Well, I updated quickly-ish to make up for the evil cliffhanger. I'll try to update again as soon as I can, but it may be a week or so, sorry about that.

Many thanks to everyone who played my little review game, or who was too cool for that sort of thing and just reviewed anyway. I love you all, you seriously lift my entire week.

Here goes Chapter 7!

Dr. Thomas Branahan was having a really rather interesting dream. He supposed that it could be the lack of sleep in his recent lifestyle, or perhaps he had eaten a cheeseburger before he went to bed. Never advisable, cheeseburgers before bed.

He dreamed that he was high in the atmosphere, sitting on a very fluffy and comfortable cloud, flying as the wind whipped by. Suddenly, an angry-looking dark grey cloud started chasing him. It had sirens like a police car, and was thundering angrily.

Thomas did not particularly like the mean cloud. It looked far too much like the cloud full of lightning that had killed his favorite old tree in his backyard as a child. So he encouraged his own little cloud-mobile to go faster, and faster, and faster, until they were moving so fast they could barely avoid crashing into the other cloud mobiles in the sky.

He made the mistake of peeking over the edge of his cloud at the world below. His stomach began to churn, but more importantly, he did not notice that another unfriendly looking cloud had come up beside him.

He looked up just as the second decidedly unfriendly cloud bumped into him. His cloud tipped sideways, and he desperately tried to cling to it as he slid off the edge. But the wonderful cloud that he had been soaring across the sky in just moments before turned back to water vapor in his grasp, and he slid off the edge, plummeting straight down.

He caught a glimpse of the first angry cloud, who was managing to look both surprised and annoyed.

And then his world turned into a blur of color, and he completely lost all sense of direction as he somersaulted downwards at ever-increasing speeds.

He woke just as the car veered to the right at an extremely alarming speed, and his head knocked against the window once more, sending him back to his dreams.

...

Alex was still staring at the back of Birkhoff's head.

As much as she wanted to sit by Nikita's side until she was completely sure that she would be all right, she needed to know what was going on with Sean and Michael. And judging from what Birkhoff had just been saying on the coms, the boys had police officers after them, and they were out for blood. She trusted Sean and Michael with her life, absolutely and completely, but she definitely did not trust them not to do something while being pursued by the police. After all, they were men.

Birkhoff suddenly slammed his headset down on the desk, spinning around to face her. "Damn it. I lost them."

Alex's eyes widened and she let go of Nikita's hand for the first time. "You lost them? How did that happen? Where are they? Are they alive? How-"

"Ah, ah, ah, one question at a time." He rubbed a hand through his hair, looking tired, which was absurd, considering the number of energy drinks he had consumed in the past hour alone. "Mikey and Sean have some cops on their trail, and I can't shake them. They're just going to have to be badass without me."

Alex smirked slightly at that behind her worry. Birkoff's constant ego could wear a person down, but he was the best hacker that tshe had ever met. Henwas worth it. And if you have the right mindset, it's kind of funny. "How far out are they?" she asked.

Birkhoff reached up and rubbed the back if his neck absently. "Well, if Mikey keeps driving as fast as he was, they'll be here in ten minutes. But I really would prefer if they didn't lead the cops right back to the new house. Getting out of dodge might take a bit. How's Niki doing?"

Alex turned, worry creeping back onto her face. "I don't know. I mean, she's not bleeding much on the outside, but we have no idea what it did inside."

Birkhoff leaned forward, his expression softening sligtly as it only did when he was going to be empathetic and thought no one would notice. "Hey, she's going to be fine, you know that, right? I mean, she's Niki. She's a freakin' force of nature. She survived Division and Gogol hunting her at the same time, and you think she's gonna let something stupid like being shot take her out? Not in my book, not by a long shot."

Alex looked down at the unconscious woman on the couch. "I hope so."

...

Roan swung as hard as he could at the top back of Michael's head. After the second blow, he was unconscious, and the vehicle swung sharply to the right, barely slowing down. Sean turned, yelling something incoherent as he tried to regain control of the vehicle. Roan let him. It was to nobody's advantage if they all crashed and died.

Plan if action: Allow Captor B (Identified fugitive: Sean) to regain control of the vehicle. Most likely scenario: Captor B pulls vehicle over to the right. Allows pursuers to capture and arrest Captor A (Identified fugitive: Michael) and Captor B, recieve personal medical attention, contact Authority 1 (Percy), reload, resume and complete mission: obtain guns and eliminate Threat Alpha (target: Nikita)

He closed his eyes and feigned unconsciousness as the officers screeched to a halt next to their vehicle. He heard yelling, and the slamming of car doors as an officer ran up to their window, weapon drawn.

A gruff voice began, "All right, jackass, you're under arrest for- what the?" He had spotted the prisoners and the currently unconscious driver.

He heard a few footsteps moving away from then the sound of the voice talking into the radio. "Yeah, Charlie? You might want to send an ambulance and call the FBI. You are not going to BELIEVE what we just pulled over."

The footsteps moved back over to just outside the car window again, but Roan tuned them out, assessing his own physical condition. He had not suffered injuries this severe since Threat Alpha (Nikita) had sent a missile into the house they and the Division asset known as Richard were in. His injuries then were minimal compared to the three gunshot wounds he had now.

Situation: very nearly contained.

...

I've seen a helluva lot of weird stuff over the years, but this takes the cake.

I walked back over to the silver car we had just pulled over. Leaning in, I looked down at the unconscious guy who had been driving and wondeed what had happened to him.

Did he have a heart attack or something? It sure was mighty convenient for us.

I looked the guy who had apparently thrown himself across from the passenger seat to grab the wheel.

Well, I suppose I have to arrest somebody.

"Well, then, you have the right to remain silent, although you're doing pretty well with that on your own. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, then one will be provided for you. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. Also, son, I'd like to remind you that you get one phone call, and I suggest you make it a good one. You understand?"

The man nodded, moving back into his own seat. He still hadn't said anything. But I bet his mind is zooming along, trying to get out of this one.

I looked around, taking stock of our backup. Three cars including my own, and the ambulance is on the way.

So why do I still feel nervous?

...

Sean pulled himself back into his own seat, letting out a breath for the first time since Roan had knocked Michael out. He hoped that Michael regained consciousness soon, he really didn't fancy taking on three cars of angry police officers that were supposed to be on break by himself.

Never underestimate the rage of a cop taken from his donuts. I suppose I could just drive away...

He looked over at Michael and their prisoners. It had been a very risky move on Roan's part, knocking out the driver, but was about to pay off. Thankfully, Michael had taken his foot off of the accelerator before the second blow, the one that had truly knocked him out.

Either I've really got to thank him, or he's got very good reflexes. I hope he doesn't get a concussion out of this, although, I suppose we could set up our own hospital, then, with two down.

He reached down to grab the gun tucked between the seat and his door, carefully checking how much ammo was left.

6 shots. Oh, joy. This is going to be fun.

He looked the police office who was leaning in the window, apologizing to him and all of his friends and family silently.

And then he raised his gun and shot him right between the eyes.

I did it again, didn't I? Sorry. Evil cliffhangers! Bwa ha ha ha! And again, it might be slightly longer till I can update again. It will either be really soon or in about a week.

Review game part 2!

Leave me your pet peeve, your favorite line from this chapter, and your favorite Nikita character!

Or not.

I love your face anyway, you lovely beautiful reader, you.