Nikita

The October sun warmed her bare shoulders as she walked along the New York sidewalk carrying the groceries for her and Michael's dinner. She had decided to surprise him when he got back from his basic surveillance mission in Boston by cooking his favourite meal. She glanced at her wrist. 5pm. That gave her plenty of time to cook his favourite stir fry; his flight was due at six, and then at least another hour from the airport.

As she jogged up the stairs to their airy loft apartment she thought back to this day last year. She'd just got back from Hong Kong and debriefed with Ryan. Her and Michael hadn't really had time to talk, but they had a date that night…

A whole year engaged to her amazing fiancé. A crazy year. And next week the whole team were booked onto a private jet to Goa, for their wedding. Her stomach turned over a little at the thought and her slight smile widened.

She placed the key in the door heard the slight click as she turned it. Kicking off her sandals and placing the bags on the counter, she unloaded Michael's favourite beer and the food into the refrigerator before padding into the bathroom to take a shower.

Ten minutes later, wrapped in a loose, silky robe, she walked into the kitchen as she dried her hair with a towel. Grabbing a beer from the fridge she walked over to her phone to check the time. 6.15. She punched in Michael's number and hit dial. His flight should have landed by now.

*RING* *RING*

Michael: Michael here.

Nikita: Hey babe

Michael: Hey!

Nikita: How was your trip?

Michael: Good. The mission went well but the flight was a little bumpy.

Nikita: So does that mean you don't want any dinner? I'm making chop suey…

Michael: (Laughing) I don't think I could say no to that even if the plane crashed!

Nikita: Good. So I'll see you in an hour?

Michael: Great. Do you want me to grab something to drink on the way home?

Nikita: Already done. In fact I'm enjoying an ice cold beer right now.

Michael: I KNEW there was a reason I'm marrying you!

Nikita: Just one?

Michael: OK. Maybe two. At a push.

Nikita: Uh huh. Right back at you buddy!

Michael: Just kidding. I don't think there's a reason NOT to marry you.

Nikita: That's more like it! I'll see you soon…soon to be husband. Love you.

Michael: Love you more soon to be wife. See you soon!

She smiled as she hit the end call button on the phone and turned on the stove, busying herself making the dinner.

Michael

'Love you more soon to be wife. See you soon!', he said, and then ended the call. Smiling at his phone he picked up his briefcase from the sidewalk at his feet and hopped into a waiting cab. He pulled out his tablet and started to write the mission report to kill time. Traffic was pretty bad so the cab ride took an over an hour, instead of the usual fifty or so minutes. But the case report was almost done by the time he got home, and he figured it meant more uninterrupted time with Nikita so he wasn't too bothered. He paid the taxi driver and grabbed his stuff. As he jogged lightly up the stairs of their building he could smell the amazing aroma of his favourite meal.

He turned the key in the door. 'Hey babe I'm home! Dinner smells great.' He said as he walked into the living room and dropped his bag on the sofa. 'Nikita?' he asked as he shrugged off his suit jacket. Still no reply. He walked around the apartment looking for her. Nothing. She must have gone out to grab something. Her phone was sitting on the counter. He felt the pan. Cold. The open beer. Warm. He turned around telling himself not to worry. But something caught his eye. One of the floor to ceiling windows glinted in a way it really shouldn't at this time of day. He rushed over. There was a small, round, hole in the middle. Right in line with where someone would stand if they were cooking. The hole was about 9mm wide.

No. He thought. No. His hands grabbed his hair. 'NO!' he snarled. And then there was nothing. Nothing but rage.