As she had expected, Daryl had adjusted quickly to his new life at the Academy, and was fast making friends with the other children. Angela was one of the first children that Nikita introduced Daryl to, and the two hit it off right away. When the perceptive little girl sensed the growing connection between Nikita and Daryl, her excitement at having a new friend grew by leaps and bounds. After all, she had always wanted an older brother, and it seemed that her 'mother' had even found that for her as well.

So it was with some sadness that Nikita left her two 'children' after Daryl was comfortably settled in. In the transport back to Section, she closed her eyes and remembered her last meeting with Daryl and Angela before she left...

Nikita's office was deemed the safest place to meet without any fear of the other students asking questions. After the two children were inside, she sat them close to her and pulled out a yellow pad, fully aware of the positions of the security cameras in the room. Taking out a marker so she could write quickly, she scrawled on the notepad, 'Do you trust me, Daryl?'

When the teen looked over to her and nodded, Nikita wrote on the pad, 'Angela is very special to me. She is my adopted 'daughter'. She likes you- thinks you are her 'big brother'. Is that OK?'

Daryl looked over at the precocious little girl sitting on the other side of Nikita. She was several years younger than he was, but she had grown on him even in the few days he'd known her. Daryl was still confused, though. Just what was Nikita asking?

As if she had anticipated Daryl's confused response to her statement, Nikita wrote, 'Can you promise me you'll take care of Angela when I'm not around? Be her real big brother?' This was a calculated move on her part. True, she did like Daryl a lot, and she was impressed with his ability to take care of himself and adapt quickly to a difficult situation. But she also figured that having someone to take care of would keep him from getting consumed with missing his old life.

It didn't take Daryl long to decide what he wanted to do. All of his life he had been the 'baby' - the one everyone wanted to take care of. First Mom and Dad, then everyone in Major Crimes. Blair had related to him on his level, but Blair was gone. And now, Nikita trusted him enough to take care of her daughter? He wanted to make sure that he was worthy of that big a responsibility. In fact, he was determined to become worthy of it. Smiling, he nodded his agreement...

And Nikita was shaken out of her pleasant thoughts by the transport pulling into Section. Michael was waiting for her as she left the van. "Operations and Madeline would like to speak with you immediately."

Nodding her acceptance of the order, Nikita turned the corner to head for Madeline's office. As he escorted her, Michael asked, "Is the boy settled in?"

Nikita nodded. "He's doing quite well, actually." Pulling Michael in for a conspiratorial whisper, Nikita confided, "Angela thinks of him as her 'big brother'."

Even through Michael's emotionless exterior, Nikita could pick up the slight dread on his face, and she knew Michael was dreading the thought of being 'father' to another child. "Relax, Michael," she whispered, "He hasn't even met you yet." Turning her thoughts from Daryl to more important business, she knew that Daryl's friends Jim and Blair would be two weeks into their training by now. She asked her mentor, "How are Ellison and Sandburg doing?"

"Excellent. They show great promise. With the uniqueness of their backgrounds I believe they could finish their training even sooner than most."

"Really?" Nikita raised an eyebrow in surprise. Apparently the two men were being treated differently from the other recruits.

"Considering their backgrounds, that shouldn't be surprising, Nikita. Both men have areas in which they are stronger than most, and since they are to be considered as one operative - "

That piece of news stopped Nikita in her tracks. "Wait a minute, they're to be considered as -one-?"

Michael shrugged. "After Madeline looked at their police records, she figured it would be best-"

"And Operations agreed to this?" [He must -really- be in love with that woman...]

Michael nodded.

Nikita shook her head in amazement as Michael opened the door to Madeline's office, effectively ending their conversation. As the two operatives sat down in the office, Madeline greeted them, "Welcome back, Nikita. How is Daryl doing?"

Calmly, Nikita replied, "Quite well, thank you."

Madeline nodded her approval. Apparently Nikita had developed a connection to the boy in the short time she had been there. Nikita's seemed as protective of Daryl as she was of Angela-a relationship which had been beneficial for all of them.

Operations then turned to Michael and asked, "And how are Ellison and Sandburg doing?"

"Excellent. They work better together than many of our more experienced teams. I believe that, considering the strength of their combined experience, they will be able to complete their training in less time than it is taking the other recruits."

Operations wasn't entirely convinced that letting the two stay together was such a good idea. "Do you have any indication that they could be planning some sort of rebellion or escape?"

