The interview went smoothly and I filed away my observations in my briefcase. I shook hands with my so called client and motioned for Nikita to follow me. Nikita followed me like she wanted to leave yesterday. Once outside I pulled my hair out of a braid and pulled my fake eye glasses off my face. Nikita looked at me briefly before we hopped in the 4WD we had come in.
"Lunch?" I offered, Nikita merely nodded her head.
    I stopped at a bar and grill that I visited occasionally. Nikita glanced at the sign before following me in. Sitting at a booth in the corner, hiding in the darkness Nikita stirred her coffee in silenced thought. Breaking the silence I asked, "Something bothering you?"
Nikita jerked out of her reverie, "Nothing."
"Was it my boring job or the deja vu of the prison that has inspired this silence?"
Nikita's head jerked up and met mine, "It's weird, it wasn't the same on but it felt so familiar..."
"The same coldness is in Section and you feel your stuck in a nightmare."
"How did you...." she trailed off.
"Look honey, you gotta deal with it. Do the best you can, save those that you can. Don't let it suffocate you."
"So just give up my sould to them?" Nikita replied harshly.
"No, it's called survival." I replied.

    The rest of the day went by uneventfully. Nikita was wrapped up in her own thoughts as I went through the drill of looking for prospective ops. I debriefed Madeline who was pleased with the outcome. I never saw Nikita again, until a couple weeks later that is.

   "Nikita?" I asked shocked as I flicked on the light to see her still figure.
"Thankyou." she replied, I shook my head trying to understand.
"For opening my eyes." she clarified. I smiled.
"You would have figured it out sooner or later." I replied and sat down. Nikita stood and paused in the doorway.
"Thankyou for telling me the truth." she replied and then she disappeared in the hallway.

                                                               


                                                            Written by Raine