The morning light was just starting to peak through the windows as Mia slipped off the end of the bed and ran into the living room. Nikita turned to the side; to watch over Mia, but promptly elbowed Michael in the stomach.
“Sorry.” Nikita whispered as she tried to move away from Michael. She pulled the blue comforter with her and Michael moaned as the cool morning air hit his bare chest. Nikita turned and proceeded to get smacked across the face with Michael’s moving elbow.
“OUCH!” Nikita moaned out as her muscles react to cover the area of her cheek that Michael connected his elbow with a solid thud as tears sprang from her eyes. Nikita’s legs kicked at Michael as she tried to move away from the tight sheets.
“Nikita, let me see.” Michael said firmly as he moved his hands up to Nikita’s face. He cups his hands around Nikita’s chin to look at the damage that he had made to her cheek. Nikita tenderly pulls her hands away, only to jump back when Michael started to touch the tender area.
“You need to get ice on that.” Michael said as he pulled at the comforter and tried to stand up. Throughout the night, the shared blankets had gotten severely tangled up, and with the pull, Michael falls off the edge of the bed and in his motion, pulled Nikita off the side along with him.
“I need a bigger bed.” Nikita moaned as she continued to protect her cheek. Michael moved away and pulled a robe over his boxer shorts and looked at Nikita.
“We need a bigger place period.” Michael stated as he moved out of the room. Nikita blinked her eyes and sat on the edge of the bed with the statement. Nikita never thought that Michael would be staying permanently in her apartment, and the statement of ‘we’ was bothering her. Not that Nikita did not want Michael to be an every day part of Mia’s life, but it was too quick, and for Nikita it brought up many other issues that she did not want to face anytime soon. She had this feeling deep within herself that Michael was only here for Mia, which was fine, and Nikita could not allow herself to fall into some fantasy of her heart going back to Michael.
Michael stepped back into the bedroom and handed Nikita the package of ice, which she placed tenderly against her face. Michael sat down next to Nikita on the bed and looked around.
“I have been looking at houses. This place is just too small for the three of us.” Michael stated firmly and Nikita pulled away the ice from her face.
“House? You want move Mia away from the only place she had known as home, now!” Nikita argued and Michael reached out and touched Nikita’s chin softly, but Nikita did not allow the contact. She moved to the stairs and looked at Mia’s room.
“I built her room by myself. I can’t take her from here!” Nikita cried out and Michael stepped over to Nikita’s side and placed his hands on Nikita’s waist.
“I can give Mia everything that she deserves.” Michael softly whispered and Nikita whipped her entire body around to stare at Michael. Michael placed Nikita’s hand with the ice back to her cheek and smiled at her.
“She deserves so much more, Nikita.” Michael said with a pleased look on his face. Nikita shook her head in disbelief. She was hearing the reasons why now. The reasons that Nikita never wanted to here.
“So, I haven’t given Mia enough, have I? Have I been that bad of a mother? You can give her better, well that is so nice of you!” Nikita spat out in sharp words and moved to the kitchen. Michael closed his eyes and looked to the stairs. He was making a mess out of what he wanted to do, and what he wanted to do for all of them.
“Nikita, I am sorry. It’s too early for this.” Michael said as he moved to the kitchen and softly placed a kiss on the uninjured cheek of Nikita’s face. Nikita smiled and started to pour coffee as the cell phone rang from the living room. Nikita felt relief, as the phone call would stop the conversation. She was shocked to find out that she had wrapped herself into the fantasy that she told herself that she wasn’t going to fall in. Nikita was disappointed to find herself thinking that Michael really was in the apartment because he loved his daughter, but also because he loved her. Nikita dropped her head as Michael finished the conversation.
“We both have briefings.” Michael stated and Nikita nodded her head and looked at her body. Michael looked to the bathroom and started to head there together. Slowly, they moved in the bathroom, keeping the door open to view Mia.
“Nikita…. You are on my toe.” Michael said in his deep voice. Nikita tried to move, and ended up falling into the shower area.
