Nikita opened the door to her apartment building, and stepped out onto the sidewalk. Inhaling deeply, she glanced left and right, looking up and down the street. Then, taking her backpack off her shoulder, and rummaging around in it for a few moments, she extracted her Walkman. Turning it on, and placing the headphones on, she listened. The lyrics that she heard were haunting, and touched something deep inside her...

I don't want to to wait for our lives to be over, I want to know right now what will it be. I don't want to wait for our lives to be over, Will it be yes or will it be sorry?

Standing in the middle of the sidewalk, frozen, Nikita listened intently to the song, her head hanging low, and her gaze fixed on the ground in front of her. As she listened, she was jolted out of her hypnotic like state, by a young man tapping her on the shoulder. "Are you all right ma'am?" he questioned. Nikita shook her head, and looked up at him. Then, blinking her eyes, she smiled sadly. "I am fine, thank you," she answered. The young man looked at her for a moment, then making his apologies, headed on down the street.

Nikita, watching the young man disappear out of site, heard the of her cell phone ring. Reaching into her backpack, she took out the little phone, and flipped it open. "Yeah," she said. There was a moment of silence, then a familiar voice drifted through from the other end of the line. "Josephine?" the voice said. Nikita, tilting her head back, and looking up at the sky, paused a moment. "Okay," she replied in a slightly frustrated tone, "I am on my way."

Flipping the phone shut, and placing it back into her backpack, Nikita approached the curb of the street. Then, moving between two parked vehicles, she glanced left then right. Secure in the feeling that it was safe, she crossed the street, coming up next to a sleek, black sports card. Inserting her key into the lock, she opened the door, and slid into the driver’s seat. After a few moments, she pulled out into traffic, and was on her way.

She passed an alley about two blocks from where she had exited her building, but hadn't noticed the young man from earlier. He watched her, as she progressed down the street, and out of sight. Then, reaching into his pants pocket, he pulled out a small cell phone, and flipping it opened, pressed a speed dial button.

When the connection was made, he smiled. "Yeah, it wasn't any problem at all. She doesn't suspect a thing." The young man continued to stare down the street, in the direction in which Nikita had disappeared. "The signal should come in nice and clear," he replied, nodding his head. "By this time tomorrow, we should have a location fix on Section One," the young man concluded. Then, flipping the phone closed, he exited the alleyway. Shoving his hands into his pockets, and whistling a familiar tune, he strolled casually down the sidewalk.

Nikita was still thinking on the haunting strains of the song she had just been listening to but a moment before. Turning her eyes briefly away from the road she looked towards her duffel bag and thrust her arm into it. Reaching around inside the bag she found what she was searching for. Pulling her Walkman back out of her bag she ejected the cassette and placed it into her car stereo.

*Hmm... That is odd...* she thought. When she inserted the cassette nothing happened. It was like it just... stuck.

She pressed the button to pop the cassette back out but it wouldn't budge. * Might need to have Walter take a look at that...* she mused idly. Without giving the incident another thought she powered up the radio and hit the search button for a sweep of the stations. She was in a melancholy mood and wanted some tunes to suit her present state of mind.

She didn't find a station with music to suit so she turned the radio back off and rode along in silent reflection. Her thoughts wandered back to the verse of the song that seemed to hit home with her....

I don't want to wait for our lives to be over, I want to know right now what it will be.

This seemed to highlight hers and Michael's relationship so very clearly. It seemed as though they were just waiting, in suspended animation, for the unknown... for the day that they would be free of Section, either through death or deception... waiting... wanting... longing...

I don't want to wait for our lives to be over, Will it be yes or will it be sorry?

She was still pondering the meaning of this verse in her life when the muffled chirping of her cell phone drew her attention. Taking one hand from the wheel she reached once again into her duffel and searched for the small phone. Finding it she withdrew it impatiently and flipped it open before placing it to her ear..."Yes?" she said with mild irritation.

"Josephine..." the softly accented voice floated across the distance and sent a shiver through her even now. Pausing only for a split second, she spoke, "Michael? What now? I am already en route..."

Michael pushed back from his desk and rose to his feet with catlike grace, "What do you mean? I have only just called you in." He turned to face the large glass window and kept the phone pressed to his ear listening... Sensing something amiss... Something in Nikita's voice... "Nikita...?"

