DEATH COMES FOR HIM

By LORRAINE O.

The characters are theirs...but their actions are mine...there...that was the token disclaimer! Feedback is wanted, needed and craved for...let me know how I am doing!! appleg@accesscable.net

"I am prepared," he said calmly.

"I’m not," her voice trembled despite her best efforts to keep it level.

"I’m sorry to hurt you like this." His chair creaked as he shifted slightly. Nikita sat back, her eyes taking him in as if to memorize this second in time.

"Isn’t there anything…." her voice trailed off when he shook his head.

"No. Nothing." He cut her off mid-sentence crossing his legs under his chair. The silence between them stretched for a time, the only sounds were the muffled sounds of the activity outside his dim office.

"How long?" she asked looking down at her fingers pulling at a thread in her short skirt.

"Not long," was his simple answer. Nikita felt a tear slide down her cheek and watched the dark spot appear on her blouse where it fell.

"There must be something they can do," she sniffed quietly looking back up to him. His face was blank, but his eyes gave him away. The look in them was something only he allowed when he was with her. To catch a glimpse of the real Michael. "You can do something for me," he said leaning forward, his elbows resting on the desk. Nikita cocked her head to the side waiting for him to speak. "You can live." He paused taking a breath, feeling like his façade was about to crack. "Take care of Adam for me. Tell him about me. I want you to go on without me." His voice had gone down to a near whisper making her lean in to listen harder.

"If you are gone Michael, I don’t want to go on." She reached for his hands, clasping them tightly, Michael wrapped his fingers around hers, squeezing them painfully, making her gasp and look up at him thru tear filled eyes.

"You are the only one I can trust, Kita. You and he are the only ones...the only people I... love." He cleared his throat giving her hands a small shake to keep her attention when she went to look away. Nikita pulled her hands from his forcefully, and got to her feet, turning her back to him.

"Why did you do it Michael? Why? You must have known what they would do to you in the end." She cried sitting down on the edge of the desk crossing her arms over her chest as she cried quietly.

Michael got to his feet and came around the desk to stand in front of her. His hands gripped her arms and pulled her to her feet, their bodies inches apart. Looking down into her face, he took in every line, curve, nuance of her and smiled ever so slightly. "Why isn’t important. What’s important now is that you promise me this." His voice was surprisingly soft, almost sultry and it threw her off guard. There was a knock on the office door and it opened immediately. It was Madeline and three security men.

"It's time Michael," was all she said.

"Give me one moment, Madeline?" he asked his attention fixed on Nikita. Madeline inclined her head and stepped back, the door closing once again. Nikita grasped the sleeves of his jacket, her knuckles turning white. Nikita...please." His hands gently cupping her face holding her so she was forced to look up at him. "Please…" he repeated as his mouth closed over hers, his hands fell from her face to wrap his arms around her tightly, pulling her body against his. Nikita wrapped her arms around his neck, her hands slipping into his soft hair, a sob muffled in their kiss. When he pulled back, the door was opening again.

"Now, Michael" she insisted her face was blank. Nikita touched his face, her fingers trailed over his lips, feeling the stubble of his beard as they trailed down and onto his chest.

"Nikita?" His voice remained as even as ever and she looked back between Madeline and him. Slowly, she nodded and hugged him to her tightly once again.

"Yes. I promise. I love you Michael. I always will. Oh God. I promise you. I love you, I love you," she said over and over between kisses on his face.

Michael pulled back, his hands once more grazed the side of her tear stained face and stepped back. "Good bye, Nikita," he said. Turning his back to Madeline, so only Nikita could see his face, he silently mouthed the words. "I love you my sweet Nikita. Always and forever." Then he turned and followed the guards out into the hallway. Madeline left without so much as a glance, closing the door leaving her alone in his office. Nikita stumbled to his desk, and collapsed in his chair. It was still warm from when he had been sitting in it and she cradled her arms on the desk, and sobbed. Operations was dead at Michael's hands and only they knew why. Now no one would know for sure as the secret was about to die with Michael.

Many minutes passed and the door opened once again. Looking up, Nikita saw the strained face of Madeline. Stepping in, she crossed her arms before she began to speak. "Michael is dead, Nikita. I thought you would like to know," she said in a quiet tone. Nikita sat back, raising her chin. The two women stared at each other, the silence was deafening. "His last word was your name. I thought you would like to know," she said lowering her eyes finally. Turning to go, she stopped as she opened the door. "I made sure he didn’t suffer. I hope that helps."

Nikita closed her eyes and felt the tears spill silently over her face, his name echoing over and over in her mind. "Michael, Michael. Michael………."

Life would never be the same.