“Nikita, we have to do something. This place is so small.” Michael said as he tried to button his black shirt. Nikita stepped out of the bathroom and pulled the pale blue sweater over her black bra and stared at Michael.
“I never asked you to stay here! This is my home with Mia! I can’t leave it. I have lived here my entire time here with Mia. I am not going to move her because you want to spend time with her!” Nikita screamed as she moved to the coats and started to bundle Mia up to face the four inches of snow outside.
“Nikita, I don’t want to take her. We will all live in the house.” Michael stated as he walked out of the bathroom and looked at the tears streaking down Nikita’s face.
“I don’t even know if you should even be near her anymore. She is my daughter.” Nikita screamed as she picked up Mia and headed out of the apartment. Michael closed his eyes as the door vibrated from the loud slam Nikita had gave it. He pulled up the cup of coffee and sipped it. He felt guilty for the entire situation. There were so many things that he could have done to prevent this from happening. He could tell Nikita that he had loved her every second that he was in Hong Kong and that the fact that they had a daughter only made him love her more. He could have showed Nikita that he loved her, with roses or something. Now Michael wasn’t sure if he could ever get Nikita and his daughter into the house that he saw three days ago in a dream and found yesterday in real life.
The doors opened to Madeline’s office and she smiled as Michael walked slowly down the stairs. He briefly looked at the two bonsai trees that had gathered his attention before and Madeline stood up.
“They aren’t doing so good. I might have to move them.” Madeline explained as she walked over to Michael’s side. Michael nodded his head and looked plainly into Madeline’s eyes.
“You wanted to see me.” Michael stated and Madeline smiled.
“Do you think that I need to give them more time to fix things themselves? Or should I take the matter into my own hands?” Madeline asked and Michael stood frigid and looked at the bonsai trees.
“We are talking about the trees, correct?” Michael asked with a lifted eyebrow. Madeline nodded her head and reached her hands out to touch the potted plants.
“Of course. Did you think I was speaking of you and Nikita?” Madeline asked and Michael blinked his eyes and studied the plants from left to right.
“They are dying. I would intervene.” Michael stated and Madeline nodded her head and motioned Michael over to the chairs against the wall. Madeline watched Michael’s long lines slide into the chair and she could see the minor aches and pains of sleeping on the small bed with Nikita and Mia.
“I came across your request.” Madeline said and Michael nodded his head. Madeline looked at the gray-green eyes not waver from her own eyes and smiled. “You are ready to take this to the next step.” Madeline stated and sat down. She folded her hands on her lap and waited for the response.
“I want to do what is right for my daughter. The apartment is too small.” Michael replied and Madeline nodded her head. She turned to the wall and pointed to the map of the city that most of the operatives lived it.
“Nikita’s apartment is here. We have moved all other operatives out of that neighborhood a good year ago.” Madeline stated firmly and Michael turned sharply to look at the map. There were only a few reasons why Section One would move operatives out of neighborhoods. Michael swallowed and looked at Madeline.
“She doesn’t want to move. I cannot push it.” Michael replied and Madeline smiled and pulled up the pamphlet with a picture of the house Michael had finally found. Madeline knew he would find it appealing when she first crossed it the day after Michael took Mia out of Medlab and home to Nikita. Madeline had turned down ten requests from other operatives who wanted this house.
“I think I can help with it, Michael. She needs a reason to leave.” Madeline said and Michael started to protest when Madeline placed the picture down on his lap.
“It’s yours. You can start moving in tomorrow. After your mission.” Madeline stated and Michael looked at the house and closed his eyes. He had dreamed of the house for the past three nights, and now it was in his hands. He looked at Madeline and then back to the picture.
“What are you going to do? I don’t want Nikita hurt in this.” Michael said and Madeline smiled and shook her head.
“She just needs some persuasion. Go home. Nikita will be on her way in from her mission.” Madeline said and Michael nodded his head and Madeline stood up to look at the plants. She wasn’t sure if she really was ready to commit to do this action, but Michael in his own unconscious gesture showed to her that he felt it was time.
