"Thanks," Thom tipped the bellman after they entered the honeymoon suite.
"Thank you, Mr. Welton," the bellman graciously grinned, "I hope you and your wife have a wonderful time here. Good day."
"You too." he closed the door as the bellman walked out.
"This is…amazing." Alex marveled at the high-end suite letting her hand touch the expensive designer furniture before she settled on the couch.
With his eyes on her he answered, "It is."
She smiled at his compliment, "And the suite?"
He sat down next to her, "It's definitely better than Division."
"Most places usually are. There's color, real furniture, sunlight," she gestured to the balcony to their right.
"No Percy, Amanda, Birkhoff and-.."
"Jaden," she eyed him trying to read his reaction.
"She's not that bad.." his voice was gentle.
Her eyebrow barely rose, "That's not shocking."
"Alex.." He tipped his head towards her.
"What? She wants you and hates me," she shrugged.
He took her hand in his, "Michael and Percy asked me to choose between you two for this mission."
Her head pulled back, "Really?"
"Yeah, I didn't need to think about it," he stroked her face.
Moved by his admission, she held his face, "Nice one," then kissed him.
After he reluctantly pulled away from her, he asked, "Our mission isn't until tonight…"
Both of them turned their heads towards the double doors of the master bedroom.
"Thom..um, it's.."
"Alex, it's ok if you don't want to."
"It's not that.. I want it to be just us, without Division, ya know?"
He nodded, "I do."
A wide smile spread across her lips, "There's something else this suite has that Division doesn't."
"What?"
Grabbing his hand, she led him to the kitchen, "JUNK FOOD!"
A soft laugh came from him as he watched her open the cabinets.
"What do you want?" She grabbed a bag of chips and cookies.
"Fritos and Dr. Pepper."
"Here."
"Thanks, I-uh I have a surprise for you."
Her blue eyes lit up, "What is it?"
"Follow me," he offered his arm to her and she accepted.
Once they entered the master bedroom he reached into his pocket and took out a pink iPod, "I put your favorites on there."
Elated, she accepted the iPod and gazed at him, "I can't believe you did this.." She planted a sweet kiss on his mouth.
He modestly nodded, "I was shopping, I saw it and thought of you."
"Well thanks," she waited a beat, "You might think this is weird…"
With an understanding gaze he replied, "No I won't."
"Will you go under the bed with me?"
He gave her a perplexed look, "Ok, that's a little weird."
Her hand playfully tapped his forearm, "Thanks! Seriously though, back home I used to get under my bed and listen to my iPod. It was like; nothing else was there except me and the music."
Seeing the wistful look on her face touched him. He reached down and held up the bed skirt and comforter, "Ladies first."
"Thank you." After crawling underneath the bed she brought in their food and drinks.
Seconds later, he was right next to her and handed her an earbud.
They smiled at one another when the first song began playing; it was James Morrison's "You Make It Real for Me".
After stepping into his room, Michael set down his bag. Sensing a presence his eyes went to the bathroom's doorway where Nikita stood.
"You know, breaking and entering is still a crime." he told her.
"Only if I'm caught," she walked over to him, "How was your flight?."
"Long..a flight attendant asked me for my number."
Curious, she asked him while her arms circled his neck, "Really? What did you tell her?"
With a bit of hesitation he told her, "I politely turned him down."
An amused smile was on her lips, "I can't blame him for trying."
He held back a smirk then grasped her waist, "Nikita.."
"Yes?"
"I need to tell you something.."
The serious expression on his face concerned her, "Go ahead."
"You can't act on it."
Her head tilted to the right, "Tell me."
"Before I left, Percy told me that Senator Holmes needs this mission to be successful because a black box is located in his home."
She pulled her head back, "They must have some history together for Percy to trust him like that."
"Senator Holmes has arranged what Percy calls 'financial opportunities' for Division throughout the years."
"Scum always sticks together," an annoyed look came across her face.
He looked into her eyes, "You never promised me."
