As the technician begins to inch away from Michael, and over towards Nikita, Michael begins to relax a little. He places the gun in his hand in the waistband of this pants, and then runs both hands back through his hair. He makes a gesture to the technician to go on about his business, and the technician complies.

At that moment, Madeline walks into the MedLab room, and finding Michael there, is taken completely aback.

Madeline: Michael...what are you doing here?

Michael just looks at Madeline...with his patent blank stare. Then, he begins to walk closer and closer to her. When he gets within a few feet of her, he stops. Looking her straight in the eyes and with his face so close to hers, that she can feel his breath on her skin, he speaks.

Michael: I am protecting Nikita.

Madeline smiles, weakly.

Madeline: Protecting Nikita? From whom?

Michael, as if unable to control it, suddenly bursts out in a loud fit of laughter. Madeline, not used to such displays by Michael, is caught completely off guard, and thusly very unsettled with him.

Michael: From you...from Harper...from Section!!!

Michael is yelling...as if hysterical...and the sound echoes in the MedLab room.

Madeline: Michael...you need to calm down...you need to get a grip on yourself.

Michael just shakes his head in disbelief...and smiles.

Michael: Calm down? Get a grip? First...you let Nikita go out and be some kind of "target" in your own personal agenda...then you play the charade that she is dead...then you tell me to get a grip? I can not believe what I am hearing!!

Before Madeline can answer, Nikita calls out.

Nikita: Mi... Michael?

Michael turns from Madeline and rushes over to Nikita. Placing his hand gently on her forehead, he looks down at her. She in return looks back up at him...and smiles.

Nikita: Michael...don't blame Madeline...I knew what would happen.

Michael, with a confused look on his face, looks from Nikita, to Madeline, then back to Nikita.

Michael: What are you saying? That you knew you would get shot?

Nikita just looks at Michael. Nikita then looks to Madeline, and Madeline nods her head.

Madeline: Maybe I can make it easier for you to understand. Nikita was asked to be a decoy...if you will...in the effort to help us find out who was leaking vital intel.

Michael looks at Madeline, and his expression turns to one of anger.

Michael: Why was I not briefed on this? Why all the charades?

Nikita reaches her hand up, and touches Michael on the chest.

Nikita: I asked them not to let you know.

Michael looks down at Nikita, and brushes a lock of hair back from her forehead.

Michael: But...why?

Madeline walks over, and stands next to Michael, looking down at Nikita.

Madeline: Because...we weren't totally sure that you weren't the leak we were looking for.

Michael: What do you mean? Why would I leak valuable intel?

Madeline: To protect yourself and Nikita while bringing down Section.

Michael: I would never do that. I am completely loyal to Section and you know it.

Madeline: I am truly sorry but the intel that was being leaked could only come from a level 5 operative. That meant that you were under suspicion also.

Michael: So why are you telling me this now?

Madeline: Because, from your reactions to Nikita getting shot I can tell that you were not the one leaking the intel. I am truly sorry Michael but it had to be done.

Michael: So where do we go from here?

Nikita: We faked my death because we had to know if you were behind this or not. Now, we need your help in determining who actually did leak that intel.

Michael: Do we have any particular suspects?

Madeline: Yes.

Michael: Who?

Madeline: Harper.

Michael: You mean you let him go out on that mission with Nikita and I when he was under suspicion?!

Madeline: Remember, at the time you were under suspicion at the time also. We couldn't risk either of you knowing if you were the one leaking the intel that we knew.

Michael: Well, how do we find out if he is the one doing this?

Madeline: That's easy. We fake a transmission to us from a valuable source, brief Harper on his mission, and see what happens.

Michael: Are you sure that this will work?

Nikita: Michael, trust Madeline. She only has our best interests at heart.

Michael: Somehow, I don't think so.

Madeline: Don't forget Michael, I am Nikita's mother. I don't want anything bad to happen to her.

Michael: Then why did you send her on the mission that she was just on?!

Madeline: She had on extra protective gear Michael. She was totally prepared.