Nikita had already closed the phone and stomped on the gas pedal. She had seen someone trailing through traffic behind her... Following her...

Nikita trying to concentrate on the road while keeping her eye on the car following her speed through the traffic and around cars. Nikita was doing around 80 mph by the time she reached the place where she would turn to head toward section. She knew better than to lead them that way so she continued on down the road. She was putting some serious distance between them nut no matter where they turned they followed. 'How could they see me turn, I'm so far ahead of them?' She knew something was wrong, she needed to do something now. She picked up the cell phone where she had dropped it on the passenger seat and flipped it open pushing a button that automatically dialed Michael. He picked up immediately.

Michael: Yes.

Nikita: Michael it's me, and I'm being followed.

Michael: What? By whom?

Nikita: By an unknown.

Michael: Can you take care of it?

Nikita: That's the thing Michael. I put a lot of distance between us and they shouldn't have been able to follow me, but they did.

Michael: Don't come in. I'm going to get Birkoff to give me a location on you. I'll take care of it.

Nikita: What should I do until then...

She tried to ask Michael but he had already hung up the phone. 'Great' she thought now what. She decided she would keep driving until, well like Michael had said until he took care of it.

Michael was already at Birkoff’s desk when Nikita had closed her cell phone.

Michael: Birkoff pull up Nikita's clock and give me her location, she's got an unknown shadow.

Birkoff: Does operations know?

Michael: Not yet, I'm going up to tell him now, work up a scenario quick.

Birkoff: Why so concerned can't she take care of it.

Michael: No. That's the thing she can't loose them, no matter how far away she is they keep with her... Now hurry!

Michael races up to the observation deck where Operations is standing watching the happenings below.

Michael: We have a situation. Nikita's being followed and she can't loose them.

Operations: Is Birkoff working up a scenario?

Michael: Yes.

Operations: Good handle it.

Michael walks out and back down to Birkoff.

Michael: Is it finished yet?

Birkoff: Wait... Ok, yeah. I've sent it to housekeeping. They're going to take out the tail. But Nikita's not to come into section until we've cleared her.

Michael: I'll go.

Birkoff: Fine, but you're going to have to make sure she's clean.

Michael: I got it. Where's the meeting place?

Birkoff: The North Marina. It's closed so it should be perfect.

Michael: Fine.

Michael walks away, picks up his equipment and heads out of section.

The cell phone rings again and Nikita tries to reach it, as it is starting to become difficult to control the car.

"The North Marina." Michael says and hangs up. Nikita makes the next right hand turn and starts out towards the marina. Nikita's body is shaking as the car is starting to become uncontrollable. She puts her foot on the brake, and nothing happens. Nikita looks at her speedometer and shakes her head. This can't be happening.

Michael watched as Nikita's car sped down the road towards the north marina. He pulls out in motorcycle and turns around. The car that was following Nikita appears and Michael positions the rocket launcher. He smiles as the men stop driving the car and try to escape the fire. He pushes the button, and soon the car is no more.

Michael's cell phone rings as he pulls away.

"MY BRAKES ARE GONE!!!" Nikita screams out and Michael looks down the hill. She was fast approaching the empty North Marina. Michael dropped the cell phone into the pouch and speeds down the hill.

He can see Nikita's car drop into the water and start to sink. Michael makes it to the water's edge and does not find Nikita. He jumps off of the motorcycle and dives into the cold water. His foot hits the roof of the car. Michael looks into the car, and sees it filling with water, and Nikita unconscious. Michael pulls at the door handle, until it pops open. Michael pulls at Nikita and takes her to the surface. She was still unconscious.

Michael pulls Nikita from the car as it sinks to the bottom. Moving quickly he brings her to the surface and up onto a launch pad that is there.

"Nikita?" he asks as he gently shakes her trying to get her to wake up. "Nikita!" he says more urgently. 'Damn' he thinks to himself as he realizes that his cell phone won't work after getting wet. 'I have got to get her to Section MedLab and fast!'

Pulling Nikita's limp and extremely wet body over his shoulder in a fireman’s position, he makes for the stairs and up to where he left his motorcycle.

"You had to be knocked unconscious didn't you Kita? You couldn't be awake to give me a hand here!" he mumbled at her as he started up the stairs. "You couldn't even wait to be followed until the weather got warmer, you had to do it in the wintertime!" he finished as he got them both up the ramp and to the bike.

