The ocean was crystal blue as the breeze tickled the skins of the tan detectives. They walked side by side down the boardwalk, only getting minimal sand in their shoes.

"Glad this one is easy, Cass." Detective Tom Ryan says as he turns to her and smiles. She nods her head as her blonde hair floats into her face.

"Yeah. Suicide." Cassie St. John says and turns to the water.

They did not know what was going to happen a few seconds later when the two guns came to rest on their heads.

"Walk." Michael ordered, as his black outfit did not seem to attract the summer heat.

"Who the hell are you?" Cassie demands.

"We need your help." Nikita replies without looking into the blonde's eyes. She knows that Cassie is checking Nikita out and Nikita smiles at Tom briefly.

"And why would we do this?" Cassie demands. Michael stares at her. Cassie was like Nikita.

"Cass, does it matter? They have guns to our heads!" Tom says and Cassie shakes her head yes.

"We will kill you if you do not help us." Nikita says and Cassie starts to laugh. The laughter stops when Michael pulls out another gun with his freehand and kills a passing jogger.

Cassie looks at Tom and then to Nikita. She would not fool around with them anymore.

"What do you want?" Tom asks and Michael looks to the ocean and then back to Cassie. Nikita stares as she watches the connection between Cassie and Michael.

"Peter Rolich." Michael says and Cassie shakes her head.

"Our suicide?" Cassie asks and Nikita snickers and pushes her sunglasses back.

"More like murder. He had nuclear warheads that we need back." Nikita says and Cassie stares at her. She looks at Michael and then back to Nikita. Something was there, maybe it was that they were two psychopaths, but something was there.

"Why would we help you?" Tom asks as he looks at Michael. Michael looks down the boardwalk and puts his gun back.

"Our group will do anything to get these warheads back. Kill you if we must." Michael says and Cassie grabs Nikita's sunglasses and prances. Nikita stands still and places her gun back.

"Now I can find out who you are!!!" Cassie says and Nikita looks to Michael. Michael nods his head.

"Fine. Let's go. We'll go with you." Nikita says and Cassie looks to Tom and then to the couple again. She couldn't play by their rules, but something told her that she should.

Once they are at the precinct, Cassie runs the prints off of Nikita's sunglasses only to get her identity as Monica Lewinsky. She had also managed to get Michael to give her a set of his fingerprints and his identity came up as Bill Clinton. She knew that these weren't right so she confronted them about it.

Cassie: Ok Ms. Lewinsky, who the hell are you?!

Nikita looks at Cassie with amusement on her face.

Nikita: We told you that it was no use on the way over here. We have experts at our headquarters who will make sure that we are protected no matter what.

Cassie turns to Michael deciding that she was not going to get anything out of Nikita.

Cassie: And how about you Mr. Clinton?!

Michael: Look. We don't have time for these games. This is a matter of national security and we have to take care of it before anyone else gets killed. Are you going to help us or do you die?

Cassie and Tom were taken aback by Michael's statement in the middle of Police Headquarters.

Tom: You can't be serious!

Nikita: You saw what we did at the beach. Will the next person be you?

Tom: No. We will cooperate with you.

Michael: Good. Let's get busy.

Michael turns and begins to walk away as Cassie runs up to walk by his side and Tom moves over to walk next to Nikita. Nikita doesn't like the way that Cassie seems to move her body closer to Michael's with each step that they take.

At that moment, Michael is thinking to himself that he doesn't like the way that Tom kept eyeing Nikita's body.

"I can't believe that I have never seen you around here before" Cassie was saying to Michael as they moved quickly out of the building.

"I don't get out much." Michael replied keeping an eye on Nikita and Thomas they were walking on the side of him and Cassie.

"You don't say much do ya?" Cassie asked, pretty much stating the obvious.

(God has the sun gotten to this woman’s brain, or has she started taking the blond color to heart?) Michael starts thinking to himself (Thank god Nikita isn't like this....)

Meanwhile.... as Cassie keeps asking Michael question upon question, Nikita is lost in her own thoughts.

(If she touches him just one more time on the arm I am going to forget that we need her help and just blow a hole in her!) Nikita starts thinking to herself.

"So, why is getting these warheads back so important to you and your organization?" Tom Ryan asks Nikita as they start to pull up to the Section Van.

"Huh?" Nikita asks before realizing that he had just asked her a question. Pulling her gaze from Michael and the blonde bimbo, she turns to Sgt. Ryan and says. "It's important to us in getting them back, so that they can't be used against us."

"Oh... What is the name of the Organization that you work for again?" he tries to slip past her with this question.

Nikita realizing what he was trying to do replies back with "Our organization is one that has such an old name to it. We actually have been for a very long time. We were even around before the forming of the government we have today." she says waiting to see if he will take the bait.

"Really? So who is this very old and distinguished organization that thrives in being so secret?" he says taking the bait.

Nikita, smiling softly and looking at Michael so he can hear her reply. "We are a part of the Talamadge. At one time we were simply known as Watchers. Now we actually get involved and help the good of mankind."

