Chapter One...

It was a warm spring day as the car pulled up to the sidewalk of the bright house. The morning dew was still collected on the grass leaves as the air teased the bright tulips and daisies with a slight breeze that was not cold, but rather cool. The house was bright white, with the large wrap around porch sparkling with the crispness of freshly clean.

It had been a long time. Too long.

Over 730 days.
Over 17,520 hours.
Over 1,051,200 minutes.
Over 63,072,000 seconds.

Too much time had already past and the wound burned with pain as she pulled her legs out of the car and looked ahead. There had been conversations at the beginning, but those were eating her soul apart, so those slowly stopped. Efforts were placed on staying alive, which she had been able to successfully do at the beginning, and then it became keeping everyone alive. Along those 730 days, there was not one day off, not one day that she spent for herself. 730 days passed quickly, but then slowly. Then, along the way, a promotion was given, but nothing changed. She moved like a machine, which she was to be, until she looked at the house that loomed brightly in front of her.

There were just a few toys scattered among the green grass that must have been recently cut. The sidewalk moved towards the house and every footstep echoed loudly. There was a pause in movement as her hand reached out to the handle on the chairs to climb up onto the wrap around porch. Off to the left was a large bay window, with bright yellow curtains hanging in the inside. To the right, the porch was enclosed and wrapped around to the side of the house. There was bright white wicker furniture and several green plants sitting in pots.

The door looked as it did over 17520 hours ago. Nothing about it had changed, and looking at that door brought a stab to the heart that inflamed her more than any other injury she had sustained. She reached out to the little button and waited as the doorbell rang.

It was still early morning and she jumped as the door opened up quickly. Now a girl of waist-high height stepped out from behind the door, and the smile echoed to anyone that passed.

“MOM! YOU CAME FOR MY BIRTHDAY!” Mia exclaimed as she threw her taller body around her mother’s waist and hung on. Nikita choked back her tears as she looked down at the daughter she had missed ever millisecond that she was gone and was amazed. She had grown so much and did not show the anger that she had believed Mia would have. Her hair was still blonde and grown extremely long, as did her mother’s. There just had not been the time for Nikita to cut her hair in the hectic world that she found herself in.

“Come on, Mom.” Mia said as she stepped back and pulled Nikita into the house. Nikita tried to stop, as she did not want to enter this way. She had wished Michael had opened the door, because that was what she was prepared for. She was not ready to see her daughter like this, and in her plans, she would not have seen her daughter on this day. She did not want to hurt Mia, but Nikita was now sure that it was going to happen.

“Mom, Dad and Walter planned my birthday party today… but now all I want is you…. I don’t want a bike… I don’t want that doll… I want you.” Mia chattered as she moved Nikita through the house that Nikita had only spent a few hours in over 1051200 minutes ago.

“Mia.. where is your father?” Nikita questioned as Mia pulled her down the warm wood hallway, with a destination that she was quite unsure of. It appeared as if Michael had done some remodeling and Nikita looked around, startled to find that he had hung a picture of herself up on the wall. It had to have been for Mia’s benefit, and Nikita swallowed as Mia turned around and danced.

“I take dance lessons in town, Mom. I know how to do spins and kicks.” Mia said and Nikita nodded her head as the hand continued to tug Nikita ahead. It was as if Nikita was walking in a virtual reality, that none of this was truly real. Nikita had planned on this visit being only a short one, to discuss some matters of great importance. No one was to know that Nikita had come back to Headquarters, as Nikita still had the threat of George to give Michael the tape, in her mind. On top of that, the reason why Madeline had sent for Nikita was important to Section One security, but Nikita also had other matters to deal with.

“Dad will be happy…… he doesn’t know how to bake cakes… last year.. oh mom…” Mia said as she pulled Nikita into the large country kitchen. Nikita blinked her eyes as she looked off to the right hand side and saw a pair of steps heading upstairs. She heard the steps before she saw anything on the winding steps.

“Mia…. Did Walter come in?” Michael questioned as he walked down the steps. As he finally turned the corner and found Nikita pulling her hand away from her daughter’s tight grasp, Michael stopped with the three packages in his hands. He blinked his eyes and stared at Nikita. Both had not changed, except for a little bit more hair for Nikita and Michael had gotten his hair cut, but it was still shoulder length.

“Nikita.” Michael finally said as he finished walking down the stairs, but did not move his eyes off of Nikita’s face and eyes. It had also been 63072000 seconds for Michael that Nikita had been gone, and he felt her absence every single moment. It had not taken Walter long to spill to Michael that Nikita had been threatened out, but Michael had stopped worrying about that when he was sure that Nikita would never come back. Then she had been promoted. She was now a level above him.