Just then Nikita made a moaning sound followed by chattering teeth. "Yeah I'm cold too. And there is no way that I will be able to get us to Section before we freeze to death. But where can I take you?" he questioned not so much her, but himself. "I know!" he suddenly says "I'll get us to the house that I have over here on this side of town. Yeah, that should work for now."

He lifts himself and Nikita (who is still in the fireman's position) up onto the bike and gets it going. Heading up the Marina he thinks to himself 'yeah, we deserve some R&R with each other. Section will just have to wait.'

Meanwhile back in the hallowed halls called Section One:

Operations was pacing up in the tower wondering how all was going with Michael and Nikita.

"Birkoff, what is the status on Nikita and Michael?" Ops demands from his lofty tower room.

Birkoff sighing, as this was the 10th time in 5 minutes that he had been asked this question by none other than Ops. 'Same as the last time you asked you time telling-challenged idiot.' he thought to himself. "They are together. But they are moving in an erratic pattern right now. I don't know if they are being followed again or what. But Michael knows that he isn't to come back here unless Nikita is 'clean' he may be checking to see if they are still being followed." he finished.

"Let me know as soon as they get back into Section Birkoff, I want to know just what the hell is going on!" Ops says into the comm unit before disengaging.

"Yeah yeah yeah you pompous ass." Birkoff mutters.

"What was that?" Comes Ops' voice over the comm unit again.

"I said yes sir, as soon as you please I will have them into you." Birkoff replied fast.

"Good see that you do, and that that is the only thing you said." He said before finally disengaging for real.

Birkoff rolled his eyes as he went back to monitoring Michael and Nikita's position. There had to be something wrong with them because their signal was all over the place. He could not tell their destination at all. All he knew was that it wasn't Section.

Birkoff started a sim to see if he could figure out a destination for them from their erratic movements but it was to no avail. Not even a sim could help him out on this one. If he didn't figure it out soon, he would be another head on Operations wall of fame.

At the same time, Michael started out towards his home when he realized that the place had been torn down by Section two months ago. Now where was he going to take her? He didn't know anyone on this side of town. The closest place that he could possibly get Nikita to before she died of hypothermia was to her apartment and that was pushing his time limit.

Just as he turned and headed in the direction of Nikita's apartment, he spotted a pay phone. He headed over to it to call Section and have them send someone to pick them up.

About the same time as Michael reached the phone and dialed the number to reach Birkoff, two black clothed men approached him and Nikita. Michael saw them coming and put Nikita down gently on the ground so that he could defend them. The phone receiver was dangling from its cord and Birkoff could hear everything that was going on on the other end once he answered Section's emergency line.

Before Birkoff could get anything from Michael, there were the sounds of fighting and grunting from delivered blows. Birkoff knew immediately what was going on and started to run a trace on the call to find out where they were located.

Just as he almost got a location, the phone line went dead.

Birkoff yelled at the line, "Michael? Michael? Are you there? Anyone there?"

No answer. Birkoff tore off his comm unit and threw it on the table. He saw Operations approach. He groaned inwardly.

"Birkoff! What was that? What just happened? What's the status on Michael and Nikita?" Operations said in a hushed and angered tone. He meant business.

"Sir, Michael attempted to call us, I heard fighting on the line, probably two enemies approached them. I tried to trace them, and all of a sudden I heard a click on the line. Someone hung up the phone," Birkoff explained.

"Damn it! Why can't you track them through Nikita's internal clock crystal?" Operations yelled.

"I thought it was dismantled when the business with Adrian occurred," Birkoff explained.

"Well, IT WAS PUT BACK IN! Are we going to let a willful operative out without a clock out of Section! We're not the CIA! Get on it NOW!" And with that Operations turned around and walked forcefully with every step to Madeline's office.

"Sheesh!" Birkoff said to himself.

***

Meanwhile, Michael had been able to knock out one of the men in black and take his gun. However, the other man was still very much alive, and very much ready to kill him.

The man had a gun in his hand pointed towards Michael and Michael had a gun pointed towards the man. The man carefully stepped back with his gun still pointed at Michael and hung up the phone. Michael sighed. Now the only way to find out who these new enemies were was to get captured by them... But not with both him and Nikita in this condition. It was just too risky.