Michael looks at Nikita like she has lost her mind. The Talamadge? Wasn't that the name of that Vampire Watcher organization from Ann Rice’s Novel 'Queen of the Damned' that Nikita had just finished reading? Lord what was he going to tell Madeline to get Nikita out of this little lie.

"Hurry up. We haven't got time for you two to be gabbing on the street..."Michael trails off seeing a person watching them from a building across the way. "Excuse me?" he say's never taking his eyes from the Watcher.

Nikita seeing that he was looking past them turns to see just what has his attention. "Bill?" she says looking where Michael was.

"Okay folks... what is going on?" Cassie say's sticking her head out of the van. "I thought that you said your guy was a suicide?" Nikita says as Michael starts to take off after the guy.

"He was? He was all over the place when we got to him... I don't understand this? What is going on?" Sgt. Ryan says as he too starts running after the guy.

Meanwhile... Michael, fed up of having to run after the guy, pulls out his gun and shoots him in the knee. Just as the man starts to fall Sgt. Ryan catches up with Michael.

"Was it necessary to shoot him?" Tom Ryan asks sarcastically as he tries to catch his breath.

"I was tired of running." Michael say's matter of factly, not even heaving a winded breath.

Michael and Det. Ryan both head towards the fallen man. At that same instant Nikita and Cassie notice the fallen stranger try to get up with his wounded leg and begin to hobble away towards a van that had pulled to a stop nearby.

Michael and Tom exchanged looks and both hit the pavement running after the stranger once again. Tom almost hits a taxi and rolls across the hood to fall into a heap in the street. Dusting himself off he now has an irate foreign taxi driver to contend with.

Michael, always thinking two steps ahead, takes aim at the rear tire of the van and manages to squeeze off a couple of rounds, one of which hits the tire. Not quite achieving the desired result, Michael notices that the van driver hits the gas and squeals off, flattened tire and all.

The stranger now casts about for an alternate escape route.

Seeing nothing readily available, he falls to the ground and begins to crawl, favoring his wound, towards the corner of the street.

Nikita noticed that there was a large sewer opening on the corner of the street near where the man was crawling. Looking at Cassie she noticed that she had also come to the same conclusion. Tom was still being detained by the taxi driver who was shouting and gesturing at his taxi, which was already quite dented enough. Tom just held his hands up to Cassie indicating his helplessness.

Taking the hint the women jumped into the mission van and made tracks in an effort to thwart the mysterious stranger's intended escape route. They did not get far before they, too, were detained by the increased traffic flow.

Michael was almost on top of the stranger. When he finally reached him, he grabbed him by the leg and heaved him over onto his back in an effort to identify him. As their eyes locked realization dawned in both of their eyes...each instantly recognizing the other:

Michael: Paul?!?

Paul: Michael!?!?

Michael could hear Tom shouting over the foreign babble coming from the taxi driver but the sounds faded away in the background in the face of this new twist.

The man called Paul was still staring up at Michael from the gutter as Michael dropped his leg in shocked consternation:

Michael: What are you doing in the country?? It was my understanding that you did not work with Peter any more.

Paul: Well...what can I say?? He is.... was.... my brother. Twins.. to the bitter end.

Michael couldn't believe it. Peter and Paul Rolich. Twin mercenaries, though rumor had it that Paul had left Peter due to his beliefs and shunned the terrorist organization that his brother had founded and controlled.

Paul was inching his way back towards the sewer while Michael ran the scenarios over and over in his mind. Just as he snapped back to reality he realized that it was too late.

Just as Paul slid into the sewers with an evil laugh he lunged after him only to grasp at the emptiness left behind.

He could hear Paul calling up from below:

Paul: You know what they say Michael. Twins..... know each other’s thoughts.... in and out.... day and night..... till death do us part!!!

Then he sang in a taunting voice:

Paul: I know where the warheads are, the warheads are, the warheads are. I know where the warheads are. Don't you wish you did too??

As the crazed laughter bounced and echoed throughout the sewer pipes beneath him, Michael sat back and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing the number he placed the unit to his ears and stated:

Michael: It's worse than we thought. It's Paul Rolich. And he is back and worse than his brother. We need maps of the sewers.. ASAP!!

Closing the cell phone with an impatient snap, he crossed the street to advise the rest of his *team* on this latest development.

Michael: Our target is Paul Rolich... (To Nikita) we have to go done there, Birkoff's pulling up the maps now.

Michael and Nikita walk up to the section van and pull out some gear. Michael pulls out some guns equipped with sights and two comm pieces and hands them to Nikita. Cassie and Tom stare at them as they expertly prepare for the task ahead of them...

Cassie: What should we do for guns...

Nikita look at Michael with a questioning stare...Michael looking back at her stares down... and reluctantly reaches back into the van pulling out two guns and two comm links hooking them only to Michael and Nikita.

Michael: I am not in the mood to haul you out of there... don't get hurt.

Nikita walks over to the open gutter and looks back toward Michael. As Michael slides the door of the van shut, he glances in Cassie and Tom’s direction "move" he says to them. Michael strides over to the gutter as two very intimidated people follow behind him.

Nikita goes to jump down as Michael grabs a hand full of her clothing jolting her back.

