Sometimes there were missions that Nikita swore that their only intent was to drive her and the entire team insane. Take for an example, two months ago, Nikita was on a mission in the swamplands of Florida. Not only did they have to worry about the armed guards that were chasing behind them; they had to worry about stepping on an alligator. Talk about almost looking your sanity, that mission had almost done so.

Yet, they did not get better for Nikita. She had just walked in from another mission that she swore was to do the same thing, only with a different method. She pushed back her carefully spiraled curled hair as she kicked off of the four-inch heels. She padded her way down the hall in the short sapphire blue dress that did not leave anything to the imagination. Nikita sighed as she looked to the floor. She had just spent the last six hours in a boring politicians party, standing in break-your-ankle-shoes for a good five hours, looking across the ball room at the most beautiful person she had seen.

Michael in a white tuxedo should be against the law, Nikita thought as she sighed. She couldn't say that her mind was totally on the mission, she wanted to cross the room and rip Michael out of that tuxedo and have her way with him right there. She was losing her sanity, as Michael would demand eye contact from her every ten minutes during the entire hellish mission. The target never showed, and Nikita in returned, got annoyed at looking at Michael's stunning body, and looking into those deceiving gray-green eyes twenty times too many.

They weren't even allowed to dance! Nikita dropped the shoes on the floor and stretched her arms above her head and sighed loudly. She did not care who saw her or not. Not allowing Nikita to even physically touch the white-tuxedoed Michael had to be Madeline's devilish plan to drive Nikita insane.

"Walter… does Madeline want to drive me insane?" Nikita asked as she turned the corner and spoke without looking. When Nikita heard silence, and not a chuckle or a sigh, she turned her head to find nothing. No Walter.

Nikita looked around and did not call out his name, not knowing if this was Section's doing or not. Nikita pressed her lips together as she saw the small white and black cow sitting on the countertop. Nikita smiled and picked it up slowly. It was a very soft cow, and its head was tilted to her side with his tongue sticking out. Nikita smirked and wrapped her hands around it as she exited to find where Walter had gone. She needed to thank Walter for the kind gift. He must have known Madeline was going to try to drive her to her last nerve of sexual sanity.

"Hey, Birkoff… seen Walter?" Nikita called out as she padded down the hallway, still in her bare feet. Birkoff looked up from his computer and shrugged his shoulders. Nikita half frowned and walked over to Birkoff, who had motioned her over.

"I would have just danced with him, Nikita." Birkoff said and Nikita looked away at the suggestion. She was glad that Birkoff had not encouraged her to do so during the mission, because she would have. Nikita knew that Michael had played with her own mind when he took other women onto the dance floor and intently stare at Nikita.

"We were not to know each other." Nikita stated, quoting the mission profile that Madeline had repeated to Nikita personally twenty times.

"Even strangers dance, Nikita." Birkoff commented and Nikita shook her head. Birkoff laughed and turned back to his computer. Nikita knew that she was not going to get any information about Walter from Birkoff, and she looked across the hallway.

Michael had stripped the white tuxedo and was back into the standard Section black that seemed to look a hundred times better this night. Nikita knew she was tired, and that she should just walk away from Michael, but she needed to thank Walter for her gift.

"Michael…" Nikita said as she walked in and tilted her head to the side. All of her muscles were tense from standing up with the correct posture, that Madeline insisted that she do. Nikita looked at Michael as he lifted his head slightly.

"What is it?" Michael asked annoyed. Nikita knew he was typing up his report about the non-showing target and was not happy that Nikita decided to visit.

"Do you know where Walter is? I want to thank him for something." Nikita said and Michael looked to the door and then back to Nikita.

"He isn't at his station?" Michael asked and Nikita sighed.

"No. He left his cute little cow for…" Nikita said and Michael jumped up from his chair and Nikita looked at Michael's odd behavior.

"That cow was on Walter's countertop?" Michael demanded and Nikita arched a graceful eyebrow up and held the cow in front of her. Michael looked at the cow and instantly received a flipped stomach. There was something familiar about that cow, and he wasn't sure how, until his mind instantly clicked. The memory was now clearly in his mind.

"Of course. It was just smiling at me. I know that Walter left it for me." Nikita said and Michael started to shake his head.

"Drop the cow, Nikita…" Michael, said and Nikita raised the eyebrow again. She did not understand and wasn't about to turn a gift from Walter away. "What?" Nikita asked, not ready to listen to Michael's mad and insane orders, and before Michael could move forward to push the cow away from Nikita's hands, the cow exploded pushing Michael and Nikita backwards.

Alarms rang out throughout the room as Michael lifted his head up and looked around. The room was spinning and the cow packed some punch.

"Nikita?" Michael asked slowly, not knowing if he wanted to find out how Nikita was.

