Chapter twenty one
Birkhoff studied Alex the moment she said hello, the stiffness to her shoulders made the panic rise up in him. Glancing around him, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was eyes every where. Probably was too but then Alex was standing before him and he couldn't think about anything beside her.
"What are you doing here? Alone?" her doe eyes looked away at the hiss and Birkhoff swallowed hard, barely stopping himself from holding her to him, from running his fingers through her hair and claiming her lips again.
Alex just gave him a look before walking towards his station and all but glaring at the screen. Frowning Birkhoff went to join her but she spun and stared him. Her eyes searching for something he couldn't guess at.
"My system, I've been allowed access to it when ever I want!" the sharpness caused Birkhoff to rear back a little and his dark to dart across her face, hoping to find something that had meant this change. For a moment he feared she had discovered just what Division had done all those years ago, but when she flashed him a look he figured she wouldn't have walked so easily back into Division.
"Alex" he forced himself to move forward, to ignore the cameras and anyone watching them. Alex had filled his senses in the past couple of weeks, filled his mind with something that he should have stopped wanting the moment he agreed to work in Division.
She froze for a moment before her doe eyes met his, tears simmered in them and Birkhoff swallowed hard, slowly lifting his hand and cupping her face, overjoyed by the feel of her skin against his again.
"I'm sorry Seymour" frowning Birkhoff dropped his hand and attempted to read Alex's down trodden expression but suddenly someone cleared their throat and Birkhoff spun to find Michael staring at him. Jumping away from Alex, Birkhoff let out a nervous laugh.
"Can we speak" there was no room for argument in his tone and for a second Birkhoff stiffened, trying to draw attention away from Alex. But then Michael jerked his head and Birkhoff knew that Michael wouldn't do anything, he was trusted within Division. At least he was trusted by Birkhoff.
"Look" Birkhoff didn't know where to start as he stood by Michael's side, the agent glancing away for a second before boring his eyes into Birkhoff's forcing himself to keep the eye contact.
"Birkhoff I need you to listen to me; I need you to understand something" Michael darted his eyes to Alex for a second but before Birkhoff could follow suit Michael was holding his gaze.
"We didn't ask for this; I never signed up for this and neither did you. You pulled some crazy shit I know that but the truth is your not the bad guy" licking his lips Michael searched for his words, glancing to Alex once more before sighing.
"For what it's worth I tried to protect you from this" not understanding Birkhoff went to question his friend when the door opened once more and Owen stepped in to Operations. Birkhoff's guard went up, fearing that Alex would fight for Owen while Michael attempted to bring him down. He saw it all in slow motion within his mind and he knew that in the end Michael wasn't going to have back up in Birkhoff.
"Michael dude... damn it" Birkhoff stepped back in an attempt to shield Alex but froze the moment when Michael's head duck in shame or disgust, Birkhoff wasn't sure. All he knew was that Michael wasn't drawing his weapon and Owen looked far too at ease standing beside the other man.
"Like I said Birkhoff I tired to protect you from this" Michael muttered before looking to Alex, spinning Birkhoff found Alex hunched over a keyboard, her fingers moving quickly over the keys.
"Alex?" the woman froze for half a second before carrying on, after several seconds she stopped and straightened. Refusing to meet Birkhoff's eyes as she walked towards Owen.
"Done?" Owen questioned ignoring the two active Division Agents, focusing on the young woman by his side who shook.
"Yes; It's viral they should get the whole thing within ten minutes maybe less if Maggie prompted a few new commands" Alex's voice sounded hallow. Slowly the three people looked to Birkhoff who was attempting to get to grips with what had happened around him.
"Just what the hell" glancing from Michael to Alex and back again Birkhoff felt his anger rising, felt betrayal at some unknown action bubbling away.
"Division isn't what you think Birkhoff" Michael attempted causing Birkhoff to snort and wave a hand around.
"I know that one dude; knew it the moment I figured out Percy set Alex's parents up for the kill list. What the hell are you doing" the snarl was released as Birkhoff began to understand what was happening. He was being betrayed, he was being used by two people he thought had his back.
"It's why we had to do this Seymour" Alex attempted to reach out but Birkhoff yanked himself back, glaring with accusing eyes at Alex. His hate burning into her and forcing her to look away.
"You set me up" Birkhoff didn't stop the bark of laughter from escaping his lips, shaking his head he looked at Michael and gave him a twisted grin.