Nikita: Michael!

Michael: I'm going first.

Giving him a dirty look she replies "fine."

She watches as Michael drops down through the hole, gesturing to Cassie and Tom to move... She waits for them to go before she lowers herself down.

"This just keeps getting stranger," says Cassie whispering.

Nikita drops in behind them.

Tom: Not strange, it's getting.... I don't know but I don't like the way this guy’s acting, I'm not going to take this much longer.

Michael whips around throwing Tom against the wall and placing his gun under the winded man's chin.

Michael in a quiet forceful tone was staring directly at Tom's face, his eyes examining this...this man who was wearing on his patience.

Michael: I'm going to get what we need... With or without you... and that's up to you.

Michael looks to the right and then back to Tom.

Michael more in his usual calmness: "I have no problem either way."

Michael’s grip loosens and the frightened man drops to the floor. Cassie looks at Nikita searching for some answers, and receiving none but a hardened stare. Nikita was loosing her patience with this woman, and she was looking at Michael again... God, she wanted to reach over and... hold that thought, she heard something...Voices, far off whispers but, they were there, she just couldn't tell where...Turning back to the mission...she decided to take a little control...

Looking at Michael Nikita proceeded to communicate to Birkoff.

Nikita: Birkoff... have you got the maps?

Birkoff: Yeah...I just pulled them up.

Michael turns his attention back to the mission...

(Speaking to Birkoff) Michael: give me the locations where they could be.

Birkoff: There are two...One's west of you...There should be a tunnel 10 yards away on the left... do you see it?

Michael: Yes.

Birkoff: the other is directly to the east of you... You should be right next to the shaft.

Nikita and Michael look to the right.

Nikita: Birkoff there's it's blocked by a sealed hatch...

Birkoff: It's an old maintenance shaft. It shouldn't be locked. There's another exit out of it...it leads out to the west side of a nearby square...It's usually crowded and they'd be able slip in and out without anyone noticing. It's the most likely location.

Michael: All right Nikita you go with...

Nikita (cutting him off) : Tom.

She turns and smiles at Michael, who's surprised look was not a pleased one... He didn't want Nikita anywhere within reaching distance of that guy. Nikita really didn't want Cassie anywhere near Michael but she thought better of taking Cassie with her... She'd probably say something about Michael and she'd have to shoot her. (smiling) Well maybe she wouldn't, but the temptation would be far too great.

Michael: Give me an exact location on the exit out of the east target.

Birkoff: its 20 degrees to your right located behind... a retaining wall in the square.

Michael (to Nikita): "Fine, Birkoff, Nikita is taking the west location. I'll take the east. (looking back to the group) Tom...I want you to go checkout the square... If anyone comes out of the exit...shoot them. You'd better be there when we come out."

Michael looked at Nikita and then to the two awkward people standing against the wall.

Michael: Birkoff we're moving.

As the foursome began to split up and head their separate directions, Michael pulls Nikita back behind the others.

Michael: Kita, be careful. If you see any anomalies tell me. Don't move until I am there to back you up.

Nikita: Michael, I'll be fine. Besides, Tom will be there to back me up.

Michael: Kita, these people are amateurs. Besides, {lifting his hand and caressing the side of her face} I don't want anything to happen to you.

Just then Cassie turns around and sees Michael caressing Nikita's face. "So," she thought to herself, "that's the way it is. We'll just see what we can do about that." Cassie walks back to Michael and Nikita and says, "Well, let's get moving. I thought it was so important to catch this guy. You're wasting time and he's getting further away."

Nikita throws Cassie a very dirty look and Michael simply gives her the blank stare. As they separate, Michael calls out one last time "Remember what I said Nikita." She smiles at him and calls back "Yeah, sure."

Nikita and Tom head for the west exit tunnel. They are about halfway down the tunnel when Nikita hears something and motions for Tom to stop. "What is it?" he asks. "I thought I heard voices. Just wait here for a second while I go check a little further down the tunnel." Tom thought about it for a second. "I don't think that's a good idea. Your friend back there would probably shoot me on the spot if anything happened to you. Let me go with you." Nikita looked at Tom and decided he was probably right. "Fine. Let's go. But be very quiet."

Meanwhile, Michael and Cassie were making their way through the east tunnel. Cassie was hanging very closely to Michael. Michael was getting thoroughly disgusted. How could this woman claim to be a cop. She acted like she was afraid of her own shadow. Man he was glad that Nikita wasn't like this woman. Just then Michael's comm unit crackled and Nikita's voice came through. "Michael, I think we may have found them. I heard some voices and we're going to check it out. Tom and ..." Just then Michael heard gunfire through his comm unit. "Nikita, what's going on? Nikita, talk to me! Kita, talk to me now!" Michael was shouting into his comm unit.

Very faintly, Michael heard something. "Say again" he called. Then he heard it, a little stronger, but not much. "Ambush. We were ambushed. Both ... down." It was Tom's voice. They had both been shot. Before she knew what was happening, Cassie was practically knocked to the ground as Michael swung around and headed back the way they came. Cassie, stunned at the events of the last few moments, stood still. She didn't move a muscle. Finally Michael noticed that she wasn't behind him. "Come on Cassie, get a move on. We've got to get to them." Cassie finally looked up and Michael could see the worry on her face. Well, at least she wasn't a complete idiot, Michael thought. She apparently has some remorse over her partner getting shot. "Come on, let's go."

