Chapter Nine

Turning to look at Macy, Birkhoff was surprised to find she was no longer standing beside him. Looking down, he saw Macy on the floor panicked. "Macy, what's wrong?" Birkhoff dropped to the floor beside her.

"I don't like small spaces." She quietly replied.

Birkhoff sat on the floor of the elevator and pulled Macy against him. "It'll be okay." He tried to calm her.

He could hear that Macy was still breathing hard. Reaching over, he put his fingers on her neck. "Macy, you have to calm down." He told her.

"I don't know how." She replied.

Macy felt strange as Birkhoff pulled her into his lap, carefully placing her head against his chest. "Just listen to my heartbeat."

Macy closed her eyes and listened to his heart beat slow and steady. She focused on his heart beat and his hand gently rubbing her back. Slowly she calmed looking up into Birkhoff's eyes- luckily she could see his eyes through the pitch black since they were close enough together. He gave her a smile as she asked, "Where did you learn that?"

"I didn't." Birkhoff replied, "It just occurred to me."

"It was sweet." Macy replied, "You're definitely sweeter than your sour exterior."

Even though she couldn't see it she could tell by his grin he was blushing. "Have I chipped away at Shadow Walkers strong exterior?" Macy continued to tease.

She felt a few strands of Birkhoff's hair gently brush her cheeks as he leaned over her, his lips gently meeting hers. Immediately this kiss felt different to her. Butterflies filled her stomach and her fingers and toes tingled. Birkhoff wrapped his arms around her, then leaned over her, deeping the kiss. She felt her back hit the elevator floor and she shivered at the cold on her back as Birkhoff transferred his weight to cover her body with his. Cupping his head, she ran her fingers through his hair as he continued to kiss her. His beard scratched against her cheeks as they made out. He kissed across her jaw and she shivered against her cheeks as they made out. He kissed across her jaw and she shivered as he hit a sensitive spot on her neck. Sucking in a breath, she whispered in replied, "Birkhoff, Birkhoff, wait."

Pulling back, Birkhoff leaned his forehead against hers. "Wow." Was his only response between quick breaths. Leaning in, he gave her a couple of quick pecks as he helped her back into a sitting position. "Macy, I am really sorry for the way I treated you."

Macy was thrown off by his sincerity. There was no question in her mind unlike the previous kisses, these kisses were pure attraction. She never would have thought that it was possible to tell the difference before that kiss. "Seymour," she whispered back, "It's okay."

She saw him smile. "I like when you say my name." he admitted.

Macy playfully smacked his chest. "So Shadow Walker has a soul?"

Birkhoff laughed knowing he did kind of deserve it. "You caught me." He replied, "You're a beautiful woman."

"I thought I was below Division's beauty standards." She told him.

"I am very," Birkhoff softly kissed her, "very sorry."

"Well, besides our movie, I guess that makes this our first real date." Macy used her thumb to clean some smeared lipstick she could feel in the corner of her mouth.

"So what kind of things do you talk about on a first date?" Birkhoff jokingly asked.

"I dunno." Macy replied with a shy giggle. "Um, I really don't know."

"Well, there isn't a lot to talk about for me. I've been in Division for the last eleven years or so."

"Eleven years?" Macy instantly wondered how Amanda could doubt someone that had been working for them so long.

"I know. It's been my whole adult life. At least it feels that way."

"So, I'm just curious, who is this Nikita person that I keep hearing about?"
"Use to work for Division." Birkhoff explained. "She escaped. Now she is trying to destroy Division and take us down. When this first started, she kidnapped me and put a transmitter in my mouth. I had no idea- I thought the pain was just from when she pistol-whipped me. Ever since then they've thought I've been working with her, that I'm helping her. I just don't understand why- I've been nothing but faithful to Division and all their rules."

Macy believe him, but she had a little trouble believing why the sudden change. It was like a switch had flipped for no apparent reason. While it was nice, Macy wanted to know if Birkhoff was genuine, as she felt he was, or if he was just getting better at his assignment. "I don't mean to be judgmental, but I am really curious- why the sudden change? You went from thinking I was fat and ugly to all over me in a dark elevator."

"I'm a different person outside Division." He replied, "The first response you got was automatic knowing we can't touch. But ever since Amanda gave me the okay and since our movie date, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you."

Macy didn't know what to say. It was the nicest thing anyone had ever said to her- she knew it was lame, but it was true. "That's really nice." She could feel the blush on her cheeks.

