Michael walked into his apartment and straight to his PC without even turning the lights on. He wanted to know if she was online tonight. It had been almost 3 days since he had heard from her. At least... he thought it was a *she*. With a name like *MidnightLady* she darned well better be a she!!

He logged on and entered his password and connected immediately to the internet. Bringing up his mailbox he searched fruitlessly through the posts but did not find what he was looking for. Who were these Covert Lovers any ways and how on earth did they get their mail through to him...? (LOL!!)

No new mail from Midnight Lady. Pulling up his so-called *Buddy-List* he looked to see if it showed her as being online. No MidnightLady online tonight.

Raking his fingers impatiently through his hair he paced a bit then stopped and stared at his PC once again. There had to be a way to track her down. He started running through the possibilities in his mind as he strode through his living room and into the kitchen to pour himself a glass of orange juice.

Taking the contents of the small glass down in one mighty swallow, he rinsed the glass and placed it into the drain rack. He was racking his mind trying to come up with a way to locate this person...without the help of Section. Sitting back down at his teminal he began his search.....

~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~

Nikita was about to go out of her mind!! She was doing her kick-boxing work-out to try and push the anxiety from her mind. As she went through her routine with mindless precision.... she felt her thoughts drift to 3 days ago... when she was online....

(flashback)

Nikita sat at her PC and was smiling as she entered her latest message to *FunnyFace*. He was such a crack up and she looked forward to their exchanges... more than she realized. He came across as quite the carefree fun loving individual she had always hoped to find for her partner in life.

Oh well... Section One changed that.. that's for sure. As she entered the addy for the latest joke she was forwarding to him all the sudden the screen locked up and blinked a couple of times...then nothing...nada..nil....el zippo. System Error. Crashed.

Ohmy gawd! Thought Nikita. What was she going to do now?

(back to present)

Nikita towelled off her face and neck following her rigorous work out and went through her room to get her shower started. Stepping into the flow of water she tried to ease the tension out of her neck and shoulders under the pulsating stream blasting from the shower head.

She felt like she was adrift without her connection to the internet. She must do something....before she lost her mind. Dressing quickly in jeans and Tshirt she grabbed her keys and headed to the local Computer center for a look-see at the latest hardware. She just hoped she made it before closing time!

~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~

Michael was searching and searching through the vast field of knowledge offered up on the internet...and hitting a brick wall at every click of his mouse. Seems that when users want to hide out online... that it is very easily accomplished.

Shoving his chair back with a disgusted kick from his feet, he rose and reached for his keys. He would just have to impress Birkoff with the importance of this *intell*.

Arriving at Section a short while later, Michael wandered down the vacant halls towards Birkoff's room. Raising his hand to knock, he took a quick look up and down the corridor to be sure he was not noticed. Clear. With two sharp raps of his knucles on the door, a sleepy eyed Birkoff answered his knock. Taking the young man by surprise, Michael pushed past him and into his room, leaving Birkoff to close the door in his wake.

"So Michael. To what do I owe this visit?"

"I need some help with my personal computer. And since we are having some down-time, I thought maybe you could come have a look."

Birkoff tried not to let his shock and surprise show too much in his facial features, but failed miserably. Closing his mouth with a quick snap he reached for his glasses and told Michael to give him a few minutes to get dressed and they could go.

~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~< >~~

Nikita slipped the key into her lock and could not help but smiling to herself. She had just purchased an entire new system and it would be delivered in 2 days. Now... if she could just hang on until then...

Meanwhile....at Michael's.....

Michael was hovering over Birkoff's shoulder as he gave him the screen name that he needed *searched*. Birkoff was working very quickly and Michael was trying to keep up and just watched amazed as the young computer whiz flew through the Internet effortlessly.

Just before revealing the name of the user, Michael placed his hand on Birkoff's shoulder and with a look that spoke volumes, the younger man arose and went over to the kitchen, allowing Michael the privacy he desired on this discovery.

Michael looked to be sure that the younger man was well out of view before clicking on the mouse button that would reveal all.....

Two days later...

