A/N: I wanna thank you guys for the reviews and follows! I noticed someone pointed out about changing the rating to T...as you continue reading the chapters, you'll see why this has a M rating. Hope you guys like this next chapter :)

Chapter 2

"I was wondering if you could tell me what you know about Ryan Fletcher or a Ryan West."

Again, that name that had been on her mind all day. It had given her nightmares.

Nikita's face went white as a sheet.

Michael knew right then and there that his instincts about this girl had been right. She had a part in what happened to his brother or at the very least she knew something.

"Ryan, was it? Fletcher…West?" Nikita asked nervously. "Hey, I'm just a bartender. I don't know who you're talking about." She quickly looked down to avoid meeting his eyes and that right there told Michael everything.

"Sorry, my mistake." Michael backed off. He knew when to quit. "So, what's your name?"

"That's really none of your business." Nikita told him, her tone like ice. "Now, if this drink is all you'll be having, I really do have other customers to attend to."

None of the friendliness that he'd seen just seconds before was there anymore.

Michael could have kicked himself. He'd completely screwed this up. He'd come on way too fast and too strong, he probably scared her.

Nikita was making her way to leave, and Michael quickly but gently grabbed her hand. "Hey, I'm sorry." Michael apologized.

Nikita's eyes softened but she pulled her hand away. Michael couldn't quit explain the loss he felt at her pulling away.

"Let's start over. I'm Michael We...Web." He recovered.

Stupid move, he scolded himself. He couldn't let her know he was in any relation to Ryan. "And I'm with the FBI."

"You're a federal agent?" Nikita questioned with a quiver.

Oh, God. It was happening. The FBI was involved with Ryan's murder. That was huge. She may be able to avoid his questions now, but he'd eventually put two and two together. What was she gonna do? Tell him the truth now, or wait for him to expose her?

"You got it." Michael said with a smile. "Agent Michael Web at your service."

Nikita got even more nervous than before. She felt a panic attack coming on.

"Um, excuse me a moment." She pulled a bottle of pills out of her purse.

"Are you sick?" Michael asked her truly concerned. That was a huge bottle of pills and he glimpsed a look into her bag and saw there were more bottles from where that one came from.

"No, I'm an addict and I take pills for the fun of it in front of complete strangers." Nikita said sarcastically.

Michael glared at her. Great, another wise ass. "Look, I'd appreciate it if you'd cut the attitude, Nikita. I'm just trying to do my job." He stated annoyed. "It's nothing personal."

The last thing Michael needed was some smart-ass. He just wanted to get to the truth and put his brother to rest. Then, try to get on with his life.

Nikita looked at him in alarm.

"How'd you know my name?" She demanded.

"It's on your name tag, sweetheart." Michael told her in annoyance. People were way too damn paranoid these days.

Nikita smiled sheepishly. She was already getting way to paranoid. It was just something about this guy. He made her feel almost the way Ryan used to...before he became violent.

She took the pills, then turned her attention back to him.

"So, you're a Federal Agent." Nikita said again.

"Yeah, I am." Michael nodded.

At least he hadn't completely lied. He really was an FBI Agent.

"I'm here investigating the murder of Ryan West. Or in your case, Ryan Fletcher."

"Hey, like I said, I'm just a bartender. I don't know who you're talking about." Nikita said, hoping she sounded convincing. She was avoiding his eyes at all cost.

"Nikita, you really shouldn't lie to me. See, it hurts my feelings and it insults my intelligence." Michael stated.

To hell with befriending her, she was already stone-walling him. He just wanted some answers and if he had to interrogate her into next week, he was damn well gonna get them.

"I'm not lying!" Nikita shouted.

Her face was inches from Michael's. Michael had to resist the urge to just grab her and kiss her. He shook his head mentally. He had to focus on the job at hand. He'd figure out what he felt for her personally later on.

"It was a simple assessment, Nikita." Michael said calmly. "What are you getting all excited for?"

"What the hell are you trying to say, Agent Web?" Nikita threw back. "Are you accusing me of something?"

"Look, I talked to a guy named Sean. He told me some stuff. So, I know for a fact you used to date my br-victim." Michael recovered.

"Your victim?" Nikita gave Michael a strange look. "Geez, I didn't know you agents had such a close, personal relationship with the dead." She said sarcastically.

Michael sighed. This was not working. He was sabotaging himself. At the rate he was going, this girl wouldn't share with him what her daily meals were, let alone what her part in his brother's murder was.

"I don't have a personal relationship with the dead, okay?." Michael sighed. "Look, lets just stop dancing around here, okay? I talked to your friend, Sean. I know that you had a relationship with Ryan Fletcher. Now, I wanna know the rest. No more games, just talk to me."

Nikita knew their was no point in denying she knew who Ryan was any longer. This agent had obviously done his homework.

"Look," Nikita sighed. "I'm sorry I lied, okay? Yes, I knew Ryan. He used to be a big part of my life, but that ended a long time ago. In fact, it ended the minute I found out who he really was. I haven't seen him in a long, long time, Agent Web. So, you'll just have to get your information else where. I have nothing else I can say to you."