Michael moved off towards the West tunnel with Cassie following. They weren't hearing anything, but Michael moved very carefully in case the shooters were still waiting. Finally, he heard a slight groan and turned on his penlight. He saw Tom laying propped against the wall holding his side. There was a small puddle of blood beside him. Cassie, coming up behind Michael, shoved him out of the way and knelt down beside Tom. "Tom... Tom, talk to me. What happened?" Michael shoved her out of the way and took a hold of Tom's shirt and dragged him upright. Then he pulled his gun and held it on Tom. "Where is she?"

Tom shook his head, trying to clear it. After the pain subsided a bit, he spoke. "She was ahead of me in the tunnel. I heard a gunshot and she groaned. I tried to get to her, but then I was shot. I made my way as far down the tunnel as I could, but I couldn't find her. They must have taken her."

Michael was beside himself with rage. He couldn't believe that this moron let Paul get his hands on Nikita. He should just shoot him now and put him out of his misery. However, he needed help to find Nikita and right now these two, however amateurish they were, were his best bets. It would take too long for more ops from Section to get here. He didn't have the time to waste. He dropped Tom to the ground, causing him to pass out from the pain.

Cassie decided that enough was enough. "Who do you think you are? Tom has been shot and you're throwing him around like a rag doll? He needs help and he needs it now! Get him to a hospital now or I'll call the police for backup."

Michael had had it. He pulled his gun on Cassie and said "That is out of the question. We will take him back to the van and I will tend to his wounds. Then we are going to find Nikita."

Cassie was stunned. There was no way she was going to let this man try to treat Tom for a gunshot and then just go about his business of finding that stupid blond. She would find a way once they were out of these tunnels to disable Michael and get Tom some real help.

After much struggling and infliction of even further pain on Tom, Cassie and Michael finally emerge from the tunnels, toting Tom between them. As they arrive at the van, and Michael slides the side door open, Cassie tries to think of a plan. She needed to get Tom to a hospital. She didn't know how much blood he had lost, or how much damage had been done by the bullet.

Michael, taking Tom from Cassie, turned him around, and lowered him into the van. As Tom's back hit the floor of the van, he cried out in pain. That was the last straw. Cassie turned and railed on Michael. "Just what the hell is your problem?". Michael only replied with his patent blank stare. "This man is injured, maybe dying, and you are tossing him around like a rag doll!"

Michael looked away from Cassie, scanning the perimeter around the van, to make sure there were no unexpected anomalies. When he looked back at Cassie, she noticed a very cold, very indifferent appearance in his eyes. This look made a chill run up her spine, and scared the hell out of her. Michael then ran his tongue along the inside of his lips, and spoke. "Are we done here?"

Cassie just looked at Michael, with her mouth hanging open, unable to believe what she was seeing and hearing. "Yeah, YOU are done here." She then climbed into the van with Tom. She kneeled down next to him, and placing her hand on his forehead, she talked in hushed tones to him. Michael, handed the first aid kit to Cassie, and spoke. "You had better be here when I get back." Cassie just ignored Michael, as she tended to Tom's gunshot wound. Then the van door suddenly slid shut. When it did, Cassie jumped, and swore under her breath. Taking out a piece of gauze, and placing it on Tom's wound, she glanced casually back over her shoulder. As she did, she noticed that the keys to the van were still in the ignition. Then, a smile formed on her lips.

***

Michael walked silently and purposefully down the tunnels. He knew that Paul or his men had Nikita, and he knew what she could be going through right now, but he tried not to think of that. He needed to keep his mind clear. Acting out of anger and frustration would be the worst thing he could do, for him and Nikita.

As he arrived at the spot where he and Cassie had found Tom, he noticed the pool of Tom's blood. Then, moving forward a few feet, he noticed a trail of smaller blood drops, heading off further into the tunnels.

Reaching up and tapping the comm link in his ear, Michael tried to contact Nikita. "Nikita...are you there?" He only received static as an answer. Then, making sure that the safety was off on his gun, he began walking once more, following the trail of blood. After a few minutes, he could faintly hear voices ahead of him. As he grew nearer, he could make out three distinctive voices for sure. Rounding a corner in the tunnels, Michael saw the source of the voices.

Standing in a large area, where several tunnels intersected, were three large men. One look familiar, the other two were unknowns. They stood with their backs to Michael, looking down at something at their feet. As Michael inched a little closer, his breath caught in his throat. Lying on the ground, in front of the men, was Nikita. She was white as a ghost, and not moving. She was dying, and they were letting her.

Michael had to sit back and take stock of the situation. He had to get Nikita out of there and soon or else it might be too late.

Backing away down the tunnel a bit, he got in touch with Birkoff again.

"Birkoff, we have one known and two unknowns here. Nikita is hurt and down. Severity of injuries is unknown at this time. See if there is another way into the tunnels and get back to me."

