Chapter 10: The Exchange

Meanwhile, back at Division...

Birkhoff watched as Ava pointed at him and jabbered happily to Amanda. She turned and looked up at him deviously, and then he knew that he has been exposed. He turned to leave, but Amanda was too quick, and she was already out the door.

"Not so fast traitor," Amanda called menacingly, "So how long have you been hiding their location?"

"A few hours," Birkhoff admitted.

"What?" Amanda asked skeptically.

"They left me in the dark five years ago just like you," Birkhoff explained, "But then I saw them at the store in Barbados. It was the first time I had seen them since they left, I promise!"

"Why didn't you report them?" Amanda demanded, "Or better yet, shoot them on site!"

"Because they were my friends," Birkhoff cried, "And they were in the company of their five year old daughter. I gave them a head start to run and then I was going to report them, but Fields came in all proud of himself for spotting them outside the store."

"Why would you do that?" Amanda spat, drawing nearer.

"Because they deserve to live!" Birkhoff yelled, "And they deserve to be happy and raise their child in peace." He pointed at Ava in the room below. "Speaking of, that's pretty low of you, kidnapping a five year old!" He barked, disgusted.

"We do what is necessary," Amanda replied coldly, "Besides, she proved extremely useful. She was only too happy to talk about the silly mister from the grocery store."

"She doesn't know what she's saying!" Birkhoff hissed, "You're using her to bring down her own parents and it's wrong on so many levels!"

"Too bad you won't be here to see them actually brought to justice," Amanda said menacingly, reaching for her phone to call for security.

"I don't think that's gonna happen," Birkhoff answered, slapping the phone from her hand. He stomped on it, smashing it to pieces. He slide-swiped Amanda in the knees, knocking her to the ground, and took off as fast as he could. He made it to the central elevator and took it all the way to the surface. He got in his car and sped off, nearly missing the strike team behind him. Well, I guess I'm rogue now, Birkhoff thought disbelievingly. I gotta warn Mike and Niki!

The scene opens on Overton park with Michael and Nikita

Nikita and Michael arrived at the park, weapons armed at the ready. They surveyed the area. No sign of anyone, though they were a few minutes early.

"So what exactly is the plan?" Michael asked Nikita, scanning the perimeter of the park.

"Amanda thinks we're here to surrender ourselves in exchange for Ava's safety," Nikita explained, "But we're really here to raise some hell and get our daughter back."

"Nikita I get that," Michael began, "But what exactly is our plan of attack?"

"I hadn't really thought that far," Nikita lied, "I figured we'd just wing it."

"Alright," Michael agreed reluctantly, "We'll have to watch our backs carefully."

Just then, a black van pulled up at the south edge of the parking lot. Two armed agents exited the vehicle. One of them went to the trunk and pulled out two large fire arms. The other opened the side door and helped a confused Ava out of the car. Michael flinched with anger, and lunged forward.

"Whoa whoa whoa," Nikita warned, holding him back, Any sudden movements and they'll get spooked. We can't risk anything happening to Ava.

"Right," Michael said, defeated. Just then, one of the agents locked eyes with Nikita and motioned for her to come forward.

"Stay back and do what I say," Nikita told Michael as she slowly walked forward. She held her hands up, holding the black box in one.

"Nikita, no!" Michael cried, "What are you doing?"

"I'm sorry Michael," she called behind her, "But this was the only way I could live with myself. I made a deal with Amanda."

"How could you?" Michael winced, "What about our daughter?"

"She'll be safe with you," Nikita said, tears streaming down her face, "I know you'll love her and protect her enough for the both of us."

"Nikita, please don't do this!" Michael begged.

"I love you," Nikita whispered. She blew him a kiss as she turned and continued to walk away.

"NIKITA!" Michael screamed, but it was too late. She has reached the armed men and her daughter.

"Let me talk to her?" She pleaded with them. They nodded, and released Ava.

"Mommy!" She cried happily.

"Hi pretty girl," Nikita laughed through her tears, "Are you alright? Mommy was so worried about you."

"I was scared at first," Ava admitted, "But then a nice lady named Amanda talked to me and she said she's gonna help you!"

"Is that right?" Nikita asked, trying not to think of the horrendous lies that Amanda must have fed her. Ava was too young to understand.

"Yep!" Ava confirmed.

"Well i'm glad," Nikita smiled, holding her daughter's face in her hands, "Now I need you to do something for mommy. It's very important. Listen very carefully. Do you see daddy over there? I need you to go run over to him and stay there with him no matter what. Do you understand me?"

"Yes mommy," Ava obeyed, "Are you coming with me?"

"Not right now princess," Nikita said through wet tears, "But I'll be with you real soon. And no matter what happens, I want you to know that mommy loves you very much, okay?"

"Okay," Ava agreed, "I love you too mommy!" Nikita hugged her daughter tight and kissed her on the head.

"Alright, you go on now!" Nikita called to her.

"Bye bye, mommy!" Ava waved as she scampered off towards Michael's waiting arms.

"I love you!" Nikita cried out, completely breaking down on her knees.

"Alright, time to go" one of the guards said, nudging her shoulder. She looked up and glared at him menacingly.

"You're lucky I'm surrendering myself right now," Nikita growled at him, "Because if I wasn't, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. You'd be dead."

"Yeah yeah yeah," sighed the guard annoyed, "Get up." He pulled her up and shoved her towards the open car door.

Michael watched the exchange in anguish. He was so distraught from what was happening. He knew she was doing it for them, but once again, she completely ignored how he would feel if he lost her. He couldn't think about that now though, because a bouncing, unsuspecting five year old was bounding toward him this very second.

"Daaaady!" Ava cried happily, running straight into his arms.

"Hey baby girl," he cried, "I'm so glad to see you!"

"Mommy says she's not coming with us," Ava explained, confused.

"I know sweetie," Michael said, "But don't worry, she's gonna come back. I promise" he said as he kissed her head and held her tight. Now that she was back in his arms, he never wanted to let her go. But all he could think about was how to get Nikita back. Just then, a bumbling, rambling Birkhoff came running down the lawn towards them.

"MIKE!" he yelled like his life depended on it, "It's a trap! Don't listen to them! They've got Av-" He stopped suddenly. As he screeched to a halt in front of Michael, he saw Ava safe in his arms. "Oh," he said confused.

"Yeah," Michael said, "We got her back. Only we lost Nikita."

"What?" Birkhoff cried.

"She sacrificed herself to save Ava," Michael explained, heart-wrenchingly.

"We gotta stop them!" Birkhoff said desperately, "It's one-on-one, we can take em'!" As he said that, the doors of the black van slammed shut and it sped off.

****** That is all I have so far! I hope you enjoyed reading! Please let me know if you made it through all 10 chapters! I have more on the way. Most of chapter 11 is written, but I just have to finalize it and it will be up soon. Keep a lookout, and as always, comments are appreciated! :) ******