Michael: That's still no excuse!

Madeline: We are wasting time, we need to go and set this plan into motion.

Nikita: Michael, good luck.

Michael: Thank you…

Michael sits down and Madeline sits down.

"Where is Harper?" Madeline asks tensely as she glances up the clock. Operations still had headquarters in a lock down, and Harper was just at communications. Operations looks at the clock and then down to the desk.

"Give him time." Operations says tensely as buzzers start to wail outside the room.

"Birkoff... turn them off!" Operations hisses as he pulls out a cigarette to smoke. He flips the lighter on when Birkoff walks in.

"We have a situation." Birkoff says softly and Operations drops the lighter.

"Everything with you is a situation.... What is it, Birkoff?” Operations says and Birkoff back off to the side, letting the door open for the running operative, Birkoff knew would run him over.

"Harper has taken MedLab hostage." Birkoff says and within seconds Michael is out of the room.

"Nikita is there... I must go..” Madeline says as she turns from Operations and walks out of the room. Operations swallows. The only reason Harper would take MedLab hostage would be if he did leak the intel. His own pet project was working against him.

*

"Does this hurt, Nikita!" Harper asks as he rips the stitches from her side and starts to poke a knife into her side. Nikita closes her eyes as the pain radiates up her side.

"UH?? Why couldn't you just die like you were supposed to? Then in five or ten years.. I would be Operations and Michael would have been canceled a long time ago.. BUT YOU COULDN'T DIE!" Harper says and Nikita kicks her leg straight between his legs and slides away, with the knife in her side still.

Her world swirls and she can barely make out Michael pushing operatives outside in MedLab to get to her….

The last door down this hallway is a maintenance room. Locking himself inside the room, Harper notices a vent near the ceiling. It's big enough for a man to crawl through. Accessing the Section blueprints on the computer in the corner, Harper traces the ventilation shaft. It takes him straight outside of Section. He couldn't believe his luck.

But before he could leave, he knew he had to get rid of the "clock" that Section implanted in him. Section implants these devices in all of their operatives so that if they disappear, they can be traced. Harper looked around for a first aid kit. He would need to bandage himself up when he was finished. Finding one in the corner, he set to work. He pulled out his switchblade, sterilized it with his lighter, and made a 3" cut under his right arm. He inserts the knife into the wound and pulls out the "clock." He sat for a minute waiting for the pain to subside. Then he grabbed the first aid kid, used some bandages to wipe away the blood, then covered, and taped the wound. That would have to do until he could get some help on the outside. He sat for another minute to recover, and then got to work on removing the vent cover. He knew he only had a short amount of time. If Nikita was okay, Michael would be on him like fleas on a dog. If Michael wasn't available, Madeline would have every available person after him. And he couldn't turn to Operations. By now they would have informed Operations that he was the leak. Hauling himself into the vent, which was not an easy task considering he had the use of only one good arm, Harper climbed through the shaft as quickly as possible. Once he reached the other end, he had to kick out the other end of the shaft. It was in the rear of Section, behind some bushes. He would have to scale the security wall, but he knew he could make it with no problem. He replaced the grate over the vent and decided to rest there in the bushes for a few minutes.

Back inside MedLab, Michael reached Nikita just as she passed out. Michael caught her and placed her carefully on the gurney. He immediately grabbed the nearest doctor and pulled a gun on him. "Get that knife out of her now. And she had better not die or you will be next."

Madeline entered just as Michael finished threatening the doctor. She rushed to Nikita's side and saw what had happened. She quickly looked around the room and then asked "Michael, where is Harper?”

Michael didn't remove his gaze from Nikita. "I don't know. But as soon as I know that Nikita is okay, he's mine." Madeline knew better than to try and argue with Michael over this. There was no way that Michael would allow anyone to hurt Nikita and get away with it. He would exact his revenge whether it was sanctioned by Section or not. Madeline decided to go along with Michael, with one slight difference.

"Michael, you can have Harper, but first you have to bring him in and let me interrogate him. We need the information he can give us about his contacts. If you really think about it, Michael, they are as responsible for Nikita's situation as Harper is."

