Part 8 by Northstar

Janet stood as if in a trance, remembering how it had been with Walter. How kind and gentle he had been, how sweet and slow his lovemaking had been....

Madeline watched the play of emotions across her face. "Janet?"

"hmm, what?? Oh, I'm sorry. I was just remembering. Now what was it about Walter? He's dead you know." she stated still a little dreamy.

Madeline dreaded having to break the news to her. "He's not dead. He is very much alive."

"He can't be. I saw him die. Don't you dare tell me he has been alive all this time and not come to see me." Janet said angrily. She couldn't take in the fact that it could be true.

George listened to the exchange and finally decided to step in. "Janet, it is true. But for reasons that will be explained to you, he was not able to get in touch with you. I know how shocking this news must be, but believe me, it is true."

"You bastards!!" Janet yelled. "How could you keep him from me and lie to me all these years. How could you keep him from his own daughter??"

"Janet, calm down for a minute and we'll try to explain it." Madeline tried to soothe her.

"I will not calm down. How can you do this to me? Does he even know that Jenny is his daughter? Where is he?"

Just then she glanced up and noticed Walter standing in the doorway. She started to sway and feel lightheaded when she realized who it was. That what Madeline and George had told her was the truth. She ran up to him as if to hug him when she started to hit him with her fists.

"Whoaaaaa, take it easy Janet." Walter said as he grabbed her hands in his and stopped the barrage of flying fists.

"Take it easy?? Take it easy??" she yelled. "How can you tell me that after all these years. Why didn't you come and see me?"

Walter looked at her and he too started to remember what it had been like. But, there would be enough time for that later. "Come and sit down Sweetness and all will be explained."

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Part 9 by Sherry

Nikita, still extremely agitated over what she had found out about the mission and the fact that Operations was tailing her, marched into Section like she was going to war. She threw open Michael's office door, but he wasn't there. She turned and headed to Comm. "Birkoff, where's Michael?"

Birkoff was busy running a simm on another mission and didn't pay any attention to her. Nikita tried again. "Birkoff. I asked you where Michael is." Birkoff held up his hand. "Just a minute ... I'll be right with you." Nikita was fed up. She reached down and grabbed Birkoff by his shirtfront and pulled him straight up out of his chair.

"Do I have your attention now, Birkoff?" she asked sarcsatically. Birkoff, extremely nonplussed since Nikita didn't usually treat him that way, answered, "Uh, yeah. What did you need."

Michael had been walking down the hall and witnessed Nikita jerking Birkoff out of his chair. He could tell she was angry. He wondered what had happened since she left his office a short while ago. As he walked up, Nikita was saying "Birkoff, I asked you where Michael is?" Birkoff, straightening his glasses and his shirt, mumbled, I think he went to Level 4 to check on something.

Michael decided to put Birkoff out of his misery. "I'm right here, Nikita. What is it?" Nikita patted Birkoff on the shoulder and in a gesture that said "sorry" as she walked past him. She headed with Michael toward his office. "Michael you need to come with me." Michael was curious, but, as usual, gave nothing away. "Nikita, we are prepping the Blinding Justice mission. We can't leave."

Nikita knew this wouldn't be easy, but she had to do something. She didn't want to see Michael being used by Section again. Of course, Michael had done plenty of Valentine missions before, but she knew, even if he wouldn't admit it, they tore at his soul, especially the ones like Lisa Fanning, where he had to betray an innocent. And that was even before Elena and Adam. He was still too fragile to have to go through that again. And if he went through with this mission, that's exactly what he would be doing, betraying another innocent. Of course, she wasn't doing it solely for Michael, although he was her main concern. She did not want to see Walter's daughter hurt, either. If she was his daughter. If Jennifer called off her wedding because she fell for Michael, and then Michael "disappeared" from her life, she would lose two loves simultaneously. It just wasn't fair what Section did to people's lives. She would not let it happen this time if she could help it.

Nikita stopped and pulled on Michael's arm to stop him as well. "Michael, do you trust me?" Michael stared into her eyes and she thought he was going to ignore her question as he did so often. But after what seemed like an eternity, he answered "Yes, I trust you." Nikita nodded. "Good. Then please, come with me. We need to get out of here fast, before Operations gets back."

Michael was puzzled, but he knew Nikita and whatever was bothering her must be serious. "Okay. Just let me tell Birkoff we're leaving." But Nikita pulled on his arm again. "No Michael. We aren't telling anyone. Please, just trust me. We need to leave now!" Michael watched her face for a few more seconds and then nodded. He followed Nikita out of Section and they got in her car. She drove them to a secluded cabin in the woods that was not too far from town. She had found while hiking last summer. She went there when she needed to think or just wanted to be alone.

