Nikita woke up with a start, disoriented and unsure of her surroundings.  Looking around she realized she was in Michael’s loft.  How did she get here?  She hadn’t been here in over six months, since her undercover assignment at Section One came to an end.  She didn’t remember coming here at all, not to mention that the place was furnished.   The last time she’d been here, housekeeping was cleaning the place out.  But it certainly looked like Michael’s old furniture.  Suddenly, the sound of running water from the bathroom penetrated the fog she seemed to be in.  Deciding to explore further Nikita cautiously headed for the bathroom.

 

“Michael?”  Nikita exclaimed, watching the man wrapping a towel around his hips, obviously having just come out of the shower.

 

“Of course.  Who were you expecting?”  Michael questioned. “Are you alright?”  He continued, seeing how pale Nikita had become.

 

“Oh my god!!!  What are you doing here?  They’ll cancel you for sure!”  Nikita questioned in a panic.

 

“Who’ll cancel me?”

 

“Mick...I mean Mr. Jones.”  Nikita stammered.

 

“Mr. Jones retired almost a year ago, Ni-ki-ta.  He left George in charge, remember? As for Mick, assuming you mean Mick Schtoppel, he hasn’t been heard from since Madeline and the twins gave him a personal and extended tour of the white room.”

 

“But...” Nikita sputtered, beyond confused now.

 

“What’s this all about Ni-ki-ta?  Is it that you don’t want to go house hunting?”  Michael asked, worriedly.  “You didn’t sustain a head injury on the last mission, did you?”

 

“No, I don’t think so.”  Nikita replied, trying to piece the puzzled together.  “It’s just that...that...”  Nikita stuttered.  “House hunting?!?”

 

“Of course.”  Michael replied, patiently.  “It’s been almost six months, it’s time we made a decision.  Since I’ve replaced Operations we need a more secure location.”

 

“Replaced Operations?”  Nikita questioned, completely bewildered at this point.

 

“Of course, Ni-ki-ta.”  Michael, the man with an endless amount of patience, replied.  “George replaced Mr. Jones, Operations replaced George and I was given the perch.”

 

“Right.”  Nikita played along, needing answers.  “What about Madeline, Walter and Birkoff?”

 

“Madeline will be here another month until you complete your training to take her place then she’ll move on to Oversight.”  Michael answered, himself confused as to what Nikita’s problem was.  “Birkoff is still running com and Walter is still talking about retiring, even though he’ll never do it.”

 

“It’s just that I had this horrible dream.”

 

“Tell me about it, you’ll feel better.”  Michael soothed.

 

“Ok.”  Nikita paused, sorting out the details in her head, taking a deep breath before plunging ahead.  “Well, Operations and Madeline forced us to end our personal relationship, then when we didn’t she brainwashed me.  When that failed they tried to kill us.  Then we ran away together, but were captured and brought back.  Then...”  Nikita paused, the horror stopping her from continuing.

 

“Go on.  It’s ok, I’m here.”  Michael gently prodded, holding a now crying Nikita in his arms.

 

“I was a plant from the Agency.”  Nikita raised her tearful eyes to meet Michael’s compassionate but confused, stare.  “I ordered your cancellation!!!”

 

“Oh, Ni-ki-ta.”  Michael chided.  “I thought we’d been through this already.  *Walter* worked for the Agency and mended George and Operations’ rift so Mr. Jones could peacefully retire.  Nobody was canceled.  It was just a bad dream, chere.”

 

“A bad dream.”  Nikita echoed, glad that her nightmare was over and things were the way they should be.