Michael finally glared at her and replied in a stone cold voice "And so are you and Operations. If you hadn't put her in this position, she wouldn't be here now." He paused and then continued, "Fine. I will bring him in, but he is mine and so are his contacts. And if you try to get in my way, I will take you out as well.”

Just then the doctor interrupted. "Nikita has lost a lot of blood. We had to suture the artery that was cut. She should, however, be fine in a few days. We will keep her here for two days just to make sure."

Madeline thanked the doctor. Just then Nikita started to awaken. "Michael" she called.

Michael went to her side and picked up her hand. "I'm here, Kita. How are you?" Nikita tried to laugh, but it hurt too much.

"Well, I've had better days. Are you okay?"

"I am fine" Michael replied. "I am going to get him, Nikita, you can count on it."

Nikita was drifting off to sleep as she replied "I know Michael ... be careful…”

Operations was about ready to blow a gasket.

Operations: Would someone please turn off those damn alarms...and tell me what the hell is going on around here?

As Birkoff gets up from his chair...and rushes over to a control panel...the alarms stop...and the room is blanketed in silence. After the span of only one heartbeat...the communications team return to their posts...and begin to filter through incoming intel.

Operations: Birkoff...I am waiting!

Birkoff returns to his chair.. and after typing on his keyboard a few seconds...he looks up at Operations.

Birkoff: It was the perimeter alarms.

Operations: Someone was trying to gain access to Section?

Birkoff: No.. not entry...but someone is trying to exit Section.

At that moment...Madeline and Michael walk up and stand at the end of Birkoff’s desk.

Operations: Do we know who it is yet?

Birkoff types on his keyboard a few more moments, then looking out of the corner of his eye at Michael, he relays the intel.

Birkoff: Its Harper...it seems he was able to get past the lockdown by using one of the vent shafts...he’s on the outside.

Operations: Well...pull up the code for his "clock" crystal...and we will be able to track him.

As Birkoff begins to process through Harper’s records...to get the code...Operations turns to Madeline and Michael.

Operations: Madeline...I want you to brief Daniels and Simmons on this one...and have them be the point team on capturing and returning Harper.

Michael, with a blank look on his face, steps forward, within inches of Operations.

Michael: I think that I should be on the point team as well.

Operations smiles, slightly at Michael, then returns his gaze to Madeline, without even verbally acknowledging Michael.

Operations: You will have to act fast on this...as soon as the code is up...they will need to deploy.

Michael speaks again, unable to be deterred.

Michael: I said, I think I should be on point team.

Madeline looks from Operations to Michael.

Madeline: I don't think that is necessarily the best scenario here Michael...you are too emotionally committed to the outcome.

Michael looks at Madeline, with a slight look of shock.

Michael: I am the best man for the job...and you know it. I will bring him back alive.

As Operations begins to protest again, the trios conversation is interrupted by Birkoff.

Birkoff: That may be a mute point by now.

Operations turns, and walks over to Birkoff.

Operations: Mute point? How do you figure that?

Birkoff points to his monitor.

Birkoff: I have pulled the code for Harper’s "clock"...and when I ran a trajectory on it...it showed that he was still within Section...which means only one thing.

Michael looks a Madeline.

Michael: He removed the "clock”.

Birkoff nods his head yes.

Operations looks from Birkoff...to Madeline...then back to Birkoff.

Operations: There is a sub-file...number CC5506...pull it up...and get the "clock" code off of it.

Birkoff looks at Operations, confused.

Operations: Just do it!

Operations walks back over to Madeline and Michael. Then, removing his glasses, and rubbing the bridge of his nose, he looks at them again.

Operations: When I took Harper on as my "special project" as you term it...I had an extra "clock" implanted in him...that no one but I knew about...for just such an emergency.

At that moment, Birkoff yells out.

Birkoff: Got "em!!

Operations looks at Madeline, then at Michael.

Operations: Okay...Michael...you head the point team...remember...he is to be brought back alive.

