Michael wanted to punch something. Or scream, screaming felt far more lucrative. They scoured street cams, followed cars, interrogated a fellow prisoner, and it all resulted in nothing. Michael couldn't fight the fear that gripped him. It was going to drown him alive; he had nothing to hold on to or keep him steady. Sean had hyperfocused on finding his sister, ignoring pain for a mission. Alex was with him as she tried to stay strong for everybody, despite crumbling herself. And Birkhoff slammed on his keyboard as a last ditch effort at something. Whether it worked or not remained a mystery. Sonya popped up on the computer screen with a message, however she was quickly replaced by Percy, "I was hoping for the brother, but the boyfriend works too."
"Where is she?" Immediately, Michael shouted. He gripped the edge of the desk tightly, his nails biting into the wood. It was the only way to stop himself from smashing the desktop at just the sight of Percy's smug face. He didn't need to deal with the bastard above everything else. Sean and Alex were already chasing a slim lead by driving off in the direction Brandt had taken off in. Although tracking the van had been a bust, they might be able to find some clue of him. It wasn't as though they had another lead to follow. The team was scrambling.
Dealing with Percy only made the feeling of desperation and hopelessness worse. No doubt, he called the team to gloat. Or to make some sort of deal that'd serve his interests. Michael didn't care either way. His sole focus was bringing Nikita back home. She could do the impossible. She always fought and survived. And she never gave in to her enemies. Yet who knew how long she'd last against a psychopath. He didn't want to take the risk and lose her forever. He'd bear listening to Percy if it meant she lived, "You know exactly where she is…"
"I don't have time for games, Percy. Where's Nikita?" Michael tried not to let his fear choke his voice. Percy already had the upperhand in the situation; he couldn't give him more power. Instead, he allowed his frustration to turn into bitter hatred. Nikita wouldn't have been kidnapped and Madeline wouldn't have been murdered if the bastard hadn't helped Brandt out of his cage. That was all collateral damage for his mad grasp at nuclear material. The team would have to do something regarding the nukes eventually, yet how could they even think about that at the moment. All that mattered was Nikita.
"If you want her, if you really want her, then you're going to have to make a sacrifice," He made it seem as though Michael would choose any other option. Of course he would sacrifice everything for Nikita. What could possibly be more important than her. He nodded instantly, and Percy happily gave him the instructions of what to do. Michael would hand himself over to Brandt so he could successfully torture Nikita, while Percy would receive his plutonium. The deal was ridiculous, yet the agent still leapt at it. If it gave him his girlfriend, who cared.
"A lot can happen, Mikey. Be careful," On the other hand, Birkhoff was extremely anxious. He prepared a way to track Michael and fed the information to Sean and Alex, yet he didn't like the fact that Brandt would have two of his friends. There was a high chance of failure with their plan. Birkhoff, Alex, and Sean might not be able to find Nikita and Michael in time- something horrible was bound to occur. The agent was stubborn and determined, however. He rushed into danger for the slim chance of bringing his love back home.
"Michael? Are you hurt?" Although that choice ended with him being thrown down the stairs into a creepy basement and tied to a chair, he got to wake to Nikita's voice. Her brown eyes were full of concern as she studied him over. She looked like she had been to hell and back, yet she only cared about him. He reassured her the best he could while he shook himself into full alertness and tested the restraints on the chair. There had to be a way for them to escape, or at least start before the others arrived, "And the others? Were they with you when he attacked?"
"No. There wasn't an attack," His words were far calmer than his thoughts. Michael had to be gentle despite the circumstances, Nikita seemed so frantic. He understood why once he studied his surroundings. She was chained to a metal bedframe for a reason- a strong electric current ran to it. The device was turned off, but he could still hear the loud hum. He assumed she had been electrocuted for as long as she had been gone. That would explain the fatigue fraying her edges. It also explained why she kept looking at him like she was.