“Michael.” Nikita finally stated as Michael sat the packages down on the table. She could not identify the tension in the room as good or bad. Neither one could pull their eyes off the other, nor Nikita finally shook her body out of its trance, knowing of the reasons why she was here.

“Mia…” Nikita said as she bent down and kissed her daughter’s forehead. Mia smiled and looked up at her mother with the same smile that Nikita had always seen from her daughter. Nikita felt her heart racing, as all she wanted to do was to hold onto her, and never let her go, but that was no possible now. Time was already spent wastefully in this house. Nikita could not allow George to know she was here.

“Why don’t you go and get ready for the party your dad and Walter are giving you?” Nikita questioned with a smile and a nod of her head. Mia jumped up and hugged Nikita around the neck. Nikita closed her eyes as she wished to engrain this image forever in her head.

“Mia… don’t get into your dress yet.” Michael remarked as Nikita sat down Mia and she ran towards the stairs that Michael had just walked down. Nikita’s eyes followed her daughter up the stairs and she turned back to Michael.

“We have to talk.” Nikita and Michael said at the same time, and the tension moved from possibly being good, into a tension that Nikita never liked having with Michael. It was like the tension when it was Michael returning from Hong Kong. Nikita waited as Michael moved around the kitchen.

“We need a secure room to talk in.” Nikita finally stated and Michael blinked his eyes and headed off to the left-hand side of the kitchen, without a word to Nikita. Nikita dropped her head and walked behind Michael.

Chapter Two...

Michael turned as he entered the dark study and studied Nikita’s being as she entered the room and closed the door. He had seen so many reports and so many video files of her work that it was not like her figure and her face were forgotten. In fact, may of his dreams were still of Nikita, and of a day that she would come back. This manner that she was behaving in though led Michael to the belief that she was not here to stay. He reached out and flicked the small switched and motioned to the small couch in-between two bookshelves.

Nikita sat down and found swallowing difficult as she looked at Michael. She could be cancelled for what she was going to do, but there was no other option in her mind. She was not going to make this decision on her own, like Madeline assumed she would.

“You are not to know that I am here.” Nikita stated and Michael blinked his eyes at the statement. Michael turned his head to the side and swallowed himself.

“Does Madeline and Operations think that I would not notice you?” Michael questioned and Nikita leaned over and took Michael’s hand in hers. It felt so warm, and she felt so cold. She could have melted into his arms right that second, and so Nikita dropped his hand and sat up straight.

“We have a situation that can only impact us the most.” Nikita stated and Michael watched Nikita’s eyes search his own face. There was a silence and Nikita could almost hear the mental seconds ticking away, knowing that time was precious and soon she would have to leave, even if this conversation with Michael never occurred.

“Michael, someone has Operations.” Nikita replied after sometime, deciding that being blunt was the best way to handle the situation.

“Why haven’t I been told?” Michael replied and Nikita turned her head and looked at Michael. Her face was the same face he had seen last night in his dream. He had seen her so clearly, as if she was reaching out for help from him, and now, Michael saw this was possibly becoming true.

“You are level 5, Michael.” Nikita replied and threw the existence of her promotion against his face. He had been shocked and horrored by the promotion, sickened to his stomach for weeks by it. He never hated his daughter, but he knew that it was because of Mia, and that fact that he had to care for her, that he had been withheld from level 6 all that time.

“What matters is what I do. I am the only one working on the profile. In fact, I decide if we take out the target and Operations, or if we can retrieve him.” Nikita said as she turned and studied Michael’s lips tremble with the words that she spoke. Both of them knew that even if Nikita were level 6, Michael would become the next Operations, as it was destiny.

“You could come back.” Michael whispered out as he slowly moved towards Nikita again. Nikita blinked her eyes and slowly nodded her head. If Operations was not retrieve, but rather sacrificed, Michael would have Nikita transferred back to Headquarters before the cursor had a chance to blink once.

“But does that give me and you the most power?” Nikita questioned as she stood up and looked at the books that surrounded the couch. She reached her fingers out and touched the bindings lightly and smiled at some of the titles.

“Of course it would. I would be running Section One.” Michael replied and Nikita snapped her head around and stared into Michael’s eyes.

