" We can continue our chit-chat later, I don't want to piss off Alex right now. She is not in a good mood. I have to ask you some questions and please answer me" Tom said calmly.
" Ok. Tell me what you want to know" Nikita replied and let her salad on the nightstand.
" What are you doing here, Nikita?" Tom asked.
" I was on a mission" Nikita said.
" What mission?" Tom asked again.
" Personal" Nikita replied unwilling to give more details.
" Nikita, please. Cooperate. We are talking about our safety, about Alex's safety, about your safety. Please. If you endanger our lifes, you will have to face the consequences and we don't want that. Don't let down Alex again. She is not going to forgive you if you cause someone's death." Tom tried to reason Nikita.
" I can't tell you. I will answer that question only to Alex" Nikita said firmly.
" Fine. It is your choice. I warned you. Don't piss Alex off. Not today" Tom replied in a warning tone.
" Who else is with you?" Tom continued the interrogation.
" None. I am alone" Nikita said sadly.
" Where is Michael, Sean? Why they don't have your back?" Tom asked confused.
" There aren't here. They don't know that I am on a mission. I take it behind their back" Nikita replied honestly.
" Why?" Tom asked worried.
" Because it was a secret. I didn't want them to worry. I will explain to Alex." Nikita said.
" Who knows where you are?" Tom asked.
" Birkoff" Nikita replied softly.
" Do you have to report to him or anything? Does he know that you were in trouble?" Tom questioned.
" I don't think that he knows that I am in trouble but he will suspect it soon" Nikita answered.
" How did you get caught by Amanda's men?" Tom asked.
" Senator's house is Shop's front. Amanda works with the Shop. She was informed about the bridge in the security. I got caught and they interrogated me about Alex's location. What does Amanda want Alex about?" Nikita replied.
" Great, we have problem. You should ask Alex" Tom replied.
At the same time downstairs...
" Meredith? Can you help me with my arm please?" Alex asked trying to move Meredith in a more private place so that they can talk.
" Of course" Meredith replied and walked straight to the medical room followed by Alex.
" You are bleeding again?" Meredith asked anxious.
" Unfortunately" Alex said sadly.
" Let me see" Meredith said and started working on Alex's wounded arm.
" Are you ok?" Alex asked worried.
" I am fine" Meredith said.
" You don't have to lie to me, Meredith." Alex stated.
" I am not fine. Happy now" Meredith said angrily.
" You have to face her. She doesn't bite. She will understand." Alex mentioned.
" I know. But I am not ready to face my feelings. I will face her tomorrow. I promise." Meredith said.
" It will be fine. Don't worry. You will be fine" Alex reassurred her.
" Thank you, Alex." Meredith thanked her.
"For what?" Alex asked surprised.
" For being there for me" Meredith replied softly.
" You don't have. Thanks for your help. I need to go back to Nikita and change her bandages. Can you pass me the medical kit?" Alex said.
" Here you are. Be safe" Meredith said and handed the medical supplies to Alex
" It is time to change your bandages, Nikita." Alex said entering Nikita's room.
" What?" Nikita asked confused.
" Come on. Turn around. Face on the pillow." Alex ordered and walked towards Nikita's bed, she kneeled down and took out Nikita's old bandages.
She took a deep breathe when she saw the scars on her back. She closed her eyes and sighed loudly. She took out the medical ointment and gently she took care of Nikita's wounds. She could feel Nikita shaking under her touch and the pain inside Alex got higher. Those scars should be on her back. Amanda tortured Nikita because of her. She finished the treatment and put some new bandages on the wounds.
" Whenever you want, you can stand up. I am finished." Alex said trying not to show in her voice her emotional pain.
" Thanks" Nikita whispered.
" You are welcome" Alex said and felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned around and saw Tom standing beside her.
" Come here" Tom instructed Alex and Alex stood up while Nikita turned around and put herself in a sitting position.
Tom took Alex aside.
" This isn't your fault" Tom whispered in Alex's ears so that Nikita couldn't hear.
" Yes, it is. It should be me. Amanda is after me. I double-cross Amanda, not Nikita. It happened because of me" Alex whispered angrily.
" Stop blaming yourself for everything." Tom whispered in return.
" I can't" Alex said honestly and looked him in the eyes.
" STOP IT" Tom said louder and angrier. Nikita heard that and looked at the two partners confused.
" Don't " Alex replied with a warning tone.
" please" Tom pleaded.
Alex didn't respond. Suddenly, she punched the wall with force and she started bleeding from her fingers.
" What the hell?" Nikita yelled in shock.
" Don't push me more Tom." Alex warned him.
Tom didn't reply. Instead he hugged her tightly.
" Tom?" Alex asked in surprise. She expected screams and lecture but not a hug.
" You have to take it out. It will kill you. Please, Alex" Tom said.
Alex didn't say anything more, she hugged him back and she let some tears to fall.
" Thank you" she said when they pulled apart.
" My pleasure. Do you want me to take care of your fingers?" Tom said smiling.
" No, thanks. I am fine" Alex said and returned the smile.
" What the hell is going on? Are you crazy? You punched the wall?" Nikita yelled in complete shock.
Alex and Tom laughed loudly seeing Nikita's reaction.
" back on business, now" Alex ordered smiling.
" She is alone, no back-up. Only Birkoff knows about the mission. I don't know what mission. Senator is connected with the shop. So does Amanda" Tom debriefed her.
" That complicates the things. Send a message to Birkoff and let him know that Nikita is fine." Alex stated worried.
" Nikita. What was your mission?" Alex asked.
" Senator has in his possession a file about Michael's family. Amanda called me and threatened to publish it" Nikita said sadly.
" Why did you come alone?" Alex asked.
" Michael is spending some time with Max, Sean is worried about you. I didn't want them to worry. They have other things to do." Nikita replied softly.
" You will have to understand sometime before you get killed that you aren't alone anymore, Nikita. You have people looking after your back, you are part of a team, you are part of a family" Alex lectured calmly.
" Look who speaks! You didn't consider any of this when you decided to leave" Nikita replied angrily.
" At least, I didn't leave alone" Alex said harsh.
" Did you get Michael's file?" Alex added softly.
" No. It is in a safe inside Senator's bedroom. I didn't manage to get inside" Nikita said defeated.
" And this is going to change our mission. First goal; retrieve the file." Alex said seriously.
" Alex, you can't continue with this mission. Amanda will expect Nikita to come. Quards will be everywhere. You can't break in and get out alive." Tom shouted.
" Who told you that I am going to break in Senator's house?" Alex said amused.
" What do you mean?" Tom and Nikita asked in union.
" I will get inside from the front door. I will be invited." Alex said smiling sadly and took out her cell phone.
" Hello?" a man answered the phone.
" Senator Mayson?" Alex asked softly.
" Yes. Who are you?" Senator asked confused.
" I am someone who likes it tough while she is handcuffed, daddy" Alex said in a seductive tone.
" Sasha?" Senator asked in disbelief.