Michael: We are going after Harper. He is very dangerous but is to be brought back alive. I get first shot at bringing him in. Is this understood?

Both Simmons and Daniels nod their heads yes. Both know Michael's reputation with people who betray him and didn't want to become a part of that list.

***Meanwhile***

Harper to himself: Where am I going to go now? I can't go back to my apartment.

Harper makes a sharp right and runs smack into the mission van. He sees Michael get out. Harper is too shocked that they were able to find him so quickly that he freezes. When Michael gets about halfway to him, he turns and bolts around the corner.

Michael: Harper, I have orders to bring you in alive. Don't make this any harder on yourself.

Harper: You have to catch me first!

Michael: That will not be a problem.

Michael aims his gun at Harper's knee and fires. Harper falls down like a rag doll.

Harper: You shot me!!!

Michael: Yes. I did not kill you though like you deserve. We're going back to Section. Once Madeline gets done with you, you and I are going to spend a little "quality time" together. Got it?

Harper: Yeah, yeah, yeah…

"What is going on?" Madeline screams over the loudness of the alarms.

"Madeline.... I need room... Leave!” The doctor screams from the other side of the room.

"AND LET ME RESTATE... IF SHE DIES... YOU DIE, A SLOW AND PAINFUL DEATH... and I'll allow Michael to help.” Madeline says as she turns on her heals and walks out.

"Nurse... prep for surgery again.. I bet the we didn't stop all the bleeding.." the doctor says as he stares at the monitor. How much could Nikita take?

"He doesn't need a medic.” Michael says as he drags Harper off of the van and down the hallway.

"White Room... Madeline is waiting.” Operations says. He looks at the man and watches him drag Harper down the hallway. Not far behind, Housekeeping was cleaning up the blood.

"Michael, I'd like to speak with you first..." Madeline says as she walks into the white room. She looks at Harper who is strapped firmly into the chair. Michael walks to the walls and looks at Madeline.

"Nikita.... you may want to go see her.” Madeline says and Michael stares at her.

"You said she would be fine." Michael says tensely. Madeline looks around the room and then smoothly takes the gun from Michael's hand.

"I think that if Nikita makes it through this ordeal, she will need a face she knows to meet her." Madeline says and Michael grabs the gun out of Madeline's hand and shoots Harper again, this time in the shoulder.

Michael demands to be taken to the observation deck. The nurse refuses to allow him access. Michael pulls his gun on her and again requests access. Shaken, the nurse reluctantly lets him in to observe.

Not wanting to do anything to harm Nikita, Michael waits until the doctor finishes the procedure he is doing and took a few seconds to start another procedure. Michael then pushes the intercom button and says "Doctor, I assume you are doing everything in your power to save her?”

The doctor groans, knowing the voice without even looking up. Saving Nikita was going to be hard enough without having Michael threatening their lives if she didn't make it. What was with Madeline and Michael, anyway?

Didn't they know all that extra pressure could make someone seriously over-anxious? And that's when mistakes happen.

Gathering his composure once again, the doctor turned to Michael and replies, "Of course, Michael. She is getting the best care possible. Now if I could continue....” Michael stares at the man and then says "Fine.”

Back in the White Room, Madeline is slowly walking circles around Harper. Finally she speaks. "I guess you would like to know how we found you so quickly. We know that you removed your clock." Harper's eyes follow her, but he says nothing. "Fine" she says, "I'll tell you. Operations had a second clock implanted without your knowledge. Just for this eventuality. It seems he didn't quite trust you as much as you thought.”

Harper paled when she told him. He couldn't believe that Operations would have done that. He thought he had the old man right where he wanted him. It was all that stupid blonde's fault. If only he could have killed her when he had the chance. And Michael, too.

Michael thinks he is so superior, that he's gonna be the next Operations. Boy, if he only knew what the old man was planning! Michael would probably kill Operations himself if he found out. If only I could find a way out of this. I could tell Michael Operation's plan.