“Would it give us more power? Or would it hamper our daughter’s life? Right now, we have to some extent, protected her. What keeps her safest?” Nikita questioned in a haunting voice that showed Michael that Nikita had seriously thought of all angles of the situation.

“Is there a chance that you should even be thinking of this, Nikita?” Michael asked, wanting to know to what extent was Nikita willing to kill off Operations.

“I feel it is in our best interest, if I retrieve Operations.” Nikita said and Michael shook his head in disbelief.

“He sent you away. He sent Mia away. How is this best for us?” Michael demanded and Nikita moved over to the couch and sat down. She reached out and took Michael’s hand.

“Because, if you become Operations, I would never return here.” Nikita stated with a bluntness that was even sharper than the announcement that Operations was taken.

“Does my opinion matter, Nikita? It sounds as if you have already decided.” Michael commented as he stood up, finding it impossible to allow Nikita to touch him and be near to him. All the anger that he had felt in the past two years boiled in his eyes and his heart.

“Go save him or let him die. I don’t care what happens, now Nikita. Too much time has past.” Michael said firmly and Nikita nodded her head as she rose from the couch. She turned to the door, and was not going to look back. Michael chased after her long strides and grabbed her as she neared the hallway to exit.

“I am not going to allow you to hurt my daughter.” Michael said and Nikita narrowed her eyes and stared at Michael.

“She is my daughter too, Michael. Never forget that.” Nikita said and Michael shook his head.

“How can I? Each time she looks at me, I see you. I am reminded every day of it!” Michael hissed out and Nikita blinked her eyes in order to maintain her composure and then turned to walk out.

“You are really good at this, Nikita. Walking out.” Michael shot out and Nikita bit her bottom lip. She turned and felt all of the emotions sitting heavily on her heart.

“Michael, I have done everything because I want to protect Mia. I am sorry if you feel that your feelings come before a six year olds.” Nikita said as she reached for the door and opened it. Michael watched the door close again, separating the two for who knows how long now. Michael turned and looked up the stairs to see Mia holding onto the railing with tears running down her face.

“Mom left?” Mia questioned and Michael walked up the stairs and carried Mia back to her room, trying to savage what was left of the girl’s birthday.

Chapter Three...

Things are suppose to change while you are gone, and it is odd when things do not change. Nikita walked down the hallway and it was the same hallway as she had walked down before. It was the same hallway that she had expertly negotiated when she could not see. She noticed everything, and if anything had changed, it was that the pipes had been dusted recently.

Nikita felt as if her entire walk down the hallway was in slow motion, and all the times she had been able to walk down the hallway without being noticed were long gone. Every single operative turned and stared at her, most of the operatives she had never seen before in her life. Faces were staring at her, and it had been some time since that had occurred too.

“Birkoff, where is Madeline?” Nikita questioned as she approached the computer expert who has his back turned to her. She watched his back muscles jump at her words and then watched the chair swivel around. The face went from shock to a large smile.

“Nikita! Mia is going to be so happy to see you!” Birkoff exclaimed and Nikita rolled her eyes and walked out of view from the observation deck. She had seen the person she could not been seen by. George was in that room with Madeline. Nikita walked behind Birkoff and looked over his shoulder.

“Where is Madeline?” Nikita whispered into his ear softly, although she already knew the answer. Birkoff nodded his head and looked up above him.

“She is in a meeting with George and Operations.” Birkoff replied and Nikita nodded her head. The statement said a lot to Nikita. She was going to be given the entire Operations’ kidnapping to work by herself. Any of her decisions Madeline would read into Nikita’s own personal experience, and therefore Nikita was going to be exposing herself and her goals more than she wanted.

“No one is to know I am here. Is Walter here?” Nikita questioned and Birkoff shook his head back and forth with the answer of no. Nikita nodded her head and looked up to the ceiling and then back to Birkoff.

“I’ll be in Madeline’s office. I will be using your code.” Nikita said as she moved along to the back wall. Birkoff raised an eyebrow but did not question Nikita’s actions. He had seen the missions that Nikita had been doing, and several times mentioned it to Walter that she had become colder than Madeline.

Nikita moved down the hallway. She could only hope that the operatives who did see her, where still scared of George and would not speak at all. It was what occurred in the station she had been assigned in San Francisco. Even the higher operatives were scared of George and found it difficult that Nikita carried on a decent relationship with George. Even though George had threatened Nikita to leave, and that the threat was still being used, he cared for Nikita and Mia. George had often brought in tapes that Michael would be shocked to know that they exist.