Nikita was pacing around her apartment in growing impatience. The delivery men were supposed to be here HOURS ago!! As she could feel her blood pressure start to rise, she tried to distract herself by busying around the kitchen and preparing a light snack of fresh fruit. Ever since she lost her PC she had had little or no appetite. She had not realized how much joy she got out of that one outlet... connection if you will... to the outside world... such as it was.

She was startled out of her reflections by a sharp knock on the door. Wiping her hands on the towel she padded over to the door and looked through her video security screening system and drew back in surprise at who she saw standing on the other side of her door.

Turning to cast a quick look around her always tidy apartment, she threw the bolt and opened the door. Plastering a too-happy smile onto her face she greeted him with a hearty *Hello* and stood back for him to enter.

Michael brushed past Nikita and surveyed her apartment with a curious perusal. Not finding what he was seeking, he turned to her finally, "How are you doing? I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd stop by. Busy?"

Nikita was eyeing him warily as she walked back into her kitchen to cut some fruit for a snack. She popped a strawberry into her mouth and chewed it thoughtfully before answering him.

"In answer to your questions... I am fine, thanks. And no, I was not busy. Just fixing a snack. Hungry?"

Michael was watching her with barely concealed interest and curiosity. He walked leisurely into the kitchen and came to a stop within a breath's distance from her. Reaching past her, he picked up a piece of kiwi fruit and brought it to his mouth. Chewing slowly and deliberately, he brought his fingers back to his mouth to lick the stickiness away that was left by the tart fruit.

Nikita was mesmerized. She watched him in a semi-hypnotized state... Michael looked at her and leaned closer, closing his eyes as he did so. Inhaling deeply, he hesitated but a moment before straightening once again. "I love the smell of fresh cut fruit. Quite... satisfying."

He turned and moved back into the living area and Nikita was stunned. *What kind of game was he playing THIS time* she wondered. Reaching once again for the fruit, she lifted the plate and brought it with her into the living room. Placing it onto the table she positioned herself on the couch and waited. Michael was prowling around the room like a trapped animal and she was becoming uneasy watching him. He looked to be searching for something... what, she did not know.

Finally, she asked, "So, Michael. Can I help you find something? Or are you just that restless today?" Faking a casualness she did not feel, she reached for a slice of pear and bit into it with relish. Crunching on the tasty fruit she let her eyes wander back to where Michael was standing... watching her.

Michael could not believe that she was being so cool and calm. He felt as if his insides were about to quake out of him. He had discovered that she was the mysterious MidnightLady that he had been corresponding with and chatting with these past few months. The things they had discussed... the things they had shared... truly mind-boggling. Was she really that person?

Or had she adopted a *persona* for her online life? His curiosity was about to consume him. How could he just bring it up? He didn't want to break that connection... that trust... that rapport.

He was rescued by a knock at the door. Turning to the door and back to Nikita, he lifted one eyebrow in question. Nikita launched herself off of the couch and practically ran to the door. She looked at her viewer and squealed in delight. Throwing the door open wide she allowed the delivery men into her home and they brought in box after box with them.

Michael was watching this with newly piqued curiosity and trying not to let Nikita catch him studying the delivered packages. Sooo... That was IT!! She must have crashed her system and had gotten herself a new PC. Smiling to himself he turned away from the sight and made ready his escape. Crossing the room to Nikita he gained her attention long enough to bid her farewell and make his exit. Nikita just nodded and paid him little mind.

Later that evening....

Nikita could hardly contain her happiness. As she completed the installation of her new system, she booted it up and tried her internet connection. She logged on without a hitch. Now she could find Funny Face again!! She searched her Email and found a post from him. With hands trembling with excitement she clicked on the post with her mouse and waited for the letter to open...

It read... " I have missed you, MidnightLady. I have been worried these past days when I could not find you. Please... are you there?"

Nikita smiled to herself... and began to compose a reply: "Yes, Michael. I am here... as you know I am... and always will be."

She clicked SEND with her mouse and smiled in the darkness to herself. She loved Funny Face and would always be his Midnight Lady.

The End

This story © copyright Aly, 1999