Operations was in Madeline's office discussing with her the report they were sending to Oversight on the last mission. They heard the alarm sound. Operations jumped up and hit the intercom. "Birkoff, what's going on?" Just then, all the containment shields in Section started dropping.

Birkoff was beside himself. Alarms were sounding in every direction and containment shields were dropping. He had to figure out what was going on and fast. "Sir, I'm not sure. There was some sort of explosion from the direction of Michael's office and then all the alarms sounded. Now the containment shields are dropping."

Operations looked to Madeline. They were both concerned. An explosion from Michael's area didn't sound promising. They couldn't afford to lose their top operative no matter how annoyed they were at him at this particular moment in time.

"Shut off those blasted alarms, Birkoff. Then open the containment shields to Michael's area, Madeline's office, Comm, Medical and Housekeeping. All other areas will remain contained until we know what is happening. Madeline and I will check it out immediately."

Operations and Madeline headed for Michael's area.

Michael was sat up and felt something running down his face. He put his hand up to his face and it came away covered in blood. He had hit his head on something when the blast occurred. He tried to stand, but he was hit with pain. He must have broken some ribs. But that didn't matter right now. He had to find Nikita and see how she was. If she had even survived the blast, he would be amazed.

Finally managing to stand without falling over, Michael made his way through the mess in his office. Chairs were overturned and papers were everywhere. He looked up and his heart stilled. There was a huge hole in the doorway where Nikita had been standing. He pushed away offending boxes and equipment and made his way to the door.

Out in the hallway, Nikita lay unmoving. She was still holding a very small portion of the cow in her hand. Michael moved to her as quickly as his injured body would allow. He knelt down beside her and felt for a pulse. It took him a few seconds, but he found a very weak pulse. Her breathing was also shallow. He could tell her hands were badly burned. He didn't know how her hands were still intact after that blast. She must have started to drop the cow after he had told her to, just before it blew.

Nikita opened her eyes very slowly. She had no idea where she was. She noticed the very worried eyes of a handsome man looking at her. "Where am I?" she asked.

Michael studied her face. "You are in Section, Kita. You have been hurt. Can you tell me how you are feeling?"

Nikita looked at the man and studied his face. She knew she should know him, but she couldn't remember who he was. And just what was Section, anyway? And how had she been injured.

"I'm sorry," she finally spoke. "Who are you?"

Michael was not prepared for that response. She didn't know him. She must have amnesia. This was not good. He needed to get her to MedLab immediately, but he needed to assess the situation. He didn't want to move her and make matters any worse.

"Nikita, I'm Michael, your friend. You must have hit your head during the explosion. You can't seem to remember. We'll work on that later. Right now, can you tell me how you feel?"

Nikita tried to move. She wanted to at least sit up. She tried to get up... nothing. She tried again ... nothing.

Michael was studying her carefully. He noticed the panic in her eyes. "What is it Kita?"

Nikita was more frightened than she had ever been. She couldn't move ...she didn't know where she was ... and she couldn't remember this handsome man that said he was her friend. Tears started to run down her face. "I can't move. I can't move! Help me ... I can't move!" She was beginning to scream hysterically.

Operations and Madeline appeared just as Nikita began screaming. Quickly assessing the situation, Madeline picked up the phone on a nearby wall and had called Medical to the scene. Next she called Housekeeping to send a team up to analyze the scene and find out what happened.

Operations turned to Michael. "What happened here Michael?"

Michael was holding Nikita's hand and trying to quiet her. He was not paying any attention to Operations and Madeline.

"Michael, I asked you what happened here. Answer me, NOW!" Operations yelled.

Nikita flinched at Operations' tone. Madeline noticed what was happening and put a hand on Operations' shoulder. "We need to be careful here," she whispered to him. He glared at her and watched as she knelt down on the other side of Nikita. She helped Michael to calm Nikita while Michael answered Operations."

Nikita stopped by my office looking for Walter. She was holding something in her hand."

Just then the medical personnel arrived and got Nikita transferred to a gurney for her trip to Medlab. Michael turned to follow.

Operations stopped Michael's progress by standing right in front of him. "Not so fast, Michael. I need to know what happened after Nikita got to your office. What was she holding?"

Michael glared at Operations. His mind wasn't working quite right. He could hear Operations, but he couldn't make the answer come out right. "Stopped ... Walter ... cow ... exploded." Then Michael passed out and collapsed at Operations' feet.

Operations blinked a few times and then realized Michael had fainted due to pain and the younger man's own injuries. "Damn it." He swore and bent down beside Michael. "Get a medical team here now." He yelled at an operative who was standing nearby.

