Recovery

"Downloading, Birkoff," Michael said.

"I'm getting it," Birkoff said.

"The intel you downloaded earlier today from the World Links mainframe is not consistent with what Gant gave us," Birkoff said. "Are you sure you accessed the right directory before downloading the financial records?"

"That could be the dummy directory set up to cover movement fo funds. That was the only directory that came up," Michael said.

"If you can get me into the mainframe directory I can check for any hidden file extentions," Birkoff said.

"I'll be able to get into the financial records tomorrow. Rick is going to be out of town, so I can access his files unnoticed," Michael said.

"Yeah, we need to do that because Gant may not know about any hidden passwords or blind directories that have been set up," Birkoff said.

As the files continued to download, Michael heard a splash outside. He stood up from the desk in the study and looked out onto the swimming pool, illuminated by moonlight and small spotlights circling the back patio.

He saw a wet blond head bobbing up and down in the pool. Immediately he thought that Nikita had come downstairs in her alcohol-induced state and stumbled into the pool.

He darted out the glass doors to the pool and stopped when he saw Nikita's arms draped over the side of the pool.

"Hi," Nikita said.

"Hi," Michael said. "What are you doing?"

"Just going for a little swim," Nikita said.

"Well, be careful you don't drown," Michael said. "You're not in the most sober state right now."

"Oh, is that Michael being protective of me?" Nikita said sarcastically.

"I just don't want to have to explain to Section why we had to compromise the mission because the Team One op cracked her head on the side of the pool," Michael said.

"Always thinking of Section, aren't we?" Nikita said and dipped her head under the water.

"Nikita!" Michael shouted.

"Come on, quit playing around Nikita," Michael said, frantically searching for Nikita's head to surface.

"Nikita," Michael shouted again, and when he didn't see her he dove head first into the pool. When he surfaced he shook the water out of his eyes and saw Nikita lounging on the underwater concrete steps that lead into the pool's shallow end.

"Oh Michael," Nikita said laughing, "You got your clothes all wet."

"Then I guess I'll have to take them off so I don't catch cold," Michael said as he pulled his t-shirt over his head and tossed it to the patio. Then he reached down and pulled his sweat pants off and threw them out of the pool where they landed next to his shirt with a splat.

When Nikita awoke the next morning her head felt like it was hermetically sealed in a plastic bag and that someone was pulling it tighter and tighter around her eyes. Her temples throbbed. Her eyes saw pin wheels. Her mouth was dry. Her body was naked.

Oh God! She sat straight up in bed. She remembered bits and pieces of the night before. She couldn't quite connect the dots, though. She recalled a walk on the beach and the feel of Gant's tongue in her mouth. Then she opened her eyes and the face attached to that tongue was Michael's. Then she remembered something about being in the pool with Michael and seeing him toss his clothes onto the patio.

She laid her head down gently on the pillow. Then, for some strange reason, she was remembering strong arms pulling her up from the pool steps and then she was floating in Michael's arms and their skin was touching and his hands were holding her bottom as she wrapped her legs around his body and...

"Well, good morning," Michael said cheerily. "Or maybe not so good, huh? Guess you have a headache."

Nikita looked up at him as he walked into the room, dressed for the office, carrying a huge glass of orange juice.

"Yes, there is a slight pain around the area of my head," Nikita said. "But that really only masks the pain behind my eyes and the aching in my back."

As she sat up and took the juice from Michael's hand their fingertips brushed. She took a big swallow and looked up at Michael over the rim of the glass. If she didn't know Michael, she could have sworn that he was looking at her as if she didn't have on any clothes. She'd never seen his eyes so intense and so...

Nikita quickly pulled the sheet up over her naked chest.

"Well, thanks for the juice," Nikita said, suddenly aware of her state of undress. "I'm sure a soak in the tub will make me feel better."

"Are you sure plunging your body into water will help?" Michael asked smiling. "It didn't seem to cure you last night."

