Set after 1x13 "Coup de Grace" and sometime in season 2. Alex spies on Michael and Birkhoff playing videogames.

Alex probably should've gone home. She had debriefed, changed, and did other Division shit. She had no reason to hang around the bunker. And yet, she wandered the halls aimlessly. Maybe she was moving on automatic; she couldn't stop being a mole for Nikita. Alex just wanted to dig something damaging up and use it to tear Division down. The faster everything burned to the ground, the better. She wouldn't have to keep going on gun-for-hire missions. Innocent people wouldn't be in danger anymore. And an evil organization that sanctioned the murder of children would be gone from the world. It was a dream she had to make reality.

Though, there wasn't much to find late at night after Nikita had ruined another operation. Most agents were home, and all of the recruits were in bed. Alex should've done the same. After rounding yet another empty corner, she considered finally leaving. She could be a double agent in the morning. No doubt she'd be more successful if she wasn't strung out post mission.

Except, she heard noises coming from Birkhoff's secluded area of the bunker. He could've been hanging around late at night to work on the black boxes or other 'engineer' stuff. If that was the case, she could easily spy on him. She didn't even have to use the air vents. She knew a back hallway that'd let her listen in and watch Birkhoff without him knowing. It was shocking how easy it was to spy on Division at times. She shouldn't be taking that for granted. But she would let the overconfidence fuel her for a bit.

When she reached the nerd cave, however, Alex only saw Birkhoff playing some first-shooter videogame. It wasn't anything interesting. He probably used the giant monitors in Division to play games a lot; she had seen him do it before. Sighing silently to herself, she decided it really was time for her to leave. She wasn't going to discover anything new that night. However, movement at the front entrance of the room caught her attention. She had to stay to at least see who the late night visitor was. Any information could be good information.

It was only Michael, though. He shuffled into the secluded area and plopped on the couch next to Birkhoff. He didn't say a word. The hacker remained silent as well. He just handed over an extra gaming controller. Alex was surprised that Michael took it and started playing. She never figured him as someone who played videogames, especially shoot-em-up games. But even slouched against the cushions, halfheartedly playing, he was holding his own against Birkhoff. It was truly a sight to behold. Mostly, though, because of Michael's appearance.

Just as Alex had never expected her handler to play videogames, she had never seen him out of a suit. Even when he was shot, he still had on slacks and a dress shirt. Yet, in Birkhoff's little nerd cave, Michael wore a t-shirt and cargo pants. Chances were, he barely took off his fake FBI tactical gear before stumbling over. His hair remained a mess from his gas mask. It wasn't like him to stay disheveled, or act like Birkhoff. Something must've been wrong with him.

Birkhoff guessed what was wrong before Alex could. As the game loaded another map for the men to play, Birkhoff reached for the mini fridge he kept by the couch. He pulled out two bottles of beer and handed one to Michael. Again, Alex was surprised that he took it. Birkhoff, not so much, "Nikki?"

Michael continued to not say anything. He opened the beer and took a sip. He grimaced at the taste, looking like he was going to spit it back up. Yet, he kept drinking anyway. Birkhoff scoffed. He opened his own beer and chugged, "Yeah. Nikki."

The two fell silent again, only playing the mindless videogame and drinking numbing alcohol. If nothing Alex had encountered was her cue to leave, then was certainly it. Whatever Michael and Birkhoff were going through, she shouldn't witness it. They were hiding in the hacker's cave for a reason; it gave them some sense of privacy in a place that never allowed it. Alex knew she craved time alone where she could be her true self. She wouldn't want anyone spying on her like she was doing to the men.

However, Alex was fairly certain the 'Nikki' that had Michael so twisted up inside was Nikita. Alex always wondered what was up between those two. Although they were supposed to be enemies, they hardly treated each other as such. The way they talked about one another seemed to hold far more emotional weight than two people who hated each other. Just the few things Alex heard them say led her to believe there was some sort of emotional baggage. Nikita and Michael also always managed to survive encounters with one another. It was almost as though they couldn't bring themselves to hurt the other. Something was going on between them.

