Author's note: Like all of you I'm still in a shipper daze after this week's episode! Anyway, thanks again for the support because I don't know if I have it until you guys let me know. It's also motivating too. I hope guys enjoy this chapter!
Just as Owen cleaned his dish and cup Nikita and Michael walked in.
"I told you this isn't up for discussion," Michael told her.
"We're a team now, so it is!" She folded her arms and stood in front of the staircase.
He sighed, "Nikita I'm not in the mood for this."
"Michael, it's Kasim! Every intelligence agency has been after him for almost a decade and you seriously think you can get him on your own?"
"You read Birkhoff's email, Percy is going to find out and inform me. He's going to be watching me which means you and him," he gestured to Owen with a tip of his head, "are staying here."
She refused to move, "Owen and I have managed to stay of Division's reach. And right now, we're all you got but fortunately we're also the best."
He glared at her knowing that she was right but wouldn't admit it, "We'll talk about it after I get some rest."
"Fine," as she moved away from the stairs she wrapped one around him then seized his lips.
His eyebrow lifted once their mouths parted, "Not that I-uh mind but what was that for?"
"For being open to compromise. It shows that you've changed," she whispered into ear, "and you've finally realized that I'm no longer working under you...but I will be after this is all over."
If it weren't for Owen's presence, he would have taken her right then and there, he whispered back, "And you call me a tease?"
"I'll see you when you're up. Oh and your room is the first one on the right," she told him.
Before he reached the top of the stairs he heard her call out to him, "What?"
With his keys in her fingers she wore a wide smirk, "Don't try to sneak out the window."
An annoyed expression came to his face, "I knew it."
"No you didn't." her smile was smug. As she walked towards the kitchen she noticed Owen giving her a strange look.
"Birkhoff was right about you two." He told her.
Percy leaned back in his office chair, "Michael, I see that you received my email about Kasim. I didn't intend on interrupting your vacation."
Michael sat in the living room with Nikita and Owen, "It's fine, at least it's not because of Nikita."
Curious, she raised her eyebrows at him.
"You're not wrong about that. Anyway, as you already know it'll take days for me to get clearance from Oversight for an operation. Fortunately, with Kasim meeting the Contrelle sisters in France traveling won't be an issue. Unofficially, I can't assign any agents to assist you but I can place them on temporary leave. Do you have anyone in mind?"
"Birkhoff, Thom and Alex."
He leaned back in his office chair surprised to hear Alex's name, "Birkhoff and Thom, I understand but Alex?"
"Kasim has at least four to six guards with him at all times. I'll need backup and Alex has already proven to be a great asset. Consider this to be another opportunity for her to exceed your expectations," he almost smirked.
"All right, they'll meet you tomorrow night at the hotel. I hope this turns out the way you expect."
His eyes went from Nikita to Owen, "I intend on it. Thank you," he reached out and grasped Nikita's hand.
"I'm just fulfilling a promise..but you're welcome," he hanged up the phone.
Roan looked at Percy from his chair, "What are my parameters?"
"None. Do whatever it takes to make sure that Michael fails to kill Kasim, understand?"
"I will." he stood up and walked towards the door.
"And Roan?"
The cleaner stared at his boss.
"There was Nikita and then Owen, don't let Michael be your third strike."
He set his jaw; he hated to be reminded of his failures. Without saying a word he left the room.
Michael eyed the warehouse as he pulled up to the front entrance. Nikita had built quite the list of the contacts during her time away from Division. An arms dealer and forgery artist was waiting inside for her.
"Are you sure about this?" Michael asked her.
Turning to him she said, "Michael, I'm a big girl now. I can take care of myself."
"I'm sorry which one of us has been talking about the importance of 'team work' recently?" He tilted his head to the right.
"This is different; Liam doesn't like to do business with strangers. But once we make a deal then I'll come back for you two," her eyes went from Michael to Owen; the latter sat in the back seat.
"Why?"
"I'm may be a big girl but I still help carrying cases of ammo and submachine guns. I won't be long. Oh, and boys, try to play nice while I'm gone," she got out of the car leaving them alone.
Neither man wanted to be the first one to speak but they knew that it was inevitable.
Michael broke the silence, "Nikita told me how your mission went.."
"Two down, four to go." He looked out the window.
"She told me that you had her back."
His shoulders slightly rose, "That's why I'm here."
"…Thanks."
Both men turned their heads towards one another.
With noticeable hesitation Michael told him, "I was wrong about you and Nikita loved pointing that out."
