Disclaimer: I own nothing, which is a crying shame.

A/N: Hey guys. Again, thank you so much for the reviews. If I didn't answer to someone, I'm truly sorry, but this end of semester is driving me insane, and I have very little time.

But still, I squeezed a couple of hours to bring this new chapter to you. I hope you'll enjoy it.

You guys know the drill about the grammar/coherence mistakes, so…without further ado, I'll leave you to the story.

Enjoy!

Nikita meticulously examined her cuticles as Michael drove them back to Owen's place. She wasn't ready to talk to him; she wasn't even ready fully to look at him.

Though, it felt so good to see him again. Even if it was only from the corner of her eye, every time she got a glimpse of him, that bubbly warm feeling spread through her body for a few seconds, making her heartbeat momentarily speed up.

"Are you okay?" Owen asked, interrupting her thoughts.

She nodded "Yeah, my wrists are a little sore and I have a splitting headache, but I'm okay. I've had much worse" She looked at him from the rear mirror.

Owen arched an eyebrow "You know that's not what I meant" he said giving her a stern look and then looking at Michael, who did not miss the look the ex-guardian gave him.

"Owen…" Nikita growled in a low voice.

Owen put his hands up in surrender "Fine, I'm sorry…Forget that I even asked"

Nikita sighed and rested her head against the window, letting out a small whimper of discomfort as the minor cut in her head touched the hard, cold glass.

"You sure you're not hurt?" Michael asked, concerned.

"Yeah, it's nothing. Don't worry" she guaranteed, closing her eyes for a moment.

Michael was going to contest her, but Owen did if first.

"You could have a concussion" he pointed out.

Michael looked back at the road, slightly angry Owen was sort of stealing his moment. He should be the one to show more concern about her, not Owen.

Nikita gave them a small smile, still not opening her eyes "As much as I appreciate your genuine concern for my well-being, I can assure you I do not have a concussion or any life-threatening injury"

Owen smiled back, even though she didn't see it "Fine, but there's some veggie shake left in the fridge and you'll have it as soon as we get home. Deal?"

Nikita let out a low giggle "Sounds great"

Michael felt a wave of sorrow coming through his body as he saw the interaction between Owen and Nikita. Why was she giggling with Owen when the only thing he got from her was a scared half smile?

Why was Owen making her food like if he was a househusband? Did she consider his place her home now?

And why was he feeling so threatened and jealous when there was nothing between Owen and Nikita?

Or was there?

He questioned if that was how Nikita had felt when she saw him with Cassandra. This sudden unhappiness he got seeing them together, the uncertainty of not knowing what was happening between them, the feeling of being replaced, even though there was no romantic involvement between the two them.

Now he understood why she was so upset and torn: because it simply hurts.

They fell back in silence until they got to Owen's apartment.

"You should rest" Owen advised her as soon as they entered the apartment.

Again, Michael was slightly angry Owen had stolen his line once more. How the hell was he supposed to show Nikita he still cared deeply about her if Owen was always ahead of him, worrying about her, trying to take care of her, making goddamn veggie shakes for her?

Nikita shook her head "What about I go and change and you work on that veggie shake"

Owen opened the fridge "So bossy…" he said rolling his eyes and then smiled.

Michael watched her disappear into one of the rooms.

"Make yourself home, man" Owen said sliding a bottle of water on the counter in Michael's direction.

"Thanks" Michael got the bottle and looked down at it, not really knowing what to do next.

As Owen got a blender and started mixing a few things in it, Michael looked up.

"Since when are you into vegan food?" he asked.

Owen chuckled "Since she tied me up in her bed for weeks and only fed me this things" he said matter-of-factly "I don't really like it, but I make an effort when she's around…You know, make sure she's eating right."

Michael frowned a little, not completely understanding him.

Realizing his confusion, Owen explained.

"I don't really have a lot of friends, you know. I just wanted to do something nice for her... And besides, I don't think your little hairy friend cares about her diet. I thought she might want a nice, decent vegan meal for a change. This really never crossed your mind? Just being nice and spoiling her a little?" Owen asked with a smirk.

Michael felt his anger increase in countless proportions "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he huffed.

But all his anger dissipated when Nikita walked back into the room, avoiding their discussion to go any further.

"You said there was some shake left, you didn't have to make it!" she chided, punching him lightly on the shoulder.

Owen laughed "It will only take a minute"

She rolled her eyes and stood next to Michael while Owen finished her shake.

"We gotta find Ari" she stated to no one in particular; she just wanted to fill in the silence.

Michael held her hand in his, eager for the feel of her skin against his again "We will" he promised.

She just stared at him for a few seconds, her mind hazed with the sudden contact, making her unable to react to him. She just dwelled on the warm feeling of his hand on hers, and on the fact he was actually there, so close she could smell his cologne. She missed him so much.

He smiled at her and that was enough to snap her out of her trance; self-consciousness taking over her body, making her let go of his hand and look away.

Michael took a small step back, hurt she had rejected his touch.

Realizing the tension in the air, Owen interfered.

"Here you go" he said pouring the green liquid in a glass "the best veggie shake in town"

Nikita smiled, thankful for both the shake and the intervention on the uncomfortable moment. As she drank it, both man stared at her.

Owen had a concerned, protective gaze; he wondered if Michael being there would make more harm than good, or if his instincts were right and Michael would be the one to set the balance back in Nikita's life. It was hard for him to see her so broken and vulnerable; he just wanted her to be okay.

