Alex sat with her back leaning up against the gravestone. She caressed the stone with her hand, a tear rolling its way down her face. She wiped it away with her other hand and took a deep breath. It had taken her longer than she had expected to come and see his grave. Sean had been taken down; not by her hand but by the actions which her hands had caused. Out of everything she had ever done, Sean had been the voice in her head telling her she didn't have to be strong all the time, she didn't have to be this mercenary that she was portraying. Her guard had gone down; he had gotten through her hard exterior and she had let him in just a little.
Her hand slipped over the engraved letters on the stone, Sean Pierce, Beloved son, brother and combat American, simper fi… The tears flowed freely from her eyes now and with no control left, she let them stream down her face.
Nikita stood on the edge of the green grass that led towards the Pierce plot. Her hands trembled slightly; she knew she was a part to blame for sean's death and she knew that Alex blamed her for it. She had always said, 'everyone just kept on dieing around her'. She was right. Nikita had left a trail of destruction behind her; it had almost claimed Michael from her so many times. She closed her eyes and took a few breaths.
Her hand kept on trembling and only ceased their assault when she felt a hand slide into her own. She knew it was Michael's; it was always Michael. I always had your back. She tightened the grip in his hand and turned to look at him. He looked back at her, eyes full of passion and love. 'You can't do this alone.' She rested her head on his shoulder and let her tired body relax a little. 'I just need this to be over Michael. I'm so tired. I cant keep fighting' Michael placed a gentle kiss to her head and breathed in her amazing scent. 'What is it that we are continuing to fight for anyway?' Nikita stood in front of him and looked directly at him. She then turned and pointed to the girl sitting on the ground not 200m from them, 'That Michael, that is what we are continuing to fight for. This wasn't her fight. I turned her into something she wasn't ready to be. I did this and now she has lost yet another person she loves. She has no one left Michael…' Michael couldn't help but let a small smile cross his lips. He lifted her face towards his and looked her in the eye, 'Don't you see Nikita?.. She has you… You go around waging war and think you're the only one willing to fight, but… I'm right here and Alex knew what she was signing up for. And yeah maybe she wasn't ready… but neither were you when you got dragged into this.. and I did that, me…. So if anyone is to blame for any of this… it's me. This all started when I brought you into Division. But we will get this done… you and me. We will make this right.' Nikita could never understand why Michael could love her; she was a monster and had done terrible things. He could see what was going through her mind and pulled her into his arms, 'I love you Nikita, and nothing you do or say can every change that.'
Alex rested her head on the stone behind her. 'I know this is a little late… but I am so sorry Sean… You know that right? I was just doing what I thought was best. This thing with Division, my revenge for my family, it just got out of control… and I know that it got you killed. It breaks me just to know that I never got to tell you….' , the words got caught in her throat but she continued, 'it hurts me to know that I never got to tell you that…. I love you… I know its past time for me to be telling you this but I need for you to forgive me, cause I did this, I got you killed and I'm sorry….' She closed her eyes and let the tears flow once again.
'I think he knows Alex.' She jumped a little at the voice but she didn't need to open her eyes to know who it was. 'What are you doing here?' Nikita had been expecting this reaction. She knew Alex blamed her. 'Come on Alex, please just hear me out?' Alex opened her eyes and through tear reddened eyes looked at Nikita who had kneeled in front of her. 'Why should I? Why should I listen to a word you have to say? You are just as much to blame for this as I am.' Nikita stood up and fiddled with a button of the sleeve of her leather jacket, 'I know Alex. I know.' At this Alex stood up and moved closer to stand in front of Nikita. 'If you know, why would you come here? To his grave?... How did you find me anyway?' Alex thought about that for a second, then realized, 'Birkoff.' Nikita nodded. 'We set up sight nets when you disappeared.' Alex frowned and felt a rage well up inside her, 'You were spying on me?' Her rage boiled over and she pushed Nikita. Nikita steadied herself, 'Alex please, I didn't come here to fight with you.' Alex wiped her face and looked at Nikita again,' Then why did you come here, Nikita… for forgiveness… for me to say to you that everything is ok? That you have nothing to be sorry for… Well I am sorry Nikita but this…. All of this is your fault… everybody who is dead…. Its…. All because of you.'
At hearing this Michael stepped out from behind a tree off to the side, 'That's not why we are here Alex.' Alex laughed and clapped her hands together, 'Of course, I should have known, Nikita never goes anywhere without her faithful puppy Michael following her.' Michael stepped up beside Nikita and looked Alex in the eye, 'I know your hurting Alex. Don't you think we've all been where you are right now? How do you think I got into Division in the first place? Things happen in war Alex, people die… its sad but we move on. We keep on fighting for what little we have left.' Alex shook her head and turned her back on both of them. 'You just don't get it do you Michael?' Upon saying this Alex turned back around and pointed a Glock at Nikita's head, 'we're all gonna die. Me, you, everybody, if we keep fighting this war that Nikita has everyone believing is necessary. You don't see that every time you follow her into some plan you guys have cooked up in a secret room somewhere that you are bringing yourself one step closer to death. You will die Michael and it will be because you are to blind to see, that she…. Doesn't love you as much as she loves this conflict.'
Michael moved and stood between Nikita and the gun being aimed at her head. Nikita grabbed Michael's arm, 'Michael, move out of the way.' Michael shook his head and stood firm on the spot, 'I can't do that Nikita, I am not going to let her kill you.' Nikita pulled his arm and turned him round to look at her, 'Michael please, I know you love me and will do anything to protect me but she is right. You don't need to keep putting yourself in danger for me, this is my fight, not yours, and definitely not hers, I see that now.' Michael gritted his teeth, 'This is OUR fight Nikita Division took something from me to, something I am trying so hard to get back with you. You don't have to do this alone.' Nikita caressed his cheek, 'I'm not alone Michael, you taught me that, but sometimes to save many you have to make sacrifices… this is mine.' Nikita moved and stood in front of Michael. 'If you're gonna do this Alex, get it over with.' Alex smirked and scoffed, 'Always making sacrifices aren't you Nikita, you always have to be the one to make things right. Well guess what? You can't ever make this right!'
Michael reached behind him and pulled out the stun gun he had in the back of his pants. He knew it would come in handy. Nikita may have been ready to sacrifice herself but he was going to make a selfish decision for both of them; he wasn't ready to let her go. Alex steadied her grip on the weapon and Michael took this split second of lost concentration to act… 'I'm sorry Alex but I can't let you.' With these words Michael aimed the stun gun and fired. The leads shot out of the weapon and hit their target. Alex's body convulsed and she dropped the weapon, collapsing to the ground.
Nikita let out a shuddering breath and turned to Michael. He shrugged and chuckled, 'You told me to be selfish. I couldn't just stand there and let her point a gun at you, even if she wasn't actually going to use it.' Nikita crouched down over Alex and picked up the gun. 'She is not going to be happy when she comes to.' Michael put the stun gun away and picked Alex up in his arms, 'She will realize that we did this for her own good.' Nikita looked down at the gravestone in front of her, her brow crinkling in thought, 'I hope your right.'