His mouth almost pulled into a grin, "That must've sucked."
"As much as I expected."
Their scoffs could barely be heard and the tension between them eased.
Owen appreciated Michael relenting on his jealousy but he didn't know what else to say.
Seeing the unsure look on the guardian's face prompted him to reveal, "I understand why you want Percy dead."
"He killed someone that you cared for?"
Breaking eye contact he looked out the windshield, "No..Kasim did."
Realization washed over him, "I thought it sounded personal."
The image of Elizabeth and Haley gazing at him moments before their car exploded entered his mind, "It was my wife and daughter..she was only five. Car bomb." His gaze went to his lap.
Empathy and guilt came to him. Losing Emily was difficult enough but he couldn't imagine how devastating it would be to witness her and their child's deaths.
"You still there?" He asked Owen.
"Sorry. You'll have your shot at him; I won't get in the way. I'll make sure of it."
The trace of compassion he heard in the guardian's voice was unexpected; he looked at him, "Thanks."
His head barely bobbed, "I thought you hated me because of Nikita. We were both wrong about each other."
"It happens."
They continued to have an easygoing conversation until Owen revealed that Nikita had to fully undress him to perform surgery.
The moment Nikita opened the car door she saw the angry look on Michael's face, "I see you didn't follow my suggestion."
"You saw him naked?" Michael asked her.
She gave Owen an irritated stare, "If I didn't need you I'd kick your ass right now."
"I thought that's why he hated me." He shrugged.
"Michael, it was necessary and nothing happened, ok? We'll talk about it later, we need to stock up," she closed the car door.
Even though he was upset, he still followed her.
"Night," Owen immediately went upstairs leaving them alone in the living room.
Folding his arms across his chest, Michael asked her, "We agreed no more secrets and seeing him naked then keeping it from me, counts."
Her eyes rolled, "Just admit it."
"What?"
"You're jealous because I've seen him naked and not you," she stepped towards him.
"Nikita, it's.."
Her arms circled his neck, "You're the only one that I want to experience naked."
He was tired of her having the upper hand, he grasped her backside and pressed her hips against his causing a long gasp to escape her lips, "You will."
She went in for a kiss but was denied when his lips to her ear.
"But not tonight." He withdrew from her wearing a wide grin.
"Seriously?" She looked at him in utter shock and annoyance.
"Goodnight Nikita." He went upstairs feeling victorious.
"Still a tease." She shook her head and smiled.
Thom opened the suite door for Alex letting him pass her.
"Thanks," she graciously lifted her chin heading for his lips until she noticed Nikita and Michael sitting in the living room, "Nikita, Michael..I thought we were meeting later tonight?"
Nikita's smirk was wide, "Go ahead."
Alex briefly smiled at her before softly pecking Thom's lips.
Birkhoff stood up from the kitchen holding a small canister of licorice, "Great it's Michael and Nikita, the Disney version."
Already annoyed, Thom walked alongside Alex into the living room, "Why is he here again?"
Birkhoff spoke first preventing Michael from answering, "Because despite the badass training you all have, none of you have my superior hacker skills."
"I hate to say it but he's right," Michael said.
"Say it," Birkhoff sat on the single seater couch next to Michael and Nikita.
"Never." Michael shot back refusing to address the hacker by his self created alias.
"Fine, but you're gonna regret it."
"Anyway," Nikita spoke, "Tonight, you and Thom are going to Contrelle manor to retrieve a copy of Marcheline's hard drive."
Alex leaned forward, "Amanda didn't tell me much about them, what's their deal?"
Michael answered her, "Marcheline and Christelle are financiers they have ties to various terrorist and crime organizations all over the world."
"They're keeping the family business alive. Their parents passed away two years ago." Nikita added.
Birkhoff turned his laptop around showing Alex and Thom images of the sisters, "Marcheline is the sweet talker while Christelle handles/cooks the books. Every international intelligence agency has been after them for years but with Christelle skills and their lawyers, they've been untouchable."
"Why are we doing this?" Thom asked.
Nikita looked at him, "For leverage with the CIA. My contact told me the intel we receive along with the black boxes will go a long way during our negotiations."
"So, what's our objective?" Alex looked at her mentors seeing the same wistful grins on their faces.
Michael and Nikita held each other's gaze remembering their first mission together.
Birkhoff got up from his seat, "I'm gonna go out on the balcony for some air. All this cutesy couple crap makes me wanna gag."