the last second. Michael paused, some control was still left.

"Do it. If you have the guts, my dark angel." L' Araigne choked out. The pause was all Nikita needed.

She swung the chunk of wood with every ounce of strength and anger she had in her body. She contacted squarely with L' Araigne's head. With his head lolling backwards, he fell sideways.

"Bastard" she hissed as she raised it again. Michael caught it on the downswing.

Their gazes locked. Hers bright with anger, his shimmering with pain. "Why didn't you trust me to take care of it?" he asked her hoarsely. Unshed tears shone in his eyes making them more silver than green.

"I do trust you. I trust you enough to believe that you'll understand why I just did that. I did it so you can be free. Of at least some of your past. It was time I sacrificed a little of myself so you can stop using yourself."

L' Araigne made a choking sound. A single word came out, "Michel..."

Michael stared at the floor. "It was for me to end. Not you. My past...my problem."

Nikita dropped the wood and grabbed his hand. She placed his palm to the palm of her other hand and intertwined their fingers. She was starting to cry. Tears falling, emotions she had been holing back spilling out.

"Our future..." Her voice trailed off. He pulled her suddenly close, wrapping his other arm around her and burying his face in her shoulder. The room was quiet, there wasn't the slightest noise until she spoke. "We can't stay here. Let's go." She pulled away from him. Michael stood there. Numb and silent, staring at L' Araigne's body. "It's over. Let him go. Come to me instead." Holding out her hand, he took it and she guided him to the front door. The silence in the house was eerily complete for a minute until Nikita stepped outside and then he heard the birds start again.

Hearing them start singing again made he realize he hadn't even heard them stop.

He paused at the doorway. He could still see L' Araigne's body laying on the floor. Michael closed his eyes, trying to pull himself back together. His life was so fragmented at this point that he didn't know what direction he was suppose to go in, what path to follow. Hell, I don't even know what I am.

Nikita stopped and watched him. Would he be able to bury this or at least put it aside. She reached over and touched his cheek. He opened his eyes and looked over at her. She smiled at him.

"I love you. All of you."

Weakly he smiled and whispered, "Thank you."

------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------

"All boys are stupid. Your heads are empty! The rules are simple. Can't you understand them? God!" The girl tore the football out of the hands of the older, bigger boy. Her blue eyes flashed at him. She jammed the cap back on her head, hiding most of the short bob of strawberry blonde hair on her head. The older boy glared down at her, trying to intimidate her. She raised her chin in belligerence. "I'm not afraid of you. I could probably kick your butt. Want to find out?"

Suppressing laughing out loud, Nikita turned from the scene in the field. Michael leaned against the car, watching the scene with a far away look in his eyes. He focused on her as he saw her move.

"She's just like her mother whether she knows it or not." He said softly with a lopsided half grin.

Nikita looked at the grass beneath her feet, kicking it. She raised her head to bring her eyes level with Michael's. She gave him a melancholy smile.

"And until someday gets here she can't know it." Wrapping her arms around herself, she slowly walked to the passenger side of the car and got in.

Michael gave the scene in the field one last glance and followed suit. Carefully he manoeuvered the car back to the blacktopped road. Once there he gunned the engine and they took off. The children in the field never took notice. Hopefully they would never have to.

The End

written by Tammy

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