Madeline is watching Harper very closely. She finally speaks again. "We know that you are not afraid of pain. You would not have taken the clock out of yourself if you were. Therefore, we are not going to submit you to pain just yet. However, we know that you are terrified of the dark and of spiders. Therefore, you will spend the next 48 hours in this room, strapped to this chair in total darkness. We will release a few hundred spiders into the room as well. If you are not totally mad by the time I return, you will be ready to talk. Any questions? This is your last chance to tell us what we want to know. Who are your contacts?”

Harper was terrified, but he couldn't tell her. If he did, she would kill him immediately. That was not in his plan. He was not about to die because of Michael and Nikita. If he could get himself through the next 48 hours ... he shuddered just thinking about it ... then he would pretend to tell them what they wanted and somehow find a way out of here. They would pay ... he would see to it.

Madeline left the room and locked the door behind her. Once she was outside the room, she nodded at the technician who immediately turned off all the lights. Then another technician dropped the box of spiders through an air vent high in the room. Madeline smiled to herself and then headed off toward MedLab.

Operations met Madeline outside the Comm Center. "How did it go?" he asked. "We will have the information we need in 48 hours, one way or the other." Operations was still furious over the whole situation, and this didn't help at all. "48 hours???" he yelled. "Madeline, what's the problem? You have never had this much trouble getting information from someone? Are you too close to the situation? Should I send in someone else?"

Madeline was getting angry now. This was all Operations' fault anyway. If he hadn't been so besotted with Harper in the first place, none of this would have happened. "No, that will not be necessary. You would not have selected Harper as your pet project if he was so easy to crack. He will break. I am monitoring the situation. If I think he is becoming critical, I will intervene and get the information. Now excuse me, but I need to get to MedLab." With that, Madeline left Operations standing in the middle of Section staring after her.

Back in the operating room, things were not going well. Nikita's heart had stopped again. The doctors and nurses worked frantically to get it restarted. Just when they got her hearted started again, the stab wound in her side reopened and she started bleeding profusely again. Madeline entered the observation deck and looked at Michael. One look at him and she knew things were not going well. "How is she?" she finally managed to ask.

Michael turned to Madeline and said, "Not good. Her heart stopped again and she has started bleeding from the stab wound again. Her blood pressure is dropping and we are running out of time." Michael's voice cracked with that last statement. He couldn't imagine his life without Nikita. She couldn't die. His life would be meaningless, even more so than it was now, if she was gone. She was the only thing that had meaning to him anymore. He didn't care about Section. He didn't care about himself. He didn't even care about stopping the terrorists if Nikita wasn't there with him.

The doctor was saying something. Michael and Madeline both strained to hear. "The next ten minutes will be critical. If we can get her through this crisis, then we should be okay. However, she will have a long recovery if we get her that far.”

Just then Operations entered the observation deck and asked how things were going. Madeline opened her mouth the reply when suddenly, everything went black. The operating room, the observation deck ... everything. And at that moment, Section's alarms started sounded again. Operations was livid. "What the... what is going on around here??? Is everyone incompetent?”

"CLEAR!” The line continued on its flat line. Madeline turned away from the window. In that moment, the cold interior that she once thought would never crumble started to fall away quickly.

Operations moves from the phone that he was trying to get an assessment on the situation and looked at Madeline as she fell into the chair.

"CHARGE!!!!” The doctor screamed again. Michael's hand pressed against the glass. He didn't want to watch, but then he was afraid if he turned his head, that would be the end of Nikita.

"CLEAR!!!!” The doctor screams and he looks up. If he had too, he would shock the heart over and over again, those people in the room would not accept anything less.

Operations helps Madeline safely into the chair and watches her face run with tears. It was her daughter in there, but he couldn't worry about one operative at this time, he didn't know what was going on throughout headquarters.

Operations picks up the phone as the main power is restored.

"WHAT IS GOING ON!!!” Operations hisses into the phone.

"Hold on, Sir.” Walter's voice is heard in the mess of voices around Communications.

"CHARGE!!!!” The doctor yells.

