About forty-five minutes later the teams were at Walter's station getting their gear when up walked Operations. He looked at the gear laid out in front of his operatives. He then went over to Nikita's weapons and quickly switched the chips that she had for her guns and walked away with a smile on his face. The team left soon after.

After the team made it to the sight they began to disembark out of the van. Nikita instructed her team to search different areas in the building. Operations had told them that no one should be there so there should not be a problem. After being in there only a couple of minutes Nikita heard gunfire. She began calling out the names of her team members waiting for them to check in. Only one of the six members answered. And he was shot while in the process of speaking to her. "Nikita get out of there. Forget the disk and let's get out of here. This is an ambush."

Nikita wasted no time. She left as instructed. She then heard someone behind her and he ducked behind the wall. The man began to shoot. She immediately started shooting back. But she knew that she hit him directly because she was only a few feet away.

"Michael, I am pinned down. There is something wrong with my gun. It is not working. I cannot get out."

About that time Michael heard Operations over the comm. set.'' Pull out return to Section."

Michael said that Nikita was not out of the building yet. But Operations did not care. He just simply said that she was probably dead already.

Michael would not accept that. He jumped out of the van. Then he turned and said to Birkoff and the rest of the team.

"You can leave or you can wait for me to bring her back it is up to you."

The team all elected to stay and get Nikita out. They knew that they would get in trouble with Operations but they wouldn't let Nikita just die. She was well liked by almost everybody at Section, Except Operations.

The entire backup team then left the van and Birkoff gave the team directions as how to get to Nikita. When they found her she had been shot in the side and had passed out from the pain. The entire back up team made it back without any further loss of life. As Nikita lay in Michael's lap she opened her eyes. She then winced at the pain that went through her body.

"What happened?" Michael said as he stroked her hair. "I shot and shot but nothing happened." After she got these words out she passed out once again. Michael reached over to get the gun that was still clasped in her hand. He looked at the outside and there was nothing wrong with it. He then pulled out the clip and began to turn red with anger. Someone is going to pay for this, he thought to himself.

As he entered Section he carried Nikita to Medlab. The doctors told him that the bullet missed all organs and that she would probably be able to come home in a few days. Michael let out a much needed sigh.

Then he left for Madeline's office. As he entered he looked Madeline dead in the face and raised Nikita's gun at her and began to pull the trigger. Madeline flinched. She did not know what was going on. Michael then began to talk in a bitter and cold voice.

"Why was Nikita's gun filled with blanks? I know that Walter didn't do it. So that only leaves you and Operations." He stopped for a second and looked at her. "WHO DID IT?"

About that time three operatives ran through the door. They had heard the gunshots. But Madeline waved them away. Only after they were gone did Madeline begin to speak.

"Michael, I think that there is something that you need to know. Paul has been--" She stopped abruptly when Operations entered the room. She began talking again but she was on a different subject. "O.K. Michael I will set up a time to discuss this subject further."

Then he stood up as he saw a wave of her hand signaling at he was to leave. Something was going and he was going to find out what.

-----------------------------------------

After about four days Nikita was released from Medlab. She could not wait to get out of there. Michael was there when she awoke. He helped her get dressed and get out to his car. He did not want her driving home alone. Once he got there he went and looked around the apartment as if he was expecting someone to jump out at any minute.

"What are you doing Michael? Is something wrong?" Nikita asked.

"I really do not know. I just have a bad feeling. But I am going to find out today, if you leave here come into Section, O.k." Nikita agreed with Michael.

As soon as Michael walked into Section that evening he went straight to Madeline's office.

"O.k. now Madeline, Tell me what is going on." It was not a question. He wanted answers.

"We are having a problem with Operations. I have notified the Agency to see what we are supposed to do about it. He has gotten into his mind that if he destroys Nikita bit by bit that you will become his idea of a perfect operative once again. He is doing this because he wants it and not for the good of the Section. He had made up his mind that Nikita is going to die. I have also found out that he is the one that set up the ambush the other day. He also is the one that switched Nikita's gun clip."

This sent shivers up Michael's spine. "What are we going to do about it?" Michael wanted to just go and kill him right then, but he knew that Section would not approve.

"Send Nikita to my office in about an hour. Then you come back after about half and hour later. We need to find a hiding place so that Operations will not find her until we are able to hear from the Agency." Madeline said.

Michael went to her house to pick her up. She had fallen asleep again. But this time she was not having nightmares. She was dreaming of her and Michael together making love. She never wanted to wake up.

Michael let himself in to check on her since she did not answer the door. He went to her bedroom and instead of lying there in tears she had a huge smile on her face. Michael could not resist the urge to kiss her. He walked over and kissed her very softly on the lips. With that she opened her eyes and leaned up and kissed him back.

"We have to go into Section. Come on get up and get dressed."

She got up but she still had the smile, after looking at her Michael was able to smile too.

As they walked into Section Birkoff stopped them. "Michael. Madeline wants to see you in her office before Nikita. She said to come as soon as you get in." Michael turned and told Nikita that he would be back...

"Michael. I want you to run over to Nikita's house and pick her up some clothes. I do not want her going alone because I believe that Operations knows what is going on. Tell Nikita to wait about fifteen minutes and then come in. I have to phone the Agency to find out what is to happen to Operations." Michael nodded and walked out of the office.

"Nikita, Madeline wants to see you also. Wait about fifteen minutes and then go up there." Nikita agreed and began to talk to Birkoff when she saw Michael about to go out the door.

"Wait a minute. Where are you going?"

Michael turned around. "I have something to do. Don't worry Madeline is going to explain everything to you." He rubbed his hand across her face and walked out.

