Hello again. To any Americans out there, Happy (late) Fourth of July! May fireworks and barbecue be with you! To everybody else, happy Sunday.
Again, writing on a tablet so don't kill me for spelling errors or weird typing errors like another letter instead of a space. I tried to proof everything as much as possible, and I'll fix all errors when I get back to my laptop.
So... here we go. Chapter 9. Whew.
Percy frowned down at the tablet that Sonya had just placed on his desk. On it, he could see the little green signal that represented the position of Roan's tracker. He waved the tech girl off without a word. She was irrelevant to this, and the rest of Division definitely did not need to know that Percy's lapdog was in a place he had no business being, namely the back of a car moving very fast in the wrong direction.
He contemplated the possibilities. Roan had not checked in for quite some time, which was unusual, but it was Nikita that they were dealing with. The former agent had developed quite the talent for doing the unexpected, which annoyed him to no end. The little stunt with the money was no exception. Although, it was definitely unlike her to be this careless. Forgetting to deactivate Roan's tracker was not the kind of mistake Nikita made.
I suppose she could be trying to bait me, but then why is he in a car? Why wouldn't she drop him off somewhere remote and have us pick him up? She's already use the bug then release play, as far as I can tell she doesn't have anything up her sleeve.
It could be an honest mistake. She is only human.
He frowned, resting his chin on his folded hands and staring pensively at his desk.
Well, I'll send in all the disposable agents after him. I do believe it is time for some Spring Cleaning.
...
Dr. Branahan woke from a second, equally strange dream involving several purple monkeys with broken arms. But this time, there was no sudden turn to the right to send his head smashing against the window. He opened his eyes blearily, wondering if he had gone out to the bar last night with Spencer and Derek after all.
Then he realized that someone's legs were stretched out across his lap, and that he was in a car with four other people who were most definitely not Spencer and Derek. He looked down in the legs in confusion, then up at their owner. He felt a flash of recognition and the events in the parking lot came flooding back to him.
I suppose I ought to be annoyed right now. They did kidnap me and they didn't even bother to feed me lunch! Although, I suppose they aren't really obliged to... It's not like we were on a date. Ooo... while I'm thinking about dates, I wonder if Penelope called me back or not? Probably not.
Right. Kidnapping. Should I demand they release me and reveal their identity? That never seems to work in movies, though.
I should probably stop staring at the man with his legs across my lap.
For he had, he suddenly realized, been looking at the man the entire time. Suddenly feeling slightly short and out of shape, he took a deep breath, and then began his interrogation. "Hello." No, Thomas, that was too friendly. They kidnap and shoot people. "Could you maybe release me now, please?" What was that? Stop being so polite! You're a Doctor, not a five year old! "Who are you, anyway? What do you want from me?" Okay, that was better. Come on, think! You have to have seen this in a movie somewhere! How do they escape?
Think! Do you have any paperclips?
That was when the young woman in the front seat burst out laughing, and the two others gave her looks, although the one driving hid a smile. Feeling slightly offended, Thomas looked around for support, but found only the loathing glare of the other man they had captured, whose head was apparently duct taped to a car seat.
Well, if they're going to kidnap me, they could at least be nice about it.
...
Alex listened in silence as the Doc they had picked up for Niki woke up and tried questioning them. Eventually, she couln't hold in her laughter anymore.
He just woke up and there were strange people all around him and someone's legs on his lap and he was being ALL POLITE and then he got his tough guy act on and... just, oh, stop laughing, Michael's giving you the look, you just need some sleep.
After a few minutes, she managed to stop her giggling. Putting her innocent face on, she took a deep breath and turned back to meet Michael's glare. She shrugged her shoulders and widened her eyes, the very picture of guileless, and asked, "What?"
Yes, I know this is serious and he just woke up from being kidnapped, but I can't help it if I'm tired and he's funny.
Michael raised his eyebrows at her, giving her his best really-Alex-do-you-have-to-do-that-now look and then turned back to their rather offended captive.
"We need you to patch someone up for us. She took a bad hit to the shoulder and we think it might have clipped a bone."
Dr. Branahan extracted his arms from underneath Michael's legs and behind the seatbelt as gracefully as possible. She saw him going into Doctor mode.