Nikita punched in Birkoff’s code and walked into the office. She looked to the wall and was surprised to see that all of Madeline’s traditional bonsai plants had been removed and only shelves sat there now. Nikita moved over and looked at the few items that were there. Nikita fought the tears as she saw the little clay pot with a picture of Mia on it. Nikita trembled as she turned around to find Madeline walking down the stairs.

“I didn’t expect you so soon.” Madeline commented as the door closed and she made her way around the desk. Nikita blinked her eyes and moved to the chair in front of the desk and sat her body down while concentrating on Nikita.

“My dear, Nikita, you must stop trying to be Michael.” Madeline commented and Nikita blinked her eyes at the statement. Madeline was shocked by the lack of expression on Nikita’s face, but Madeline already knew that Nikita was hiding a lot. She was sure that there was a reason why Nikita still could not allow George to know of her presence, and Madeline was sure that Nikita’s heart was still rather warm, in comparison to the coldness that Nikita showed.

“My priority is Operations. Now, what do we know?” Nikita commented and Madeline lightly smiled at the commented as she turned the computer on and turned it to Nikita. Nikita watched Madeline move quickly through the screens and she leaned her head back as the tape of Operations in the torture chair was revealed.

“Who is it, Red Cell or Freedom League?” Nikita questioned and Madeline looked down at her desk and pushed the panel to Nikita. Nikita looked at the panel and then back up to Madeline.

“Does George know?” Nikita questioned and Madeline shook her head. She turned to the side and studied Nikita as she folded her hands on her lap. She was surprised that Nikita had not started to make demands on Madeline.

“A combination of the powers that be in Red Cell and Freedom League is currently only known between us, and no one else.” Madeline said and Nikita nodded her head and she looked to the wall.

“Where do I work?” Nikita questioned and Madeline licked her lips and looked around the office.

“Here. Is there anything else you may need, Nikita?” Madeline questioned as she stood up. Nikita blinked her eyes and swallowed.

“I am going to need Walter to go over some of the weapons. See what we could use.” Nikita stated and Madeline rose an eyebrow. She thought she would have asked for Michael first, and Madeline would have given Nikita what she wanted. It was going to be an extremely interesting few days as Nikita worked on this profile. The pairing of Red Cell and Freedom League weren’t going to kill Operations, so Nikita did not have to hurry with the profile.

“I thought you would ask to see Mia. Isn’t it her birthday today?” Madeline questioned and Nikita clenched her jaw and turned to Madeline with evil in her eyes.

“I gave birth to her. I would never forget her birthday, Madeline.” Nikita spat out and then moved to the table in the corner of the office and sat the panel down to study it more.

Chapter Four

It was four hours of painful quiet as Nikita studied every single shred of intelligence that Madeline had been able to gather up by herself. Nikita was sure that Birkoff could gather more for her, but she did not know if that was a wise thing to do. Nikita knew that it was only a matter of time before Walter walked into the office and knew of Nikita’s presence. Nikita could only hope that she could talk to Walter before he found out. She did not need a mess occurring on her hands about everything in her life.

Nikita had been able to establish a drop within Madeline’s mailbox to retrieve any of the communications with Operations. Along the way though, entering Nikita’s fifth hour, Nikita saw an e-mail from George sitting in Madeline’s box. It was odd, since George was still currently inside Section One headquarters.

“So it is true. You are here.” Walter hissed as he entered the office. Nikita turned her head and she blinked her eyes, as the door still had not shut, exposing her to yet more operatives. Nikita had read the e-mail and knew of the explosion that was soon going to occur. There was nothing that she could do now, but she was not going to be stuck in Madeline’s office much longer.

“You spoke to George.” Nikita commented as she stood up and ran her hands through her hair. Walter nodded his head and moved to Nikita.

“He shouldn’t be keeping you from your daughter. She was so happy at her party.” Walter commented and Nikita swallowed and looked straight ahead, trying not to feel the emotion. She had allowed Walter too much leeway in her life already.

“And you told Michael. So he is expecting the worse.” Nikita said and Walter shook his head and stared at Nikita. He was still confused about exactly what she was speaking about. He could tell from her posture that he was not going to be able to comfort her to get the information out of her.

“Nikita, what are you talking about? Madeline said you needed me for some urgent profile.” Walter said and Nikita moved ahead and licked her lips. Walter felt a chill run down his spine that did not occur with many people. Madeline was able to get this kind of reaction out of Walter, and he swallowed.