"It's not that nice." Birkhoff replied.

"For me it is." She admitted.

"Division has just taken so much from me, until you came along, I've had this version of me- the real version of me- hidden inside."

It was happening so quickly, Macy didn't know if she should trust him, but he seemed sincere and everything he said made a lot of sense. "I'm glad you can confide in me." She told him.

Birkhoff took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm kind of glad to have someone to confide in. It's been a really long time."

Cupping her cheek, Birkhoff gave her another kiss. Then he put his arm around her should, she rested her head on his shoulder. "When do you think they will get us out of here?" she asked.

"Without me there helping?" Birkhoff joked, "I don't know. Part of it will depend on if it's a technical issue or a Nikita issue."

Suddenly Macy shivered. She hadn't realized how cold it was in the elevator. Without a word, Birkhoff pulled off his jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Thank you." She replied.

"Why don't you rest your head on my shoulder again, get some sleep while we're waiting for Division to rescue us." Birkhoff suggested, pulling Macy closer to him.

An hour later Michael and the recovery team managed to get into the club as the mechanics to fix the elevator. Michael and Thom got to the panel and determined the elevator was stuck between the third and fourth floors. "Let's head up to three and manually get it back to the third floor." Michael suggested.

The group headed up a couple of floors on the stairs. Michael supervised as the team pried the doors open, revealing the elevator cart stuck about halfway between floors. Using the key, Thom managed to get the elevator back to the third floor, the door binging open. Michael stood bemused as the opening door revealed Birkhoff asleep with his arm around Macy, his head resting on top of hers as she slept on his shoulder. "Ehem!" Michael cleared his throat, waking Birkhoff.

"It took you long enough." Birkhoff drowsily replied.

"Have a good time?" Michael replied, arching an eyebrow.

"Just maintaining my cover." Birkhoff shook his head. "Macy, Macy, wake up." He gently shook her.

Opening her eyes to Birkhoff, Michael and a bunch of agents she didn't recognized. "Good morning everyone." She replied as Birkhoff helped her to her feet.

Once they got back to Division, Birkhoff and Macy stood outside his door. "Sorry to make your first mission such an adventure." Birkhoff apologized.

"It's alright." Macy smiled. "I enjoyed the, experience."

Birkhoff laughed at her response. "So did I." he responded. "Hey, come in for a second?" Birkhoff gestured into his office.

"Sure." She smiled.

Birkhoff opened the door and she walked in. Shutting the door behind them Birkhoff pushed her against the door, giving her a kiss, pinning her body with his. He held her, his fingers lightly digging into her hips as she just enjoyed the feeling of their bodies pressed together. Slowly he pulled back from her and commented, "I just had to do that one more time before I head to bed. Percy said we can debrief in the morning."

"Good night Seymour." Macy smiled.

Birkhoff cupped her chin and stroked his cheek with his thumb. "Good night Macy."

When Macy got to her room, she was shocked to find Amanda waiting. "Macy!" Amanda eagerly greeted her, "Can we talk?"

"Sure." Macy agreed, opening the door.

Walking in, Macy sat on her bed as Amanda sat on a chair across from Macy. "How did your mission go?"

"Besides getting stuck in an elevator and losing Nikita?" Macy questioned.

Amanda chuckled. "Yes."

"Well, when Nikita walked by, Birkhoff paid no attention to her- no kind of attempt to communicate nothing." Macy said.

"That's good to hear." Amanda replied, "But not what I expected."

"I got him talking, it doesn't seem like he has anything to do with Nikita. He seemed very loyal to Division." Macy said.

Macy seemed disappointed by what she found. "Keep an eye on him." She finally replied after thinking on what Macy said. "I trust your judgment but you haven't been together long so I want to see if time changes his story."

Macy nodded, but inside she was somewhat upset that Amanda doubted what Birkhoff told her when she knew Birkhoff was being sincere. "Okay." She replied.

Getting up, Amanda walked to the door. "Percy wants to see you at 8:00 AM."

"Won't be late." She smiled in reply as Amanda left the room.

Heading to the closet, Macy changed into her nightgown, then climbing into bed. Birkhoff was on her mind. Tonight she had seen a different side of him. Birkhoff had been sweet, kind, open and gallant. It gave her a lot to think about. The fact that he had a "Division Birkhoff" and the "real Birkhoff" made total sense. It explained his behavior. If the way he had been acting tonight was the real Birkhoff, Macy was going to really start enjoying her assignment.

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