Part of the expression could be explained away as a result of being tortured for so long. But there was something else going on with Nikita. Maybe she was just beyond terrified that Michael was in the basement with her. She knew what Brandt could do, and it would kill her if that happened to her boyfriend. She had already lost her mother to the psychopath, she couldn't lose him too. It was the reason he was there, after all- so no one could lose anyone. Except she thought it was too late. At least, that was what the grave tone in her voice suggested, "What do you mean? How did Brandt capture you?"
"He didn't capture me. I came on my own. I gave myself up. It was the only way I could find you," Earnestly, Michael responded. Sacrificing himself wasn't the best decision he had ever made, sure. But he just had to find her, to be with her. His confession, however, shifted something over Nikita's expression. She had been exhausted, frantic, and confused before. Yet at that moment, a darkness seemed to surround her. There was no other description for what he noticed. It was the same thing that overcame her when Sean left her to be with Jill and Sandy after their mother died. He was startled by it.
"You son of a bitch. You dumb, stupid son of a bitch. The situation was contained, the damage was limited. And now what? You just gave Brandt everything he wanted," Her harsh words rattled him even more, however. Nikita was deadly serious. She didn't think Michael should've sacrificed himself. For whatever reason, he couldn't understand. What limited damage was she talking about. If it was about her mother's death, then he needed to assure her that the rest of their team were on their way. No one else was going to die, including her.
"You were in danger," Quickly, Michael attempted to reason with her. He might have been a bit harsh, but it was only so she would listen and snap out of whatever it was that had gripped her so tightly. Just like always, however, Nikita was too set in her ways to listen to him. She shook her head, consumed by the thoughts screaming in her head. What he wouldn't give to be able to read them. It had to be about more than the torture and her grief. Something was wrong. He had to help her, she had to let him in. If only she didn't keep locking him out.
"I was lost! I am lost. Michael, you just sacrificed yourself for a dead woman," Nikita sounded defeated. Michael had never seen her so broken or so willing to give up. When Daniel died, she was full of fury and determination. When Alex chose Division instead of her, she kept trying to save her. When she discovered Sean and Madeline were working for Oversight, she did everything she could to fight for her family and understand what was happening. When Ryan was 'killed', she vowed to avenge him. When Birkhoff was kidnapped, she handed over a black box just to save him. And when Carla betrayed her, she still sought forgiveness. Heartbreak never weighed her down, she was always stronger.
Until then. At that moment, she was ready to end her crusade and die. Brandt had managed to break her. Michael couldn't have that, however. Nikita couldn't think like that. If she had enough of a fighting spirit to rage a war with Division, if she was stubborn enough to wait for him to sort out his emotional shit, then she couldn't give up. She had pulled herself out of hell before, she could do it again. She had to do it again- not just for him, or her siblings, or her friends, but for herself. She had to prove she was the strongest woman in the world, the person he knew she was, "No. You are not dead. We can still…"
"Shut up. Shut up. Shut up. So typical. Always gotta do the right thing, right Michael? Can't ever be selfish- pure, noble Michael. You just had to give yourself up to this psycho, like you're some kind of martyr. Like you had to go and be with Cassandra and you just had to see your son. Why can't you ever say 'this is what I want, I don't care if it's wrong'?" Eyes slipping closed either from exhaustion or because she couldn't look at him anymore, Nikita snapped. There was venom in her voice, as well as pain. Her torment, grief, and hurt were exploding out of her, and the unfortunate target was Michael.
"You think I can't be selfish? This is the most selfish thing I've ever done. I did this because I had to see you one last time, even if I was killed. I did this because I love you," However, no matter how harsh they were, Michael was willing to fight her words. The more Nikita locked him out, the more determined he became to burst through her walls. She never gave up on him, even when he was being an ass- and even when he had given up on himself. So, there was no way in hell he would give up on her in return.
Tears started to mar her dirty cheeks. Nikita shook her head once more, but the motion seemed less controlled. Michael began to think that she wasn't in complete control of herself. Her earlier shout was right- she was lost. The hours of torture and dealing with her mother's killer must've caused something else to take over her. He had seen it happen to people before. It was a way to protect themselves from insufferable pain. He understood why she had to do that around Brandt. But she didn't need to protect herself from him. He loved her, "Don't do that."
