Set after 3x06 "Sideswipe". Michael and Nikita argue about her stepping in front of the bomb.

"I don't care if you knew Amanda wasn't going to kill you, or whatever. You can't step in front of a bomb and expect nothing to happen," Michael shouted as he stomped after Nikita. She continued to huff and brush him off, but he wasn't going to give up. That wasn't a conversation she could dismiss. They had already gone too long without it.

The engaged couple had been attempting to decide what to have for dinner when the argument broke out. He had wanted takeout, while she wanted something homemade. While they civilly talked about what to eat, she made an offhanded joke about not wanting to leave the apartment in case she ran into another one of Amanda's 'lessons'. The conversation drastically dissolved from there. It was too soon to be joking about the bomb Nikita stared down on the mission. It was too soon since the team had discovered Amanda planned on killing them one by one. Nikita shouldn't joke, especially when she so willingly stepped into danger.

Nikita and Michael barely talked about what happened in Spain. They mostly focused on the disaster that was Romania and the damage done to their team. But they had to discuss her reckless actions. It wasn't something that could go unchecked, despite her protests, "I was fine! Amanda won't kill me until her stupid lesson is taught. But she can kill you, and Cyrus, and everybody fucking else. That's the last thing I'll let happen. I'll do anything to save you."

"But it can't be at the expense of your own life. Do you ever stop to think how I would feel if I lost you? If you die, I die," Michael threw the words back in his fiancée's face. Whether Amanda would kill Nikita or not didn't matter. She still jumped in front of a bomb and stared death in the eyes. She couldn't do that. Her life had far more meaning than that. She couldn't throw it away, not when she meant so much more to him- to their family.

"I wasn't going to die," However, Nikita brushed off his concern like it was all nothing. Michael shouldn't be so worked up. The bomb wouldn't go off with her near. She was never in any danger. So there was no need for another one of those arguments.

"That's not going to happen everytime you step in front of a bomb," Voice cracking, Michael snapped. The situation was a one off. Nikita didn't blow up that time. But each time she faced Amanda was going to be different. Nikita was going to be in more and more danger. She couldn't be so flippant about it. After all she had been through, she should know how unpredictable her luck was.

"When are you going to realize I can take care of myself?" Nikita wouldn't hear of it, though. No matter the dangerous situation, she knew she could handle herself. She was always going to be fine; she was smart and capable. Michael had called her that numerous times. So he didn't get to be overprotective. He should trust her.

"When you fucking act like it!" The shout reverberated off their apartment walls. In the dead silence that followed, it appeared even louder. Nikita stared at Michael with a blank expression. Whereas he continued to fume in lividity, she just blinked.

Once the shock of his words settled, Nikita seethed. Her fists clenched and she stalked closer to Michael. He didn't back down. He stood his ground, adding more power to his statement. That was it. Nikita was done after that, "Fine. I'll go off and take care of myself. You can stay here and act like you're the pinnacle of self-care."

Grabbing her purse, jacket, and shoes, Nikita threw open the front door and stormed out. She didn't look at Michael behind her. She simply slammed the door closed. He wasn't watching her either. As soon as she took hold of her things, he frustratedly stomped out of the room. If she wanted to act like a child, then so would he. They wouldn't have an actual conversation like adults. They'd yell and scream and storm off until they got what they wanted.

At least for a moment that was what Michael did. After some brief time to cool off and take some deep breaths, he realized he had screwed up. It wasn't fair for him to yell that at Nikita. It also wasn't right of him to just let her walk away. Unsure of where she had stormed off, he tried to call her. She didn't answer. He expected she'd ignore him. It was better to text her when she was upset; she always read her messages even if she didn't respond to them. If he wanted her to know something, he should simply type it, "I'm sorry."

"I shouldn't… I'm just…" Michael attempted to expand upon his apology, but nothing he texted sounded right. He kept deleting and retyping, hoping to find all the right words. He couldn't, however. Nothing was perfect. He sounded just as much of an ass as he did when he shouted at her. They weren't true apologies.