"Doing it now Michael."

Michael, sat down, waiting for Birkoff to come up with the intel. Meanwhile he started to formulate a plan in his mind as to how he could distract the three men and get Nikita out and to MedLab. He would have to use Cassie. He didn't have a choice, not that he really minded. She was a cold-hearted witch. Only problem was, he wasn't sure she would cooperate with him, now that Tom was out of action.

"Michael, I am sending through the data now. You'll need to get back to the van to access it. I have managed to find 2 possible alternatives."

"Acknowledged, Birkoff. Out."

Michael makes his way back to the van and is actually surprised to see it still there. He thought for sure that Cassie would have taken it in her head to take off with it.

"You're back. Did you find her?"

"Yes. She is there." Michael says as he heads over to the computer console. The data that Birkoff had sent was still coming through.

"Well???? Is she okay? My gosh, you're a cold one. I can't understand what she sees in you." Cassie says as she throws Michael a glare that anyone else would wither from.

Michael just gives her his usual cold stare and continues to read the information being printed out. A few minutes later he looks to Cassie.

"I will need your help if we are to get her out. I expect you to do EXACTLY as I say and do not question anything. We need to work as a team and not get distracted." Michael says as he looks over towards Tom.

"Yeah, yeah, I understand completely Herr Capitaine!!!" as she salutes making a face behind his back.

"Michael! We have gun shots!" Birkoff informs Michael and he turns to Cassie. He has no time to deal with the ill-skilled woman who looked like an old Barbie with wrinkles. Michael slammed her back into the van with Tom and took the guns out and started to run.

Quickly he made his way through the maze of sewers. He jumped to a stop as he heard not a sound.

"Birkoff...." Michael says as he hears some hard footsteps.

Michael holds the gun and turns the corner with the gun ready to fire. There stood the pale Nikita, holding her side tightly and with a gun dangling in her hands.

"Birkoff... I have Nikita." Michael reports as he walks to her and slides a hand up underneath her arm and supports her.

"Two down... Paul escaped." Nikita reports and Michael takes the gun out of Nikita's hand and then picks her up into his arms.

"He will already be gone." Michael says as he hurries back to the van.

***

"Michael... we do have a possible location on Paul. Is Nikita mobile?" Birkoff asks three days later as Michael sits at a table at Tom's apartment.

"Almost full mobility." Michael says and Birkoff nods his head. It had been a trying three days. Cassie was trying to put the moves on Michael as he tried to tend to Nikita. That did not last long. Tom healed quickly, and so did Nikita. Nikita was establishing a quick relationship with Tom, and Michael did not like it at all.

"And the two detectives?" Birkoff asks and Michael smiles.

"They are ill-skill, incompetent, and have bad attitudes, but healthy." Michael replies.

"Downloading the profile now. Nikita will go with Tom and portray husband and wife..."

"NO."

"And you and Cassie are lovers that..."

"NO."

"Michael, this is what Operations wants.”

"NO." Michael says and Birkoff sighs as the file lands in the computer.

"We've sent the appropriate clothing. Nikita and Tom since they were hurt will provide the decoy."

"You mean entertain for the cameras." Michael says as he snaps the computer down.

"Yes, Michael that is exactly what we mean." Ops voice say's coming through the comm unit. "Do you have a problem with that!" he states, not really asking because he knows that Michael does have a problem with it.

"No, there is no problem with this." Michael say's moodily.

"Good, now get on with the mission!" Ops says.

As Michael hangs up with Operations and Birkoff, he starts mimicking Operations "Yes, Michael that is exactly what we mean!... Good now get on with it."

"Michael?" Nikita say's coming up behind him while he is mimicking Ops. "What is all of this about?"

"Nothing." he replies. "Birkoff has just sent us the new mission profile. You and Tom are going to be the bait by playing 'newlyweds' and Cassie and I are to be lovers." he says looking closely at Nikita too see her reactions.

"Lovers?" she comments quietly. "How 'involved' as lovers are you to be?" she demands of him. Thinking to herself 'I don't like this one bit! That blonde bitch is NOT going to be seeing Michael the way that Lisa Fanning got to... or the way that Andrea got too. It's bad enough that I still have to share him with the memory of Simone at times. But I will not stand for this!'

"I don't know what you mean by that question Nikita. You will have to be more specific." he replies loving the fact that she was so jealous that she didn't even realize that she was talking to herself out loud.

"AUGH!!" She screams as she just looks at him and thinks of what the best place to hit him at is, but that won't cause her to spend too much energy with. Her wound was still bothering her even though she played it off.

Michael looks at her patiently while she screams at him, then he stands up and goes to her. Pulling her into his arms he leans down and gently stokes a finger down her cheek, lowering his lips to hers he says "No one will ever know me like that ever again. Only you will ever have me like that. And don't worry, I don't like the blonde bitch either...." he trails off as his lips land on hers and the kiss ignites into an inferno of need.

***

Meanwhile back in the other side of the apartment......

***

"Tom?" Cassie said softly as she lifts her head up from his naked chest.