“You told Michael that George was blackmailing me. Which means, since you told George that I was here, Michael will take anything George gives him as the truth. I do not need this now.” Nikita said in tense words that echoed in the room. Walter blinked his eyes and stared at Nikita. He had a feeling that it was Nikita who was making her life more complicated than it needed to be.

“I’m sorry, sugar, I didn’t know. Why don’t you tell me what George has on you?” Walter said and Nikita turned and walked back to the computer. She clenched her teeth together and stared at the computer screen. She turned to look over her shoulder and Walter was shocked by the look of disgust that cross her face when she realized that he had not followed her.

“I have bigger problems than what little relationship I have with Michael. Operations has been taken and it is my job to either sacrifice him or to retrieve him.” Nikita commented and Walter rushed to the screen and looked at the video. He was smiling as the men worked the older man over. It brought Walter some pleasure to see the old man get some of the punishment he dealt on others without even blinking.

“Is there even a choice here?” Walter questioned in a deep voice and Nikita turned as she slid down into the chair. She crossed her legs and tilted her head back to look at Walter.

“Are you suggesting that I just sacrifice him and be over with it?” Nikita questioned in a deep voice and Walter bent down and looked into Nikita’s eyes. The tone was a tone that he never expected from Nikita. They were words that he never thought would be murmured out of Nikita’s mouth, as Walter often dreamed of the end of Operations coming from the sweet blonde’s hands. Now Walter wasn’t sure if sweet should even be murmured with the same thought with Nikita.

“No. But it would end a lot of your problems.” Walter said and Nikita blinked her eyes and looked off far away. In that instance, Walter saw Nikita’s pain and saw that she was still the Nikita he knew, but she was so covered up with the hardness of Section One that it was going to be a long time, if ever, to get her back.

“It won’t end the problems, Walter. I have the location, and I want to see what type of weapons would be used in both circumstances, sacrifice and retrieval.” Nikita said and Walter nodded his head as Nikita handed the disk over to him. He turned and walked out of the office and plum into Madeline.

“Walter. Please do not discuss this with anyone. Not even Birkoff.” Madeline said and Walter nodded his head. He could not believe that Birkoff had not been consulted on this and he was sure he was going to tell the computer genius to at least start digging a bit. Walter was about to allow Madeline to enter her office when he grabbed her arm.

“What has happened to her?” Walter whispered and Madeline looked up at Walter and blinked her own eyes.

“She is level 6, Walter. She has priorities.” Madeline stated and Walter looked at Madeline and licked his own lips as he planned out his next words.

“When her shields drops, you see it.” Walter whispered and Madeline leaned into Walter’s body and pressed her head towards his ear.

“What do you see, Walter?” Madeline said and Walter turned to face Madeline’s eye. He could see the eyelash flickering in the waiting tension.

“A girl that has lost her soul.” Walter whispered out and moved away before he could hear Madeline gasp. Madeline watched Walter move down the hallway, no way underestimating that he would consult with Birkoff in a matter of moments. Madeline looked towards the closed door and blinked her eyes. She had seen George storm out of Section One, off to say Happy Birthday to Mia, but she was sure there was more there. Madeline sighed as she opened the door to find Nikita hunched over her work.

Madeline blinked her eyes as she noticed that she had missed exactly what Walter had said. Nikita should be pounding her way out of Section One in her old rebellious way. It was one of the things that Madeline had felt was a strong point of Nikita’s, that she still believed in life. It was with the image of Nikita hunched over her work, Madeline realized the gross error and she stepped back and watched the door close again. She needed to think, as she was sure that Nikita’s decision about Operations was not going to be the one that Madeline expected.

Chapter Five...

Michael smiled as Mia danced around the table in her post birthday cake sugar high. He shook his head as he dropped the paper plates into the garbage, to find that Mia had run back into the living room to look at her gifts again. Michael turned and walked towards the living room when he saw the man walking up the stairs. Michael hissed as he took some air into his lungs and moved to the door.

“George.” Michael said tensely as he looked past the brightly wrapped box in his hands to the older man’s face. Michael stepped back and allowed him to enter as Mia ran in from the living room.

“Uncle Georgie!” Mia exclaimed as she jumped up and down. Michael turned and closed the door as George handed the young girl the gift, which she promptly tore up. Michael bent down and picked up the paper from the wooden floor as Mia held a delicate yellow dress in her hands.

“I know this dress!” Mia exclaimed and George nodded his head. Periodically he would arrive at Michael’s house unannounced with some video of Nikita. He always had one for Michael, which included most of the missions Nikita had gone out in, and then usually one for Mia, which showed Nikita laughing and smiling. The most recent showed Nikita in a yellow dress like the one Mia now held in her hands.