So after a minute, Michael simply texted the three words he always felt about Nikita. It was a constant that'd never change. No matter how much they fought or made asses of themselves, "I love you."

Habit and the need to know nothing was wrong made Nikita check her phone when it buzzed. She declined Michael's call. She didn't want to talk to him for a while. Maybe once she calmed down she would. In the meantime, she'd bitterly screened his 'I'm sorry' text and continued storming out of the apartment building. She had no idea where she was going exactly. She didn't even take the elevator, just angrily stomped down the stairs. It was only when she exited onto the street that she considered getting in her car. Driving seemed like a great way to collect her thoughts and calm down. After all, she'd be away from the bullshit that pissed her off.

As Nikita shoved her keys into the ignition, however, she received another text. Instinct made her check it. The fact that it was from Michael made her want to ignore it. Unfortunately, her eyes read the message without her intention. She read the three simple words and paused. Sighing deeply, she dropped her keys into her lap. Her reaction had definitely been over the top. She should go back upstairs and talk to her fiancé. After all, he loved her.

It just took her some time to return to their apartment. Nikita needed a moment to breathe. If she was actually going to have a conversation with Michael, she had to be calm. The two had had enough fights, frustrations, and stress. They needed peace.

After not getting a response from his fiancée, Michael dialed another number in his phone. He didn't want to be controlling or overbearing or anything like that. He was just worried. Nikita had expressed that she felt as though someone was following her. He didn't doubt her instincts. Except, if someone was following her, he wanted to know where she was going. He knew she could handle herself if something were to happen. But he'd feel better if he knew where she was. Just in case she needed help, he could be right by her side.

His first guess was that Nikita stormed over to Alex's. She was her best friend. If she wanted to vent about Michael, then Nikita would speed over there. He paced the floor, waiting for Alex to answer his call. It wasn't until the last possible ring that she finally did, "Hey, Alex. I don't want to bother you…"

"Then don't," Alex snapped into the phone. Michael had already tried to talk to her about her weird behavior on the recent missions. She didn't need to hear it again. She was fine, and she had gotten the job done. That should be all that mattered. The team was safe; though, there was a moment where that almost wasn't possible. If it hadn't been for Sean, who knew what horrors would've happened. All because Alex had frozen. If she had been able to act- maybe taken more performance enhancers- she could've been a greater help. She wouldn't have needed Sean. He didn't have to come back. He could've stuck with his decision to leave.

"Whoa, hey. I just wanted to ask that if Nikita shows up at your place, can you tell me?" Michael quit pacing, stumped by Alex's sudden forcefulness. She had been that aggressive out on the field, but he hadn't expected it to carry over to her relaxing time at home. He soon became worried about her too. She must've been going through something she was hiding from the team.

"Sorry. What's wrong?" Instantly softening, Alex asked. She shouldn't have snapped at Michael. She knew if he ever wanted to discuss something serious, he'd talk to her face to face. He saved phone calls for quick updates, requests to come into Division, or to ask something. She wasn't going to face his third degree then. As long as she got herself together that was.

A part of Michael wanted to delve right into what was going on with Alex. He had a suspicion that whatever had happened in Romania had hurt her. But he couldn't just shift gears off Nikita. He still had to know where she was, "I don't mean to drag you into this. We just had a fight, and Nikita stormed off. I only want to know if she's somewhere safe. You don't have to interfere or send her home. Just let me know if she's safe, please."

"Yeah. I can do that," Gently, Alex promised. The engaged couple was pretty good at not dragging the others into their fights. They vented to their friends, but they didn't make them choose sides. So if all Michael was asking for was the knowledge that his fiancée was safe, then Alex would do just that. She'd want someone looking out for her too.

"Thanks," Michael sighed in relief. He knew he could rely on Alex. Though, he didn't want to put too much pressure on her if she was struggling as well. She should have someone to rely on also. While he was on the phone, he could be that person, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Alex sharply ended the call. She didn't need Michael's concern. She had already received Sean's stupid concern in Division. After he had left, he didn't get to give it. She had proven time and time again that she could take care of herself. She was fine.

