Sean was looped in on what was occurring, while Michael and Nikita contacted Division. He tried to process his shock as quickly as he could, but it was just too much. Not only was Alex putting herself in danger by coming back to life, but his old teacher was involved with bastards. None of it was making any sense. He tried to focus on other things, and ask how his sister handled meeting with their mother again. Yet she was too determined on the present situation. He doubted she'd talk to him anyway. Saving Ms. Bennet and getting answers was far more important to her. She wouldn't delve into her feelings then.

Fortunately, Amanda and Sonya (the hacker that had actually given Birkhoff a run for his money) agreed to work with the team; the enemy of their enemy really was their friend at the moment. It wasn't going to last long, however. Division was going to raid the same warehouse to kill Percy. If the team was hellbent on rescuing Ms. Bennet, they had to leave immediately. Sean rolled out with Michael and Nikita, not caring about his Seal status. His sister needed him, even if she hadn't said as much. Besides, he needed her too.

The mission was- well it was a mission. Percy escaped with Roan, but at least Ms. Bennet was safe. She was on one of the beach house's couches, recovering from a head injury. Michael watched over her, as Sean and Nikita collapsed in a chair. They probably shouldn't have shared one. Yet it was a habit from when they were little that they seemed to have fallen back into; both were too stubborn to move. Kicking and pushing, they struggled to get comfortable. The siblings somehow managed it, and Sean sighed in defeat, "Our mom. Our teacher. Who's next? Our neighbors?"

"I honestly wouldn't be surprised if the Stepps were involved with this shit," Nikita huffed. She elbowed her brother in an attempt to better sit in the chair. Although Sean grunted painfully, he didn't stop her; he'd lose any battle they got into. The siblings settled once more, and simply stared off into space. Their mission could be considered a success, but to what point. They were just going to receive more answers they wouldn't know how to deal with. Conspiracies and secret organizations were all fun and games when it was only a movie or a story. But since it controlled their lives, and the people they looked up to were the ones to blame, it was stressful and heartbreaking.

"Well yeah. You stole their newspapers," Instead of voicing his darker thoughts, Sean attempted an old joke. Nikita instantly became pissed. Even after all those years, she continued to be angered by her former neighbors. Her brother wanted to laugh at her over it. He knew she hadn't actually done anything. Their neighbors blamed her for nothing, disliking her for frivolous and stupid reasons. He would've thought she had gotten over it and moved on. There were so many other things in her life to piss her off. Apparently, he was wrong, "Are you still sensitive about that?"

"You're one to talk, Boy Scout," With another sharp jab, Nikita retaliated. If anyone could hold resentment, it'd be a Pierce. The Stepps had thrown her judging looks and cruel words for most of her childhood- of course she'd stay angry. Sean should've known that by her constant frustrations towards Division, Gogol, and Madeline; she wasn't quick to forgive those that had done her or her loved ones wrong. He couldn't say anything about it. They were siblings, after all. And he still became upset about the way she called him 'boy scout'.

Hazel eyes rolled. Sean tried not to let his irritation show; he had to be better than his sister. Nikita caught him, however. Despite themselves and the situation, the two began to chuckle. They were probably just tired- exhausted from everything they had to face. But humor took hold of them nonetheless. It was light, soft laughter that had them sinking back against the chair, and nudging each other gently. Everything appeared to melt away as the siblings mocked one another. It was almost like old times. He even had a mumbled excuse to survive her teasing, "That's 'cause I hadn't heard it in ten years."

"Sure it is," Nikita smirked. Sean tried to punch her leg, but she beat him to it by stomping on his foot. He held back a yelp, and she bit back a laugh. Glancing over at the two, Michael smiled to himself. The Pierce siblings consistently managed to lighten the mood in the safehouse. Whether they were screaming nonsense at one another, or playing around like they were kids, it was an entertaining sight. Birkhoff, Alex, and Michael could easily be swept up in the craziness, and forget whatever stressful thing was bringing them down. The matching smiles that bloomed across Nikita's and Sean's faces helped.

All of that faded as Ms. Bennet began to stir on the couch. Sean and Nikita grew quiet, staring blankly at their former teacher. Michael moved out of the way in an attempt to give them privacy. That was something the two had to discuss and solve by themselves; he'd be nearby, however, to support them as needed. Silence quickly swooped over the room- no one was sure how to start things off. Ms. Bennet decided to take a stab at it, smiling softly at the Pierces, "I told you two you'd do great things someday."

Nikita and Sean shared a look before glancing away. After dealing with their mother's involvement in Oversight, neither wanted to process any more betrayal. There had to have been a nice and easy explanation. Unfortunately, Ms. Bennet didn't have one, "Nikita, Sean, I know you have a lot of questions. I have spent so much time on the run, just lost in my own head. And then to see you. When you told me you were in Division, Nikita, I couldn't believe it. I thought it was a trick. I couldn't accept the coincidence. Then I remembered, there are no coincidences."

