FALLEN ANGELS

Chapter 12

When Michael got to Division he found Alex near the elevators:

"Alex, can we please talk?'

"I don't have the time, but if you insist…just wanted to let you know I'm still out of here after this is over."

"Nobody is disputing that, we get it, but before you leave…you two need to talk."

"I know Michael; I know…maybe if I have time, I'll stop by before leaving; Birkoff already briefed me on the missions, so I'll just see you tonight at the party; take care."

Alex smiled at Michael and went to the elevators, and on his way to the tech room he thought that maybe there was still a chance Alex might turn around from that dark path she was taking now. He remembered Nikita telling him about the nightmare Alex had, and wondered if it wasn't a premonition she might have had regarding her future. It still looked to him as if she was content with the events, and wasn't particularly interested in being the Alex Nikita knew until a while ago. At the same time he wasn't sure if Nikita was ready to let Alex go her own way…his thoughts were interrupted the moment he entered the tech room and saw Birkoff searching frantically through some papers.

"Michael, good thing you're here already…we can begin…Percy is with Oversight now, strangely enough Amanda is out too…Nikki, can you hear us?" Birkoff asked while handing Michael a report on the security system of the villa.

"Loud and clear Birkoff…fancy hearing you too babe," Nikita greeted Michael, a thing which made both Owen and Birkoff huff and roll their eyes, "and before we start, nerd…please stop doing that."

"What did I do now?"

"I'm imagining the same thing Owen did, even though I didn't see you…so stop it."

"Fine…one's not allowed to have some fun these days…what has the world come to?" Birkoff asked in a hurt voice and sighed, "I sent you the plans of the villa, as well as the escape route…our escape route included."

"I suppose I can take care of myself," Owen noted while sitting in his chair.

"I was talking about the fact that Division has another escape route, ok? But if you don't like my plan, feel free to make it out on your own."

"I'm sure Owen didn't mean to say that…he's just confused about life in general," Michael stressed the last part, and Birkoff smiled at him, "now I read the security system is a little bit tricky."

"It is Mikey…his security system includes everything from bulletproof walls, ceilings and windows to a system that will drop a gas blanket or blinding tear gas on the intruder."

"So…going in and getting out quickly is out of the question," Nikita stated while studying the plan Birkoff sent her, "What do you think Owen?"

"We could go down the stairs next to sector 03, get the code, open the door and get the list, and then we're out before he blows the place out."

"No," both Nikita and Birkoff shouted at the same time, and then she continued, "out of the question, the guy has a biometric security system, and we're not going there to die."

"I see the system is based on the angle of his jaw…impossible to fake," Michael concluded, and was about to suggest the impossible, but then he remembered one of his previous missions, "unless we can make him open that door for us, so Birkoff can save the parameters and we could open it later."

"I can take care of that," Nikita said already forming a plan in her head, and she was sure Michael will not approve, "love we might do the same thing we did when we found Kasim for the first time."

"No…it's too risky. Nikita, what if he sees you with Owen and thinks you're Division?"

"He won't, I'll take care of that. Babe let me do this, I need to do this…you know it, we can't back down now; it's too late in the game."

"Fine, but I'm not letting you out of my sight after we get there. Birkoff what more can you tell us?"

"Guys to make it easier for us, look at slide B, the sensing devices on the entry/exit doors have been assigned to zone 01, on windows in the bedrooms to zone 02, on the living room to zone 03, dinning room and patio to zone 04, garden area to zone 05 and so on. I have the alarm system displayed on my screen…one of you needs to pass near one of the zones and get it activated for me."

"Birkoff, I'll do that while Alex distracts the guards…now if you'll excuse me boys I need to get ready. Please behave tonight, all of you…and nerd please secure the line of the coms a few hours before we even get there."

"Already on it Nikki."

Nikita closed the dialogue window, and looked at Owen who was still examining the plans of the stairs.

"Owen, what did I tell you when you came back?"

"A lot of things, but basically your game, your rules. I'm not going to interfere with that, we'll do it your way, I'll even stay in the car if you want to…what time should I come pick you up?"

"Around 7 now go get ready to just sit there and look pretty."

The next several hours proved to be different for the entire team: Birkoff and Michael were explaining the other plan to the Division strike team, as well as handing Roan the plans for the chopper Schwartz was using, what they didn't notice was the fact that Amanda was watching their every move from Operations.

Alex was in her apartment getting ready for the party when Amanda stopped by to bring her the dress. She chose a buttercup cocktail dress Alex didn't particularly like, but as she looked at herself in the mirror she thought it might be appropriate for the occasion.

Owen was probably the first to be ready for the party and as he was waiting for Nikita to come out he was quickly texting someone. The moment Nikita appeared he hid his phone in his pocket and looked at her in awe. She was wearing a one shoulder, short silver asymmetrical dress that made her eyes shine in a special light and accentuated her curves.

"You look spectacular."

"Thank you very much Owen…I didn't know you had it in you."

They both laughed, he helped her get into the car, and they drove to the villa. It looked amazing during the night, with lights woven through every tree branch, lots of flowers on the path leading to the entrance. Nikita looked around, and based on Ryan's intel she spotted the agents among the guests entering the house. She took Owen's hand, and they mingled among the guests.

