Madeline and Nikita leave and head for Madeline's office.

Madeline: "Nikita, what exactly was going on in there?"

Nikita: "I don't know. Karen attacked Michael when he came to see me in MedLab. If Walter hadn't dropped by, she would have probably killed Michael. Operations just told us that Karen hadn't been canceled. And he sent Michael after Jasmin. He seems to be blaming her for all the weird things going on. Since Michael said I couldn't be left alone, Operations said I was to stay with him. But something just doesn't seem right. Operations is acting too weird, even for him."

Madeline: "You are very perceptive, Nikita. There is something seriously wrong with Operations and I'm gonna get to the bottom of this. Wait in my office until I get back, or until I send Michael for you."

Nikita head to Madeline's office and Madeline head for Birkoff.

Meanwhile, Michael is trying to find out where Jasmin might be. Something tells him to check out Nikita's apartment. Once he arrives, he lets himself in and starts to look around. Nikita's things are strewn everywhere. Michael decides to carefully search the whole apartment. When he reaches the bedroom he stops dead. On the wall in bright blood-red paint are the words:

YOU WILL DIE NIKITA ... VERY PAINFULLY ... ONCE YOU'RE GONE, IT WILL BE MICHAEL'S TURN ...

As Michael starts down the steps to the living room, he sees a very thin wire running across the floor between the kitchen and the French doors. Not seeing anything that it should be connected to, Michael throws the nearest thing he can find, Nikita's big floppy hat, at the wire and the hat is immediately electrocuted. The hat catches on fire and burns to a crisp. Michael quickly douses the fire and calls Section.

Madeline had Birkoff refer all calls to her rather than Operations, so she gets the call from Michael. He quickly explains the situation to her. Madeline tells him to come in immediately. As soon as Michael arrives:

Madeline: "Michael, I want you to stay with Nikita 24/7 until we find out what is happening. Her life, and yours, is in extreme danger. If you two stay together, you can watch each other's backs. Birkoff just reported that right before she escaped, one of the guards managed to place a tracker on Jasmin and I have a team going after her now. Nikita is in my office, go there immediately and tell Nikita what is happening. I think you should take Nikita to your Section quarters immediately and stay there until you hear from me or Birkoff."

Michael: "Fine. Should I report in to Operations?"

Madeline: "No. Just do what I said."

Michael: "Fine."

Something wasn't right when Michael turned the corner and looked at Madeline's office. The light in the hallway was burnt out and Michael looked both ways.

"HUH... HUH!” Michael hears and he quickly opens the door and shakes his head.

Nikita has Allison, a new recruit against the wall. Nikita backs up to kick the girl another one and Michael grabs her hand. Her head had started to bleed again, and Michael turns to Allison.

"I have orders to cancel anyone who has tried to see Nikita without telling anyone. Plus you are in Madeline's office.” Michael says as he stares at Allison. She is injured as Michael places a hand on Nikita's shoulder. Allison stares at Michael and he notices a mark on her neck.

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE MY FRIEND! YOU JUST WANTED TO KILL ME!” Nikita screams as she charges towards the wall again. Michael grabs Nikita by the waist and pulls her to the phone. Michael stares at Nikita as he ties Allison up and calls Housekeeping.

"Just let me cancel her... Just let me... that... that...two-timing.. two-timing..." Nikita says as she makes another dash towards Allison who sits in the corner tied up. Allison makes not a sound.

"Nikita... what did she do?” Michael asks as he holds Nikita's body tightly from going towards her. Nikita just continues to struggle against him.

"Nikita.” Michael says firmly and twirls her around to face him.

"Thank god.” Michael says as he firmly kisses Nikita and her body stops trying to pull away. He can taste a bit of blood from Nikita's cut lip, but he holds her tightly. If he was kissing her, Nikita was fine.

Michael didn't notice Madeline walk into the office.

Madeline: Excuse me...

Madeline: What happened? How did she get in here?

Michael: I don't know.

Nikita: Somehow she got the code to open the door. She came in and tried to stab me with this.

Madeline: I don't understand this. Something strange is going on here. We have to control it before it destroys us.

Michael: I have noticed one similarity between Karen, Jasmin and Allyson that was never there before.

Madeline: What?

Nikita: What could that be caused by?

Madeline: It could be caused by a rare form of brainwashing. Someone living, wants the two of you dead.

Nikita: But why? What have we done to them?

Michael: Because we pose a threat to them. Do you have any ideas as to who it might be Madeline?

Madeline: I have an idea but I want to check it out first.

Michael: May I ask who?

Madeline: Operations. I want to see if he has one of those marks on his neck too. If he doesn't, then he's the one after you.

Michael turns to Nikita: Are you all right?

Nikita: Yeah, and you-- Oh God, Michael you're hurt!!! Come here; let me take a look at it.

Michael sat down and let Nikita check his cut. All of the sudden he caught her hands and pulled her over to kiss him. His luscious lips met hers with equal hunger.

Michael: God, I almost lost you. Are you sure you are all right??

Nikita: Yeah I'm sure. Michael, I never thought you were really afraid of loosing me??

Nikita looked at Michael, expecting him to say something.

Michael: Nikita, I -ring-ring, ring –ring

Michael looked at Nikita and she turned her head.

Ring-ri

"WHAT!!!"

As Madeline walks down the hallway...heading for Operations office...she did not like the scenario that was playing through her head. If Operations was the one trying to harm, or even kill Michael and Nikita, then the choice of what to do would be taken out of her hands. And, admitting to herself that Operations has many flaws; she did not like the idea of anything happening to him...yet.

As she rounds the corner, she hears what appears to be a major argument going on. As she draws closer, she can see Operations yelling at Birkoff.

Madeline: Gentlemen...what is going on here?

Operations turns around and with a wild look in his eyes, spits out his words at Madeline.

Operations: What do you mean, what is going on here?!?! I am surrounded by incompetents is what is going on here!!!

Madeline, not sure why Operations is acting the way he is, decides to try a different approach.. and see if she can get some answers from Birkoff.

Madeline: Birkoff...do you care to enlighten me as to what is going on?

Birkoff: Yeah...well...Operations asked me to run a system check, and when I told him that the results came back normal, with no anomalies, he started yelling at me.

Madeline: Operations, is this true?

Operations just looks at Madeline, like a wild animal, shaking his head in disbelief.

Operations: I can't believe this! I am going to my office...if you ever learn to do your jobs right, you can find me there!

With that, Operations turns and storms off.

Madeline looks at Birkoff, and smiles.

Madeline: Go back to work Birkoff...I will handle this.

Birkoff turns and heads back to his desk.

Madeline knocks on Operations office door. After being told to enter, she steps through.

Madeline: Is it safe to come in?

Operations is sitting at his desk, with his glasses in one hand, massaging the bridge of his nose with the other. He looks up, and smiles weakly at her, and motions her in.

Madeline: What was that little scene out there about just now?

Operations: I don't know. I have no idea what got into me. It was like I was suddenly over come with an uncontrollable rage, and had to vent it. The problem is, I don't know where the rage came from.

Madeline walks around the desk, and bending over, uses her hand to move Operations chin over to one side.

Looking at his neck, she sees two small puncture wounds. She sighs a breath of relief.

Operations: Madeline is something wrong? Madeline looks at Operations and smiles.

Madeline: Yes.. but not as much as before.

She walks back around the desk, and paces the floor. She runs all of the available information gathered through her mind, then turns to face Operations.

Madeline: I think I know now who is responsible for all of the strange occurrences around her lately.

Operations stands up, and putting his glasses back on, looks at Madeline.

Operations: Who?