"Yeah Darlin'?" he replies drowsily as his hands continue to play with her sweat slicked hair. He still couldn't believe how this close call with the gunshot wound had brought them together finally.

"I couldn't have handled it if I had lost you. I would have made them pay." she say's tracing his lips with her finger.

"I know Cass. But I am stronger then that. There is no way that a bullet is gonna put me outta the game. Especially not now." he said leaning over to kiss her. "Besides, I don't want you falling for that tall dark and cold type of man like Michael now do I?"

Cassie laughing. "Sure, you probably like the bimbo that is with him."

Tom rolling Cassie under him. "Nah, I like this blonde bimbo."

"Oh Tom..." Cassie trails off.....

Meanwhile... back at Section...

Operations and Madeline are walking along one of the many corridors that weave throughout Section One. They are discussing this interesting mission between themselves in hushed undertones... just in case...

Madeline: Are you sure that this will be the best profile? I am not sure that Nikita and Michael will be able to play their parts when it comes right down to it.

Operations: Why do you say that? They are, after all, two of our best operatives and they should focus on the mission at hand, rather than anything else.

Madeline mulled this over for a few moments before speaking again:

Madeline: I know and agree with you completely. But on the other hand, they have formed an attachment, like it or not, and that attachment will cause problems.

Operations stopped and shoved his hands into the pockets of his slacks and addressed Madeline impatiently:

Operations: Let me get this straight. We have a mission in play. Two of our best Ops in the field. Nuclear warheads out there... Somewhere... that we are trying to recover... and you are worried about an *attachment*?? Madeline...you never cease to amaze me.

With his Cheshire-like smile firmly back in place on his face, he takes her by the elbow and directs her onward down the corridor towards her office.

***

Back at Tom's apartment.....

Nikita awakens as she hears someone stirring about in the kitchen. Easing herself up carefully off of Michael's chest, she lets her eyes caress his sleeping visage and she smiles to herself. He looked like a boy when he slept, all peaceful and relaxed, with his hair mussed. That is... on those nights that the nightmares did not fill his mind and threaten to destroy his sanity.

She pulled back from him and froze a moment as he stirred in his slumber and rolled the other way. Freeing herself from the covers she slid into a robe and padded off into the kitchen to see who was stirring about so early.

As she watched from the shadows of the darkened living area, she saw Tom in the kitchen, a towel wrapped around his hips. At that moment, he turned and saw her there too....

Nikita: Tom...Hello.

Tom: Hello Nikita, did you sleep well?

Nikita glance away with a smile on her face...'Did she sleep well? Better than she had in a long time.' Still smiling she replied to Tom...

Nikita: Yes, thank you...You have a lovely apartment.

Tom: Thank you...Don't you think we should be waking the others up?

Just then Michael walks into the room...He has on a blue robe and it clings to his body as he strides across to Nikita. He glances over to Tom and then back to Nikita. He had just done something he had committed himself to not do... He knew he couldn't let her become his weakness. He had told himself that, over and over and over again, but...It happened anyway, and well...he had liked it. But it was over he had to all over again, resist the temptation, he had to resist her... His only weakness...

Michael: We have to get ready to move out...Get dressed.

Tom moves out of the room, and Nikita turns to walk away when Michael grabs her and pulls her back to him... They stare into each other's eyes and he leans down and gently kisses her. Nikita smiles and Michael lets her go. Nikita walks back into the room picks up her mission clothing and takes off her robe... She begins to slip on the cold clothing when Michael walks up behind her and drapes his arms over her shoulders. Nikita turns around and smiles at him...

Nikita: Michael...we have to get ready.

Michael: I know...

He leans in for one last kiss.

Michael: Just taking advantage of a once in a while situation.

Nikita smiles at him and gently pulls away to finish dressing.

Nikita: Again...Soon enough.

The group gathers in the Living room and Michael begins to brief them on the mission.

Michael: We have to leave now... Paul is in the Caribbean at a resort.

Nikita: Well...I have been saying I could use a vacation! Face it Michael, you're just looking for a reason to go Island hopping ha ha!

Michael: (harshly) Nikita!

Nikita is taken back. She gives him a weird look...

Michael: This is serious Nikita.

Nikita brushes it off and the team leaves Tom's apartment on their way to the Caribbean.

The foursome take a private Section plane to the Caribbean. The pilot and co-pilot remain in their cabin and speak to no one but Michael. That way Tom and Cassie remain in the dark as much as possible and are shielded themselves from knowing too much.

They are sitting across the aisle facing each other -- Tom and Cassie on one side; Michael and Nikita on the other. Michael was in "machine mode" and was beginning to brief the others. Nikita was used to it, but it made Tom and Cassie very uncomfortable. They had seen glimpses of Michael this way back at the tunnels, but now they were hit with it full-force and it was very disconcerting.

Michael: "The mission profile has been set. Since they have both been recently injured, Nikita and Tom will portray newlyweds. They will be providing us with intel and also providing "entertainment" for Paul's goons, who will be watching. Cassie and I will portray lovers and we will be on point. Our objective is to take Paul alive. All other persons are acceptable collateral."