Just then, Nikita started to wake up from her unconscious state. Her teeth still chattered but she looked alive.

She wrapped her arms around her body, and looked around and at the predicament they were in. "Oh Shit," She thought to herself.

Thunder cracked loudly in the sky. A few seconds later, it started to rain.

Back at Section, Birkoff was frantically working to reestablish a link with Nikita's crystal. He knew if he didn't soon find the two operatives, Operations would have his head.

***

Operations stormed into Madeline's office. Madeline, who was pruning her bonsai trees, stopped at the intrusion.

"Any word yet?" she asked. "No. And Birkoff is acting like this is his first day on the job. We might have to consider reevaluating him as soon as this mess is over." Madeline knew that Operations was stressed and that's why he was overreacting. Of course, she wasn't going to tell him that.

"I don't think that will be necessary. You know he is friends with Nikita and he is worried about her. He doesn't usually react like this, but I think he is very worried for Michael and Nikita. Once they are safe, he will go back to being himself." Madeline stared at Operations waiting for his response. "Are you trying to subvert my authority, here, again? I let you talk me into keeping Nikita around, but there's only so much I will take from you, Madeline. I run Section, not you!" With that, Operations stormed out of her office and headed back to Comm to see how much progress Birkoff was making.

***

Michael and the man stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Michael had noticed that Nikita was awake, but the other man was unaware of that fact. That could be to their advantage, if he could just make eye contact with her. Shifting his position slightly, so that the man would think he was moving to protect Nikita, he glanced down at her quickly and she looked at him. She knew what he wanted. It had always been that way between them. All they needed was a look from one to the other and both were in sync.

The man straightened his gun arm and called out "That's enough. Don't move another muscle or I'll shoot you and then have some fun with her." With that, Nikita kicked out with her legs and knocked the man off balance so that he fell backwards. His gun went flying. That was all Michael needed. He shot the man and then moved over to see if he was alive. That was his mistake. When he turned around, Nikita wasn't lying on the ground anymore. As he glanced around, he saw her and his heart stopped. The other man had come to some time during the scuffle and had grabbed a weakened Nikita. He was now holding a gun to her head.

"That's far enough, Mr. Hero" the man taunted Michael. "Now let's see how heroic you are. Will you die for her or should I just go ahead and kill her now?"

As Michael stood perfectly still, he continued staring at the man with the gun to Nikita's head. He mentally ticked off his very limited list of options, but none were worth the risk. He had to get Nikita and himself out of this...alive...and nothing less would do. As the two men continued to stare at one another...the man holding Nikita sneering and snickering, and Michael expressionless, neither one noticed the sleek black sports car as it turned the corner a block from them.

When the car got near, it suddenly braked, and screeched to a sudden stop. Michael, and the guy holding Nikita, both jerked their heads around, taking notice of the newly arrived player. At that moment, the driver opened their door, and standing up, produced a gun. Michael, knowing what was about to happen, turned back to Nikita, and jumped.

As he made contact with both Nikita and the man, they all three fell to the ground, in a loud thud. The man, thinking it was all a ploy to get Nikita away from him, rolled to the side, and stood up. Then, pointing his gun at the prone Nikita, smiled wickedly. Michael, seeing this, rolled towards Nikita, and attempted to cover her body with his own. As he did, a shot rang out, and Michael's body spasmed, reflexively. After a few seconds, and realizing that he nor Nikita had been shot, Michael turned and looked behind him.

Lying on the ground, with a bullet hole through his forehead, was the man. After a few moments, Michael looked to the black sports car. The driver had gotten out of the car, and was now standing on the passenger side, with a smoking gun in his hand. Moving his gaze up the figure, Michael's eyes finally fell on the other mans and locked. As they did, the other man smiled. "Hello, Michael," he said.

Nikita, having gained consciousness again, shifted under Michael, and turned her head. With a gasp, and a sound of wonder in her voice, she spoke. "Jurgen?" The man slowly walked towards the operatives, then stooped down, looking at them both. "Yes Nikita," he smiled, "Jurgen." Then, offering Michael a hand, he proceeded to help them up. Michael, being both stunned, and angered, rejected the proffered hand, and after standing up, helped Nikita up as well.

