Rita walked to her office quickly thinking of a plan to put in action with each step she took. She opened the door to her office and tried not to laugh. The girls were studying the men quite intently and asking them questions.

Curlly saw her walk in. "Hey you're back. This has been one of the toughest missions. Narrowing down which 6 to make the finals but we have done it."

"We will talk about that later Sherry needs help. Michael is about to corner her big time."

"Now what?"

"Jenni." She was busy talking to the tall blond agent and was listening to his every word intently. So Rita called out to her, "Jenni!" She pulled herself away from the man. "I need you to do go bust into Sherry's office with a newbie problem that she must handle. Get moving." Jenni moved quickly out the door.

She sat at her desk and dialed Sherry's office phone. "Hello." Said a soft-spoken accented voice whose voice was threaded with irritation only perceptible to someone who knew him well.

"Michael? Why are you answering Sherry's phone? How did you know I wanted to talk to you?" Rita said sweetly. She could hear, in the background Jenni had made her arrival. Talking about levels and a mission on panel.

"Rita can you call back Sherry and I are having a discussion. Where are you?" Michael asked in quick succession.

Rita knew he was hunting for information. "I am visiting poor sweet Gunther." Michael took in a deep breath. Rita tried not to laugh. "I was wondering if you could give me any tips on how to cure the Gelman process on him. I know you have been successful in the past."

There was a large pause and then Michael sputtered, "Rita you are not administering that cure." Then he got distracted "Sherry where are you going? We are not done yet."

"Sorry Michael you know that mentoring takes precedence over personal business." Rita heard Sherry's office door close.

Michael took in another deep breath. "Rita."

"Well, Michael I gotta go the med techs tell me it is time for Gunther's meds. Some green liquid." Rita heard her office door open and saw Sherry come in with Jenni. She gave them the thumbs up. The plan worked.

"Rita! I am on my way down there."

Rita heard that and smiled. "Ok I'll see you there." She cut off the connection. "Sherry he is going to lecture us for hours when this is over."

"So we can lecture him just as well. I think its time for step 2. Do we have our finalists?" Sherry looked at the girls expectantly.

************

Sherry jumped as Michael slammed the door behind him making it rattle the office.

"H Hey Michael" Sherry said with a half smile acting nervous. "Did you need something?"

"Yes" Michael answered with an icy glare that said he was not happy with her.

"Ya wanna tell me about it?" Sherry asked.

"I really thought better of you Sherry. When you promised me you'd leave my operatives alone I trusted you yet not 2 minutes after I turn my back you break your promise." Michael said angrily.

"Wh-What are you talking about?" Sherry asked getting really nervous now. 'Who could have told him?' she thought to herself looking guilty.

"I'm talking about the little promise you made to me to lay off DeLeah and Genie." Michael said coldly.

"I haven't done anything to break that promise Michael darling." Sherry said as she went over to his side and began running her fingernails up and down his arm.

"It's not going to work this time Sherry!" Michael said shrugging her off coldly. "Trust is a hard thing to come by and you betrayed that." Michael said as he left her with an icy glare.

MEANWHILE....

"Hey North." Genie and DeLeah called out cheerfully to her.

"Hey girls." North said. "Oh hey could I see you two in my office please?" she asked.

"Sure," the two operatives answered in chorus.

As the 3 women arrived at North's office they all took their seats.

"What's up North?" DeLeah asked.

"Rita and Sherry." North said. "I know you two are excellent operatives but Rita and Sherry are senior operatives with mastered manipulation skills." North warned them.

"And we don't?" Genie asked.

"Did you forget North that we were trained by Michael?" DeLeah asked.

"Actually yes I did forget that detail for a moment." North admitted. "I'm sure you girls will do just fine with what Rita and Sherry have planned for you." North said.

"um...just what do they have planned for us?" Genie asked nervously.

"Yea what?" DeLeah chimed in. "They both promised Michael to lay off of us."

North gasped..."They did?"

"Yup" both girls chorused.

North regained her composure, "Just be careful ladies."

"We will." DeLeah assured her as they stood to leave.

As the two ladies were walking down the hall headed towards Michael's office DeLeah's cell phone chirped.

"Allo." DeLeah answered cheerfully in a good mood.

"My office." the quiet and reserved voice on the other end stated.

"Sure we were on our way anyway." DeLeah said and hung up.

Genie grinned, "Is that who I think it was?"

"Yep." DeLeah smirked.