======================================

BACK IN MADELINE'S OFFICE

Madeline had just hung up the phone with the Agency when she heard Operations walk into the office. He did not say a word. He just walked over and sat a miniature tape recorder on her desk. When is started to play Madeline heard her own voice talking to Michael. She did not know that there were bugs in 'her' office.

"So you talked to the Agency about me. Why?"

Madeline was not going to back down from him. She just glared at him. "You know perfectly well why. You are the one that sent two teams into an ambush. One team did not return."

"It is an expectable loss if we get what I am hoping for."

Then he turned and backhanded Madeline across the face. She in turn fell back into the chair. Operations began to hit her over and over. She knew self defense but it was no match for someone who had taught it.

After about five minutes of beatings he stopped and reached and wrapped his hands around her neck. Just as she was about to close her eyes she saw Nikita walk into the room. Operations looked at Nikita and smiled. Then he began to squeeze that much harder. Even as weak as Nikita was she ran over and kicked him in the side. He let go of Madeline and she hit the floor. Operations bent over in pain.

Nikita ran over to Madeline trying to get her out of there. She was still in pain from her gunshot wound and she having trouble getting her off the floor. About that time Nikita felt a pair of strong hands around her neck. She let go of Madeline and turned to hit operations. But still in her condition she was not match for him.

He then let Nikita go and pulled a gun out of his jacket. He then simply turned to her and told her to walk. Madeline tried to get up to stop them and he backhanded her again. As they walked out onto the main floor Operations whispered in her ear.

"If you scream or do anything to alert someone that there is something wrong I will shoot Birkoff. Do you Understood." Nikita nodded her head and walked out. Birkoff looked at her as she was leaving. She seemed uneasy to him. But she smiled and led Operations out the door.

"Where are you going?"

Nikita smiled at Birkoff. "We need to go and talk to Michael."

About ten minutes later Michael walked into the front door of Section.

"Where is Nikita?" Birkoff asked.

"She is in Madeline's office." He said and started to walk towards the office.

"No Michael she left a little while ago with Operations. She acted like something was wrong. I asked her where she was going and she said to see you." Michael's blood ran cold. He then took off towards Madeline's office.

He walked into the office and did not see Madeline anywhere. He walked in a little bit further and saw her feet behind the desk. He ran and dialed a few numbers to get medical there right away. Madeline began to speak.

"Michael. He's got Nikita. He is going to kill her. The Agency wants him cancelled. You will now become Operations. Go and get Nikita." As soon as medical showed up he left.

He went to Birkoff's station without even saying a word just grabbing him by the shirt to get him to follow him to Walter. Once they made it to Walter he was about to begin to speak when Walter said something.

"What in God's name happened to Madeline?" Michael turned around and saw them wheeling her by. She was unconscious. He turned back.

"Operations took Nikita. He has gone crazy. He is the one that set up the ambush. The whole meaning was to kill Nikita, When Madeline tried to warn Nikita and me he found out and did that to her. Now he has got Nikita and we have to get to her before he kills her. The Agency has relieved him of his position and he is to be cancelled on site. But I will be the one that does that."

After Michael had explained all that had happened to them they quickly got their weapons together and left. There was no time to get a team together. And at this moment and time they did not know who to trust. Operations could have got to anyone.

Nikita had been knocked unconscious and when she came to she could not tell where she was at because her vision was all blurry. After a few minutes she realized that she was at her apartment. But she was bound hands and feet to a chair. A couple of minutes later Operations walked out of the bathroom.

"So you are awake now. Good now we can talk."

"You know that they are going to kill you. So why are you doing this?"

"I am doing this because it is what Section needs." he said.

"And what could that be?"

"Michael. I want the real Michael back. You took what was a killing machine and turned him into an emotional child. Before he would get the job done no matter what the cost and no matter who got killed. But now all he does is try to protect you. I guess I will just have to teach him a lesson again."

"What do you mean again?" Nikita asked.

"He was like this one other time. And so I decided to give Simone over to Glass Curtain. Michael did not know that it was me. But he became a machine he did whatever was asked of him. I decided that I am going to kill you in front of him. Because I do not only want his soul, I want his heart to. Without them he will do whatever I tell him. "Operations smiled.

"You are deluded. The only thing that is going to happen when Michael gets here is me watching you die, Bastard!!"

Operations punched her in the face. He was very satisfied to see line of blood began to stream down her cheek.

"Do you know where they are Michael?" Birkoff asked as they got into the section van.

"I have an idea. If you were searching for a kidnap victim, where is the only place that you would not look?" The other two men were quiet for a minute.

"Is it their home?" Walter looked up at Michael. Michael nodded his head and continued to load his gun.

Operations had beaten her without mercy. She could no longer keep her head up but that did not stop her from calling him everything that she could think of. About that time Nikita heard something outside. She knew who it was and she prayed that everything would be o.k.

After only a few minutes the door slammed open and in walked Michael, Walter and Birkoff. All of their guns were aimed at Operations. But Operations gun was held against Nikita's head. Walter and Birkoff did not know what to do. They were waiting for Michael could tell them what he wanted done. But before Michael could say anything Operations lifted up another gun and shot both Birkoff and Walter. Nikita did see this and she began screaming. Michael raised the gun at Operations head. With one shot he was dead but when as the shot hit Operations he saw Nikita's chest explode with the color of Crimson.

He immediately ran to her side. He untied the ropes that bound her and she fell into his arms. Nikita just knew that she was dying. And she turned to Michael.

"I'll love you forever." Michael kissed her and called out for Medical to come to the apartment. Michael just held her. And he vowed to her as the darkness claimed her.

"I love you and I always will. It is going to be different. I won't let you die. I won't let you leave me. I can't make it without you."

Authors Note: Please let me know what you think of it so far.