Nikita never told Alex about it, though. The young woman tried to pry it out of her, yet the rogue always shut her out. Whatever Michael and Nikita had had between them would remain a secret. Unless Alex stuck around to eavesdrop on Michael's and Birkhoff's conversation. The hacker obviously knew more about the situation than she did. If anyone could make the handler talk, it'd be him.

No one said anything for a long time. The only sound was the blasting of videogame guns and bombs. Michael and Birkhoff jammed controllers and sipped beer. It wasn't until Michael's bottle was empty that he dared to talk. Once he did, his voice was hoarse and hollow- almost like he hadn't trusted himself to speak until that moment, "She's gonna get herself killed."

"Whatever. After she kidnapped me twice, I don't care," The way Birkhoff finished his beer and reached for another said otherwise. Alex didn't know the hacker as much as she knew her handler. She also wasn't aware of what his relationship used to be like with Nikita. But she could still tell that he cared for the rogue. Michael, Birkhoff, and Nikita seemed to have a hold on one another like no one else. They affected the others deeply, whether they liked it or not.

Grunting in disbelief, Michael kept his attention on the television monitor. Birkhoff rolled his eyes and slouched further on the couch. The two played another map silently. Whereas Michael was done drinking, Birkhoff continued. He drank that bottle much faster than the other. The alcohol probably gave him the courage to express, "She's still on that suicide mission."

Alex was really interested in discovering what that comment was about. Was it just about her attempts to burn down Division. Or was there more to that story- like she had tried to get herself killed before. Alex knew Nikita would never tell her. Maybe if she kept listening to the men, she could pick up more. Instead of talking, Michael hunched over and tried to make himself smaller as he played. And Birkhoff ignored the game long enough to study the handler. When the silence stretched on for too long, he quietly began to ask, "Do you ever think…"

"She's right," Whether Michael was only finishing the question or making that statement, neither Alex nor Birkhoff knew. They couldn't read it off his face either. His face was as pale as it had been when he entered the nerd cave, his voice continued to be hoarse and hold no emotion, and his green eyes remained hollow and directed at the screen. He was going to portray nothing. At least to Alex. After a moment, Birkhoff appeared to know exactly what he was thinking.

"Well she certainly believes it," The hacker huffed, returning his attention to the videogame. Alex fought hard to not laugh out loud. From Division recruit to agent to rogue, that fact hadn't changed. Nikita was apparently as stubborn and bossy as ever. Though, she really was right that time. Michael and Birkhoff would just have to wait and see.

"That's always been the problem," Clutching his controller tighter, Michael grumbled. Okay, maybe the men wouldn't come around and see the truth. Alex believed they were too angry and hurt to see what was truly right. At least Michael was.

"Remember game nights with her?" Birkhoff, however, didn't seem to have all of the information. While he smirked at a distant memory, he missed Michael's jaw tighten. Alex saw that all the way across the room. A part of her wanted to cross to him and explore it more, yet she had to force herself back. She couldn't be seen. She couldn't get involved. She was just an observer, gathering as much intel as she could. That wasn't nearly as easy as she made it seem.

Soon, though, Birkhoff noticed how taut Michael's muscles had become. He awkwardly studied him, unsure of how to comfort his friend. Michael didn't appear to want comfort. He wanted to stay angry. Birkhoff could only sigh and look away once more, "We'll never get back to that point will we?"

"Not when she kills herself," Throwing down his controller, Michael practically shouted. He stomped to the mini fridge, ripped out a beer, forced off the top, and chugged the disgusting alcohol. Both Birkhoff and Alex stared in shock. Michael was in his own world of hurt, however. He didn't care. He finished the bottle and plopped back down on the couch. The controller remained on the floor.