Michael shook his head. "They're both fully aware of the danger in which that would place not only them, but Daryl as well. They've made their peace with where they are."

Operations wasn't totally convinced, but he was relieved nonetheless. "Good. Now about your next mission..."

In deference to their unique 'single op' status, Jim and Blair were allowed to room together, with a second bed being moved in to the quarters to properly accommodate them. Tired and sore, Blair stumbled into those quarters and collapsed on his bed, hoping that someone wouldn't be coming to move him for at least an hour or so.

Looking up from his computer 'homework', Jim laughed as he heard his partner moan from the other side of the room. "Tough workout today, chief?"

Not willing to form a coherent sentence yet, Blair simply nodded. Self-defense was one of the few classes that Blair took without Jim, along with basic weapons. The rest of their classes were taken together. At the beginning, Jim took some computer classes alone when it had become clear that Blair knew far more about technology than his partner, but the quick-witted former soldier caught on quickly, and they were paired together in that class now as well.

Finally finding enough energy to find his voice, Blair called to his roommate, "Hey Jim?"

Not looking up from his homework, Jim replied, "Yeah, chief?"

"Don't you find it odd that they kept us together like this?"

Jim looked up from his book to look over at his partner. Ever since Jim realized that they were being monitored pretty much everywhere they went, they had learned to communicate volumes to each other just from reading body language and facial expressions. He asked his partner, "What do you mean, chief?"

"You've seen the other recruits - they seem to be kept pretty much separate from each other. They even have separate rooms. I haven't seen anyone else in an arrangement like this."

"Yeah, I noticed that, too."

"Do you have any ideas why that is?" Translation - *Do you think that they know about your Sentinel abilities?*

"Nope. Maybe they found out about your habit for getting into trouble when you're on your own. We wouldn't want to cause an international incident, now would we?" Translation - *No, and until it becomes overwhelmingly obvious that they -do- know, let's not look a gift horse in the mouth, shall we?*

Blair sighed. "I suppose you're right."

Jim smiled in return. "Good. Now could you give me a hand with this computer homework? There's something I'm missing here..."

One year later...

The cold air whipped around Simon Banks' long trenchcoat as he visited the spot he knew as well as any spot in Cascade. Better, actually. Cascade was no longer home to him, anymore. Sure, he lived in Cascade, and worked in Cascade, but neither his office nor his apartment felt like home to him anymore. If anything, this spot seemed to feel more like home now. He laughed at the semi- philosophical thought that rose unbidden to his mind. [The walking dead among the resting dead...] For without his Sentinel or his Guide or even his son to watch over, Simon Banks could very well be considered the walking dead.

Suddenly feeling very tired, he sat down on the bench that faced the dual headstone and sighed. This place had become his confessional and sanctuary; he came here when the pain of not having them around became too much to bear. He spoke directly to the headstone as if he were sitting on the sofa in their loft. "Joel finally asked for a reassignment today. Said he wanted to go back to the bomb squad. I didn't ask him why - I just signed the transfer papers without a word and sent him on his way. He's the last one from the old squad to leave. I think he was hoping I'd change. Be my old self again."

He tilted his head upward to face the sky and laughed bitterly. "Like that's ever going to happen! Everything I had, heck, everything I -am- somehow got wrapped up in you two and Daryl...and what happens? I lose all of you at once. Diane visits once a week, '...just to check up on me...', or so she says. I think she's really doing it to make sure I'm not taking this out on the new guys. After word got out what I've become, no one in the department wants to transfer to Major Crimes anymore. When anyone leaves, they always replace 'em with a rookie. Can you believe it, Jim? Fifteen years in the department and I'm stuck overseeing a bunch of rookies again. At least they all have the good sense to be scared of me."

Compelled to get up and be closer to their grave, Simon walked over and ran his hands over the special carving of a panther and hawk that he had insisted should be featured prominently on the headstone. No one but himself, Sharon and Diane knew the significance, but those who knew found the symbolism fitting. Swearing to himself, he confessed, "I don't think Major Crimes has solved more than a dozen cases since you..." His voice refused to say 'died', so he continued, now in a pleading tone. "Where are you guys when we need you?"

"They're not here."

Jumping from the shock of hearing another voice in this place, Simon wheeled around to face Sharon, who was now sitting next to -his- spot on the bench. Regaining a minute semblance of composure, Simon exclaimed, "Share, you scared the hell out of me!"