"I didn't want to lie to you…Michael, this is a big opportunity for us to get ahead."
"And it puts you and Alex at risk. It's either this mission or the black box. We can't do both."
An idea popped into her head, "Maybe we can…"
From the way she spoke and stared at him, he knew that her mind was at work. He felt grateful to be on her side instead of against.
Dressed in knee length boots and a red formfitting velvet dress, Alex stepped out of the bathroom putting on a black suede trench coat.
"Ready?" Thom asked as he turned around and felt his open mouth upon seeing her appearance.
"Yeah..what?"
"Nothing it's just you look..incredible."
Wearing a gracious smile, she grabbed his dark shirt pulling her to him and planted on her mouth on his, "You're not so bad yourself."
They gazed one another before Michael turned on his earbud and spoke, "Thom, Alex it's time to head out."
"We're on our way Michael," Thom opened the door her.
"We are." She touched his face.
"Why is this couple a target?" Owen asked as he and Nikita walked up to the club.
"Rodney and Nicole are a match made in hell. He's one of Sydney's biggest drug dealers and she is a madame."
"I thought prostitution was legal here?
"It is except she smuggles in underage and barely teenage girls from other countries."
He nodded, "How'd they get involved with the senator?"
"Nicole and Rodney bought their way into one of his fundraisers. She got close to him by giving him one her girls then stole his laptop. They're using it to extort millions from him."
"And we're backup?"
"You'll be Thom's."
"And Alex?"
Her eyes glanced at the sidewalk, "She's never killed before, I don't want her to start now."
His stare focused on her face, "You didn't tell her."
"It's-it's for her protection and.."
"Nikita, you don't owe me anything, at all." He shook his head, "Believe me, I get it."
She looked at him realizing that he had no longer blamed her for Emily's death.
He looked towards the nightclub when he saw her trying to find the right words to say, "The line's long."
A little smirk on her mouth, "You don't get out much do you?"
"I've never been into this kind of scene."
"Trust me, we won't have to wait. Put your hand on my back."
His hand went to the small of her back, he was thankful that she chose not to wear a midriff baring top.
Wearing a seductive smile she looked at the bouncer, "Hey, he's with me."
The bouncer's eyes traveled along her svelte figure, "You're in."
"Cool," she flashed him another smile before stepping inside.
Owen couldn't help but be impressed by the power an attractive woman has over men.
In the van Michael looked at his mobile phone reading the text message that Nikita sent him. He hated not being able to communicate with her directly but with Roan next to him he had no choice. Despite his distrust of Owen, he hoped that the guardian would protect her.
"We're in." Thom said after he and Alex stepped into the club.
"Good, do you have a visual on Nicole or Rodney?" Michael asked him.
"Yes, I see Nicole in a booth. She's making eye contact."
Alex spoke, "She's sending one of her bodyguards over to us."
"You both know your objectives." Michael told them.
"Sir, Ms. Bosworth would like to see you." The guard said to them.
"And my girl here?"
"She'll be speaking with Mr. Bosworth in his office. Ms.?"
"I look forward to it," Alex grinned as she followed the man.
Rodney stood up from the couch, "Welcome Karina, I see Nicole that wasn't exaggerating in her text message about you. You're simply gorgeous."
"Thanks, I try."
"And modest, please sit," he sat down.
She obliged crossing her legs and removing her coat as she perched herself next to him.
"Karina, do you like surprises?"
"Definitely, only dull people hate them."
"I couldn't agree more. I happen to have one for you," his hand motioned to the bathroom door where Nikita emerged.
Alex quickly turned her expression of shock into curiosity, "And it's a great one."
Nikita grinned and sat on the other side of Rodney not saying a word.
"What do you think?" he asked her.
"It's not what I was expecting but I'm up for it."
"Well that's a pleasure to know because.."
Before he could finish his sentence Nikita removed a syringe from her purse and injected potassium chloride into his throat.
A gasp tried to escape her mouth but she suppressed it and heard Michael in her ear.
Knowing what was going on he asked her, "Alex what's happening?"
