A WALK BETWEEN TWO HEARTS

Simone leaned her body weight on her hands on either side of his head, kissing his lips, with small intimate pecks, her brown eyes fixed with his green. She smiled faintly, suddenly nervous.

I missed you. He offered knowing she needed to hear how he felt, even if he wasn’t sure of how he felt himself.

Simone rested her forehead on his, her falling hair resting on either side of their heads.

It’s all right; we don’t have to do this…. He said rubbing her in the small of her back, bending his one knee up so she could rest her leg partially on the bed. Michael kissed her cheek softly, waiting for her to decide what she wanted.

Simone sighed, sliding off of him, to lie on her side, curled up against him, cheek on his chest.

Oh I want this, but….

She sat up, pulling free of his embrace, bringing up her knees and resting her head on them.

Michael stayed where he was, his hand still rubbing her back, waiting for her to continue. He too was feeling nervous. A feeling he wasn’t accustomed to and he didn’t like it at all.

I want you to really want me too Michael. I guess I expected too much too fast… I had this dream for so long and it kept me going for all those years. I would get back to Section, you would be there waiting for me and we would be happy again like we used to be. It was the one thing I could hold, cherish, and keep in my heart that Sparks couldn’t take from me.

She wiped her partially damp cheeks, tucking the long ebony strand of hair behind her tiny ear.

Michael let out a long quiet breath, sharing part of what she was feeling as well. He sat up beside her, pulling her close to him with one arm and kissed the back of her neck.

I am sorry you had to go through that. It was my fault. He whispered recalling the fateful mission so long ago.

Simone raised her head and shook it in denial, her eyes catching his profile.

No, no it wasn’t. She protested reaching for his hand holding it tightly with both of hers.

It was. You asked for back up…. I said it wasn’t necessary.

His voice was sad sounding and it tore her up inside, suddenly realising what he had to deal with all this time. It never occurred to her that he had thought it had been his fault.

Michael… you have lived in a personal hell just like me,, only yours was self inflicted.. It wasn’t your fault. She repeated it over and over, wrapping her arms around him, hugging him to her tightly.

Michael was close to losing what emotional control he had left and the pent up tears silently fell from his eyes.

Simone pulled out from under his arms, easing off the edge of the bed, being careful not to awaken him as he lay sleeping peacefully. Picking up his housecoat from the back of a chair, she covered her small nude body, tying the sash tightly about her waist and headed for her purse by the kitchen counter on the other side of the large loft.

With a calmness she didn’t know she possessed, she pulled out her cell and dialed the number she had memorized long ago. Holding the phone to her ear, she padded silently to the bathroom and closed the door, locking it. Leaning against the door, she looked up and saw her reflection staring back at her. she hated what she saw.

Yes?

Simone blinked a few times, unable to find her voice. In an attempt to cover her hesitation, she gave a small cough. Clearing her throat, she looked away from her reflection.

Everything is going as planned.

Good. You know what to do now.

Simone closed her eyes and nodded, the weight of the world came crashing down on her.

Please,,,, don’t make me… Michael will be…

The sounds of a distinct hang up in her ear made her stop short, clamping her mouth shut. Slowly, she let the phone fall from her ear and flipped it shut. Her knees felt weak and she let herself slip down onto the toilet, resting her forehead on open palms.

Sighing bitterly, she set the phone on the sink then reached for the toilet paper, ripping off a long helping. Blowing her nose as quietly as possible, she then folded it, dabbing her rapidly tearing eyes.

Please God,, forgive me… She mumbled under her breath as she got to her feet and pick up the phone once again. Carefully, she unlatched the door and peered out into the semi darkness of the loft. It was silent except for the sounds of the sleeping city outside.

Relieved, she hurried to her purse, placing the phone back in and turned for a glass of water.

Across the loft, Michael stirred, half asleep, he reached out to the empty pillow beside him.

Simone poured herself a glass of cool water and went back to where Michael lie wrapped up in the pale blue sheets. Simone approached the bed and stopped short when he rolled over and opened his eyes, staring at her.

I was thirsty. She offered pulling the long robe up as she sat down on the bed, facing him.

Michael placed his hand on her leg, absently rubbing it softly as she drank the water.

Simone cupped the glass in her hands, not wanting to look at him just now. She hated what she had to do next.

Pushing back the ebony curtain of hair from her face, he stroked her arm, letting his hand finally stop on hers and pull it so it rested on his bare stomach.

Simone glanced down at their hands and tried hard to not run and scream in a blind panic.

Michael saw the strained look on her face and sat up.

What is it? He asked turning on the small bedside lamp.

Simone let him take the glass, and tried to find a way to tell him. A way that wouldn’t devastate him anymore then was needed. He felt her hand shake in his, growing suddenly cold. As patiently as possible, he waited for her to speak. Simone looked away from him, cursing Section over and over in her head and then took a deep breath.

There is no easy way to tell you this Michael.

She blinked rapidly, licking her dry lips as she continued when she saw he was listening to her fully.

I was brought in to Section on the guise of being a mistress to a Mark Zang….

She paused but then continued when he indicated he understood.

There is no Zang. There is no mission. I am here on Operations and Madeline’s orders. A pawn in their sick game Michael….

She pulled her hands from his and got to her feet, hugging her body tightly as she paced back and forth at the end of the bed.

Michael crossed his legs under the sheets, covering the lower half of his nude body, green eyes studying her intently, his senses growing more and more tense as she went on.

Simone frowned, trying to find the right words…

I was brought back from the dead Michael… I did die in that blast, but Section had my body brought in and their medical staff performed the impossible… They pulled, no forced me back to life.

Simone ignored him now, intent on getting the sordid story out in one long speech.

You and Nikita were close, and they saw that…. They knew it would become a problem for them.. You two are a formidable team, and they don’t want you to succeed. I was nursed back to health and kept locked away in Centre for so long,,,,, I was certain they had forgotten me.. But they hadn’t. They told me of their plan… I was to come back into your life and separate you. I had to come back from the dead for the second time, break up your relationship and have Nikita die in a set up mission.

Michael clenched his jaw tightly; sending shooting pains through his head from the intense pressure yet remained silent.

Simone swallowed and looked at him finally, her sorrow plain on her face.

I was to win you back, play on your emotions, and will you back to me so they can have their victory over you. I hated it, and at first I refused. But in Section, you don’t refuse them anything. So I told them to cancel me,, I didn’t care. It was then; Madeline came to have a meeting with me. It was she who made me see their way.

Simone made her way back to him, kneeling onto the bed; she sat in front of him, hands clinging to his tightly.

Madeline handed me a panel, that sick evil smile plastered on her face, watching me as I took it.

Michael……

Simone fought for inner control but found none. She was falling apart, the tension, and the guilt piling up on her until it was unbearable.

Michael tried to calm her, stroking her hair until she managed to look up at him.

Looking like she was about to implode, she held up her finger and all but ran across the loft to where her purse lay. Grabbing it, she brought it back, rummaging thru it. Standing by the bed, she pulled out the panel and shakily handed it to him.

Michael shifted his eyes between her and the panel for a moment and then took it from her trembling hand. Bringing it down to his lap, he activated the small screen.

Simone watched him, biting her lower lip so hard, she drew blood.

At first his face remained blank. Then after a few seconds had passed, his face blanched visibly, his hands shook, almost dropping it onto his lap. Bringing his eyes up to meet hers, he shook his head, a mixture of fear, dread and hope coursed over him like a violent flood.

Simone, hoping against all hope he wouldn’t explode in a blind rage, nodded, and in a small voice she uttered two simple words.

Our son.

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