Part 23 by Marie
..... Her Jennifer was no longer just her own. She was now sharing her lovely angel with someone else, her father. Janet smiled with in her mind as she watched father and daughter survey each other. "Daddy." Jenny finally gasped in a anguish sob and her arms wrapped around the man her mother had loved so long ago.
Walter petted his daughter's hair that she had clearly inherited from her mother and treasured the joy of holding his offspring as he had not be able to do. He at that moment wished he had been there all thos years and two solitary tears ran down his weather cheeks as he held his daughter safely in his arms for the first time.
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.... "To make a long story short, the last time George took control of a mission was before Simone died. Operations went into a fit of rage and had her killed." Michael told her the hurt evident in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry Michael." Nikita said looking into the eyes that for once betrayed emotion.
"It was a long time ago." Michael said quickly regaining composure and taking Nikita's hand.
"We have to get back." Michael told her.
"Can't we stay out here a little longer." Nikita asked her eyes pleaded with him beneath the starry gaze of the sky.
"Nikita if we stay out her a lot more will happen they just talking." Michael breathed his face coming close to hers. "I don't mind." Nikita told him.
Michael sighed and brushed a kiss across her cheek. "But I do." He told her and dropped her hand and walked away. It wasn't that he didn't want to stay with her it was something else that was bothering him, something that George had also added across the phone. "Protect my daughter Michael. Protect Nikita."
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Birkoff looked at the com unit. "Yes sir, right away sir." He grumpled and thought ya right, I'm outta here. Pushing his chair back and got up.
"Where are you going Mr. Birkoff." Operations roared.
"I'm going into to my room sir, it's secured enought where private need to know information won't leak." Birkoff told him with the praticed good little puppy, I'll do what I'm told voice.
"Very well." Operations said a cruel smile pulling at his lips.
*Sucker* Birkoff thought and speed away. There was more then one way to get out of Section for a little while and he knew all the tricks. Operations should have learned long ago that Madeline's son had inherited something from his mother, but apparently the old bastard was to blind to notice. First on his agenda get a hold of Vincent and Jonathan Sandstrom.
As he exiting Section from one of it's many hidden tunnels that Operations knew nothing about he picked up his cell phone and dialed a number.
"Sandstrom." The voice on the other line said.
"Jonathan old buddy it's Birky. We need to talk and my dear Uncle George." Birkoff replied and smiled.
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George eyes meet the door as he heard it open. "Well hello Seymour my boy." George said and smiled.
"Sit Uncle George we need to talk. Hello Mother." Birkoff said crisply. "Don't looked so shocked Mother, I know a lot more then you think." Birkoff said entering the room with one other figure following him.
"Jon my boy, good to see you." George said.
"This is business." Jonathan Sandstrom snapped and followed Birkoff.
"We have a lot to talk about. Espically concerning a certain family additions and a certain cousin." Birkoff told him.
"What happed to the shy Birkoff I once knew?" George asked amused.
"What can I say I'm my mother's son which means I come with a variety of different faces. Now sit it's time for a discussion about how to deal with a certain Mr. Paul Wolfe." Birkoff said in a tone that Madeline had never heard him.
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Part 24 by Aly
Michael and Nikita rejoined Walter and they both hated to interrupt the tearful reunion of father and child. The tears were shining in the eyes of all three when they re-entered the room.
Michael made a coughing sound to alert the trio to their presence, and Walter hastily swiped his face and greeted Michael and Nikita with a smile. "Back so soon?"
Nikita looked at Michael and waited. He finally replied, "Yes. We need to ... grab a bite. Care to join us?"
Walter understood immediately what Michael was getting at and he hugged Jennifer and placed a kiss on Janet's cheek before joining Michael and Nikita.
They were in no mood for small talk on the way to Section, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. So much had happened in so little time that they were somewhat overwhelmed, at least, Nikita and Walter were.Michael was only focused on one thought and one thought only...
George's words, "Protect Nikita Michael. Protect my daughter." The words rang through his head over and over like a mantra... "... my daughter... my daughter... my daughter..."
If Nikita was his daughter, why had he let her be recruited into the Section? If it were true, is that why Operations wanted her cancelled? What about Madeline? Did she know? Was she protecting Nikita even now... some way... some how?
The questions tumbled over and over in his mind as he tried to make sense out of this new information.
Once back at Section, the three of them found the place eerily abandoned.
Nikita felt a chill go up her spine as she noticed Birkoff missing from Comm, yet the computers were up and running.
"This can't be good." She voiced what they were all feeling.
Michael quickly took in the situation and strode over to the Comm center. Punching up a screen he quickly scanned the report and looked up to Operations perch.The window was darkened.
Where was Operations? Where was Birkoff? Where was everyone?
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Part 25 by Northstar
Operations was getting more frustrated by the minute as he paced back and forth. He wasn't getting any answers from anyone that seemed even remotely like the truth. He needed to get to the bottom of this. Where the hell was everyone.
Walking over to his com unit he pressed on the console. "Birkoff, I need to see you now." He waited but recieved no response to his summons. "BIRKOFF" he yelled now. Still no answer. "Damn it." he screamed. Here he was, supposedly running this mission, George taking it over and now he was left out of the loop. One way or another he would find out what was going down. And people would pay. Oh yes, they would pay dearly.
Leaving his office he made his way down the hallways of Section, hoping to run into Birkoff. He didn't seem to realize that not too many operatives were to be seen in his travels.
***
Nikita looked around at the emptiness around them. "Michael do you have any idea what is going on?" she asked. She looked to Walter and he seemed just as>perplexed as she was.
Michael looked to the two of them. "I don't know much more than you. Operations is to be told nothing of the mission from here on in and we are to report directly to George."
"That still doesn't tell us a whole lot Michael." Walter said as he watched him closely. "What else are you keeping from us?"
"Nothing." was Michaels curt reply.
Walter looked suspiciously at Michael. "Why is it I don't believe you."
"That is not my problem. Let's go get our weapons and get out. We need to get on with this quickly."
Just then Operations came around the corner and saw the three of them huddled together. "Finally. You're back. What's the status?" he asked of Michael.
"Nothing new to report sir. We were told to come and pick up the equipment." Michael answered brusquely.
"How can there be nothing new to report. You have been gone half the day and nothing has happened? I find that hard to believe. I want an answer and I want it now Michael."
"I can't give you an answer sir. At least not one you want to hear. George's orders."
"Not good enough Michael. You still 'work' for me and until I am taken out of here bodily, I still run Section One."
Nikita and Walter just stood by and watched the interplay between the two of them. Walter finally interupted the exchange. "Michael, we need to get our stuff and go. We are on a deadline."
Operations glared at him and finally gave up. He would find out from his own sources what was happening. "Fine. But remember this: I don't forget." With that he backed up and headed once more for his office.