***

Madeline watched through the glass and surveyed Nikita lying thereon the bed. The younger woman had third degree burns on her hands, she was lucky to even have her hands, a concussion, several cracked ribs, a broken arm, burns on her face, not to mention several other injuries.

"Ma'am Michael's been brought in he's injured as well." An operative appeared and told her. "Hold him in MedLab as long as possible." She sighed with her age old saying when it came to the younger man. As the operative began to walk away she stopped her. "Better yet put him in with Nikita." She told him and then gestured for the young woman to leave.

Madeline watched with what she recognized as being nervous as the surgeons entered the room to remove Nikita to pre-op.

***

Birkoff paced nervously outside the Medlab room. Nikita was in surgery. Madeline had not told him the full extent of her wounds and Operations had growled a warning at him when he asked about Michael. Everything was closed tight, mouths and information. The only thing he could think of was to find Walter and that is where he would begin his search.

***

Michael lay on the MedLab bed and waited. The only thing he knew was that Nikita was in surgery and that she as okay to a degree anyway. She wasn't dead and that was what mattered.

Madeline had come to see him soon after he had regained consciousness and informed him fully of Nikita's injuries. Nikita had lapsed back into the black void of unconsciousness so Madeline did not know about the amnesia yet and he hoped he could hide it from Section's prying eyes for her sake.

***

Walter awoke to the blackness and shadows. Trying to move he did not succeed and he knew that he was tied tight. Opening his mouth to scream he emitted no sound and he knew he was gagged as well. Trying one more time to fit his restraints he heard a voice. The voice was low and masked and it was a shadow moving in the blackness of the room in which he was held captive.

"There is no use trying to get loose because you never will." The voice told him and then laughed evilly.

Walter glared into the darkness and once again caught a glimpse of the shadow, but no face to match to the voice. Suddenly the blackness was more than eyes straining to see in the dark, the blackness was real as something sank into his arm and unconsciousness surrounded his mind like a dense fog in the early morning.

Walter awoke to light streaming in through the window high up on the wall he was facing. After being in almost complete darkness since his capture he had to squint his eyes as the light was hurting them.

They had finally removed the gag from his mouth along with most of his clothing. All the restraints had been removed from him, or at least almost all of them. Now he seemed to be fitted with a leg restraint in the form of a thick bracelet, which was chained to an anchor in the wall just under his bed.

He slowly took in his surroundings. He seemed to be in some kind of small room, almost like a bomb shelter except that it had a small window high up on the one wall. It was out of reach though to him, even if he hadn't been confined to the chain. AND it would have been too small even if he had reached it. The bed was just a shelf attached to the wall with chains and was outfitted with a very thin mattress. Not much in the room gave him a hint or a clue as to where he was or even who was holding him captive.

He had never even caught the faintest glimpse of who had been talking to him over the last few days and the voice gave him no clue whatsoever. All he could remember was the pain and the things that they wanted him to say. It just didn't make any sense!! "Damn," he thought to himself, "how the hell do I get out of this mess?" He started to pace the floor, for as far as the length of chain would allow him to, and tried to come up with a plan.

Just then the door to the room opened up and what Walter saw made him stop dead in his tracks and his mouth drop open.

He was looking at the spitting image of himself!!!

***Back at Section***

Madeline was pleased at the progress report on both Michael and Nikita. Her injuries had been attended to, with the most severe being the trauma she sustained to her head and the burns on her hands.

Michael had sustained only some minor cuts and abrasions and two cracked ribs and he was already up and mobile and keeping a vigil beside Nikita's bed.

Madeline walked into the medical room and with a nod of her head dismissed the nurse/operative, leaving her alone with Michael and Nikita.

"Well, Michael, any significant changes?" she asked, looking at all the monitors that were attached to Nikita.

Michael just sat there not even acknowledging Madeline's presence in the room. His only concern was Nikita and the fact that he still didn't know if she had regained her memory.

"MICHAEL!!"

With a start, he came out of it, and turned to Madeline. "When did you come in?"

"Just now. I asked you if there has been any marked improvement."

"No, nothing of significance. She has moved around some but she still hasn't woken up."

"Good. Now, we need to talk about what happened in your office. I have put Operations off for long enough on this matter and we need to have it tended to immediately."

"Is Walter back yet?"

"No, and we have had no communiqué from him either. Now, let us go to my office. The nurse will let us know if anything changes in here." Madeline said as she waited for Michael to follow her. With reluctance, Michael left Nikita's side and followed Madeline from the room.

Nikita slowly regained consciousness...The harsh light of the med. Room made the inside of her lids red. The color reminded her of the pain she was in. Reluctantly she tried to open her eyes. Squinting she looked around the room. Something was all too familiar about it. She shuddered ' Whatever this place had held for her it couldn't have been good'. She tried so hard to remember anything...' What about that sweet man... Michael was it?' Just then Madeline and Michael walked back into the room... He had given her a full report of the events... Michael was nearly next to Nikita and he still hadn't noticed that she was awake... He continued to look at Madeline until Nikita spoke.