Both ladies arrived at Michael's office moments later. They knocked and heard a quiet "Entre"

"You wanted to see us Michael?" DeLeah asked.

"Yes." Michael replied taking two devices out of his drawer. "I want you two to wear these trackers for awhile." Michael said concerned.

"Why?" DeLeah asked.

"Sherry and Rita are up to something?" Michael said sounding sad and hurt.

"Michael we can handle Sherry and Rita." DeLeah said. "That's how and why you trained us. Remember?"

Michael smiled, "I know you are trained and can well take care of yourself but I don't want to see my 2 best ops hurt." Michael replied. "Please DeLeah?" Michael said as he softly caressed her face.

DeLeah's knees started to tremble at the gesture, "Sure Michael," she whispered. She looked over at Genie who had already put her tracking device on without argument.

"Are you alright Michael?" Genie asked picking up on his hurt.

"Yes I'll be fine," he replied.

"Ok that takes care of that. You are definitely not ok." DeLeah stated. "How about dinner tonight with us?" DeLeah asked.

Michael smiled. He would never get used to these two. No matter how hard he tried to hide his feelings if something was wrong they were one of the few that could pick up on it. "I'd like tha,t" he said.

"Good." Genie said. "We'll stop by to get you tonight.

Michael nodded as we watched them leave the office.

"Come on." DeLeah announced. "We have a bone to pick with Sherry"

"Whoa wait a minute!" Genie exclaimed

"What?" DeLeah asked confused.

"I want nothing more to do with Sherry. That almost Gelmanization was PLENTY for me"

"Oh come on. Don't be a chicken. Sherry hurt Michael and no one is allowed to do that in my book!"

"Right." Genie, said taking one look at her fellow operative's face and knowing that her stubborn streak was in full force and there was no changing her mind.

"SHERRY!" DeLeah stormed into her office finding her alone and thinking.

"Ah DeLeah and Genie just the 2 I wanted to see."

Genie rolled her eyes.

"You hurt Michael!" DeLeah accused. "How could you? I thought you cared about him!"

"I do." Sherry said quietly.

"Then how could you do it. And in front of everyone else?" She accused her angrily. "What was just having some fun has now hurt Michael and he NEVER deserved that from you!"

"You have no idea what happened so don't start on me." Sherry said getting angrier by the minute.

"Oh no?" DeLeah asked mockingly. "We know every little sordid detail. We overheard Curlly and Daine's little conversation with you in the cafeteria. We know you're up to something but you hurt Michael Sherry. Hurt him bad!"

"I know." Sherry said quietly. "I don't know how to repair the damage either"

"I do." DeLeah announced.

"You do?" she asked hopefully. "Wait a minute...why would you help me?"

DeLeah put her hand over Sherry's hand in a friendly gesture. "Once upon a time we were friends Sherry," she said quietly. "We both care about Michael and we are both operatives here. That should be reason enough to help you don't you think?" DeLeah asked.

"Michael was hurt and we want to take that hurt away." Genie replied cutting into the conversation. "We're having dinner with Michael tonight." Genie announced. "Come with us"

Sherry smiled brightly, "Thanks ladies," she said giving DeLeah a hug. "You two are truly dedicated friends. I was so jealous over Michael's attention to you two that I forgot everything else that was important. I don't know if I would do the same if our positions were reversed" Sherry admitted wiping a tear away from the edge of her eye.

"That's ok." DeLeah comforted her. "Now how about on the way to dinner in an hour or so you tell us what exactly you did have planned for us?"

Sherry laughed, "Sure. Ya mind if Rita tags along too?"

"Sure." both ladies said.

***********

"I think we have our winners. Do we need to run this by Sherry?" asked Curlly as soon as Rita got off the phone with Michael. Curlly wondered if Michael really bought all this.

"We-", Rita stopped as her phone rang again. Curlly turned to Daine and frowned as she realized the last piece of cheesecake was gone.

"I've excused all the others Curlly. What does Section think of us doing stuff like this?" asked Daine.

"Oh Madeline just loves it. Operations gets a tiny bit irritated but not to upset as long as it doesn't interfere with what he needs from us. And Northy does wonders for his disposition."

Both girls turned at Rita's hail. "I just talked to Sherry. She convinced DeLeah and Genie that she feels that she's hurt Michael's feelings and will let them help mend them at dinner with the five of us."

"Rita?" asked Anedella.

"Yes?"

"Why don't you have medlab move Gunther to a secure local and have them tell Michael that you removed Gunther against their better judgement. To personally see to he received his 'medication.'"