Part 6

A few hours later, Sherry and Michael were sitting together on her sofa. Her back was against his chest and his arm was around her shoulder. Their hands were intertwined. Michael had done all he could about the mission for the time being. He was waiting for Birkoff to inform him when they had a location. As he sat there, his mind was in full gear, figuring out the best way to handle taking out Firestorm and getting the antidote. Suddenly, Sherry sat bolt upright almost jerking his arm out of its socket.

"What's wrong?" he asked, suddenly alarmed.

"Michael, where's our child?" she asked in a very panicked voice.

"What?" he asked, thrown for a moment by the question.

"Our child, Michael? Where is ... Oh no, I don't even know if we have a son or a daughter! What's wrong with me!" She jumped up and started pacing back and forth as the tears ran down her face. "What kind of a mother forgets her own child?"

Michael quickly went to her and grabbed her to stop her pacing. "Listen to me," he gently coaxed as he led her back to the sofa. He made her sit down and then he sat down facing her and holding her hands in his. "Why do you think we have a child?"

Sherry was startled by the question. "Why do I think we have a child? Are you saying that we don't?"

Michael nodded. "We don't have a child, Sherry." Sherry pulled away from him. "Then, then ... it's my child and not yours? You mean I have a child with someone else?" She groaned. She must be worse than she thought. She couldn't remember anything it seemed.

Michael shook his head. "No, sweetheart. You don't have a child."

Sherry was clearly confused. "But, but ... if I don't have a child, why do I remember being called 'mom?' Why would anyone call me that if I didn't have a child?"

Michael smiled. "They call you 'mom' because you are one of the leaders of CLHQ. You, North and Rita are referred to as the 'moms.'"

Sherry sighed. "Oh. I was so scared when I couldn't remember where our child was ... or even if it was a boy or a girl."

Michael nodded and then pulled her back against him again. "It's the drug. I'm sorry you're going through this. I wish I could help you."

Sherry snuggled closer to him. "You do, Michael. Just being with me is helping more than you know."

Northstar and Kathy were both released from Medical that evening as well. They returned to their quarters and the other girls kept a close eye on them. Operations wanted to visit Northstar, but Curlly and Rita advised against it. "She thinks you're stalking her. Please don't go in there and upset her. You heard what the doctor said about keeping them calm." Operations finally agreed, although he wasn't happy about any of this.

The next day Mick contacted Rita again. "I have a location for Michael on Firestorm." Michael was working at Sherry's desk when Rita called him. He listened carefully. "Fine," he answered and hung up. He watched Sherry moving around in the kitchen for a minute. He really should lead the team himself, but he couldn't. After the outburst about having a child last night, he had managed to keep her calm until he tucked her into bed and she thought he was leaving. She panicked at the thought of being left alone. He had crawled in bed with her and promised to hold her all night. She quickly fell asleep, for which he was thankful. However, she must have been experiencing those dreams again because she was restless all night.

Sighing, he contacted Birkoff, Davenport and Operations. "I have the location. I am downloading the mission profile to your panels now. Davenport, if you have any questions, contact me." It wasn't long before Birkoff informed him that Davenport's team was on the move.

"Keep me posted. Once they are on site, I'll come to Comm and run tactical from there." Sherry heard him and turned toward him with a wary expression. "I'm bringing Sherry with me," Michael told Birkoff, as he watched her expression ease.

North was in her office trying to think of a way to get out of dinner with Sherry and Michael. She loved her brother dearly, and Sherry too, but she couldn't spend an evening with Paul. He was just too much of a creep.

Rita dropped in to see her. "Do you need anything, North?" North smiled at her. "No, I'm fine. I'm just trying to figure out a nice way to let Sherry know I won't be coming to dinner this evening. I don't care if she is marrying my brother, I won't have dinner with that man."

Rita smiled. She still thought it was hilarious that North was acting like this about Operations and that she thought Michael was her brother. She still hadn't worked out where North had come up with that idea. She thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Would it help if there were someone else there? Another man? Someone to distract you from Operations?"

North thought about it a minute. She still wanted to decline the invitation, but Rita's suggestion might work. "Yeah, it probably would, but I can't tell them to invite someone else."

Rita laughed. "Oh, I'm sure your brother would love to accommodate you." North laughed, relieved to have that problem solved.

Rita quickly informed Michael of the problem. He asked her who he should invite. Rita wasn't sure, but she decided it didn't matter much, as long as it was anybody but Operations. Then she got a wicked idea.

"How about Walter? Sherry likes him. And you know what a big flirt he is. It should make Operations squirm to see Walter flirting with North all evening. I just wish I could be there to see it!" Michael smiled. Leave it to Rita to come up with a way to stick it to Operations at a simple "family" dinner. Michael thanked her for her suggestion and talked to Sherry about it. She thought it was a great idea to invite Walter. Of course, Michael didn't tell her the real reason behind the invitation. He simply told her that Walter had been very worried about her and the other girls and this would be a good way to ease his mind.

Birkoff contacted Michael when the team was on site. Michael and Sherry made their way to Comm. Michael was carefully leading Davenport's team through the profile. They had managed to infiltrate the building and were placing charges. Davenport was on point and looking for the antidote. Once it was secured, they would blow the building.

Kathy had decided she'd had enough of her room and needed some exercise. She figured a walk through Section might do the trick. It was a few minutes later that she walked into Systems and noticed what was going on.

"Well, isn't this cozy?" she remarked sarcastically. "You've got one lover watching out for the other. How sweet."

Operations saw what was happening and knew he had to keep Michael focused on the mission. "Get her out of there," Operations ordered. A couple of guards started for her. But Kathy was going to have her say.

"Just what is it about you anyway, Sherry? You've got Operations pretending to be your father, you've got Michael declaring his undying love for you and wanting to marry you, you've got Davenport trying to steal you away from Michael. Who's next? Or do you want them all?

"Kathy, that's enough!" Michael commanded. "Taylor, get her out of here," he ordered. The guards grabbed Kathy. Operations took charge again. "Get her to medical and keep her there."

Sherry looked up to Operations. What had Kathy meant about him pretending to be her father? She knew she couldn't ask now, the mission was critical, but she made a mental note to ask later.

Davenport reported that he had the antidote and the scientist who created it. Michael ordered everyone to evacuate the building and a few moments later, the place was blown sky high. Davenport reported everyone was okay and they were on their way in.

"Good work," Operations announced from his office. "Michael, as soon as the antidote gets here, I want them all treated immediately."

"Of course," Michael replied. He removed his comm unit and then led Sherry back to her quarters where they began preparations for the dinner they were hosting.