“Leave Mia. Nikita will bring her home.” Madeline said and Michael nodded his head and left quickly. Madeline turned to her desk and picked up the phone.
“Assemble Conner’s team.” Madeline said in a deep voice. She hung up the phone and stared at the plants. She had a feeling that she should call all of this off. She looked back to the chairs and sighed. She was doing this for the better of the entire family. Michael and Nikita didn’t realize it yet, but they needed each other more than Mia needed them.
“That is the song that doesn’t end…. It goes on and on my friends….” Mia sang out as Nikita drove the car. She turned her head to view her daughter who was bouncing her head from side to side, even in the darkness of night that Mia usually found herself asleep in.
“Mia… who taught you that song?” Nikita called out over Mia’s loud singing.
“Walter and Birkoff…. Somebody started singing it.. . Not knowing what it was….” Mia answered and continued to sing the song. Nikita rolled her eyes as she made the left hand turn and smiled.
“Remind me to thank them personally.” Nikita remarked, knowing that Mia did not realize that her mother was getting sick of the song. Nikita was pulling her eyes away from the rear view mirror when the cars moved quickly in front of her. Nikita looked about as she was only about three blocks away from the apartment.
Nikita sees the gun being pulled on the young boys that were backed up against the cars in front of her. Nikita blinked and drove quickly ahead and heard the guns blast as the front seat area covered the boys. Nikita blinked as she felt the instant pain.
“MOMMIE!” Mia screamed from the backseat and Nikita squealed the car around and drove quickly away. Everyone in the street scattered and Nikita gasped in horror. Nikita glanced to see that her right arm had been wounded and that Mia was fine.
“MOMMIE!!!!” Mia screamed again as Nikita drove quicker. Nikita pulled her cell phone out and dialed the number quickly as Mia continued to scream and cry.
“What is wrong, Nikita?” Michael demanded as he heard the car wheels squeal.
“There was a shooting. I have to get in. Michael just get out of there!” Nikita screamed and slammed the phone shut. Nikita looked at Mia and tried to take her own mind off of the pain from the shoulder.
“Mia… lets sing that song…. And we will be safe…. This is the song…” Nikita started out and Mia nodded her head.
“That doesn’t end… Mommie… I’m scared. You are bleeding.” Mia said and Nikita turned quickly, seeing that she was not being followed.
“It goes on and on my friends..” Nikita sang out as she moved quickly. She was getting dizzy and it was not a good combination. She went against her Section protocol and pulled the car into the parking lot. The Section One attendant came up to Nikita as she pulled her daughter out of the car quickly.
“Destroy it.” Nikita hurriedly said as she ran to the elevator with Mia. She would not feel safe until she was inside. The elevator doors closed in front of Nikita as Mia cried into her non-injured arm. Nikita bit her bottom lip as the pain swelled in her arm. She would not cry in front of her daughter. Not now.
“Come on… the song… Somebody start singing it.. Not knowing what it was..” Nikita sang out hurriedly but saw that it was not going to help Mia now. The door opened and Nikita looked around. She sat Mia down on the floor and looked into her eyes.
“Mia… I want you to go to Walter. I have things I have to do.” Nikita explained firmly to Mia, who shook her head.
“Mommie… I am scared.” Mia said and Nikita kissed her forehead. Nikita sucked in a breath of air, trying to maintain her own composure.
“Mia… you will be safe with Walter. I will make sure that nothing like this will happen again.” Nikita said and Mia nodded her head as she tried to hold her own tears back for her mother’s good. Nikita nodded her head and patted her behind as Mia turned. Nikita watched Mia slowly walk. Nikita saw Mia turn back around, and the turned and ran down the hallway, screaming for Walter. Nikita turned in her own way, headed towards the office, with tears running down her face.
“DAMN!” Nikita screamed as she slammed her door shut and slid down to her knees, not so much out of the pain from the gunshot, but from the pain of exposing her daughter to this side of life.