"I know." Sharon took a good look at the devastated man in front of her. It had only been a year, but he looked about as good as she felt, that much was clear. She hadn't been able to face any of them since the funeral - it was too painful a reminder of what that accident caused her to lose. Now, she realized just how much her friends must were suffering, as well. She would have gone to see him at the office, but her news just couldn't wait... "Did you hear what I told you, Simon?"

He nodded, adding bitterly, "I heard, Share, and if you're going to give me some sort of religious mumbo-jumbo about the two of them watching over us from heaven, believe me I've heard it all before."

"That's not what I'm telling you, and you know it, Watcher."

Simon's brow furrowed in confusion as to why she would use the term he hadn't heard used for himself in over a year. Still, as she walked closer to him, Sharon continued to insist, "Search your heart. Go past the grief, Watcher, and you'll see that it's true."

Unable to resist the mystical quality that had been infused into Sharon's command, Simon took a deep breath and tried to retreat deep into his thoughts. It was at that moment that he came to a powerful realization: the reason he continued to come to this place day after day after day was because, deep in his heart, he refused to believe they were dead. He kept coming because he was trying to convince himself that two charred corpses plus a grave equaled death. And in this case, it did - just not the deaths of his Sentinel and Guide. Opening his eyes, he looked over to Sharon with an expression akin to awe. "They're alive, aren't they?" At Sharon's pained nod, Simon asked, "How did you know?"

Sighing, Sharon replied, "I honestly didn't. I didn't want to believe that they were dead, but after the funeral, I forced myself to grieve and get on with what little of my life I could. Diane probably told you that I haven't seen her since the funeral?" At Simon's nod, Sharon continued, "I've pretty much thrown myself into Bureau work full-time. I tried to separate myself from as much of the Cascade PD as possible. I even moved into a tiny little apartment near the Bureau offices-sold my piano and everything. Didn't want anything around me that reminded me of them."

Confused, Simon asked, "So what happened?"

"Jay called me the other day..."

It was 11 am on a Sunday when the phone rudely woke Sharon from a deep slumber. She didn't want to get out of bed - like there was ever a day she did. However, since she sold her answering machine... "What?"

"Share? It's Jay."

"Jay, I finally got to sleep five minutes ago, so I'm hanging up now...goodbye."

"WAIT! I have something you need to hear!"

"Jay, you couldn't possibly-"

"Your Doc Sandburg and his partner are alive."

-That- got her attention. "Go on. I'm listening."

She could practically hear Jay smile over the phone. "Now there's the old Share I know and love! All right, here's the details..."

Looking straight at Simon, Sharon explained, "There's a covert anti-terrorist group called Section One. These guys are deeper than covert black ops - most governments in the world don't even know they exist. Anyway, Jay had been monitoring some of their communications, and he picked up on training reports for an Ellison and Sandburg - Jim and Blair. I believe that this group may be holding them."

"Against their will?"

"Most definitely."

"What about Daryl?"

Sadly, Sharon shook her head. "They're not the type of group to handle deviations to their plans well. More than likely he really was killed in that accident, if they didn't outright kill him themselves. I'm sorry."

As much as that admission added to the grief over the loss of his son, Simon still felt a spark of hope light deep in his heart. Jim and Blair were alive!

That spark of hope, though, warred with confusion over something that Sharon had just told him. "Wait a minute, if this group is so super top-secret, how come you and Jay know about them?"

"Easy. I used to be one of them."

"WHAT?! What do you mean, you used to be one of them?!" Simon was almost numb from the shock. First he found out his two best friends, who he thought were long dead, were probably very much alive and being forced into working covert black ops for a group that more than likely killed his son. Then Sharon tells him she once a member of this group? How could he be sure she still wasn't? How could he trust that she wasn't the one who recommended this group take them in the first place?

Sharon grabbed the older man by the shoulders, working quickly to try and calm him down. Looking around to see if anyone was 'watching', then realizing they were alone, Sharon explained, "Let me start from the beginning. I was labeled as a genius from a very early age. Unfortunately, since I also had a fascination with occult and criminal behavior, I was labeled 'dangerous' as well. My parents found out about a school that was simply called the Academy and sent me there. The teachers there were incredible - gave me the attention I needed so desperately. I excelled in everything - graduated with full honors." Her tone suddenly turned bitter. "Unfortunately, I soon found out what was waiting for the honors students after graduation."