"Harper is dead.... He got out... made a run for computers.... took down electricity.” Walter reports and Operations looks at Madeline.

"Where is Birkoff? I need a full run down of systems.” Operations says.

"He is still holding the gun.... Should I assign that to someone else?” Walter asks and Operations just hangs up.

"CLEAR!!!” The doctor screams and Michael can feel is world crumbling around him.

Beep..

Beep…

Beep…

Beep… Beep… Beep.... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep….

"OH thank god!” Michael says as he finally takes a breath. Operations turns to look at Madeline, who learns her head back and just sits there.

"We have a strong pulse, doctor." The nurse replies. He nods his head.

"Bleeding has stopped in the wound.” Another nurse replies.

"Seems we are out of the woods..... Let’s hope she wakes up.” The doctor says as he looks up at the three individuals in the room. He knew that he would probably even lose his life if Nikita didn't wake up. It didn't matter if Nikita was breathing, it mattered if she woke up.

Michael had not moved from the bed for 36 hours after surgery. He sat in the chair, holding Nikita's hand, and he even combed her hair. Operations had tried to get Michael to type the report of the events, but all Michael could type was Nikita, over and over again.

"How is she?” Madeline asks softly as she enters the room that her daughter lays in still asleep.

"The doctor said that she should be able to wake up... if she can wake up…” Michael says softly as he looks at Nikita's pale face. Madeline had not been in the room since she was brought out of surgery.

"I am so sorry, Michael... I didn't..” Madeline says and then stops as she touches Nikita's hand. She just couldn't say it. She just couldn't.

"She was following orders... doing what was right... and look at her…”

Michael says and Madeline sighs and walks out.

"Michael, it was the hardest decision I had to make. Hopefully I can say it was a correct one.” Madeline says and walks out of MedLab.

*** 2 hours later***

Michael rolled his head around his shoulders and looked back at the bed. And there were Nikita's blue eyes, looking back at Michael.

"Nikita.... Oh.. Nikita..." Michael says as he stands up and waves for a nurse. He rubs her cheek softly and sees the nurse walk in.

"We are going to take this tube out... ok?” The nurse says and Nikita blinks her eyes in understanding.

"On three... try to blow real hard.... One... two... three..." the nurse says and pulls the tube out. Nikita coughs a little and the nurse places three ice chips into her mouth.

"You gave us a scare, sweetie..." The nurse says as she pats Nikita's arm. Nikita only blinks her eyes and looks to Michael.

"The doctor will be by soon... he just finally went to sleep..." The nurse says and walks out of the room.

"Mi...” Nikita says and Michael shakes his head.

"Three times..." Nikita says and Michael starts to tremble. He had snatched her away from heaven, for his own want.

"Did you want to come back?” Michael asks and Nikita gently smiles.

"Jurgen.... sent me back..” Nikita says and Michael smiles softly. Madeline would enjoy hearing this one.

"To you.” Nikita says and then closes her eyes to sleep again. Michael sits down and holds Nikita's hand.

He remembered a time, when the both of them had a little bit too much to drink. Nikita had told Michael that Jurgen said he couldn't live without Nikita. Again, something of the same sort was said, but this time, Michael knew it to be true.

KNOCK-KNOCK!!!!

KNOCK-KNOCK!!!!

"MICHAEL! I KNOW YOU ARE IN THERE!” Madeline's voice booms through the apartment.

KNOCK-KNOCK!!!!

"MICHAEL!” Operations bellows.

The door opens a crack, and the black sweatpant clad Michael opens the door. Madeline pushes through and moves to the bedroom.

"Why did you take her from MedLab?” Madeline asks firmly.

"The doctor said two days... and you know Nikita.” Michael says and Madeline looks into the bedroom. Nikita was resting without any troubles.

"You should have informed us. And where you were going.” Operations says and Michael smiles.

"I will be careful. Now, it is one o'clock in the morning.” Michael says and Madeline kisses Nikita's cheek and walks out.

Michael turns to the bedroom after shutting the door and sees Nikita sitting up in bed.