“WALTER!!! WALTER!!!” Mia screamed as she flew down the hallway, past Birkoff’s workstation. Birkoff lifted his head and watched the small body run down the wrong hallway with her arms flailing in all directions. The operatives who just continued to walk sickened Birkoff by her, and quickly he moved away from his station and after the little midget girl, as Birkoff liked to call her.
“Mia!” Birkoff called out as she circled in the hallway. He watched as the little girl’s face lit up and ran towards Birkoff with opened arms. It was not normal behavior for Mia to do so with Birkoff, but Birkoff picked Mia willingly up, knowing that something was wrong.
“Take me to Walter. Mommie is hurt.” Mia cried out and Birkoff wrinkled his nose back and touched Mia’s head softly.
“Mia, are you alright?” Birkoff questioned as he studied the girl. She nodded her head as Birkoff turned and walked quickly off to Walter’s station. He looked at her as Mia hid her face down into his shoulder and worry succumbed to Birkoff.
“Mia, what about Nikita? What happened to your mother?” Birkoff asked as he sat Mia down on top of Walter’s table. Walter poked his head out and found a crying Mia connected to Birkoff like he was a life preserver. Walter dropped the gun and walked to the gate and found his way to Mia’s side.
Michael pulled his car into the parking lot and looked around. He instantly noticed that Nikita’s car was not in the parking lot. He stepped out of the car and frowned. He moved towards the booth and tapped the window to gain access to the Section One elevator.
“Has Nikita been here tonight?” Michael questioned the operative and he nodded his head.
“She was bleeding pretty bad. And that pretty daughter of yours was crying pretty hard.” The operative said and Michael looked at the elevator, unhappy that it was taking such a long time to reach the parking lot. Michael looked to the operative and sighed.
“Only Nikita was hurt?” Michael asked and the operative nodded his head.
“Looked like she got stuck in some sort of drive by. We had to destroy the car.” The operative said as the door opened up to the elevator. Michael stepped into the elevator and punched the code, so that he would move quickly down to the main floor and find out what was going on.
Madeline sat in her office when the door opened and Operations stepped in. He looked to her and then frowned.
“What is going on, Madeline?” Operations said and Madeline shrugged her shoulders and blankly looked up at Operations. He pulled the chair to the side and sat firmly down.
“I have reports that I have a screaming Mia running down the hallways until Birkoff picked her up. I have no visual on Nikita, but a report that her car has been destroyed. What do you know about this?” Operations asked and Madeline stood up and shook her head.
“I know nothing, but I would deduce that her neighborhood has finally caught up to Nikita.” Madeline said and Operations stood up to continue to show that the conversation was not over.
“Oh, if I only that it was that, I wouldn’t be standing in this office with you, Madeline.” Operations stated firmly as he stared into Madeline’s eyes.
“BANG! BANG! And then really fast. Blood.” Mia cried out in broken words and Walter looked at Birkoff and then back to Mia.
“Mia, your mother. Where did she go?” Walter asked and Mia shook her head and cried harder. Birkoff looked at Walter as Mia wrapped her tiny arms around his neck again. Birkoff rubbed her back and shook his head.
“Nikita was shot. You would think she would go to medical.” Birkoff stated and Walter shook his head and frowned.
“No. She would have called Michael first and she would avoid medical at all costs.” Walter said as he touched Mia’s head softly. Mia looked up with her red eyes and Walter kissed her forehead.
“I’m going to check on your mommie. You stay here with Birkoff.” Walter said as he pulled out of the area quickly with a determined face that no one would stop him.
Michael stepped out of the elevator and did not see the furry of activity he would have expected if Nikita were caught in a drive by shooting by accident. He did not know who to look for first, and he turned down the hallway and walked to the office.
“DAMN IT!” Nikita hollered again as Michael pushed open the door. He walked to Nikita’s side and saw the blood. It had been a bad shoulder wound, but not too bad. Michael pushed his hand against the wound as he looked at Nikita.
“Just go to Mia.” Nikita murmured in her anger. Michael shook his head.