Michael was one hundred percent certain that Alex was not fine. Something was wrong. She was on edge, aggressive, intense, and unwilling to stop once she was set on a course. That wasn't like her, even when she was upset with someone. Her attitude almost seemed like the recruits he had seen drugged up on performance enhancers. He didn't want to make that assumption. Yet after her gunshot wound, it was a possibility.

Unfortunately, Michael couldn't focus on Alex at the moment. He'd have to figure out what was wrong later. Nikita's absence was more pressing. There was a chance she wouldn't drive over to her best friend's, but choose to go to Division instead. Hopefully, there'd be someone there when she arrived. Michael's bet was that it'd be Ryan, "Ryan, are you at Division? Great. If Nikita shows up…"

Hearing the front door creak open, Michael dropped his sentence. He hurried to see who it was, realizing a bit too late that he never relocked the door. However, it was only Nikita. He was beyond surprised to see her walk back through the door and remove her jacket, shoes, and purse. But he didn't question it. He just hung up the phone, "Nevermind."

On a quick afterthought, Michael texted Alex the same thing. There was no need to be on the lookout; Nikita was home. He dumped his phone wherever he could and rushed to his fiancée. A million apologies bubbled on his lips, "Hey. I'm sorry. And I love you. And…"

"I'm the one who should be sorry. I shouldn't have run off like that. I know better than to leave when things aren't going my way, or when my emotions are too much it's scary. I should stay and work it out with you," Stopping Michael in his tracks, Nikita apologized. She shared the thoughts she had had while she calmed down in the car, twisting her engagement ring around her finger. Her fiancé had put his foot in his mouth, yet she was the one in the wrong. She was all about growth and change, but she never learned her lesson.

She wanted to change, though. Nikita really wanted to do better- not just for herself and her team, but also for Michael. Staying to talk and admit to her rashness could be her first step, "You're right. I don't think. I was too focused on saving you and Cyrus, and on one upping Amanda, I didn't think about how you felt. Especially around bombs."

Michael hadn't thought of it like that. Yes, during the terrifying moment when Nikita marched up to Amanda's bomb he pictured losing her to the horrific flames like he had lost Hayley and Elizabeth. But since then, he only pictured losing her. He wouldn't be able to handle that no matter how it came to be. Gently, Michael pulled Nikita into his arms and brushed his forehead against hers. She remained tense for a moment, but as he breathed so did she, "Just stay. Talk to me, and stay."

"I'm sorry," Nikita whispered. Michael nudged her nose with his, ensuring her eyes connected with his. They kissed softly and hesitatingly at first. Everything couldn't be fixed with a simple kiss. Yet the longer their lips pressed lovingly against one another, the more things seemed to be alright. The engaged couple settled into their affection. The argument faded away, and things began to mend.

Talking would solidify the end of their fight. They simply had to part from their kiss. That took a while. Once it did, tender smiles lit their features. Michael trailed his thumb along Nikita's spine. She melted at his touch. He kissed her again, somehow more affectionate than before, and muttered softly, "Let's eat and talk, alright?"

"You just want your chicken nuggets," Recalling what he had jokingly suggested they eat for dinner, Nikita chuckled. Michael rolled his eyes, but his crooked smile betrayed his annoyance. He was always powerless to her smiles.

"You got me," Michael pulled Nikita even closer, making her giggle. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and just sort of swayed with him. It was an awkward dance. But it expressed the little joy they let wash over them after their fight. The engaged couple couldn't stay upset forever. They had each other, after all, "I just want my food and you."

"I love you too," Finally responding to her fiancé's text, Nikita kissed him once more. The two wound up ordering takeout once they finished swapping kisses. Michael and Nikita could spend their time focused on each other, discussing all the things they needed to over an easy meal. The conversation wasn't entirely light and breezy. But they didn't argue anymore. And they were eventually able to continue smiling and giggling. Nikita and Michael found a way to work it all out, just as they should as partners in crime and in life.