"She, you said? How old? When? Why didn't you just bring her to the hospital like a normal person? Is she conscious? Did she crash? Do you have medical supplies? Can I have a sandwich first? Is this illegal? Will you let me go home if I help you?"
Alex took a breath and wiped all vestiges of a smile off her face as she turned around to face the babbling man. A Doctor they needed, a hungry Doctor firing questions at ten million miles an hour, not so much.
"Can you help us?" she asked, and a little bit of desperation must have shown in her eyes, because he leaned back, nodding hesitantly. He still looked troubled, though.
I hope he isn't still thinking about that sandwich. That is NOT my job.
...
Michael leaned back against the car door, spreading out across the whole backseat. He had to admit, it wasn't the most comfortable place to sit, especially because he was essentially sitting on Dr. I-want-a-sandwich and Roan. But it was probably annoying the hell out of the Cleaner, so he settled in and waited out the car ride.
But with about five minutes till they arrived, and nothing but trees, trees, fields, road signs, and the occasional blownout tire to look at, his thoughts inevitably turned towards Nikita.
I said I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. Didn't imagine it working out like this.
He shook his head slightly, trying to dispel all thoughts of losing her. But even he had to admit that it wasn't looking as good as he would like. They had managed to get the Doctor she needed but he was pretty sure she had crashed earlier and Alex had revived her, even if Birkhoff hadn't specifically told him. And they weren't exactly making record time, what with the little stop to chat with the cops, courtesy of Roan.
He turned his faintly aching head to look at Sean. Alex and Sean had given him a rough idea of what had happened after he blacked out, but Michael was pretty sure that they were leaving out a few details, such as how many cops had died or who had killed them. Sean's looking kind of thoughtful and grim, though. Not that he isn't usually, but god damn it, withholding information to protect the others is Nikita's thing!
Michael realized he was being slightly ridiculous. They weren't exacly usurping her on purpose. But he had been protecting Alex ever since he joined Nikita, and it felt strange for her to be going easy on him. But his head was pounding from Roan's hit and he just wanted to get back to Nikita.
He had been there when she woke up in Division for the first time, and he would be there when she woke up now.
And if anything or anyone gets in my way, so help me God, I have several special bullet just for you.
...
Roan felt the adrenaline building in his veins. He calculated that he had seven minutes and eight point five seconds precisely until he was at maximum strength. Manufacturing an adrenaline rush in order to escape was a skill he had carefully cultivated for situations exactly like this one.
In the meantime, though, he had to deal with the sudden sweep of emotions overwhelming the rational, well-trained side of his brain. I am merely unaccustomed to the sensation because of years of neglect. A long-forgotten experience may in fact feel new.
The ability to swear and have unproductive reactions to problems was slowly creeping back to him as well, which explained the errant thought from earlier. He tried that method of thinking again. Damn. Oh, damn. Damn it all.
He was interrupted from his strange little reverie by their arrival at what appeared to be Nikita's latest safe house. The rational side of his brain took over again, and he felt the adrenaline stirring in his veins, his heart pumping. He could not move his head, or most of the rest of his body, actually, but the adrenaline would peak soon and he was confident that he could easily rip through. Confidence. Interesting.
Perhaps emotional sensation does have its uses.
...
Birkhoff heard the screech of the car pulling into the garage and then the slamming of car doors. He closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. His posse could handle itself, he knew, but it still was slightly nerve-wracking every time they went out. Although, when you quintuple the amount of people you are feeding, you go through money a lot faster.
I mean, it's not like we're in shortage mode money-wise anymore, that stupid CIA trap didn't do much but delay me. But still. They are eating and shooting their way through MY money.
Birkhoff lounged back in his chair, looking up at the balcony by the entrance. Mikey and Sean came in first, lugging an irate looking, bound and gagged Roan. Alex followed, supporting a slightly confused looking man who was apparently a bit unsteady on his feet. Birkhoff recognized him from the picture he had looked up on Shadownet as Dr. Thomas Branahan.
Well, hopefully his hands are a bit steadier than his feet. Cuz he's looking pretty hammered right now. Although, being knocked out repeatedly by Mikey and Seanny would be worse than any hangover. And I have had hangovers that hurt like a mothereffing pancake.
He gave one small snort when he looked up at Mikey and Sean, who were apparently both in I-am-a-serious-ex-military-assassin mode, dragging Roan down the stairs.