Nikita: Michael?

Michael and Madeline spun around to face a person who once was the emanated strength and determination...and now...had a look a fear in her eyes like a scared kitten. Michael knew right away that they had a problem. Madeline knew too.

Michael: Yes Nikita, I'm Michael.

Madeline: Do you know who I am?

Nikita timidly shook her head... The woman who stood in front of her, from her short black hair to immaculate look, to her posture... She emulated power but Nikita also got a sense she was not the person to mess with. Oddly enough this woman was familiar to her and she didn't fear her. She wanted to scream. She was thinking one way and then her mind would tell her something else. She was making first impressions about people that she obviously already knew. It frustrated her even more now that she knew these people and just couldn't put anything together.

Madeline: My name is Madeline.

Things were getting a little clearer now for Nikita.

Nikita: I know I know you. Both of you I just can't...

Nikita tried to come up with the right word but was lost for them. Madeline knew what she was going through. After all she did deal with the mind and Nikita was not the first to have this happen to her. Many other operatives had lost their memory due to injury or mental trauma and a good many had regained it... and some had not. Some of those that had not were retrained, others never got the knack of it and were ultimately canceled. Madeline turned away and started to the door.

Madeline : Michael, work with her, see if you can jog anything.

Michael watched as she left and then turned back to Nikita who was in still in shock. Michael tenderly told her everything is going to be fine, not believing a word of what he was saying. He knew that this was serious, he had been one of the lucky operatives who had regained their memory, but he knew of many whom did not.

***

Walter sat up from the bed he was lying on. It must have been mid day the sun was shining in full on one spot of this dark and damp room. What he had seen before made him shudder. He never thought he would see him again. Jack had died a long time ago. He knew he had. He and Jack were brothers... twin ones to be exact. They knew everything there was to know about weaponry... making it using it everything. Walter used to go out in the field a lot more back then, accompanied by Jack. But on one mission Jack had been taken. He was later told that Jacks death had been confirmed. It had almost killed him... well he had almost killed himself. He was truly heartbroken. And now... there had been the spitting image of himself standing in front of him... who else could it be but Jack... But why was he being kept down here?

"Is he my husband?" Nikita asks and Michael swallows.

"No. He is not your husband. Just do as I ask you, I will explain later." Michael says in a rushed voice.

Nikita just nods her head as the door to the MedLab room opens. She sees a tall man with platinum colored hair appear in the doorway and gets a chill of fear down her spine at the sight. She knew then that she had to do as Michael had asked her to do or there would be much more trouble than she could possibly imagine.

"Hello, Nikita." The man said with a Cheshire grin on his old face. "How are you feeling?"

"Pain. It's too painful right now." Nikita said then turned her head away from him gently. Part of that was true. She closed her eyes and hoped that the man would disappear from her room soon.

The man nodded his head at Michael and began to walk out of the room. Michael followed closely behind the man. Once they were out of the room, the man turned to Michael with a serious expression on his face.

"How is she?" Operations demanded from Michael.

"She'll be better in a few days. She needs rest the most right now." Michael said matching Operations glare for glare.

"You're sure about that?" Operations asked. He was sure that Michael and Madeline weren't telling him everything that there was to know about Nikita's condition.

"I'm sure." Michael said and turned away. Michael walked back into the MedLab room without another word to Operations. Operations turned and stomped away like a spoiled child not getting his own way.

Meanwhile...

The door to Walter's room opened again shining a harsh light into his eyes. Walter didn't flinch away from it this time because he wanted to know exactly whom it was holding him here.

"Who are you?!" Walter screamed out as he saw a figure appear in the doorway.

"You know who I am little brother." Was the reply that Walter got.

"Jack? Jack, is that you?" Walter said softly, still not quite sure of what was going on and why it was happening.

"Yes, it's me little brother. It's been a long time!" Came the reply. The figure moved forward and pulled Walter into a bear hug just the way that Jack used to.

"But... I was told that you were dead on a mission..." Walter stuttered out in shock.

"That was because they put me in deep cover. They couldn't afford for you or anyone else to know that I was alive." Jack replied easily. He was prepared for his brother's questions.

"So why am I here now?" Walter asked becoming more and more weary of this person who called himself his brother.

"Because I need your help." Was Jack's reply before he turned and walked out of the room leaving Walter to wonder what in the world could Jack possibly want his help with.

Michael returned to Medlab and Nikita's side. She was sleeping when he sat down beside her. He watched all the machines to see if there had been any change in her condition. The doctor walked up quietly behind Michael and cleared his throat.