"I don't have a choice," Michael softened his voice. Gentleness overcame him as he attempted to soothe her. He also attempted to bring himself closer, despite his restraints. The two probably shouldn't be talking about that right then. They should have focused on escaping and forming a plan to kill Brandt once Alex and Sean arrived. But there were too many raw emotions to ignore. They had to strengthen one another first- she had to return to her unshakeable self. And Michael had to keep telling Nikita that he loved her. She shouldn't be able to deny that.
"You have no idea who I am. If you did, you could never love me," Tears distorted Nikita's argument. She was so convinced of her words, nothing could change her mind. Hardly anything ever could change her mind anyway. Except, that was different. She didn't think herself capable of love, and that lack of belief in herself was killing her. Despite her friends and her family who supported her and cared for her, she wholeheartedly thought she didn't deserve love. But that wasn't true. It would never be true.
"No. No. I know exactly who you are," He wouldn't lie to her. Michael knew everything about Nikita. He knew her heart was incorruptible. He knew she loved with every fiber of her being, and didn't expect anything in return. He knew she was kind and fair, and that her war with Division was about more than revenge- it was about setting things right. He knew she never gave up on her friends and family, fighting tooth and nail for their lives. But above all else, he knew she was his sun. In the darkness of the world they found themselves in, Nikita was Michael's light. She was the person to have made him so strong. She was his hero.
"I have evil inside of me, Michael," Slightly above a whisper, Nikita shakily admitted. It took Michael back a bit. He definitely wasn't expecting that. Though, he could see where it was coming from. She had been abandoned, she had been hidden, she had been abused, and she had been used as a killer. She thought herself a monster- what else would explain the death that surrounded her. Except, just like her belief that she was unlovable, that was completely untrue. There was only goodness in her heart- the farthest thing from a monster.
"Maybe you do. Maybe that is a part of you. But that is all that it is, it is just a part. It is not all of you. And that is what I love. I love all of you," Ensuring that there was no possible way he could be misunderstood, Michael confessed. He'd repeat his love for her a million times if it meant it would break down her walls. He'd repeat every remarkable thing about her if that was what it took for her to believe she was worthy of kindness. Nikita only stared at him, though, tears continuing to fall. At least she wasn't fighting him. That was progress.
With a sigh, Nikita let her head roll back. Again, Michael tried to move closer to her. God, he wished he could hold her right then. Maybe if he pulled her into a secure embrace and never let go, she'd accept his words. He still had a chance to do that, though. The instant Alex and Sean arrived, they'd be free and could heal from the basement together. Michael should tell her about the tracker, give her hope that they had a chance. Yet he just got through to her about how worthy she was. He doubted she'd change her mind a second time, "We're going to die."
"Then we die together," Shrugging as best as he could, Michael relinquished the argument. Determination returned to her gaze, and he almost smiled. However, Brandt returned to the basement, ruining everything. Nikita immediately had murder in her sights. She was ready to tear her captor limb from limb. And when he punched Michael hard in the stomach, she screamed. It was brutal and gut wrenching and the perfect example of why she thought she was evil. At least it drew Brandt to her, giving her the chance to strike.
Pure rage filled Nikita with adrenaline. She broke free from her chains and attacked Brandt. Although still tied to a chair, Michael helped. Yet she was perfectly capable of slamming her captor's head into the ground. Each blow was for her mother, for her siblings, for Michael. However, her muscles were weak from the electrocution. Brandt easily flipped her off of him and grabbed her by the throat. She kicked as best as she could, yet it was of no use. She couldn't breathe. The edges of her vision blurred. That was when a shot rang out. The psychopath dropped Nikita and turned towards Sean, who was holding a gun. The Seal shot him four more times until he was down and out. Only then, did he rush to his sister, "Nikki, are you okay?"
Before she could respond, or wonder how Sean had arrived just in time to save her and how Alex was there helping Michael, Brandt started to stir at her feet. Immediately, Nikita ripped the gun from her brother's hand and shot her mother's killer in the head.