"What did she do to you?" Birkhoff voiced Alex's thoughts for her. What the hell kind of emotional baggage was between Michael and Nikita. And was it sparked anew after the recent mission. The two had to have run into each other when Michael posed as FBI. Nikita was still in the building when Division raided it. Did the two exchange harmful words. Did they try to kill one another. Did they ruin things between them even more. Was there even anything left to ruin. God, Alex desperately needed to know.

Whereas she might've gotten an answer from Birkhoff, she would never hear the full truth from Michael or Nikita. They would remain closed off about it, even to their friends. Michael silently picked up the gaming controller and absentmindedly played with the buttons. He had calmed considerably since his outburst, but he wasn't anywhere near okay. A strange mix of pain, rage, and longing flashed across his face, "She's just Nikita. Always has been."

"Yeah. Nikki," Eyes downcast, Birkhoff sighed. He and Michael stopped talking for good that time. No more would be shared between the two that night- and probably for a while. Alex couldn't rationalize sticking around any longer. She had to go home; she had heard more than enough. The next time she saw Nikita, Alex had to interrogate her about Birkhoff and Michael. There was a chance she wouldn't learn any more, yet she had to try. She had to know what their deal was. What had ever happened to their friendship- or whatever exactly happened to Michael and Nikita. And when things were all over, could they ever return to that point.


Scuffling sounds along the outside wall captured Michael's attention. When he turned to look, all he saw was a few tendrils of light brown hair whisking away. Someone had more than likely listened to him and Birkhoff. And he didn't doubt that that person was Alex. She was one of the few people that could still be inside Division. She was also the one person who would be snooping around. The agent who received the rogue over coms with a relieved sigh and a concern for her wellbeing would of course be where she wasn't. Of course it was her.

Turning around on the couch, Michael huffed. He slouched further into the cushions and harshly smashed buttons on the controller. Of course it was her. It always came back to Nikita. He couldn't escape her or the way he was drawn to her if he tried. And God did he try.


Alex spotted Birkhoff and Michael playing a videogame in the great room of the safehouse. They were far more engaged in the activity than they had been a year ago. Both sat on the edge of the couch cushions, trash talking each other as they smashed buttons. The men laughed and smiled and appeared to be having the most fun they've had in a long time. Just watching them from across the room made Alex smile. It was truly a sight to behold.

Eventually, Nikita joined the two men. She picked up a third controller and squeezed between them on the couch. She wasn't nearly as good at the shooting game as they were, yet she didn't care. That wasn't her goal in coming to play with Michael and Birkhoff. From her middle seat, she nudged and teased the men, intentionally messing them up. At first, they laughed along with her- Michael even kissed her adoringly. But when she managed to kill them in the videogame because of her meddling, they quickly turned against her.

Michael tickled Nikita's side while Birkhoff pressed random buttons on her controller. She tried to fight them, yet she was overwhelmed with giggles. In order to get control of herself, she had to leap off the couch. She proceeded to taunt her friends as she stood above them. She said something like she had always been the superior agent or whatever. It made Alex roll her eyes. Birkhoff and Michael, on the other hand, shared a shiteating grin. In the same fluid movement, they grabbed pillows from the couch and chucked them at Nikita. The force knocked her right on her ass. She was too busy laughing to retaliate.

Although Alex stifled her own laughter, wanting to remain in the background, Michael managed to hear her. He turned around on the couch and flashed the young woman a crooked smile, "You gonna join, Alex? Or just stand there?"

For a split second, based solely on the knowing glint in Michael's eyes, Alex thought he knew she had spied on him and Birkhoff the year before. She glanced at him curiously, yet he only shrugged. Alex decided it was better if she did too. So, she forgot all about it and ran to her friends. The first thing she did was pile onto the laughter by messing with Nikita as she laid on the ground. Call it payback for what she had put the others through. Except it was all in good fun. The four continued to laugh and play as though they didn't have to worry about anything. And for one brief moment together, they could pretend that was true.