Michael turned around and said, "Yes."

The doctor was nervous. He really didn't want to be the one to deliver this news, especially not to Michael. Everyone in Section knew about Michael and Nikita... whether they were supposed to or not. He felt for both of them. But he had to do his job. "Michael we've just gotten some preliminary test results back. You know that we are keeping her medicated so that she can't move. We needed to do so to make sure there were no serious neck or back injuries."

Michael was getting impatient. He already knew all this. "Yes, I know. What is it?" he interrupted.

The doctor sighed. "Well there seems to be more of problem than we originally thought. She has severe swelling around her spinal cord. As of right now, she is paralyzed from the waist down. We can't tell yet if there is a fracture in her spinal cord or if it caused simply from the trauma of the explosion. There is too much swelling. We have to wait for the swelling to go down before we can run any further tests. We are also going to have to take her off that medication. It is not helping her condition."

Michael's heart plummeted to the floor. Paralyzed? She couldn't be paralyzed. If she couldn't perform at peak performance, she would be canceled. If she was paralyzed, there was no way she could do the job. There had to be some mistake. He would not accept it.

"Doctor, you are mistaken. You will see that she makes a complete recovery. You will tell no one that here is a possibility of permanent paralysis. If Nikita is to know, I will tell her. You will tell everyone simply that it is due to swelling. Once the swelling is down, she will recover. Do you understand?"

The doctor shifted his feet. He didn't want to be in this position. "Michael. I can't lie to Madeline and Operations."

Michael stood up and got in the doctor's face. "You will do as I say or I will kill you. Do you understand?"

The doctor turned pale at the threat. "Yes Michael, I understand."

Just then Nikita awakened. "Michael," she called out.

Michael turned and made his way to her side. "Yes, Kita, I'm here. How are you feeling?"

Nikita looked at him and raised her arm to touch his face. "I think I'm beginning to remember Michael. I know who you are now. You are my husband."

Michael didn't know what to think. She thinks we are married. "Tell me what else you remember, Kita?"

She smiled at him. "Well, we live in a nice home. You have an executive or sales job of some sort. I can't exactly remember what. And there was something about a man who came to our house and wanted me to help him talk to his dead son. Am I psychic, Michael?"

Michael didn't know how to answer. She was remembering the Armel mission, but she thought that was their real life. How could he ever explain that they were just playing a role. It was a mission. He held her hand tightly and watched the emotions play on her face.

Nikita was getting nervous. He wasn't saying anything. "Michael, would you do me a favor?" she asked.

"Anything, Kita" he answered.

"Would you please find a chain for my wedding ring. I can't wear it yet because of my hands, but I want it close to me. And where is your ring? Were you injured too?"

Michael sighed. This was getting very complicated. But he would do what she asked. "Of course. I will bring a chain for you later. My ring is in my coat. They removed it after the accident when I was brought in with you. They returned it to me a little while ago, but I've been so busy worrying about you that I haven't thought to put it back on."

She smiled at him. She couldn't remember much of anything, but she knew she loved this man and could trust him. She knew they had to be married. Then a thought occurred to her. "Michael, do we have any children?"

Madeline entered Medlab in time to hear Nikita's last question.

Walter looked blankly at his brother's departing back speechless. "Jack what." He called out.

His twin stopped and turned around. "Yes Little Brother?" He asked.

"What kind of help?" Walter asked him pondering.

"That's on a need to know basis little brother." Jack told him and shut the door leaving Walter by himself.

***

Madeline entered the room as the question popped out of Nikita's mouth 'Do we have any children?' She then looked at Michael with a puzzled look and back at Nikita.

"I remember something about Peter and Sasha." Nikita continued.

"Children of some friends Nikita. We don't have any children." Michael whispered softly.

"Michael what's going on here?" Madeline asked.

"I'm remembering a little." Nikita told her with a smile.

"Oh? Do you remember who I am?" Madeline replied wondering what Nikita would say.

Nikita looked at her with caring eyes. "Yes, you're my mother." Nikita told her firmly, depending on the fuzzy memory fragment her brain handed her.

"Madeline and I need to talk Nikita and you need your rest." Michael interrupted.

***

Once they left the room Madeline stared up at Michael puzzled. "Nikita remembers the Armel mission. She thinks we are married. And Peter and Sasha were the children we rescued, Nikita became a bit maternally attached to them." Michael told her.

Madeline looked at him for a few minutes and then sighed. "I think she's taking bits of good memories to blend them into what she thinks is reality, Michael. I've been the only real mother she's ever had so she thinks I'm her mother. You and Nikita pretended to be a normal married couple, also a good memory. Now she must be blending good memories to make up what she thinks is her real memory and life." She told him with a logical explanation.