Once they arrived, she asked him, "Michael have you seen the mission profile?" They had just entered his office and Michael sat down at his desk. "Yes, why?"

Nikita rolled her eyes. "Michael, how can you ask that? After what you've been through with Adam and Elena, you shouldn't have to do a Valentine mission again. It's inhuman."

Michael's brow furrowed as he considered what she was saying. "What are you talking about, Nikita. It is not a Valentine mission. It's a straightforward get in, kill the fiance, his father and Clarkson and get out. Nothing more."

Now Nikita knew what was going on. They were keeping Michael in the dark until the last possible moment. "Michael, please, you have to believe me. That is not the real mission profile. Walter showed me the real profile, and Operations confirmed it. They want Jennifer Clarkson to fall in love with you so she will call off the wedding. It's a pure Valentine mission. Not only are they planning on using you, but they are planning on destroying Jennifer's whole life. And I won't let that happen to Walter's ...." She caught herself just in time, but Michael wasn't going to let it go.

"Walter's what?" Nikita didn't want to betray Walter's confidence. He wasn't sure she was his daughter, and he didn't want anyone else to know. But she knew she was going to have to tell Michael everything. She would trust him and if he betrayed them, well ... she'd deal with that later.

Michael could see that Nikita was torn about answering his question. He had his own suspicions, but he wanted her to say it. He knew she was trying to decide whether or not to trust him. It wasn't as if he had given her plenty of reasons not to in the past, but he thought they had been working through that, especially now that his blood cover mission with Elena was over.

Finally, Nikita turned to him and said "Jennifer Clarkson might be Walter's daughter. I don't know for sure, but Walter thought she could very well be his daughter. He asked me to protect her. I can't let him down, Michael. And I won't let Section use you again."

Michael, touched beyond words, tried to make Nikita see reason. "Kita, listen. There is nothing you can do. If the mission profile is set, I have to go through with it. Besides, how do you know what Walter showed you is the real profile. It could just as well be a phony one -- perhaps they are testing you again. And if it is the real profile, then there most likely isn't another viable way."

Nikita snorted, her anger rising yet again. "Michael, would you wake up! There is always another way. What about the profile they showed you? What's wrong with that? Don't tell me that wouldn't work. And don't tell me you can't change the profile. I've seen you do it before."

Michael was getting ready to try and explain again when Nikita's cellphone rang. She answered it. "Hello. Where are you? What should we do? Wait ... Walter!" She slammed the phone down on the table.

Michael watched her pace for a few minutes and then said "Kita, we need to get back." Nikita turned on him with a fierce look in her eyes.

"Michael we are not going back. Not yet. Not until I figure something out. So either you sit down and help me or I'll knock you out or shoot you and tie you to that chair. Your choice."

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Part 10 by Aries

Michael took one look at the seriousness on Nikita's face and sat back down in the chair. He didn't want to agitate her anymore than what she already was.

Nikita began to pace again deep in thought. She had no idea on how she was going to pull this whole thing off but she would find a way... Somehow.

Michael watched Nikita pacing back and forth in admiration. He knew what she was putting at risk by doing this for him and Walter. He admired her strength and courage. There weren't many in Section like her, she was one in a million. Then another thought crossed his mind, the love he'd felt for her since the day he'd first walked into the White Room to see her curled up on the bed was still there.

It had grown over the years. That told him all he needed to know to make the decision he had to make right now. No matter what, he was going to help her help him and Walter."Nikita." Michael said in a softer voice.

Nikita stopped in her tracks and turned to him surprised. "What Michael?" Nikita asked impatiently.

"Have you come up with any ideas yet?" Michael asked.

"Why? Going to run back and tell Operations what I'm doing?" Nikita asked mockingly. She knew from past experience that Michael had a tendency to do that to her even when she was trying to help him.

"No. I want to help you." Michael said honestly.

"You've said that before Michael. Why should I believe you now?" She asked sarcastically and began her pacing again.

"Because I agree with what you're doing. I don't think that Walter deserves to have his daughter's life torn apart just because it suits Operations purposes."

Michael told her making her stop in her tracks and look at him again surprised. Nikita looked into his eyes and saw that he was telling her the truth from his heart. There was something else in his eyes that she couldn't define though. She knew that it wasn't deceptiveness because she'd learned to read that a long time ago with him.

"You're serious?" Nikita asked not sure whether she wanted to accept his offer.

"Very. Why don't we start by you telling me about the profile that Walter showed you earlier?" Michael suggested watching her digest the change of events that took place before her very eyes.

"Well..." Nikita began.