Hope you will enjoy. English isn't my mother tongue so feedback will be highly appreciated. And I apologize beforehand for any vocabulary/grammar mistakes I make.
Summary:
Nikita, Alex, Michael and Birkoff find an old friend guarding one of the black boxes. And when old emotions resurface, things get even more complicated than they already are. Birkoff/OC, Michael/Nikita, Alex/Sean. (Lemons in later chapters)
Chapter 1
Gazing at his computer screen the dark blue-eyed computer genius stretched his arms above his head and gasped doing so. He was a little more sore than he thought.
Rubbing his hand over his muscles he tried to relieve some of the stress out of them.
Maybe he should lay off the energy drinks for a while and get some exercise.
Taking off his glasses he rubbed the bridge of his nose, moaning softly.
He was tired of working nonstop for the past few days. He hadn't been out of the house for all these days. Making him suddenly feel stupid for buying this luxury beach house.
While Nikita and Michael were chilling around the house, reclaiming their strength for the upcoming Division, Gogol or whatever other secret killing organization threat, he was doing all the behind the scenes work.
Making sure Shadow-bot was up and running smoothly, always checking if they weren't spotted, securely locking off any signal and jamming the hell out of this place. And even stupid things like having an emergency regenerator backing him up if the power would be turned off.
Seymour Birkhoff always made sure everyone was safe and out of sight. Though he had a feeling he was more impressed with himself then the rest of the rescue team. He felt like he didn't get the respect from the others like he deserved.
He crossed his arms and frowned.
Yes even the nerd with enough lack of sleep could get a little grouchy.
Now you must be thinking. Why is my favorite hacker a bit of a bitch today?
Well because Nikita had set him up on finding Owen. What the hell she wanted from that schmuck was beyond him.
Well okay he did know, black boxes and important stuff, but frankly he didn't like the guy. Last time he let him into his old house the douche bag was eating potato chips that weren't rightfully his. And then he started to intimidate him by stating that he was kind of small and that he would dissolve quickly.
See, no fun memories.
And now he was trying to track that buffoon down, using all of his hacking skills but still no luck yet. It irritated the cocky Shadow walker to insanity. He was working non-stop for the last three days, because he claimed that he, with his intelligence would find that stupid cleaner within no time.
Now he had to live up to that statement.
But first he needed a break. Spinning his office chair around ready to lift himself out of it he heard the front door being opened.
Breathing heavily Nikita barged in back from her daily run.
Checking her time on the watch she was wearing, she opened up the refrigerator door and took a cold bottle of water out of it. Taking a big gulp she was just in time to see Birkhoff attempting to leave his black office chair.
She chuckled at the sight.
He looked like he was 95 years old doing so. After a few groans of pain and a goddamnit he finally succeeded his mission. Putting her water bottle down she started stretching her muscles still eying Birkhoff with humor.
"Do you need any help over there?" she teased him, stretching her other leg.
He had changed his mind about that working out part, another Redbull would make him feel so much better right now.
"Zip it wonder woman. I'm just a little sore from being stuck in this chair all day." He walked over to her while pretending he was just feeling dandy and grabbed a Red bull from the kitchen sink. It was the last one out of the box.
He opened the can and took a big gulp while Nikita scrunched her nose "That stuff smells like you just blew up a candy store," she walked over to the refrigerator to put her bottle back when she noticed the empty Redbull box.
Her eyes widened "You finished that whole box already!?" disbelief was written all over her face now as Birkoff was trying to look innocent
"I got that twenty-five pack for you two days ago!" she frowned "that's it I'm cutting you off on that stuff!" she huffed planting her hands on her hips, looking sharply at the nervous looking geek.
He almost choked on that second sip "What?! You can't do that!" he stared at her in shock and he panicked "Michael drinks that stuff too you know!" he lied looking at the ground and back up to her.
Nikita folded her arms and gave him the look, a look that said it all and no words were needed anymore. Game over.
"Okay so whatever I'm addicted to energy drinks!" he snapped emphasizing the word energy drinks by holding up his Redbull in front of her nose "You win! Now go upstairs to your little boy wonder and leave me and my addiction alone." He scowled and turned his back to her.
Nikita's face softened and walked over to him. He must be really tired from working so hard the last couple of days. Normally he could take her teasing anytime.
Sometimes that computer geek was too cute for his own good. She could never be mad at him, he was like a stubborn puppy.
Lifting his sulking head up with her slender finger, he looked up at her with an expression of a little kid who just got caught with his hand in the forbidden cookie jar.
You see, too cute to stay mad at.
She smiled at him and patted his belly "I'm only trying to help you Seymour." She said in a way that sounded way to sweet in his ears.
He looked at his stomach and then back at Nikita who was already walking up the stairs, a coy smile plastered on her pretty face. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" he asked frowning at her disappearing form.
This woman was playing one of her psychological war games with him, and he didn't like it at all.