"And you helped? I mean I know you all take me for granted but you man? After all that bull about having to stick together and being friends. Is this why you really chose me?" gritted his teeth at Michael's silence, Birkhoff snapped forward and jabbed a finger at Michael.
"Is it? If it went wrong let the nerd take the fall? Let him think that maybe he stood a chance and if it back fired I'm the one who is getting screwed over?" Michael jerked his head but refused to say anything, allow Birkhoff to have his anger.
"Really out done yourself, even by Division's standards. I mean Alex is a knock out what nerd wouldn't want a piece" Owen snapped forward but Alex forced him back.
"He has a right Owen" Birkhoff laughed again and pinned Alex with a glare, not caring if Owen was ready to rip him apart.
"Damn right I do because what ever you did won't stand a chance against what I've got set up to protect this damn place" Birkhoff snarled but quickly lost his sneer when Alex ducked her head further.
"We used your programming to create our own back doors. What you did was ensuring a way to break through" Alex all but whispered causing Birkhoff to gap at her and shake his head. With a dry and hollow laugh Birkhoff gave her an impressed look.
"I guess you wasn't acting when you said you had brains; pity because for a moment I really wanted you just to be good at acting like you gave a damn about me. I wanted to believe that nothing about you was actually true" Birkhoff spat before Owen pushed past Alex and grabbed Birkhoff's shirt.
"Son of a bitch" Owen snarled in his face causing Birkhoff to grin up at the blonde man and raise an eyebrow.
"Go for it; might even help your escape. Might get me some brownie points" Birkhoff goaded before the sound of a hammer being drawn back filled the room. Birkhoff darted his eyes to Michael to find him staring in shock, his view of Alex blocked by Owen but only too aware that Alex had her gun pointed at Owen's head.
"Concealed weapon sweetheart? Really getting me hot right now" Birkhoff declared causing Owen to tighten his grip for a few seconds before he finally released Birkhoff and glared down at him.
"We are getting out of here now" glaring at Owen, Alex was expecting her order to be followed.
"Nikita is dealing with Percy; she will keep him there until back up comes" lowering her gun Alex looked to Michael who nodded.
"And just how are you planning to get out? Just stroll through the door" Birkhoff questioned folding his arms and smirking up at the blonde body guard.
"Same way I got in geek; the service entrance on level six" Owen snapped forcing himself to step back and away from Birkhoff.
"And the recruits?" Michael twitched before glancing to Alex who nodded. "I call a training on the mats and keep them there, explain they had no part in this" Michael's tone was flat and defeated and for a moment Birkhoff felt for his friend but the fact that Michael had lied to him coursed the anger back through his body and he just glared at his friend.
"I want a head start; I'm going to wipe my record clean and no one is going to track me down. Division can burn for all I care but I will not burn with it" Birkhoff snapped ignoring the way Alex swallowed hard and looked away from him.
"Birkhoff" "And you and her can go to hell for all I care as well; you don't track me down and you don't ever think of me again. I pulled some crazy shit? Well I'm thinking between the pair of you I've been screwed over for a life time" Birkhoff spat, enjoying the fact that he was hurting the two closet people he had to friends and family for all the pain they had put him through in a matter of minutes.
when the silence fell and no one protested, Birkhoff nodded to himself and turned to wards his computers. He went to sit down when the lights dimmed and were replaced by flashing red lights.
"What the hell" Michael demanded while Birkhoff stood rooted to the spot for several seconds before groaning.
"Birkhoff" shaking his head Birkhoff hurried to his computer and began typing away.
"Know when I said Division can burn for all I care; well..." Birkhoff hit the key board for good measure and quickly got to his feet and stared at the three people before him.
"Division is burning; Nikita didn't do a good enough job of keeping Percy covered. The son of a bitch has activated his self destruct sequence" Birkhoff clenched his jaw for good measure as his mind began to kick into action.
"How do you know" Alex questioned as Birkhoff gave her a dry look, tilting his head and almost grinning when she understood.
"Can you stop it" giving her another look Alex forced the glare back at his ego and waved a hand for him to carry on.
"Of course I can but I need to do it from my lab; that's where I created it and set up the sequence" Birkhoff snipped before moving towards the door.
"Birkhoff" Michael blocked his path causing Birkhoff to roll his eyes at Michael before raising an eyebrow.
"Dude you want to go up in flames with this place whatever but I plan not to so" waving his hands for him to move Birkhoff sent him a smirk before heading towards the door.
Only feeling a little joy at the fact that the three people behind him quickly followed. They might have lied to him but at least they were willing to face what could be death with him.