A/N: A lot of you review anonymously so I can never write back to thank you! lol so here's a big THANK YOU to everyone who is reading/reviewing this story! I really appreciate it :)

Alex stepped cautiously into the security room, relieved to see that everyone's attention was otherwise occupied. She let her eyes slide around the room, memorizing every single detail of the woman's face that currently spanned across every single screen. Alex squinted, trying to read the name underneath the photo. Anna…something. Percy was standing in the corner, his back to Alex. She narrowed her eyes, instantly suspicious. She strained her ears, attempting to hear what he was saying.

"..ordered the hit..."

She immediately looked back at the photo to read the rest of the name, but before she could decipher Anna's last name, another face filled the screens. This time it was an older man that looked vaguely familiar, but one that she didn't really recognize. She looked to see the name below the picture, but it merely said: U.S. Senator.

Alex hung back for a few moments, catching a few snippets of the conversation that Percy was having. When she had gathered a good amount of information, she quietly slipped out of the room so that she could relay what she had learned back to Nikita. As she walked past the glass panes, she glanced in to make sure Thom hadn't noticed her absence.

She paused with a frown when she couldn't see him in there. She bit her lip, slightly worried. He hadn't left to look for her, had he? She walked faster now, changing her course so she was walking towards Thom's room instead. As she neared, his door suddenly opened.

Alex immediately stepped backwards so that she was hidden behind the corner. She peered out, confused when she saw Michael walk out of Thom's room.

"You're ready for this, Thom. I know you are."

Alex inched forward, trying in vain to hear Thom's response. But she was too far away. She saw Michael nod and shut the door behind him. He then started down the hallway.

In her direction.

Alex's eyes widened and she whirled around, going back the way she had come so that she could get back into the computer room. Thankfully, she met no one on the way and she was easily able to slip back into her seat.

With a small smile of success, she opened up the chat box and began to fill Nikita in on the latest information.

It was much later when she finally headed back to her room, exhausted from training. She had noticed that Thom hadn't been at dinner, and he had skipped all the subsequent recruit activities. That wasn't like him, and Alex was growing increasingly suspicious about what Michael had been talking to him about earlier.

As she reached the hallway where her room was located, she slowed down, noticing a shadow outside her door.

Someone was waiting for her.

Cautiously, she walked forward, preparing herself for whoever would be there. Suddenly, the shadow shifted and a figure swung around the corner to meet her.

Alex gasped, startled by the sudden movement. "Michael?" she asked incredulously, staring at him in disbelief. "What are you doing?"

"Waiting for you," Michael didn't walk towards her, and leaned against her door, seeming perfectly at ease. "Where have you been?"

"Training," Alex snapped, "You know, something that us recruits have to do?"

Michael gave her a glimmer of a smile, but it was gone before she could blink. "Have you spoken to Thom recently?"

"No," Alex crossed her arms to ward off the sudden chill she felt at Michael's tone. "Why? Is something wrong with him?"

"No," Michael answered slowly, some emotion in his eyes now. Alex tried to identify it...sympathy? "Thom will be alright. I just wanted to...warn you."

Alex kept silent, tightening her arms around herself.

"I know that Thom is...close to all you recruits," Michael said finally. "You all look up to him as a leader...a friend."

"So?" Alex frowned, "Are we not supposed to make friends in Division now or something?"

"You really don't have a high opinion of us, do you?"

"It's not like any of us chose to be here," Alex shot back.

"Division is your second chance," Michael intoned, sounding like he was reciting the words from heart.

"Don't say that. It makes you sound like one of them," Alex said disdainfully, her voice hard.

Michael walked towards her at that, now looking angry. He stopped when he was an inch away from her and grabbed her shoulders roughly, his voice low, "I am one ofthem, Alex! I am Division."

Alex didn't flinch, even when he shook her. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."

Michael let go of her, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He took a deep breath, apparently trying to control his temper. "I wanted to warn you that Thom is moving on," he said abruptly. "He has graduated to field agent."

Alex blinked, "What?"

"He'll be completing missions from now on. I just wanted to let you know."

She didn't let her face register any emotion, "Why?"

Michael shrugged and began walking away. He paused at the end of the corridor, his gaze intensely on Alex. "I know how easy it is to get...attached." With that, he disappeared around the corner.

Alex clenched her jaw, and stormed through her door, slamming it shut behind her. She leaned against it, her eyes closed. She felt a twinge in her heart. No wonder no one around here bothered making friends. What was the point? At some point, everyone would leave. Disappear.

There was a knock at the door.

"WHAT?" Alex shouted.

"Alex?" Thom's voice called uncertainly through the door. "It's me..."

She took a deep breath, and swung open the door. "Sorry," she muttered when she saw his confused expression. "I'm just having a bad day."

"I wanted to tell you," Thom began, "I made field agent."

Alex smiled tightly, "Congratulations."

Thom looked angry for a second, "Could you maybe sound more sincere?"

Alex shrugged, not bothered by his tone. "What's the point of pretending?"

She shut the door in his face.