Looking down at his friend, the anger and apprehension Simon felt about the life Sharon had led in the past warred with his instinctive impressions of the expression on Sharon's face. She was...terrified. [First time I've ever seen her with -that- look on her face...] Her eyes never rested in one spot, instead they were constantly looking around like someone was going to come out from behind a tombstone and shoot her before she had a chance to say what she had to say.

Plus, his 'cop hunches', which he was sure had died months ago, were now telling him that she was telling the truth. To be honest, it was the first time he could remember that he had ever heard the enigmatic woman ever talk about her past. Not to mention that he had seen her with Blair enough when the two were together to know that the love between them was obvious, and very, very real. She wouldn't lie about something like this.

In the end, his trust and curiosity won out. Sitting down on the headstone, he asked Sharon, "What happened after graduation, Share?"

"I was 'recruited' into the Section, if you could call it 'recruiting'. Their normal procedure is to take criminals out of prisons and train them to work for the Section. Usually people who nobody would miss if they were gone, if you get my drift?"

When Simon nodded, Sharon continued, "Sometimes, though, they'll take people when they think that they will be of some use to the Section, consequences be damned. Sometimes it's someone who stumbles onto a mission and just won't let go. I actually met one operative in Section who was recruited that way. But a lot of the time, though, the people who are taken are Academy graduates."

"And that's what they did to you?"

Sharon nodded. "Three months after graduation, I was taken right out of my old bed in my parents home. Woke up the next morning in Section."

"And what is this Section again?"

"The toughest anti-terrorism force on the planet. Do you remember Yuri Andropov?"

Grimacing, Simon nodded. "The techno-Sentinel, as Blair liked to call him?"

"If Landers hadn't taken him out, Section would have. As it is, I'm not entirely convinced that Section didn't have a hand in the fact that we never found his body. Simon, their ends are just. They want to take out the terrorist organizations that no one else has the balls to go up against. But the way they do it...Simon, if you get in their way, friend, foe or innocent bystander, they will kill you."

Simon shuddered at the thought. Now he realized why Sharon was much more comfortable using the martial arts in a dangerous situation than she was firing a gun. How much death has she seen? "So how did you get out, Share? You said something about them thinking you're dead?"

Sharon nodded. "I had screwed up during a mission, and another operative died because of it. Section's discipline system is pretty simple: you screw up once, you're placed in abeyance. You don't find a way to save the world sometime after that, and eventually you're canceled - usually by a bullet between the eyes or being sent on a suicide mission. So when I ended up in abeyance, I knew I didn't have much time. You remember Jay, my 'information source'?" Simon nodded, and Sharon continued, "Well, he was one of my best friends outside of Section. Between the two of us, we were able to come up with a pretty good plan."

Simon motioned his encouragement, and Sharon continued, "At the time I was placed in abeyance, Jay was experimenting with android technology. He was able to come up with a drone that looked remarkably like me. We set it up to look like I drove my car over a cliff. Pretty spectacular crash, too. Burst into flames and everything."

"And they bought it?"

"Not entirely. I forgot that the android's skeleton wouldn't melt. Once they couldn't find any human remains to identify, it was a dead giveaway. I moved around a lot those first two years. Jay had found a way to securely monitor all of Section's communications without being detected, so every time he picked up that they were on to where I was, I moved. After a couple of years of this, though, Section seemed to decide that it wasn't worth all the effort to try and catch me. As far as Jay or I can tell, they've left me alone. Within a couple of months after I was 'let off the hook', I moved to Cascade."

Simon shook his head in amazement. No one could tell a story -that- outlandish and seem relatively sane in every other regard. It had to be true. "Does Diane know about this?"

To Simon's surprise, Sharon shook her head. "You're the first person I've told this story to. The only other person who knows everything that went on in my Section days is Jay."

"And why are you telling me this?"

"I would like you to help me break Jim and Blair out of Section."

Straightening up to his full height for what seemed like the first time in months, Simon agreed, "Just tell me what you need me to do."

She hadn't quite expected the police captain to be so, well... Enthusiastic seemed to be the only word to come to Sharon's mind. She had, in fact, expected him to ask for a day or so to think about it. "Do you realize what you're getting into if you agree to this? If we're caught-if we fail in any way, we're most likely dead. And there's a good chance we'll never be able to come back to Cascade again even if we do succeed."

Simon had to fight the urge to laugh. "You're talking about a group that probably killed my son, and is holding my two best friends hostage. I don't - have- a life in Cascade anymore." With a power in his stride that he hadn't had since his Sentinel and Guide were ripped from him, he ordered Sharon, "Let's go."