“You need this taken care of, Nikita.” Michael replied and Nikita shook her head.
“Mia needs you.” Nikita replied and pulled away from Michael. Michael looked at Nikita and turned. He would go find Mia and then tend to Nikita. It was what Nikita wanted.
Nikita watched Michael move out of the office and cried more as her heart broke. She was lost in a world that she no longer wanted to be part of.
“I don’t know what you are trying to imply with that statement.” Madeline systematically replied with a cold tone that she had usually reserved for those that she interrogated. Operations moved to her and smiled.
“If you did do something, it would be a great service. We have wanted Nikita out of that neighborhood for some time.” Operations replied and Madeline smiled.
“And Michael has been looking for houses for his family.” Madeline replied happily, which causes Operations to frown at the implication of Madeline’s words. He did not want the word family discussed anywhere near the Michael/Nikita/Mia situation.
Walter turned the corner to Nikita’s office to find Nikita pulling at the thread from her shoulder. Walter slammed the door shut and Nikita concentrated at the work on her shoulder.
“Michael, I told you to go to Mia.” Nikita said without hesitation. Walter walked over and bent down to Nikita’s side and looked at her.
“You are doing a good job.” Walter said and he watched Nikita’s entire body jump. Nikita nodded her head and looked behind her shoulder.
“It went clear through. I need help with the back.” Nikita said and Walter looked and nodded his head. He took the thread and needle and sterilized it in the alcohol and started out the exit wound.
“Mia found Birkoff.” Walter said and Nikita nodded her head and started to cry.
“Walter, I put her life in danger. I shouldn’t even have her.” Nikita said and Walter tried to continue his work as he allowed Nikita to cry. The event had to have been difficult on Nikita also.
Michael clamored down the hallway loudly and he stopped as he heard the noise he was listening for. Mia crying.
Michael turned he corner and found Birkoff carrying the young girl in his arms. Birkoff sighed in relief when he saw Michael and moved quickly to the older man. Mia turned and lunged for her father. Michael held her carefully in his arms, as he checked Mia himself to see if she was all right.
“Mia… it’s all right.” Michael said and Birkoff looked around and studied Michael.
“Birkoff, find out what happened near Nikita’s house. I don’t like it.” Michael said and Birkoff nodded his head as Michael turned back to Nikita’s office.
Nikita lifted her head as Michael opened the office door. She saw Mia grasping at her father a she looked at Nikita. Walter placed the bandage over the back stitches and looked up at Michael. There was silence as Nikita shook her head back and forth.
“I’m not going back.” Nikita cried out and Michael set Mia down on the chair and looked at Nikita. The gunshot was taken care of, but it should have been done by medical so she would not have to go out with the mission in just few hours.
“We will discuss this after we all get some sleep, Nikita.” Michael said and Nikita shook her head.
“I want a house. Michael… buy us a house. I am not going back to that side of town.” Nikita cried out as the reality of what she had been through crashed down around her. Michael kissed Nikita’s forehead and sighed.
“We have to notify Madeline and Operations. You can’t go out with that injury.” Michael whispered and Walter stood up and playfully nudged Mia’s cheek. Mia laughed softly, and Nikita looked up. She was sure that she had destroyed her daughter with the events, but she was laughing with Walter.
“I will go on the mission.” Nikita stated as she stood up and promptly danced with dizziness.
“I saw the house. It is very beautiful and perfect for them.” Madeline said and Operations shook his head in disgust.
“George had you do this.” Operations blamed and Madeline smiled as she turned to look at the computer. Birkoff was writing the report as she looked at Operations.
“No. George had nothing to do with this. I feel that strength can be grown from a weakness.” Madeline replied and Operations shook his head and stormed out of the office. Madeline sat down and looked at the report and sighed. She had other problems than Operations to deal with.
Madeline pulled the drawer out and looked at the paper. A level Five Operative had to be transferred, and there were only two that George even suggested on moving. Michael or Nikita. Madeline could only hope that she could make George see the same error that Operations was making before it was too late.