Michael on the other end, was simply delighted to be able to look at her again, to know she was alright, alive, sipping her veggie shake and without any major wounds. He missed her in every single way possible. Looking at her gave him the amazing feeling of calm and peace he had lost weeks ago when she left him in London.

Realizing all eyes on her, Nikita blushed in three shades of red and looked down at her drink, putting it down on the counter sheepishly, almost childlike.

"Maybe I should call and check on Birkhoff" she stated "He's still on anti-inflammatories and I really should check if he's taking them correctly"

"Nikita…" Michael started with a plea; he didn't want her to go away from him, even if it was only a few feet away.

"Go ahead and use my phone. It's a secure line" Owen conceded and she gave him a thankful smile before she left the room.

Michael looked at Owen with an impatient look.

"What?" he questioned "She clearly wanted a way out of the room"

Michael sighed "You're right" he agreed, suddenly feeling frustrated for uncountable reasons "How is she doing?"

Owen arched his eyebrows "Dou you think if she was okay, I'd have called you?"

"I'll take that as a not very good" he sighed, distressed.

"You're damn right! She's not good at all" he added in a serious tone "she's far from being okay. Very far. Not only your break up hit her really hard, soon after that Amanda kidnapped your little bearded friend, now she's just tired and frustrated and…" he stopped mid-sentence, realizing it was not his place to tell Michael about her feelings. When she was ready, she had to be the one to tell him "Look, Michael you should really talk to her"

Michael sighed loudly, realizing by Owen's words how truly conflicted and scared Nikita was.

He wanted nothing more than comfort her, protect her and tell her the everything would be fine, that he would fix everything just to make her feel okay again.

Nikita walked back in the room and stood by the counter opposite to Michael, and the trio remained in silence for a few minutes; not knowing how to proceed or what to say.

Their current situation was somewhat uncomfortable for the three of them; Owen did not know how to be in the middle of the Michael-Nikita drama; Michael wanted nothing more than talk to Nikita in private and make things right again; and Nikita was in conflict with herself and both man who were so inevitably devoted to her.

"So…" Owen started, as a way to not let the uncomfortable silence establish itself over them "we need to get Ari and the guardian. Fast. I think I might have a way" he said walking towards his computer.

He wanted to keep a certain distance from Nikita and Michael to try and give them a chance to talk; maybe if Nikita talked to Michael, she would be calmer and in less emotional pain and distress.

He started running a search as the two agents remained in silence for a few more minutes.

"So, how's Max?" Nikita decided to ask, desperately trying to break the silence between them.

At the sudden conversation, Owen looked at the couple; at least they were talking. And that made him just a little bitter; whether it was jealousy or just an over-protectiveness of Nikita, he couldn't quite tell.

Michael looked up at Nikita "He's good" he started "He asked about you, actually. He called you 'Тетя спистолетом' "

Nikita gave him a small smile "The gun lady"

"Well, it made an impression" he conceded in a half humorous tone "How's Birkhoff?" he asked then, but immediately regretted it when a hurt look crossed her face.

He knew she still felt responsible for what happened to him.

"He's better" she said with a sad voice "He needs some time"

"Well, he's tough. Will be annoying the hell out of you in no time" he said in an attempt to ease her guilt.

But she only looked down, not convinced. Michael felt his heart nearly break.

"And you?" he asked looking carefully at her, he felt a little relived when she looked him in the eye for the first time since he'd come back "How are you?" he asked, the concern evident in his tone, the need to help her; to love her; growing in his chest.

From across the room, Owen looked up from his computer to watch the couple, silent hoping Nikita would open up to Michael and not be so miserable anymore.

Nikita hesitated a little. At the same time she wanted to tell him everything that was pent up inside her; all her pain, her fears, her wishes, her feeling for him, her guilt; for some reason, she couldn't bring herself to do it. At least not now, not in the middle of Owen's kitchen, not when there was something more important that she should be doing.

So she limited herself to say only one, but still the strongest, emotion she was feeling.

"I'm…" she started, her voice trembling "glad to see you"

Owen watched the scene in silence, just wondering why she hadn't said to Michael the same things she had told him before. However, he did not speak his mind.

Michael realized how conflicted she really was; the vulnerability in her eyes, the way her voice was thick with tears, how in need of affection she was.

He then held her in his arms, trying his best to give her the sense of stability and comfort he knew she was so desperately seeking. He buried his face on her neck, losing himself on her scent, the smell of foreign soap mixed with her familiar perfume. He felt her soft skin warming up as his arms encircled around her, how she tightened her hold on him. He sighed in her ear, finally feeling complete after a long time.

Nikita felt her body relax a little with his warm breath on her neck and his strong arms around her, keeping her close, keeping her safe. Nikita had missed him, every little thing about him; and now he was there and for a moment all her troubles and thoughts dissipated from her mind, and all she could think, all she could feel and even breathe was Michael and Michael only; it was like if she didn't need anything else. And she didn't want that moment to end, she didn't want to let him go ever again.

But to her dismay, she heard Owen say "We need to go".

And with that she wasn't in Michael's arms anymore, she was back to her painful reality.

She just hoped Michael would still be there when she was done with their next mission.

A/N: Thanks again to the lovely KethlinMil for being my beta for the Russian dialogue :)

Tell me your thoughts, reviews are always appreciated !