Michael could tell that she was being honest to a technical extent. But that couldn't be everything. If Ryan was the monster that Sean made him out to be, there had to be more.

"What?!" Nikita shouted, annoyed.

"I'm sorry." Michael chuckled. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"No." Nikita replied tersely. "You're just pissing me off."

"Yeah, well right back at you." Michael sneered.

"What the hell do you want from me, Agent Web?! I told you I had a relationship with Ryan. It's true. We dated for awhile, but it didn't work out. What are you gonna do? Arrest every girl who dated him? Cause if so, you'll be locking up alot of girls!" Nikita exploded. "And I'm not even counting the ones he just decided to fuck."

Michael sat back in his bar stool, a small laugh fighting it's way through his mouth. This girl had fire, he admired that.

"Woah, hey, just calm down, sweetheart. I'm not here to arrest you. I'm here to arrest whoever killed Ryan. I came here in hopes that you might be able to help me." Michael replied.

At first he thought that this woman killed his brother, but now he wasn't so sure. She seemed terrified. He was now beginning to think that she knew who did, but was scared to tell.

"I don't know who killed Ryan alright?" Nikita grounded out. "Now, I would really appreciate it if you would leave!"

Michael realized he wasn't gonna get anything else out of her, so he relented.

"Alright, I'll go." Michael stood up, leaving a twenty on the counter. "I'm sorry I upset you." He offered.

Nikita just scoffed at him. Was this guy for real? "You're sorry you upset me?!"

"Yes." Michael replied calmly, genuinely. "I really am, Nikita. It wasn't my intention."

"What the hell did you expect from me?" Nikita asked him. "You want the 411, Agent Web?! Here, goes! Ryan Fletcher…West what the fuck ever his real name was, was the worst thing that ever happened to me. And that is not an understatement! The things he did to me..." She broke off, not able to continue. "Well, I hope to God no one ever has to go through that."

Michael looked down ashamed. Why was he acting like his brother was the innocent one? For all he knew his brother could've gotten exactly what he deserved, but he didn't know enough to come to that conclusion yet. What he did know, what he felt was that this was no act Nikita James was putting on. He knew abused people when he saw them. You can never fake that kind of look, and even with all the fire she had in her, he could still see it. He saw in her, what he saw in himself when he was just a child.

Nikita continued on. "You say you talked to Sean. I'm sure he offered up a few words of what a monster that man was. I don't like talking about him. I don't like thinking about him. You've managed to make me do both. All in a matter of fifteen minutes."

Michael looked down once again, feeling bad.

"I'm sorry." He offered sincerely. "I really was just doing my job. I'll see you around, Nikita." Michael gave her a small sad smile and left.

Nikita stared after him, wiping the bar down.

She didn't know how much longer she could live with this burden.

***

*New York*
Nikita and Alex's Penthouse

"Hey!" Alex greeted from her spot on the couch as her friend entered their house.

"Hey," Nikita responded dejectedly. She put her things down and slumped into the chair to the right of the couch.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked concerned. "Did something happen?"

"Just that my life is going up in flames and I don't have a clue how to make it stop." Nikita replied, tears stinging her eyes.

Alex frowned. She got up from the couch and kneeled in front of Nikita. "Hey," She said softly. She gently touched her knee. "What is it?"

Nikita blinked back tears. "Alex," Her voice broke. "I met a detective today. He came in asking me all these questions about Ryan…I don't know how but…he knows!" She covered her face as sobs wracked her small form.

Alex reached up and gently took her hand away from her face and held it in hers. "What do you mean, he knows? That's impossible, remember? It…its impossible! He's probably just trying to scare you into confessing so that he can put a stupid case about some stupid bastard that no one even gives a damn about anymore to rest."

"But it's the truth, Alex! I killed him!" Nikita sobbed. "I may not have hid the body and made this lousy mess," Alex looked down in guilt. "but I am the reason that he is no longer breathing. I did that!"

Alex sighed. "Listen, its gonna be ok alright? There isn't any proof and as long as you…" She took a breath and chose her words carefully. Her best friend was on edge lately and the last thing she wanted to do was insult her unknowingly. "As long as you don't say anything than this is gonna go away."

"Alex," Nikita sighed. Alex was her best friend and she loved her dearly but she needed her to wake up and join her in the real world. There was no way this was going to go away. "I think you and both know that's not gonna happen."

"No, it will!" Alex insisted. "I mean, come on! There are like a trillion people who wanted Ryan dead, right?"

"But I'm the only one who made him dead, Alex." Nikita replied, wiping her face.

Alex sat back, not knowing how to respond to that. It was the truth. Nikita had killed him but in her book all the reasons were justifiable. But her best friend was just so sweet and good that she would never see it that way.

"It'll be ok," Alex repeated softly.

Nikita just shook her head. She didn't know what she believed anymore.