"I'm not in your class anymore. I don't care about your philosophy, Carla. I want the truth," Nikita forced back the awkwardness of calling her teacher by her first name, and focused on her anger. She didn't want to go through the 'I can't believe you're alive' thing again. It was painful enough with Sean in that Belarussian hotel room. And Madeline seeing her for the first time in ten years after the Oversight meeting. But the way Ms. Bennet stared at her once she saw her at the train tracks just hurt. She had had her life stolen from her. It didn't only ruin her. The people she loved and cared for were just as damaged.

"The truth is: this is a nightmare for me. You two being involved in this. How could I have ever wanted this for you? All I have ever wanted to do was help you. But what's so crazy, is that you two didn't just survive in the desert. You thrived," Ignoring the outburst, Ms. Bennet gave attention to the truth. She had always meant her wildflower comments- no matter the adversity, they would grow and thrive. Her former students were the perfect example of that. Who were once aimless and irresponsible teenagers, became strong and determined adults. They were a sight to behold.

Whereas Sean remained perfectly still in his seat, Nikita shot to her feet. She mumbled for Ms. Bennet to stop, and turned towards Michael. He dropped his guard as she approached, attempting to reach for her. However, Carla wasn't ready to let it all go. The Pierces had to understand what was occurring. Not only was it complicated, it also wasn't terrible, "Nikita, Sean, just listen to me. What I'm trying to tell you is that everything that has happened to you is a gift. No, more than that. I believe it's destiny. Our destiny."

"Alright. That's enough," Michael finally stepped in, blocking Ms. Bennet from taking any more steps towards Nikita. He spared a glance back at her to see tears in her brown eyes. That was definitely the last thing she wanted to hear. No one could stand hearing the trauma they faced was a blessing. The conversation she had had with her adopted mother wasn't helping in the matter. Michael had to push past it, try to get to the bottom of things. That couldn't have been where they left it, "I don't believe a word you're saying, and I was at Division for ten years. I've never heard of you. When Nikita escaped, Percy and Amanda said she was the first."

"And that's true. Because I wasn't in the program. I created it," The fact that Ms. Bennet's voice was full of pride, practically slapped Nikita in the face. She stared at her teacher, rage, hurt, heartbreak, and betrayal boiling in her veins. How could that have been possible. She had been good and kind. She helped kids; she never would have put them in harm's way. So how the fuck could she have made a hellhole like Division. And how the fuck could she have been proud of that damn place.

That was the last straw for Nikita. She tensed her shoulders, clenched her jaw, and glared unflinchingly. It was as though she had completely shut down. Nothing could have been said or done to change her attitude. One more person she had loved revealed themselves as a corrupt, evil, monster. And they didn't see the problem with that. Sean did, though. He jumped out of the chair, marching over to Ms. Bennet. He couldn't believe anything he was hearing. Why must he and his sister deal with such disastrous truths, "Did our mom know?"

"Why would she have known?" Ms. Bennet attempted to remain calm. The best way to settle the angry siblings was to not become overwhelmed herself. Yet they were confusing her. She was still trying to figure out how Nikita was alive. She remembered the car accident before school that had killed her. She couldn't fathom how it was possible she was in Division. She also couldn't see the connection between the program and a senator. As far as she knew, Madeline Peirce didn't work for counterintelligence.

"Oversight. The corrupt group that runs the corrupt mercenaries," Sean's attempt to clarify things didn't go over well. Ms. Bennet glanced around the room, absolutely baffled. Division hadn't been corrupt while she was there; they had done great things. Her attention landed on Michael, but he was too focused on Nikita to contribute anything to the conversation. He had seen her shut down like that before. It was after Daniel died, and it was very, very bad. Everything pressing down on her must've finally made her snap. It wasn't going to get better soon.

There had to have been some sort of solution they could come to. Yet Michael was drawing a blank. Sean's lividity, Carla's ignorance, and Nikita's shock was too much to work around. They all needed a break. Sighing, Michael willingly stepped into the fray. He raised placating hands, and offered the best course of action for the remainder of the night, "Look. It's been a long couple of days. Why don't we rest for the night, and go over everything in the morning."

"I need to get out of this fucking house anyway," Muttering, Sean agreed. He stormed out of the beach house and slammed the door behind him. That appeared to break Nikita out of her spell, but only for a second. One look at Carla, and she took off after her brother. She was practically running when she got onto the beach, as though the intense action would drive away her morose thoughts. Michael and Ms. Bennet were soon left alone with the heavy silence revelations brought. What was there to do to get past it.

Michael tried to go after Nikita, at least. He had to help her calm down. He had to help her be happy again. But, Ms. Bennet stopped him. Nikita needed a minute to herself; both Pierces needed to collect themselves on their own. It wouldn't do anyone good to rush their process. Their stubbornness and frustrations were too great. As their former teacher, Carla understood that. However, she hadn't known them for ten years. She didn't know who they were as much as she thought she did, "Let them go. They need a moment."