Birkoff paced back and forth in front of the tech wall. He took another swig of the energy drink in his hand; where were they? Sonia sat on the sofa to the left of the wall, 'Seymore please stop pacing, your making me dizzy.' Birkoff stopped and looked at Sonia who smiled sadly at him, 'they will be ok. It's Michael and Nikita. They get through everything.' Birkoff nodded, 'It's not them I am worried about.' He went back to pacing; only stopping when heard an alarm begin to beep from his computer. He went over to his computer and had a look, 'It's the external door alarm, must be Niki and Michael.' He hit a few keys and as he had suspected Nikita came down the stairs. 'Where's Micha…' Birkoff didn't even get to finish his sentence; Michael came down the stairs behind her carrying Alex. 'Ok, she obviously didn't want to come with you guys.' Michael placed Alex gently on the rack that was beside the sofa, 'She had a gun aimed at Nikita's head, I had to do something before she killed her.'
Nikita put the glock and her own weapon on the counter, 'she wasn't going to shoot me.' Michael turned to her and frowned, 'How do you figure that? Last time you guys weren't seeing eye to eye you shot her remember? Don't you think she would do the same to you?' Nikita leant heavily on the bench, 'Its not the same thing Michael. I shot her to protect her. Its different.' Michael nodded, 'Yeah it is different, the difference being she actually wants to kill you. She lost the person she loves Nikita, that can drive a person to do things you wouldn't expect them to.' Nikita ran a hand through her hair, 'You don't know that Michael? This is Alex we are talking about here.' Michael clenched his hands into fists, 'Yeah this is Alex we are talking about here, the same Alex who shot Ryan, who caused a an uprising at Division, who has on countless occasions put yours, and everyone else's life in danger just to please herself. Yeah there is a difference here Nikita and it is that your not doing this for some misguided revenge plot.' Birkoff could see that things were getting heated and decided to intervene. 'Guys.. come on. Does any of that really matter right now? I think the more pressing concern is what we are going to do when she wakes up.?' Michael had a few ideas about that. He walked over to the hardware case on the floor and retrieved a set of handcuffs. He then went and handcuffed one of Alex's hands to the railing of the rack. 'Michael what are you doing?' Michael looked up at Nikita, 'Birkoff is right. She isn't going to be happy when she comes to so I am doing the only thing I know how to do… and that is protect us.'
Birkoff looked at Nikita, 'I'm sorry to say Niki but Michael is right. This is the best way to keep everybody alive. You can do what ever you want with her when she comes to but, I for one, don't feel safe with her roaming around, especially with all the revenge of my dead boyfriend vibes she's got going on.' Nikita sighed, she knew that there was nothing that she could say to either of them; she just had to let this run its course. 'Ok, but as soon as she is awake and I've had a chance to talk to her, calm her down, the handcuffs come off.' Michael nodded, 'you do what you feel you need to do Nikita, just know, not everybody can be saved. I think she has proven that time and time again.' With these words Michael walked out of the room and headed for their bedroom.
Nikita closed her eyes and took a few breaths. 'Birkoff can you keep an eye on her for a little while.' She went to explain why but Birkoff cut her off, 'Go Niki I got this.' Nikita walked over to him and pulled him into a hug, 'Thanks nerd.' Birkoff watched her walk out of the room. He looked over at the sleeping form of Alex. He hoped that this wasn't going to come back and cause them more trouble.
Michael sat on the edge of the bed with his head in his hands. He knew that Nikita loved him but sometimes it was more than he could handle when she was being stubborn. Nikita walked into the room and slid a hand through his hair and placed a gentle kiss on the top of his head. 'I'm sorry.' Michael closed his eyes tighter, 'Please don't. Don't just say your sorry because you want this situation to be over.' Nikita sat down beside him, 'Michael please..' Michael sat up and turned his body to face hers. He grabbed both of her hands in his. 'I love you okay, you know that, but there comes a point when you have to stop and see what's really going on. I know you want to help Alex and somehow feel responsible for her but you've done enough. It's time to stop. It's time to do things for you…. For us.' Nikita looked down at her hands that were intertwined with his. 'I am responsible for her Michael. I saved her that night. I brought her back into Division life; I made her how she is. I destroyed her.' Tears began to make their way down her face. Michael reached up and wiped them away with his thumb. 'Not all the wrongs in the world are your fault Nikita.' He pulled her into a hug. She held him tight and buried her face in his neck.
They broke the embrace after a few moments. Michael stood up and removed his shirt; his body ached. 'I know its not always easy being with me Michael, and whether you believe me or not, I am sorry for that.' Michael turned and faced Nikita and looked at her with sad eyes. 'We are in this together. You freed me from Division Nikita, and I will always be grateful to you for that but please don't ever apologize for being you. You may be stubborn and intense sometimes but as I have told you before, I love you… all of you.' Michael walked over to her and grabbed her hands once again. Nikita couldn't help but look at the scar on his wrist. She traced it will her index finger, feeling the roughness course across her soft skin. Michael knew what Nikita was thinking. She still felt guilty about cutting off his hand; partly because while recovering he had made her feel like she had made the wrong choice by saving his life.
He placed a gentle kiss on her lips, 'we will work this out okay? I promise.' Nikita kissed him back. She just wanted to be normal, and when she was with Michael she could at least pretend for a little while that she was. 'What if Birkoff is right Michael?' Michael could do little more than smile at that. 'Birkoff? Right about what?' Nikita traced a circle on Michaels chest, 'what if I need this danger to keep things between us going? What if I keep fighting because I don't think I can be normal… have a normal life?' Michael lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. 'I don't need you to be normal. I just need you… and maybe you do need some danger in your life to make you feel like your making a difference, but you can never forget where you have come from and the good you've done. You want to be normal?' Michael turned and pulled her towards the bathroom. She smiled and followed him. He turned on the shower and let the steam fill the room; coating their skin. Nikita let the water laden air envelope her. Michael stepped up to her and lifted her shirt over her head and dropped it to the floor. 'We are going to relax like normal people for a little while.' Nikita wrapped her arms around Michael's neck and began to play with the short hair at the nape of his neck. 'We aren't normal Michael.' Michael nodded and kissed her again, 'I know were not but we can pretend just for a while.' Nikita smiled and let Michael lift her up so she was sitting on the vanity. 'I think I can do that…' Michael smiled and kissed her again, 'good, because you don't have a choice.' Nikita chuckled softly into the kiss.