"Should we continue letting her think this?" Michael asked.

"It depends. If she says things that she believes is real don't correct her too firmly. Her memory will return given time this is proof." Madeline told him.

"Yes, of course." Michael replied and re-entered the room to be by Nikita's side once more.

***

Jack re-entered the room and looked at Walter. He then threw down a picture of a little girl with the biggest blue eyes. Blue eyes that were familiar to Walter.

"Recognize her little brother?" Jack asked him. "Because she's my daughter and those bastards are gonna pay." Jack continued.

Walter looked at Jack completely dumbfounded. He opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out. He glanced back down at the picture still not able to comprehend what he was seeing, then back up at Jack.

"Speechless, little brother?" Jack taunted.

"Do they know?" Walter asked, finally finding his voice.

"Does who know? Madeline and Operations? Of course they know!!"

"But how?"

"I fell in love, had some fun and the end result what was you see in front of you." Jack answered.

"No! Not that, I mean how did Operations and Madeline find out. Did you get married?"

"Oh, sorry Walter. I thought maybe you had been in Section too long and forgot how to make kids!" Jack chuckled. "Now, let's see. How long have we been apart? Got to be 25 years now anyway. Believe it or not, I really did want to get in touch with you. Especially after I found out what happened to my daughter, if for nothing else than to have you look out for her."

"Get to the point Jack." Walter said get more exasperated by the minute. "How did they find out about Nikita?"

"Ahhh, you finally managed to say her name!! How they found out was that I made the mistake of letting them know I was in love with one of the targets "companions" and that lead to them finding out that she was pregnant. When the mission went sour they blamed me and threatened me back then. I tried to tell them that it wasn't my fault, but you know Madeline. It is actually a wonder that they didn't cancel me then and there."

"So, what happened then?"

"Guess I'll have to tell you the whole thing before you'll listen to what I need you for."

"Yeah"

***Back at Section***

Operations walks unannounced into Madeline's office and confronts her about Nikita.

"Madeline, I know you are not telling me everything about Nikita and I want to know NOW!"

"There is nothing to tell. She is injured, she is in pain and has not been able to talk as yet." Madeline replied.

"So what are you doing about that?" he demanded.

"Nothing. The doctors have said that nothing can be done until the swelling on her spine has gone back. Until that time all we can do is wait. They have to keep her medicated for the pain."

"I want her off the meds now. I need to find out what happened and Michael has not been very cooperative either. Maybe with a little more pain she will be willing to talk. Get her off them now or I will." And with that he stormed out of the office.

Walter stared at his older brother (by about 5 minutes). He began to tell him what happened. "When the mission went sour, and instead of killing me they decided to put me into deep cover which was worse than anything. I couldn't see Nina, Nikita's mother anymore, or the child she would soon be having. For years they kept me in Deep Cover but the mistake they made was stationing me where I could easily escape... Well it wasn't easy... but for me... since I happen to be the smarter of the two, it was very easy." A hint of sibling rivalry. Walter remembered how before the two of them came into section they used to compete for their parents’ affection, which wasn't given out in bushels. For the most part though they were friends 'till the end... which eventually got them into section... Walter and Jack always liked being mischievous and it got them in trouble. The two were whizzes with chemistry and when they had been about 17 years old they decided to construct a small explosive made of available materials and play a little joke on a friend whom they had always played jokes and in turn had jokes played on them and so they stuffed it into his locker... It hadn't been set to go off at all... they had just wanted to scare him. Well it hadn't worked out to well for them. The explosive did go up, Walter remembered that day well, it had gotten so hot that it was chemically set off and it ended up killing quiet a few people... Walter and Jack because of their age were sentenced as adults to prison... and well the rest was history.

Walter didn't know what to say. "Jack, how long have you been out?" Jack thought... "Well I guess it's been just about 6 years now." That's not what Walter wanted to hear... "Jack! Nikita's only been in section for five years.... Why'd you wait till now?! She might have never been forced to go through what we did!" "Calm down little brother." Jack replied. "Don't call me little brother! And don't tell me to calm down!" Walter screamed at him. He was furious with Jack. Jack combated his anger "Listen I had to stay out of site for a while... you know Section's not stupid... They might have found me... And it's not exactly easy to track someone down after that long!"... Walter just stared at him, and then it came back to him he interrupted him asking "What did you want anyway?" Jack stopped and looked at him. "I want...”