Cassie: "Excuse me? All other persons are "acceptable collateral"? Does that mean what I think it means? And if so, who are you people? I'm beginning to think someone needs to stop you rather than this Paul person."

Nikita: "Yes it means what you think it means. Hopefully it won't come to that, but if need be, we will kill all the others in order to survive and get the intel we need. And as to your other question, it's none of your business. Just do what your told."

The tension in the airplane was so thick you could cut it with a knife. It wasn't just the secrets or the fact that Nikita and Cassie didn't really like each other ... it was the upcoming mission that was wearing on everyone's nerves. Michael would have much preferred to have Tom and Cassie partnered up and playing the newlyweds. He didn't really like Cassie, but that was beside the point. He trusted Nikita with his life ... Cassie he wouldn't trust as far as he could throw her. Nikita was trained for this kind of mission. Tom and Cassie were simple cops. They didn't have a clue what to do if anything went wrong. Of course, that was a good reason to have him and Nikita split up. At least one Section op would be on each team.

Tom didn't know what to think. After what had happened between him and Cassie last night, he thought she was over her thing for Michael. However, the way she and Nikita were sparring with each other, he was beginning to have second thoughts. And he really, really, didn't want her and Michael playing at being lovers. For that matter, he liked Nikita, but he wasn't thrilled about pretending to be a newlywed with her. Why couldn't they just let him and Cassie work together. They were comfortable with each other, as it was very apparent Michael and Nikita were as well.

Michael: "If you two are finished quarreling, let's continue the briefing. Nikita turned and looked at Michael with a "we are having a serious discussion when this is over" look. Cassie actually had the decency to look ashamed.

Cassie: "Sorry. Go ahead."

Michael: "I know you are not happy about the teaming of this mission, but get over it. We have a job to do and we are going to do it."

Just then the plane started shaking violently. Nikita fell against Michael, who grabbed onto her and steadied her against himself. Tom and Cassie were thrown off their seats onto the floor. Tom helped Cassie sit up and then held on to her as the plane started listing back and forth. Suddenly the plane started a deep dive.

Michael put his comm set on and spoke to the pilot. "What is going on?" He listened for a few seconds and then took out the comm unit.

Michael: "It seems we have lost engine power in both of our engines. The pilots are trying to get things fixed, but they don't think it will work. They heard a sound right before the engines failed -- they think it was an explosion. Try to get back into your seats and put your seat belts on. They think we are probably going to crash."

Nikita couldn't believe her ears. Not now! Not when she and Michael were actually getting things back on track between themselves and now this ...they couldn't die now ... they just couldn't. There was so much that needed to be said. Nikita didn't often do it anymore, but she sent up a silent prayer. "God, please, please don't let us die. And if somebody must go, then please, let it be me! I couldn't stand to live without him."

Nikita turned to look at Michael and everything she was thinking was reflected in her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Michael put his finger over her mouth. He leaned towards her and said, "I know. There's so much I wanted to say to you too. Just know that I ..."

At that moment the plane crashed onto a very deserted island, covered in thick forest.

Nikita awoke with a start, the first sound being that of birds singing. At first, she just smiled to herself, enjoying the soothing tones, but when she tried to move, she noticed not all was as it should be.

Every muscle in her body cried out in pain, and as she began to sit up, her head started spinning. Remaining absolutely still, with her eyes closed, she allowed a few moments to pass. Then, she opened her eyes, and could not believe what she saw.

The plane, such as it was, was little more than the passenger section. The fusel lodge and the engines were nowhere to be seen. Nikita suddenly realized that she was lucky to even be alive. But, that was not her first priority. She stood up, and looked around frantically...where was Michael? As she started moving through the dense brush that the plane had landed in, she heard a moaning sound. Looking off to her right, the brush about 20 feet from where she was started moving.

Nikita, approaching the area cautiously, let out a sigh of relief, as she looked down to see Michael. He had a cut on his forehead, and appeared to be a little worse for wear, but he was alive and breathing. Bending over, and helping him up, Nikita gazed around the forest.

Michael brushed off his pants, and touched his finger to the cut on his forehead, wincing when he did. "Did everyone make it out okay?" he asked as he turned to Nikita.

Nikita only shook her head, and continued scanning their perimeter. "I don't know. I have only found you, and I have no idea about Tom and Cassie. But I think we can lay good odds that the pilots are gone." As Nikita said this, she pointed to the plane wreckage.

Michael shook his head in understanding, then started to move forward. As he did, he swayed slightly, and his eyes rolled back in his head. Nikita reached out for his arm quickly, and helped him steady himself. "Michael, are you okay?" she asked.

Michael closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, Nikita noticed that they were slightly dilated, and the color was a deeper green than usual. "Huh? Oh...yeah. I am fine. Just need a moment is all" he replied.

"Well, take all the time you need," she said, "because it is almost nightfall, and we would be better off just staying put. We won't be much good to anyone if we get lost in the dark."

Not hearing anything from Michael, Nikita turned back around, and looked at him. He looked worse than she had originally noticed. He was drawn, haggard, and pale. She tried to push the thoughts that he may be injured worse than she first thought out of her mind. But, she was unsuccessful. Looking at Michael now, she became increasingly worried.