Let Michael deal with that stuff not me!
"You're becoming the next Amanda you know!" He shouted in a childish way after she was gone.
Angrily he took another swing of his Redbull still frowning deeply "I can eat and drink whatever the hell I want." he mumbled to nobody while he opened one of the cabinets, taking out a package of Twizzlers.
He opened the package with much more force than was needed and started chewing on the poor strawberry Twizzler like it had to die, now.
Chewing more forcefully he cursed Nikita in his head. He already was irritated and moody from the lack of sleep, and now that woman had to enter his living space telling him in a sneaky way that he was getting fat.
And so denying him the only thing that kept him going, his beloved energy beverage.
Right, go ahead and pick on the nerd!
Sulking he snatched another scared looking Twizzler and stomped over to his computer again, he'd show her that he wasn't out of shape. This nerd would find his target and then he would brag about it until they wished they were back at Division being tortured by Amanda.
Reclaiming his glasses he shoved them back to their original place and started typing away furiously.
The remaining Twizzler on his desk wishing Amanda was here instead of the furious typing tech-nerd.
Nikita entered her designer furnished bedroom and started taking off her sporting cloths, readying herself for a well deserved hot shower.
About to take off her sports bra she stopped and smiled when she heard a frustrated yell coming from the kitchen "You're becoming the next Amanda you know!"
She could already see the look on his face now. Chuckling she undid her ponytail and shook her hair loose, she missed making fun of her nerd.
She was glad that he was back working with her, this time on the right side.
Birkhoff was like the witty brother she never had. Someone to have an exciting verbal spar with, but who you love neither the less. Even though Division sucked the life out of anything, even cement walls surrounding her, there was always one person inside Division that she could count on for a quick laugh or a witty comeback. He made the hell hole a little more tolerable hell hole.
"What did you say to him now…?" a deep monotone voice asked.
Her head turned around to see her favorite ex-Division boss in the doorway. She gave him another one of her coy smiles while his eyes roamed over her almost naked body.
"Oh nothing he won't survive," she took off her bra "care to join me for a shower?"
Not waiting for an answer she strolled into the bathroom tracing Michael behind her who already had lost half of his clothing in those few seconds she entered the bathroom. That was a question the Asian beauty didn't have to ask him twice.
Cleaning his gun Michael looked at it lovingly, rubbing the cloth over his old trustworthy companion.
Smiling he reloaded the Beretta 92A1, treasuring every sound it made.
Putting it back into its holder he almost dropped it to the floor when he suddenly heard a loud "OH HELLS YEAH" coming from the kitchen. Frowning he turned his head to the open kitchen and saw Birkhoff walking over to him, smirking cockily.
"Tell me who is the best!" his hacker friend shouted "Say it, say Shadow walker did it again!" he pressed on while bouncing up and down a bit.
Michael only raised one eyebrow, still looking at the boisterous computer technician unimpressed.
"What Mikey, are you so dumbfounded by my superior intelligence that you can't speak no more? "
About to open his mouth to retort, Birkhoff cut him off again
"I can understand that, because even if steroid-man did manage to avoid all the camera's, credit-card use, phone calls and other tracking possibilities." He bragged pointing his finger to his own chest "This genius right here, the one and only Shadow walker, did manage to find him."
He pursed his lips looking smugly at Michael.
Blinking his eyes in a bored matter Michael pushed his hands into his pockets and had a blank look on his face. He knew Birkhoff long enough for what was about to happen next.
Tell me how… He thought to himself
"You're probably wondering, how did the super genius Shadow walker find that prick?" Birkhoff said tilting a finger to his lips tapping them softly.
"Well I traced him with Shadow-bot, using old news articles from his past." He was pacing around the living room now, head up and proud "and compared the old ones with the new ones, and voila! Steroid head really does only have steroids in his head because he leaves a pattern and Shadow-bot figured his routine out."
Grinning he readjusted his golden rings around his fingers, trying to make it look like it was a easy task.
Michael shook his head but a small smile appeared on his face.
"I'll go get Nikita then." he said grabbing his Beretta from the coffee table and tucking it in the back of his navy pants.
"Just say it!" Birkhoff pressed smirking at the back his good friend.
Michael jogged up the stairs "No." he replied looking back at him.
The cocky brunette pursed his lips and closed his eyes while whispering "Shadow walker did it again."
It was a dark evening. And nobody saw the small figure of Nikita sneaking through the dark bushes in the garden of the house where Owen should be hiding.
She clicked her earpiece on when she spotted Owen, who was casually watching television in the living room "Michael, I think the coast is clear… he's inside watching television."
There was a short silence on the other side of the line "That sounds a little too laid back to me." Michael stated not trusting the peaceful situation at all.
She had to agree with him "I know," she licked her dry lips and held her gun next to her head, still spying on Owen "what is the plan?" she whispered.
Another silence "Actually I have no idea." He responded.