"I've..I've just injected Rodney with the poison," she kept her voice steady while giving Nikita her syringe and knife.
The look of confusion and anger that Alex wore struck Nikita but there wasn't time to explain. She tipped her head towards the door.
"Good, now Alex take out the guard at the door and then leave through the back exit. We'll be waiting for you," Michael told her.
"Got it. OH MY GOD! SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH RODNEY! HEELP!"
The bodyguard immediately opened the door only to have Nikita throw the knife into his throat.
"He's down," Alex told Michael while Nikita dragged the guard's body into the room.
Before she slipped away she removed the knife and handed it to her. She whispered into Alex's free ear, "I had my reasons, believe me."
As she watched her leave, she wasn't sure if she should be relieved or angry at her mentor. The sound of Michael's voice was in her ear as she headed for the exit.
Nicole closed the door to her office, "Now I can hear you better."
"And we're alone." Thom answered before removing his gun from his hidden waist holster.
With a furious tone and face she said, "Never a trust a politician. You have no idea who you're protecting!"
He thought of Alex and their future, "Believe me, I do.." He pulled the trigger.
Outside of Nicole's office Owen approached the guard, "I need to speak to Ms. Bosworth."
"Ms. Bosworth is with a client right now. Only those with appointments can see her. Leave."
"This is about Senator Holmes."
A concerned look came across his face, "Hold on one moment."
When he turned to open the door Owen grabbed his knife his coat's inner pocket and jammed it through the man's brain stem.
Thom briefly paused once he saw Owen lowering the guard's body to the floor. He held his legs helping him carry the slain man into the office.
Owen simply tipped his chin after Thom handed him a flash drive filled with Nicole's files.
"Thom?" Michael asked him.
"It's done, I have his laptop," Thom answered before he and Owen went their separate ways.
A half hour before he was set to return to Division, Nikita met with Michael behind his hotel.
"Birkhoff will send you the intel on the black boxes. Patience is a virtue, don't forget that." he told her.
"Michael, I promised you that I'd wait," she tipped her head giving him a small irritable glare.
His left brow rose, "Well past experience has taught me that you have the tendency to..improvise."
She folded her arms, "Only when I have to and as you know, things usually turn out for the best."
"Like shooting me?" he teased her.
"It was barely a scratch."
They chuckled then grew silent.
"After I get Alex settled into her new apartment, I'm going to use my personal days..they've added up."
"You don't have to.."
"I know, I need to," he wrapped his arms around her, "this is our fight."
She held his face, "Call me and be careful."
He nodded then held her closer to him pressing his forehead against hers.
Unlike her escape from Division, both knew the other's location. Now, their relationship was clearly defined and deeper than it had ever been. However, it was still difficult for them to be apart. Their lips tenderly met until growing in fervor.
With great hesitation Nikita withdrew from him once she heard Owen pull up in her car.
"Soon," he touched her face.
Her mobile phone rang, "It's Inspector Riley.." She stepped to the side and spoke to one of her few allies.
Michael walked over to the car and leaned against the passenger door watching the window descend, "Owen."
"Michael?" Owen flatly answered.
In an even tone he spoke, "I know what you and Nikita are capable of. I have no doubt that you'll both succeed."
His blue eyes barely widen in mild shock, "Thanks."
With a menacing face and voice he said, "But if anything happens to her..Your last moments on earth will be filled with considerable agony. And you'll be begging me to send you to hell. Understand?"
Although he initially felt insulted, he realized where Michael was coming from and knew that he'd act the same way.
When he didn't receive a response, Michael told him, "I won't repeat myself."
"Wouldn't want that." A hint of a grin was on his lips.
Before he could respond he heard her heeled boots approaching him. He stood up and opened the door for her.
"Always the gentleman," she grinned at him as she sat down and buckled herself.
"Be safe," he told her.
Her hand reached out and squeezed his, "You too. Goodbye Michael."
"Bye..for now."
After a long pause their hands unclasped. He stepped back watching them drive away.