***Back at Section***

Madeline walked into the sleeping Nikita's room and over to one of the doctors. Michael looked up at her from Nikita's bedside, he had been sleeping lightly but had been disturbed by the clicking of Madeline's heels against the smooth hard floor. "How is she?" Madeline asked quietly so Michael couldn't hear. The doctor looked up "Well she's doing a little better the swellings going down." Madeline hated to do this..."She is to be taken off all meds". The doctor looked at her surprised... "Madeline, I would highly discourage that." She looked at him her mind somewhere else. "It's not a decision that I made or can change." She told him. He nodded, he knew that Operations had ordered this, he was the head of the medical team and he'd been here long enough to know how things worked and the way people made decisions. "All right" he said. Madeline turned around and walked towards the door. Michael looked up and called after her "Madeline!" She kept walking and left the room. Michael just looked towards the door as it slid shut. The doctor came over and started to detach the med machine leaving only an IV hooked up. Michael grabbed his wrist. "what are you doing?" He asked. The doctor felt sorry for Michael, "I've been ordered to disconnect any medication." Michael couldn't believe what he was hearing "is that why Madeline was in here?" The doctor was careful about what he said "Michael I don't want to get involved in this." Michael was loosing his temper "Was she?" He said threateningly. "Yes she was." the doctor replied. Michael spun around and headed for the door. The doctor called after him "Michael it wasn't her decision!" He hated this place he had to follow idiotic decisions and be heartless when operatives came, but he still had a heart... He still cared for the people he even liked some of the people in section like Michael Madeline and Nikita... He didn't know how he was still here... how he survived this.... and the people who worked under him, the doctors.... they were heartless bastards... to them people were dispensable... if they survived great, if not oh well. They disgusted him.

***Madeline’s Office***

Madeline had just sat down when Michael stormed in. "Who gave that order?" He said as calmly as he could?" Madeline just stared at him "Who gave it?!" he said again. "Do I really have to tell you?" She replied. Michael knew who had done it and just wanted the confirmation. He nodded and turned on his heel and headed to the observation deck...

"Michael! Michael!" Birkoff yelled out as he chased after the large and bigger operative. Michael stopped in sight of the observation deck and turned to Birkoff. Birkoff rushed over and turned his back to Operations who was observing.

"I have a location on a triangulated signal from a fourth rate metabolism crystal on Walter." Birkoff reported and Michael nodded his head and sternly looked at Operations.

"Hey, Michael... Medlab wants you... Nikita...." an operative says as he runs past Michael and continues. Michael shakes his head, knowing that Nikita was now in pain. Michael turns to go towards Operations when Birkoff grabs Michael's hands.

"Maybe this will help with Nikita." Birkoff says as he drops the wedding ring on a chain that Michael had seen on Nikita's own finger during the Armel mission. Michael takes hold of the chain and fights his own emotions as Birkoff hands over Michael's own ring. Michael swallows and slips it onto his finger. The decision was made, Nikita was more important than fighting with Operations.

***

Nikita cries as she sees her mother moving towards her. She had thought Madeline was almost nice, and then she saw the fists, and the shoes. Nikita was crying through the nightmare of abuse of her childhood, as Michael entered the area. Michael frowned and turned to the doctor who was standing nearby.

"NO! MADELINE! YOU ARE MY MOM! YOU ARE HURTING ME!" Nikita screams out as she throws her arms around, screaming now in combination of the mixed up memories and the lack of pain medication.

"Call Madeline immediately and establish a line for pain medication." Michael orders and the doctor shakes his head and Michael pulls the gun and points.

"Do you have any questions?" Michael asks and the doctor shakes his head as he enters the room. Of course Operations would be upset, but Michael had a gun. Michael entered the room and grabbed Nikita's flailing arm.

"NO!!! Madeline beat me up?" Nikita questions as she grunts in pain. Michael lets go of the burned and injured arm and looked at Nikita softly.

"She threw me out on the street? She gave me to her boyfriends? I thought she cared!" Nikita screams and Michael strokes carefully at Nikita's hair.

"Nikita, your mind is really mixed up right now... You need time to remember... you need to calm down."

"The pain.." Nikita moans out and Michael looks at his hand and drops the chain down so that Nikita can see the ring. Slowly a half smile crosses Nikita's tear covered face.

"My ring...." Nikita says and Michael nods his head as he bends down and carefully places it around Nikita's neck. Nikita then smiles as she notices Michael wearing his ring. Yet, the smile does not last long.

"You are the only one who cares for me..... Madeline beat me up.. She never wanted a daughter... she hated me.... and the guys... And I don't know why I want to call out for Walter? Michael, tell me why? TELL ME!" Nikita begs and Michael sighs and strokes Nikita's hair.

"You need to calm down... it will all come back, Nikita..." Michael says slowly as he hopes that Madeline arrives soon.

***

"No... I'm not telling you why yet... Tell me about Nikita." Jack demands and Walter swallows and turns his head. Everything was hard to take in.

"She hasn't had an easy time of it, Jack. She is an innocent.... and by the stars of god... Michael has been able to keep her away from cancellation more than once." Walter comments and Jack frowns.