Scanning the area around the wreckage, Nikita started to gather wood and brush in the efforts to try to start a fire. Once she had enough wood gathered, and piled up in a neat campfire circle near the plane, she started patting down herself. She suddenly stopped, and placed her hands to her head, in an exasperated gesture.

"What’s wrong?" Michael asked from behind her. Nikita turned and looked at Michael, a sarcastic look on her face. "No matches," she replied, shaking her head and chuckling under her breath. Michael, not understanding the humor of the situation, just continued looking at Nikita.

"So, is that a problem?" Michael replied. Nikita laughed. "Yeah, it is, unless you plan on rubbing two sticks together." Michael only looked away from Nikita, his eyes not meeting hers. Nikita, feeling bad about directing her frustrations towards Michael, walked over to him and kneeled down. Lightly grasping his chin in her fingers, she turned his face to hers. She looked into his eyes. "Don't worry Michael. I will think of something. Besides, all we have to do is wait until Section gets a location on us, and then we will be out of here."

Michael averted his gaze downward. As he did, Nikita got a very uneasy feeling. Letting go of Michael's chin, she looked down at the ground. "Michael, is there something I should know here?" she asked.

When he did not reply, Nikita looked back up at Michael. He was looking at her, with a sad and apologetic look on his face. "Michael, what is it?" she asked.

Michael ran his tongue over his bottom lip, as if deciding whether or not to answer. "Section has no idea where we are," he said with a tone of remorse. Nikita stood up, and laughed slightly. "What do you mean they don't know where we are? They sent us on this bloody mission to begin with!"

Michael slowly stood, and looking Nikita directly in the eye spoke. "They do not know because we must have drifted off course before we crashed. This island was nowhere on the charts of where we were planned to travel." Nikita stood her ground, and thought for a moment. Then, smiling she replied. "That doesn't matter. They can track us by our clock crystals."

Nikita's smile faded slowly, as she saw a strange look cross Michael's features. "No, they can't." Nikita, with a confused look on her face, questioned Michael. "And why not? Surely their technology can reach this far."

Michael walked slowly and uneasily past Nikita, and stopped a few feet from her, with his back to her. "They can't track us because I have no clock, and yours was deactivated before we left on the mission."

"Michael, what on earth would possess you to disable my clock?" Nikita asks incredulously.

"What? Oh, I just did. I am not even sure why I did it. Maybe I just am getting sick and tired of having our every move recorded through you."

"Well, I can't believe you would do such a stupid asinine thing. What is wrong with you lately? Is it this mission or is it something else?" Nikita asks in anger as her body screams out in pain.

"We need to get a fire going Nikita, not arguing over what is done and over with." Michael yells back as he too is in a lot of pain and not thinking too clearly.

"FINE" Nikita says as she looks around for something to start the fire with.

She walks toward the wreckage of the plane to see if there is anything to be salvaged from the remains. Maybe there will be a blanket or even some food scattered around and if she is really lucky a flare or some matches. She can't understand what has gotten into Michael lately, but something needs to be done about his attitude and soon or she would go insane.

Rummaging through the wreckage she manages to gather some things that may come in handy. A blanket, some pillows, some foil, a flashlight and wonder of wonders she happens to come upon a box of matches. Nikita puts all of her finds in a pile and wanders a little further away from the wreck of the plane in case there are other things that might have been scattered at the time of the crash.

"Nikita!! Nikita!!" she hears as she walks further into the bush. She walks further until she comes across Tom, lying awkwardly amidst some bushes.

"Tom. Great you're alive." Nikita says as she kneels down next to him. "How are you feeling and where does it hurt?"

"Where's Cassie? and Michael?" he asks through clenched teeth as he tries to sit up. "I think I just twisted a few things, had the wind knocked out of me, nothing is broken as far as I can tell."

"Michael is back by the plane and I haven't found Cassie yet. Let's try to get you to where Michael is and then I will go look. I think the pilots are gone though, we'll have to do a wider search in the morning. Right now I think it's important to get you and Michael warmed up."

Nikita puts her arms around Tom and they slowly make their way to where Michael is laying, stopping to gather up some of the supplies that Nikita had piled up. Once she gets Tom settled she gets the fire going and wraps the two of them in the blankets.

"I'm going to take the flashlight and see if I can find Cassie. I want the two of you to keep this fire going. I realize we are in a warm climate but the two of you seem to be in shock and you need the warmth. I'll see if I can find some fresh water among the plane parts. I'll be back as soon as I can, BUT neither one of you are to move from here. Is that understood?"

Michael and Tom just look at each other. Neither one of them say anything.

"Michael? Tom? Do I have your word that you will stay here?" Nikita asks them again.

Michael finally nods his head in agreement, but Tom still doesn't say anything. Nikita prods him again and reluctantly he agrees.

"We have to find Cassie, Nikita," he says "she could be seriously hurt and needs our help. We can't just leave her out there all night by herself."

"I'll do the best I can." Nikita promises as she heads away from the two of them and into the dense foliage..........