***

Michael had finished doing his rounds of the city and decided to come back to 'Nichol'.

The truth was, he felt really bad about how things had gone down with Nikita. He wanted to apologize to her and he also wanted to tell her the truth.

All this lying and manipulation…it wasn't who he was. He couldn't let himself become his brother, not any part of him even if it was to solve a case.

He walked into the club and was disappointed to see that the girl behind the bar was not Nikita, it was someone else.

He sighed about to walk out when he happened to notice a familiar face.

"Hey," Michael greeted.

Sean turned around and smiled. "Oh, hey Michael! Have a seat."

Michael took a seat at the table with his friend.

"So, you come in here looking for Nikita?" Sean assumed.

"Yes," Michael admitted. "but I actually talked to her earlier."

"Oh?" Sean was surprised. "You forget to ask her something?"

"No," Michael sighed. "I um…I know you told me to go easy on her Sean but…"

Sean frowned. "But you didn't. Michael, she has had a really hard time of it. I understand that there's Cop Michael and…well Michael, but, c'mon man. Can't you try to be both every once and awhile? I warned you to go easy on her."

"Sean, I know you won't understand this but as a cop it is my job to interrogate anyone who could have information pertaining to a case that I am investigating." Michael explained with a sigh. "And this whole interrogation…it doesn't come with a box of chocolates, alright? Its real, it can be harsh and can even hurt."

"I get that, Michael." Sean rubbed a hand over his face. "I really do, but I need you to understand that Nikita is my friend, ok? I've been with her best friend, Alex for the past three years. Nikita is like a sister to me. She's been through hell and friend or not, cop or not, I'm not gonna let you hurt her. Its not gonna happen, Michael."

Michael sat back stunned and felt an unfamiliar wave of jealousy pass through him. "I didn't realize this girl meant so much to you."

Sean scoffed. "You can take off the detective binocular shit right now, Michael. There's nothing for you to find. I love Alex, and Nikita happens to come with her and yes I have grown to care about her. She's the surrogate sister I've never had. But that's where it ends."

Michael nodded, he could tell that his friend was telling the truth. About his relationship with both girls that is. He was still undecided on where to place Nikita with his brother's murder.

"Sean, I'm not here to hurt your friend alright?" Michael assured him. "I…" He paused not sure how to say it.

Sean's eyes turned serious. "What is it, Michael?"

"I just met Nikita today but…" Michael breathed. "There is a part…I'm not sure how big or how strong this part is, but there is a part of me that wants answers not just for my brother but so that I can help her."

Now Sean was stunned. "You mean that, don't you?"

Michael nodded sincerely. "I do mean it. After…I lost my head, ok? She wasn't answering my questions, she was being evasive and I let the personal part of me take over. The part of me that misses my brother and wants justice for him…it took over. I got harsh with her and I regret that. I saw the pain in her eyes, she didn't let it show for long…she's very independent that one, but I saw it. I came back here to apologize to her. I didn't mean to be cruel."

Sean nodded. "I know that's not who you are, Michael. I understand that you loved your brother, but there is something I need you to understand."

"He didn't treat Nikita, right," Michael spoke softly, his head down. It was the knowledge of knowing that his brother had laid his hands on Nikita that made him feel disgusted with himself for even missing him. "I know th-"

"No!" Sean's voice was sharp, and it made Michael look up at him. "You don't know, Michael. You don't have a clue about your brother and Nikita."

Michael was silent. He wasn't sure how to respond to that.

"But you're about to," Sean continued. "However, before I tell you what I'm about to tell you, I need your word. I need your word as Michael my best friend, not Michael the FBI Agent, My friend Michael…I need your word that you will never tell Nikita or Alex for that matter that I told you what I'm about to."

Michael was conflicted. "Sean, if it pertains to this case then I have no choice but to-"

"For God's sake, Michael!" Sean snapped. "I'm asking you as a fucking friend. Can you wrap your head around that and stop being a cop for the two seconds its gonna take for me to tell you this one thing." Sean sighed. "Please, Michael."

Michael sighed and nodded his head. "Ok. You're right. You have my honest to God word, Sean. I won't use what you're about to tell me. I promise you."

Sean sighed in relief. "Thank you. Now this is gonna be hard for you to hear and probably hard for you to believe but I have no reason to lie to you and I think if you look within yourself you'll realize this is the truth."

"What is it, Sean?" Michael was afraid to know. He could tell that whatever was coming was bad.

"He raped her, Michael." Sean admitted.

Shock flooded through Michael and his eyes filled with disgust. "What?!"

"I don't know the specifics but its true. Your brother did rape Nikita." Sean explained.

Anger, disgust, and sorrow flooded through every part of Michael's being at those words. "I don't…I don't even know what to say." Michael said softly. "I can't…Jesus…what that poor girl must've…" He broke off. "Thank you for telling me this, Sean. I wish you had earlier, I would've handled Nikita so much differently."

"Its better late then never, right?"