“Mom was here today.” Mia said and George smiled and nodded his head.

“Yes, Mia. I know.” George said as he turned his head slightly to the side to look at Michael. Michael swallowed and looked down at Mia.

“Mia, why don’t you take that dress, and the dresses from Madeline and hang them up in your closet like I showed you to do the other day.” Michael said and Mia nodded her head and bounced to the pile of gifts and grabbed the clothing. Michael leaned to watch Mia walk up the stairs before turning to look at George. Michael closed his eyes as George extended his hand and showed Michael that he had another videotape.

Michael was watching his every movement, as he did not know what George knew of Nikita’s return involved. It was possible that Madeline was still covering for Operations absence, and Michael did not want to jeopardize anything that was currently going on. Michael had first felt that George could be trusted, but slowly he had become wary, especially after he had sent Nikita away to San Francisco.

“I should have showed you this years ago.” George said and Michael snapped the tape into the VCR. Michael stepped back to lean against the couch arm as the tape began to run.

“Oh Delano… you know how to make a girl relax.” Nikita murmured as she sprawled out on the bed, with Delano on top of her. Delano leaned down and licked Nikita’s neck, which caused her to laugh deeply.

“Nikita, you are like sweet heaven.” Delano whispered and then pushed his bare body towards Nikita’s. Nikita lifted a hand, and playfully tried to stop him.

“Oh.. We shouldn’t be doing this… what would your father think…” Nikita whispered out and then began to laugh.

“He would love to see you happy.” Delano said as he reached down and kissed Nikita’s lips and then continued the embrace.

Michael snapped the remote up and stopped the tape. He felt more betrayed than ever before. It was not like tapes like these had been something new for Michael. It has seemed as if Nikita’s specialty when she reached San Francisco had become Valentine missions, and Michael had probably seen the explicit side of every single one. This one hurt because it ruined everything that Michael had believed Nikita was.

“When?” Michael questioned, needing to know exactly when this relationship occurred. He watched George lean forward on the couch to look at Michael’s eyes.

“The relationship occurred when Mia was turning six months.” George replied and Michael felt his world drop out from him. Everything that he had tightly held onto for years was gone. He had thought that Nikita had been traumatically harmed when he left for Hong Kong. Michael had believed that the Sanchez mission, that occurred almost seven years ago, had scarred her, but that was not true. All the time that he had spent with Nikita before she left for San Francisco was now seen in a different light. She may have never been hurting, and she was just using to get what she wanted.

‘This can’t be… Did Mia…” Michael whispered out as the questions came to his mind. George rubbed his hands together, pleased that Michael did not even hesitate on believing what had occurred.

“It was going on for two months, but Delano never was involved with Mia.” George replied and Michael nodded his head and blinked back his own painful tears. He felt like he had been the one used, and that Nikita was not to be trusted. He would have not acted this way if Nikita just told him, but now, it meant something totally different. Nikita had hidden it for a reason, and it pained Michael to no extent. Now, he did not want Nikita anywhere near Mia.

“Why would she not tell me?” Michael questioned and George smiled and rubbed his hands together.

“Do you think you would have allowed her to leave with that? She used it to get ahead. Who is the level six operative now?” George questioned bluntly and Michael swallowed the implications. He found the world that he had constructed with what he felt was truth, was just a pile of lies. It was like Michael had just been sucked into a hurricane with nothing to hold onto.

“I am trying to access some tapes from San Francisco. I have heard that there was a relationship between Weigner and Nikita.” George said and Michael turned and stared at him. First George’s son and then Weigner, the level eight operative who ran the San Francisco station. Michael turned away as George stood up.

“I didn’t want to hurt you, Michael. But I thought you needed to know where things stood.” George said and Michael nodded his head. He did not move as George moved out of the house. Michael listened to the front door slam shut and he finally closed his eyes. It was at that moment, that the footsteps of the running Mia were heard, quickly running down the stairs.

“Mia! Walk down the stairs!” Michael called out, and he heard the footsteps slow down and then round the corner.

“Dad, can we go see Mommy?” Mia asked and Michael shook his head and picked Mia up. He kissed her forehead, determined not to allow Nikita to destroy their daughter with her thirst for power and looked outside.

“You still have a birthday gift.” Michael said and he pointed out of the window and Mia’s mouth dropped down.

“A BIKE!” Mia exclaimed and instantly forgot about her wish to see her mother.