Michael, with Nikita supported in his firm embrace, just stood and stared at Jurgen. Then, feeling Nikita shivering and chilling again, he decided to put aside his personal differences in order to get Nikita safe. "We need to get to someplace out of the cold," he stated. Jurgen smiled and nodded, then turned and walked over to the driver’s side of the black vehicle. Opening the door, Jurgen glanced sideways at the couple.

"I have a place, not far from here," he stated. "It’s the closest place, and your only option" He then slid into the driver’s side seat. After a few moments, Michael, deciding he had no other option, helped Nikita over to the car. Then after placing her safely in the back seat, Michael climbed into the front. As Jurgen started the car, and pulled out, Michael looked over to him. "I am only doing this for Nikita's sake," he stated. Jurgen smiled. "Yes, for Nikita's sake."

The car then squealed its tires, and headed off down the deserted, dark street, into the shadows of the night...

The trio rode along in a tense silence.

Jurgen smiled to himself... thinking how much he loved being in control in this particular situation. He glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw Nikita. She was watching him as well. Her eyes were clouded with uncertainty and he could see her shivering as the cold and shock were finally settling in on her.

"Nikita... look there in the floorboard. See that bag?" Nikita began to look for the bag Jurgen was describing. She spotted a small gym bag and pulled it up onto the seat beside her. Michael had turned slightly in his seat as well, but only to watch Jurgen. *What is he up to* Michael wondered to himself.

Jurgen tried to keep his eyes on the road as he was traveling at a higher rate of speed than would be considered safe. He heard Nikita unzipping the bag so he cut his eyes back to the mirror to direct her again, "Reach inside and you will find a sweatsuit. You need to get out of those wet clothes before you get hypothermia."

At this, Michael turned so he could see Nikita and she looked to him for direction. With a curt nod of his head, he indicated his agreement with Jurgen, and he swiveled back around in his seat, training his eyes on the road in an effort to discern their direction. He could hear Nikita as she began to pull off her sodden clothes and he attempted to distract Jurgen from noticing this as well. "So Jurgen. Where is your place? I thought you said it was nearby?"

Jurgen barely heard Michael. He had glanced into the rear-view mirror just as Nikita pulled her shirt over her head and their eyes locked. She just stared back at him and gave him a small, slow smile. She then pulled the heavyweight sweatshirt over her head and down tightly around her too-cold body. Jurgen directed his attention back to Michael, and finally answered his question. " I have a place about 30 miles out of town. We should be coming to it soon."

Michael once again turned to look at Jurgen... who avoided making any eye contact with him at all. Jurgen kept his eyes trained on the road ahead. Michael turned around and saw that Nikita had wiggled into the sweatpants as well and had curled herself into a tight ball in the back seat. She peered out over her crossed arms at Michael, from where she had rested her head on her arms like a pillow. He tried to see what she was feeling... what she was thinking... but she gave away nothing.

He rotated back towards the front and the trio retreated into silence once again.

The car pulled up to the little house and Jurgen got out of the car. Michael watched Jurgen open the back door and reach for Nikita. Nikita slowly slide her body over to the other side, where Michael opened the door and looked at Nikita.

"Please help…" Nikita says softly and Michael bends down and scoops her up. Jurgen closes both doors and heads towards the front door.

"She can walk, Michael." Jurgen says and Michael looks at Nikita as her blue eyes looked up at him. Nikita just dropped her head back and Michael pulled it back up.

"Oh my gosh.... Let's get her near a fire, quickly." Jurgen says as he sprints into the house, and starts to build the fire. As Jurgen is out of site, Nikita opens her eyes and looks at Michael.

"I want to go home." Nikita says and Michael nods his head and closes her eyes. The game Nikita was playing might help get her back to her home.

"I need to contact Section." Michael says as he bends down on his knees and places Nikita on the mound of pillows that Jurgen laid in front of the fire. Jurgen covered her shivering body up with blankets and stands up.

"I will call a friend to look at Nikita." Jurgen says as he pulls out the cell phone. He pressed the number three and waited.

"I need you to come down to me." Jurgen says and Michael reaches down and strokes Nikita's face.

"This needs treatment now." Michael says and Jurgen stands up.

"She has been compromised, Michael. She has to be cleared and debriefed. Do you think you want Madeline to do that?" Jurgen asks and Michael lifts his head.

"What is it that you want?" Michael asks firmly.