"The Angel of Death?" Jack asks, quoting the name that had been placed on Michael years ago. Walter looks at his brother's frightened look and nods his head.

"More like the Angel of life for Nikita." Walter comments and looks away. "How did you make me disappear, Jack?" Walter questions.

"I placed a stuffed cow on your station.... and it exploded..." Jack says proudly and Walter's face drops.

"Nikita was on a mission.... she always visits me..." Walter says slowly as he feels fear filling his stomach.

"SO?" Jack asked.

"I have a relationship with her. I protect her from losing her soul... She would have thought that cow as a gift from me!" Walter cries out and stops all movement as he looks at Jack. Anger fills him.

"So help you Jack. If that cow exploded and hurt MY NIKITA, I don't care if you are her father... I'LL KILL YOU." Walter says sternly.

"Take it easy Walter," Jack said. "I'm sure she's fine. It probably exploded before she even got to it."

Walter stared at his brother as if he had grown two heads. "You had better hope so, Jack. Do you have any way of finding out?"

Jack thought for a minute and then said "Well, I could let you go back in and you could find out. And of course you would let me know immediately what is happening. But we'd have to come up with a cover story as to what really happened to you and who planted that bomb."

Walter watched Jack's mind work. He had always been a great operative, and it seemed he still had those skills. But Walter wasn't sure he wanted to be mixed up in this ... whatever it is.

"Jack, listen. Why don't you just come back with me? That way you can see Nikita for yourself. And then we won't have to lie about any cover story."

Jack laughed. "Just what have you been smoking lately, Walter? You can't seriously think I would go back there. They'd cancel me on the spot. I've been out for too long. You know the rules."

Walter looked at his brother and sighed. "Your right. But Madeline can usually see right through a person when they are lying. She'll know I'm covering up something. She'll take me to the White Room and interrogate me. I'd probably never survive that."

Jack knew Walter was right. "Well, give me a few minutes to think, brother. I'll come up with something. Just hang tight until I get back." Then he walked out of the room and left Walter behind to ponder just what might have happened to Nikita and everyone else at Section.

***

The doctor had restarted the pain medication at Michael's "request." Nikita was not as delirious as she had been before. She was much calmer now. She noticed Michael grimacing when he tried to stand up. "Michael, what's wrong? Were you hurt in the accident too?"

Michael was disgusted with himself for letting he see he was in pain. "It's nothing, Kita. Just a few cracked ribs. I'm fine. You just concentrate on getting better."

Just then Operations stormed through the MedLab doors. Michael did his best to shield Nikita from him. "What is the meaning of this?" Operations yelled at the doctor. "I ordered her to be taken off the pain medication. Why is she still getting it?"

The doctor looked at Michael and then back to Operations. Michael decided to step in and handle this since he was the one that put the doctor in this position. "She is back on pain meds because I insisted," Michael told Operations.

Operations was furious. "YOU insisted? Since when are you in charge around here, Michael? I am Operations and what I say goes, or have you forgotten that? Maybe I should just cancel her now and put her out of her misery. How dare you defy my orders?"

Michael stared at the head of Section and decided if he was going to make a stand, he would have to take it all the way. "Do not push me on this Operations. There are things I know that you don't want made known. George and Oversight would be quite interested in some of the information I have. If you insist on hurting Nikita, I will do what I have to do."

Operations stared at Michael and then looked at Nikita. She looked very innocent and fragile laying there on the bed with all the medical equipment attached to her. He hated to admit it to himself, but he understood why Michael would fight so hard for her, besides the fact that he was in love with her. She was a good operative, one of their best. She was also a good person ... something not many people in Section actually were. She was caring and loyal. She defended her friends and fellow operatives no matter the cost to herself. There weren't many people like her around Section. Of course, that was part of the reason she irritated him so. She was a reminder of all the things he wasn't.

"Fine Michael. But this isn't over. Once she has recovered sufficiently, we will be taking up this matter again. Do you understand?"

Michael answered yes, he did understand and then turned back to Nikita. Operations walked over to her and said "How are you feeling Nikita?"

She looked at him and to Michael and back again. Michael was nervous, he was afraid she would give away the fact that she couldn't remember much of anything. He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Nikita finally answered "I'm very tired and still in a lot of pain. But my hu... Michael has been wonderful helping me." She didn't know why, but she just had a feeling that she shouldn't tell this man that she and Michael were married.

Operations replied "Get some rest and I'll be by again." He turned to leave, and when he did, he noticed the chain with the wedding ring around her neck. As he walked past Michael, he noticed that Michael was wearing the matching band on his ring finger. Now he knew something was up. He headed straight for Madeline's office to find out what was going on.