Now that is one lovely sight I never thought I'd get to see. I'd hate to be around when they debate about who gets to shoot him first. Niki might win this one, though, when we get her back on her feet.
Birkhoff had to snort again to himself when Mikey unceremoniously dumped the Terminator on the floor at the bottom of the stairs. Sean dragged him to his feet again, looking slightly at a loss for how he was supposed to carry him by himself, but something softened in his eyes when Mikey ran over to Niki and sat down by her couch, gently smoothing back her hair and pressing a gentle kiss to the back of her hand.
There were epic flowing speeches of love and romance and ponies riding off into the sunset behind the pain in Mikey's eyes. But apparently he was saving those for later, because he all he said, in a gentle tone, was, "You're gonna be all right."
Then he turned and motioned Doctor I-am-slightly-overwhelmed-what-is-happening, who had apparently managed to recover his balance and his wits, over to Niki's bedside. Or couchside. Whatever.
The man still had looked vaguely mystified. But the Doctor's face solidified into a determined expression when he saw his patient.
Well, he would have to be the world's most gigantic douche not to want to help her. I mean, she's young, hotter than hell, and has a bunch of kidnappers and assassins for friends. I bet some dudes have fantasies like this, like a save-the-hot-girl thing.
Let's hope this guy can do it in real life. Or I will punch him in the balls so hard he will bleed for a week.
...
Alex ran down the stairs and helped Sean to lift Roan over to a chair and tie him down. He didn't really appear to be attempting escape, but with Roan, there was no safe marker for being careful. He had almost killed Sean adnd Michael in the chair while bound and gagged, and she was not going to let anything hurt them, not today.
Sean, of course, was fine. He cared for Nikita in a limited, calculated fashion, but he would not be devastated if he lost her. He admirec and respected her efforts, but the cause was the most important thing.
I suppose it's the military in him. You save everyone and anyone you can, but if you have to protect people by doing something hard, you do it, no matter who you risk.
Her father had not raised her even with that. The mantra drummed into her head at every hour of the day was Protect your family. Protect yourself. And do whatever it takes to spit, slash, and claw your way to the top.
In a way, she was grateful for that. It made her lifestyle so much easier. It was the only way to survive in the espionage world. She had adopted a small family here, and she would not let them go, not unless she had to. Not again.
But as she looked at Michael, standing alone and anxious as the Doctor examined Nikita, she wondered. Too many people, well, too many spies at least, would tell you to go it alone. Be loyal to you and you alone.
Then she glanced over at Sean, and then at Roan. There is no way on this earth that I am going to end up alone with nothing but an uncaring and corrupt agency telling me what to do.
She looked over at Sean again, who caught her wide-eyed gaze and held it with a small smile.
Maybe I won't have to. After all, there's nothing wrong with someone else to protect you, now is there?
...
As soon as he made it down the stairs, he couldn't care less about Roan. I never should have left in the first place. Why the hell did I let them convince me? He dumped the Cleaner unceremoniously on the floor and ran over to her. He gently stroked her smooth forehead and silky black hair, troubled by the heat he felt rising from her body.
There was so much he had to say to her, so much they still had left to do. I don't think you're allowed to leave yet, Niki. We've got some unfinished business. I need you. Hell, I need to be able to tell you I love you and hear you say it back.I've already wasted so much time not doing that. If you don't wake up, I am going to tear Percy apart piece by piece if it kills me and shatters the entire world.
But in the end, he just told her she would be all right.
And then he motioned the Doctor over.
Her words from so long ago echoed in his mind. You have a family. Right here.
God, don't make me lose that twice. She deserves so much more than this.
Okay, I'll admit it, I stole all of those names of Dr. Branahan's friends from Criminal Minds. They're perfectly good names! Oh, well. I had fun with that.
Keep reading and reviewing! If you like, tell me your Nikita OTP and your least favorite character, dead or alive.
Also, I just sort of put them in the house where they have the balcony and the stairs winding down the side and the entrance is at the top of the stairs. I'm pretty sure they had one like that. Doesn't matter. Pretty much all of their houses have stairs. It's not really that important to my story, as long as Percy doesn't know about it and it's a house. I sort of left the description of the surroundings generic. You all probably did not need to know my thougths on location, but just in case anyone was wondering. You know.