She rolled her eyes and stood up from behind the bushes and walked over to the front door. Ringing the doorbell. "Wait Nikita!"
Michael rushed to her side and was just in time when Owen opened the front door.
He gave them a big smile "Hey guys I wasn't expecting you when I looked through the peep hole!" he absentmindedly scratched the back of his head "Come on in."
Nikita entered with suspicion eying everything closely "Don't worry Nikita I have been very careful with everything, we are safe here." Owen reassured her.
Still not used to this laid back situation the Asian beauty nodded and sat down in one of the big chairs of the living room "I'm glad to see you're okay Owen" Nikita said as Michael sat next to Owen on the couch.
He nodded a thanks "I'm glad to see you two are okay too."
Still he had to ask "How did you find me though? I was extremely careful and I cleaned all the victims thoroughly, leaving no evidence behind."
Michael pursed his lips "Birkhoff found a pattern in your… cleaning ritual. Scanning the local news he traced you to here." Owen inhaled a deep breath and nodded.
"I knew it was that small fry." He chuckled.
"All we had to do was ask around about you and here we are." Nikita finished and finally calmed down a bit. Since she already was a few minutes inside and there were no Division vehicles ramming into the living room.
The big blond guy rubbed his hands together "I know that this looks really laidback but it is the best thing for my cover. I'm ah, blending into the neighborhood." He said.
"You found another guardian?" Michael asked.
Owen nodded again and narrowed his eyebrows a bit "Yeah, she lives nearby, I'm trying to figure out her pattern so I can figure out where she hid that black box of hers."
Standing up from the couch Owen walked over to his bag and retrieved his laptop, he sat down again and patted the space next to him while making eye contact with Nikita.
Nikita complied to the silent gesture and sat down next to Owen as he opened up his laptop and started opening some folders "I already know her name and I also got a picture of her," clicking his mouse a few more times a new file opened scrolling down he clicked on a very small picture Nikita couldn't identify.
Waiting a small second the file opened up bringing up a close up on the girls face. The second Nikita looked at the picture her hands flew in front of her mouth and she whimpered a "No…"
Michaels heart starting beating faster and he looked passed Owen, who was getting confused as well, at Nikita "No that can't be," he stated "That's- "
"Stella," Nikita cut him off "They used Stella for this dirty job."
Her hands balled into fists "Percy, you low filthy dog…"
3 years ago…
Percy readjusted his tie and turned around to look at Amanda. Who was standing there looking gracefully and neat with a stoic expression as always.
"Are you sure this girl is worth all the trouble we went through." Percy sighed sitting down behind his desk. Amanda imitated him by taking a seat across of his desk.
She gently folded one leg over the other and blinked slowly "I have never seen such a clever and young thief as her."
Percy raised an eyebrow at the composed woman in front of him.
"She can climb any building, infiltrate any hide-out with stealth." She continued "If this girl wasn't homeless and had parents with even a little bit of insight she would be the world champignon in gymnastics by now."
Resting his head on his chin the head of Division had to agree with the psychologist "You are right about that, she would be an extreme useful asset to Division." Lifting his head up from his hand he leaned back into his big imposing chair.
On his screen he looked at the picture of young woman called Stella. The description told him that she was extremely flexible and quick. She could sneak into anywhere unnoticed, through the most difficult and inhuman routs. Making her perfect for any sneaking mission, this girl could escape anywhere and disappear into thin air.
"But isn't she too far gone Amanda?" he asked leaning forward looking closely into Amanda's eyes.
Amanda pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows a bit "I know she is suicidal, but we rescued her in time. The only thing is Percy she won't listen to a woman." Her eyes following even the most tiniest moves in Percy's face. "So I was hoping you could take her under your wing, for only this one time."
He narrowed his eyes "Absolutely not Amanda, that is your job. I'm not going to babysit this homeless girl." He commanded in a calm way. "Just cancel her already." He waved his hand in a way of throwing something away.
Amanda folded her hands together, her eyes still monitoring his every move "Hear me out Percy, if you choose to train this girl. I can assure you, she will be the most loyal agent you will ever have."
His face stayed the same but he said nothing, giving Amanda the chance to persuade him further "I know she has some traumatic issues but if a fatherly figure would step in, you can make her do anything for you."
He narrowed his eyes and gentle tapped his fingers on his vintage desk "Will it take up a lot of my time?"
Amanda gave him a small smile "No Percy I don't think so, according to my calculations a few months will be enough." She raised one of her perfectly shaped eyebrows "Just train the girl, talk a little and I will do the rest."
Not entirely sure he should trust the stoic woman and her plans, he reluctantly agreed. "Fine. We start this thing tomorrow morning."
Maybe the girl would come in handy some day.
Amanda smiled a coy smile and rose from her seat "I promise you won't regret this Percy."
Thanks for reading and please tell me what you think. Feedback is highly appreciated.
