I wish I owned Nikita, Alas, I don't

Just clarifying, it's been hours since Michael and Nathan were hit.

I am now on Spring Break, so be expecting many more uploads! I was planning on making this a single POV chapter to parallel Chapter 9, but I changed my mind. So, ya'll get both!

Chapter 10- Without Shackles

"I know you need preparation, but there are situations where time is sensitive. This would be one of those times." Nikita watched Mr. Ivanov. He looked a little worried, maybe even stressed by the extent of protection needed. Nikita had revealed to him the power of division, and he had gone white, insisting on needing more time. However, Nikita was not always a patient woman, including right now.

"I'll do the best I can, I want to protect the Udinov heir, but these people you need protection from are difficult. You will need the best of the best, and they are hard to locate, let alone contact. This can't happen in a day."

"We need it to. These people will most likely be here within 48 hours, and when they get here, they will not hesitate to kill anyone in the way, including you and Alex."

"I'll try my hardest, but I just don't know if I can get trustworthy people within that time. And even if I can contact them, they need to get here too. All I am trying to say is that I can get people then, but they won't be good. Will that work until I can get the good guys?"

Nikita sighed. "I guess, but you need to get them here ASAP."

He nodded, finally showing his fear of the woman. He knew this was all for Alex, but she was ordering something big, and not so cheap either. It would be hard to get a hold of the best. Mr. Ivanov had done it before, but it had taken a month. Clearly, Alex needed it sooner, much sooner.

With that, Nikita got Mr. Ivanov's number, and they left, beginning the long drive back to their house. They were planning on gathering up all of their belongings then relocating somewhere in the city. While they were getting their stuff, Mr. Ivanov was going to get them a house or hotel somewhere.

At the house, there wasn't much to collect. There were all of Nikita's super-dollars that she had left, the few weapons they had carried during the chase, and some extra clothes. From sitting in the car so long, Alex's leg was stiff and she walked with a slight limp from her healing wound.

Although it was normal for Alex to be wearing heels or boots of some sort, Nikita gave her tennis shoes to ease her walking. The heels were too challenging and the boots were too constricting. Nikita left a note in case Michal came back and left all of his supplies for him. Cassie meanwhile, dug through some of Alex's things to find something suitable to wear since they were similar sizes.

When they were all ready, Nikita called Mr. Ivanov again. "Sorry, Nikita, but your house will not be ready for another few hours. I have been arranging for you to stay in my large apartment in the city. Very few know about it and those who do are my closest advisors. You will be safe there."

"That's perfectly okay, Mr. Ivanov. We were just leaving our current residence and it will take us three hours to get into the city, maybe more if there is bad traffic. Call me when it's all ready."

"Of Course! Meet me at my office and I can escort you."

Nikita hung up on him and focused on driving. There was more traffic now that everyone was heading home. Alex and Cassie talked in the back about their training and comparing things from division. Things like what they changed since the mole was discovered, since Alex escaped, since things went downhill for division.

Nikita was too busy thinking about Michael to answer when they asked about her training. Michael should have contacted her by now, but he hasn't. If he were in trouble, wouldn't he let her know? These thoughts were filling Nikita's head and worry was building. Then her phone rang.

-Michael and Nathan-

As soon as Michael had taken down the guards and started to run off with Nathan, he pulled out his phone. (Division failed to remove it from his person when they locked him up. There wasn't any way he could use it in those shackles anyways.)

He dialed Nikita's number, praying she would answer. After the second ring, she picked up. "Michael!"

"Nikita, I'm okay, and so is Nathan. We were captured, but we have escaped. Nathan has a tracker though. I need to get it out before we come, so it might be longer. If anything happens, I'll try to get word to you."

"I've been worried. Are you sure you got out safely?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Nathan and I are perfectly fine. I'm a little beat up, but Nathan got recruit treatment."

"Okay, call when you are coming."

"I will." They hung up.

During their conversation, a thought stirred in Michael's head. Why was Amanda treating Nathan like a voluntary recruit? It didn't make any sense. Michael actually expected them to kill him right off, but it seems he was wrong. Maybe they were going to use him as leverage, and so they gave him a recruit tracker.

But, why not give him a full-fledged tracker in case of escape like this?

What if they were hoping we'd lead them to Nikita, Cassie, and Alex? What if they thought that we wouldn't get the tracker out? What if the tracker was somewhere that needed professional medical removal? There were so many pieces that weren't quite making sense. Michael couldn't piece them together. Something was missing in the story, something only division knew, something Michael couldn't figure out.

They ran, Michael planning to go to Nikita's safe-house where hopefully, he could find the needed medical equipment. And possibly some extra weapons.

Luckily, they weren't far from the house. Once inside, they could tell that most of Nikita's belongings were gone. Michael couldn't find weapons, but he could find some tools to get the tracker out of Nathan's hip. The entry wound wasn't quite healed, so it was easy to access the tracker. The hard part was the lack of anesthetics.

So, Nathan had to suffer through it. He didn't have to bear it long before he passed out. Pretty soon afterwards, Michael got the tracker out. But, it seemed, not soon enough.

-Percy-

He pulled up by the hatch, expecting the guards to have subdued Michael and Nathan. Alas, he wasn't so lucky. It seemed Michael had beat up the guards and escaped. He called Birkhoff to the front of the van where he asked him to find Nathan's tracker. It seemed, from the pace, that they were headed somewhere on foot.

Percy smiled, and turned the van around to follow. They gained pretty quickly, staying out of view of the two. By the time they actually caught up, they had hidden inside a large building, later to be discovered as the building involved in operation super-dollar. Percy ordered the agents in the back to wait for his signal, and then they would move in.

The agents each took an exit and waited. Percy signaled, ordering to capture but try not to kill. He wanted to be the one to see the rebellious life fade out of Michael's eyes. He climbed out of the back of the van holding a handgun. He only needed one shot to kill.

He followed behind an agent, strapping on a bulletproof vest, just in case. Even though in this setting, he knew it wouldn't help.

-Michael and Nathan-

As Michael finally pulled the tracker out, he glanced out the window. Hidden near an alley, there was a big black van, Percy sitting in the front. Michael cursed. He rushed to get everything finished and stitched up Nathan as quickly as he could. But, Nathan was still out, and he didn't seem to be waking up soon.

Michael didn't get really worried until he saw Percy climb out of the van with a gun and a vest. And when he saw the seven-man hit team.

He cursed himself for not checking the floor plan of the building. At least to get a general idea of the building. This wasn't good. Hopefully he could at least make division think Nathan still had the tracker. He hid the tools and the bloody tracker and then tried to wake Nathan up. He was stirring, but not quickly enough.

Michael whispered. "Nathan. Get up. Division's here. You need to get up. Get up. Get up for Alex."

That seemed to get his attention. "For Alex." He mumbled. He tried to get up, falling under the pain of the tracker wound. Again Michael cursed for forgetting Nathan's pain tolerance was lower than his own. Out of patience, Michael picked Nathan up. He was heavy, but not too heavy if Michael focused.

Nathan didn't like it, but he knew he'd never be able to walk far, let alone use the stairs or run. So, he let Michael carry him. The whole time he was thinking, How'd I get myself into this mess?

So, what do ya'll think? I am on break now, so I should upload quicker. R&R