"Do you see Schwartz?"

"No…he's not in the room…yet," Owen told Nikita, and watched as she approached the windows to lightly tap on them. "and what exactly are you doing now?"

"Helping Birkoff get access to the system…Birkoff did you get it?"

"Zone 03 all set…good luck Nikki, you don't have a lot of time left though…two hours tops."

"Copied…we'll go enjoy the party, until we find your friend."

"He's not my friend."

"You'll have to forget about this tonight and act as if you're happy to see him."

They started moving through the crowd, greeting people, telling them to enjoy the evening, and making small talk, while on the other side of the room Michael was giving his latest instructions to the strike team. He sent them to the garden area, telling them to be out on the look because Nikita should be here anytime. As Nikita was heading towards the dinning area, all the lights went out, and on top of the stairs appeared Oliver Schwartz, a man in his mid thirties, black hair and piercing green eyes.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen…I'm quoting one of my favorite movies here, but trust me when I say…we are tonight's entertainment. Hope you all enjoy your evening here."

A ridiculously dramatic music started playing as he came down the stairs, he was going to ask for a drink, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Owen and Nikita approaching him.

"Owen, it's so…unexpected to see you here. I don't remember sending you the invite."

"It must have gotten lost in the mail…but my friend here organized the whole thing, so she invited me, and I accepted."

"Well hello beautiful. You look stunning miss…"

"Sadly you're not the Joker...and my name is Nikita; let me tell you this house is amazing…I had great time getting it ready for the party, but…would have loved to see more of it…I wasn't allowed to do that….the time frame was kind of tight."

"Excuse my men Nikita….they're the worst brutes you'll ever find…they have no idea how to treat a lady. I could happily show you around, to make it up for them…after I take care of some business. Owen your girlfriend…"

"We're just friends Oliver…I have a boyfriend."

"I thought you couldn't have been dating him, but it's such a shame you're off the market," Oliver concluded in a sad tone," now excuse me, I'll be back in a bit."

After Oliver left, Nikita took a glass of champagne from one of the waiters and said a in low voice:

"That went well, though the guy is completely nuts…Birkoff, how fast can you get the feds out of here?"

"Been trying to do that Nikki, but reaching them one by one is taking a lot of time…10 of them are out already."

"It's ok…we'll figure something out," Nikita assured him, and looked around the room to spot Michael at the bar, she smiled at him and he raised his glass at her.

"You look amazing love."

"Thought you might like it. That suit looks really…fit. Such a shame you're on the other side of the room."

"I know the feeling…"

"Oh My God…it starts again…could you at least try and behave in public? You do know we all can hear you, right?"

"You're not being subtle," Alex added rolling her eyes," I'm going to secure the section leading up to the stairs in sector 03. We can move there in 10 minutes."

Owen excused himself too, and left for the patio, while Nikita was left talking with one of the guests. After a while, when she turned to look for Michael, she saw a woman flirting with him at the bar.

"Birkoff, who is that?"

"Who's who, Nikki?"

"The…lady talking with Michael."

"Let me check…oh, she's Oliver's crazy cousin, spent some time in detox…Heidi. Why are you…oh no, no…absolutely not, Nikita please."

"I need to go over there…please secure Michael's line for a bit."

"I can't…if Percy comes in looking for Michael and he's off radar…it will blow up right in front of our faces."

"Birkoff I only need 5 minutes."

"No…I know you can kill in two seconds, and you're not committing murder in front of all these people. Forget it."

"I'm not going to…kill her; I'm just going to talk with her."

"Right…and I'm the Easter Bunny, especially seeing how she's touching his hand. You can't go there alone, where is Owen?"

"He left a while ago…Birkoff, I promise you she's leaving unharmed…give me 5 minutes."

"The things I do for you Nikki…you have 5 minutes and not one second more…plus she walks out alive…promise me Nikki."

"I promise; you can trust me. Thank you nerd."

Birkoff chuckled, and secured Michael's line, after looking around and making sure Percy was nowhere near in sight. After finishing, he started looking for Owen, who was on the patio, speaking on his phone in a hushed voice:

"Listen, I don't care what you do, or how you do it, but you get your agents out of here…this place is going to blow up any second now, and you can't afford to lose staff…Division is on it, and they don't care who goes down, you know it better than anyone else…I don't care, this was not the arrangement, I didn't come back to cover up for you…this is over; I'm out of this. I'm not going to lie to them anymore, so you get your agents out, or I tell the truth."

Owen snapped his phone shut and slowly inhaled to calm down. He had no idea how long he was going to be able to keep this up, but he needed to do it, to make it right. When he turned around he saw Alex was standing right behind him.

"And what truth are you going to tell Owen?"


A/N- sooooooooooo...how did everyone like Maggie's dress at TCA? I thought she looked amazing, but when doesn't she, right? Don't even get me started on the award she was supposed to win...at least Shane won, so all the voting wasn't in vain :D...and who are we to disagree that Shane looks great in suits? :P

ermmmm...what else? oh would love to hear...or read for that matter, what you think...see you next time :)

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