Nikita looked at Michael with wide-eyed innocence. "You know, I really don't remember too much about last night. You'll have to fill me in," she said taking another drink of juice.

"Why don't you come to the office today and meet me for lunch?" Michael said, smiling again. "I could use your help in diverting Gant's attention while I check into some financial records on Rick's computer."

Nikita squeezed her eyes shut and tried to remember harder than she'd ever tried what had really happened last night and what was a dream. Before she could question him, Michael had turned and walked out of the room. She could hear him lightly jogging down the steps. Lightly jogging? He seemed to be in an awfully good mood this morning. She hoped she wasn't forgetting the most wonderful night of love making she'd ever had in her life.

When Nikita arrived at World Links at noon she was directed to the twenty-fifth floor. As she stepped off the elevator she was met with a wall of floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the Pacific Ocean.

"Well, good morning Nikita," Gant said, coming to take her hand in his. "Do you like our view? There's no feeling more powerful than being able to look out over the ocean is there?"

"I'm here to meet Michael," Nikita said, trying to smile at Gant while extracting her hand from his.

Just as she said his name, she saw Michael walking down the carpeted hall towards her. His eyes met hers and she flushed. Was she dreaming or did she think she saw something in his eyes that wasn't there before last night? He came up to her and kissed her on the cheek.

"Why don't you go wait in my office?" Michael said. "There are a few things I need to do before we go."

"Not necessary Michael," Gant quickly said. "I'll give Nikita the grand tour while she waits for you."

"Great. Thanks," Michael said, as he reached to give Nikita another kiss, on her eyebrow.

Nikita followed as Gant lead the way down the window-lined hallway. She looked out over the ocean and could feel the power of which Gant spoke.

"I'm concerned about this trip that Rick has taken today," Gant said. "He has been secretive and elusive lately. I hope he's not getting suspicious about what we're doing."

"We've got operatives on him," Nikita said, "so we'll be able to monitor his activities."

"He's been really edgy lately," Gant said. "I'm sure it's because the deadline is approaching and he must be fearful that his demands won't be met."

"We're still not sure that he's in this alone," Nikita said. "There could be other contacts in Europe who are equally involved."

"I sensed that this trip was a crucial element in his plan," Gant said. "It's highly unusual for him to leave at the end of the fiscal year when our accountants are auditing financial records. I just hope that he'll make a mistake along the way."

"If he does," Nikita said, "that will allow us to penetrate the operation so we can reveal any other associates and their involvement."

They had entered Gant's spacious suite of offices. Gant offered Nikita a seat on the sofa and joined her after closing the door.

"There's something else I wanted to talk to you about," Gant said. "We're having a party this weekend that I'd like to invite you, and of course Michael, to attend. It's what we call a Swap Auction. The gentleman bid on the lady of their choice and the rest is up to the pleasure of two consenting adults. This is a gothic-themed party and since Rick is the host, I'll have to ask him to send over appropriate costumes for you and Michael."

"It sounds like a unique experience," Nikita not really sure how to react.

"We always like to add a little mystery to our games," Gant said. "Often the anticipation of the chase is as rewarding as the final capture."

"Birkoff, are you getting this?" Michael asked.

"Yeah," Birkoff replied. "The directory is intact but the files have been modified from the ones Gant originally gave us. I'll need to go in and recover the deleted files and see if they match up. I'll be able to tell who accessed those files by tracing it back to the log-on password."

"That password should get us into the mainframe root directory," Michael mused.

"It could," Birkoff said. "Or it might be just another layer we'll have to hack through, but it's a start."

"Ok, I've got what I need," Birkoff said. "Hang on a minute, Michael. Operations wants to talk to you."

"Michael," Operations said. "We need to check Gant's reaction to this discrepancy in the financial Birkoff just downloaded. Tread carefully here. We don't want to send out any alarms."

"I'll make sure Gant gets the information," Michael said.