Nikita easily caught up to her brother. He had only made it as far as the ocean in his escape. He plopped down into the sand, letting the water lap at his feet. She sat next to him, and fell onto her back to stare at the stars. Neither said anything for a while. They took a moment to not think. That was the only way to settle their racing minds and raging hearts. They didn't care that it was dark and cold, or that the ocean was soaking their feet. The siblings just felt numb. Eventually, Sean broke the silence. His voice was hoarse as if he had been holding back tears, "What the fuck, Nikki? How the fuck does this keep happening?"

"Division takes and takes without giving a shit for anyone," Nikita's response, though emotionless, had a biting edge. She had gone through the cycle of rage and acceptance so many times, she thought she would've been over it. But fury continued to bubble in her chest. She was so tired of being so goddamn angry. How else was she to process the hurt she constantly found herself in, though. Her first response was simply anger. Her heart kept getting shattered over and over again. And, God, was it exhausting. She didn't want to be furious anymore. She wanted to be happy.

"Did our mom know? Did she let the founder of that hellhole teach her kids?" His own anger building, Sean dug his nails in the sand. He clutched the gritty rocks with a deathlike grip, considering chucking it into the ocean. How did Ms. Bennet even become a teacher with her connection to Division. Had she intended to groom students into the perfect agents. He wasn't entirely sure how the recruitment process worked, but that seemed like a horrible possibility to him. She helped them become better versions of themselves, thinking and relaxing in tense situations. Then, she'd put them in Division's way.

Although she knew what her brother was thinking, Nikita didn't have the energy to dispute it. Michael was right, no one could groom an agent. Division stole their recruits from the prison system. Sure, she and Alex were different. But so were the circumstances. Carla didn't have a hand in recruitment. However, that didn't mean she hadn't done terrible things for that organization. Their teacher was just like their mother, "Madeline sanctioned that fucking shit and raised us."

"How did our role models turn out to be monsters?" Sean forcefully threw his fistful of sand, rocks, and shells into the ocean. He and his sisters had looked up to their mother and teacher. The women had taught them, helped them, and cared for them, all while being connected to a place full of evil and destruction. That kind of juxtaposition didn't make any sense. How could people they had seen as good and virtuous become such monsters. How did people they love turn around and stab them in the back.

Sean and Nikita thought they had learned how to deal with Madeline's involvement in Division and Oversight. They had processed the initial shock. However, they were actively trying to burn down her black ops groups; they were also actively avoiding her. Nikita more so than Sean- still attempting to not be furious over having been given up. She didn't think she'd ever stop being angry. That kind of hurt stung more than anything, "We just set ourselves up for disappointment."

Glancing over at his sister, Sean tried to make sense of her tone. Nikita sounded so distant and muted. Whatever war was raging in her mind wasn't escaping. She somehow managed to hold it all in while he was ready to explode. He knew it was all a façade. The instant anyone started prying, she'd crumble. He wasn't sure if he wanted that or not, however. Yes, he wanted his sister to be open with him- to share what had happened with their mother earlier. But he also didn't want to see her cry. He had only seen that a few times in his life, yet everytime it scared him. Fortunately, his phone rang in his pocket. He didn't have to make a decision about what to do; he could just answer Alex's call, "Hey. I tried calling Nikita, but she didn't answer. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I just left my phone inside. How's prepping for the press conference going? You good to go for tomorrow?" Still lying on her back and staring at the stars, Nikita tried to distract Alex. She could barely talk to her brother; there was no way she could tell her friend what was happening. Besides, she had her own concerns to concentrate on. Ruining Semak's Zetrov press conference and rescuing Katya should've been the only things Alex focused on. She didn't need to worry about the Pierces.

"I'm great. Ready to ruin Semak's day. But how'd it go with Ms. Bennet? You find out why Amanda wants her dead?" Alex wasn't going to be deterred, however. Her last phone call with Nikita, when she told her about the kill order, had startled her. The rogue had sounded just as shocked and terrified as she had after learning Sean was working with Oversight. Something was going on, and the young woman had to know what. She couldn't be separated from their problems again. She needed to help her team.

"Not yet. Though we know why Percy wanted her. She founded Division," Once again, Nikita sounded distant and muted. However, Sean was able to see the rage simmering in her brown eyes. She was barely holding it together; soon, she was going to explode just like him. He tried to reach out to her, comfort the both of them. Yet she started to move away. With a sharp breath, she pushed herself up off the beach. She barely glanced at the ocean, before storming back to the beach house. The livingroom lights had been turned off. Ms. Bennet wasn't hanging around anymore.

"What?" Drawing his attention for a moment, Alex was in disbelief. It really was one thing after another for the siblings. Although he wanted to, Sean couldn't respond to her immediately. He stared after his sister as she stealthily reentered the safehouse. She really was going to keep avoiding everything until it ate at her. He couldn't blame her, though. Wasn't he doing the same. Keeping him from drowning in those thoughts, Alex attempted to tease the two, "Can you stop having shocking revelations about the people in your life?"

"Your mom is still alive, and she cheated on your dad with his business partner," Sean adopted Nikita's deflection technique. He'd rather continue to stare at the ocean than discuss what he was thinking with Alex. It was nothing against her; she was awesome. He'd just prefer ranting to his sister. She understood what he was feeling better than anyone. It was their family and heartache, after all. However, he wasn't considering that their team had been through similar hurt. He and his sister weren't alone.

"Okay. But that's two compared to your billion," Alex teased once more. When she didn't hear a sarcastic reply from Nikita, she knew she had left. It was just Sean on the phone, silent and upset. God, did she know that feeling. It wasn't that long ago that she was sitting on the safehouse's couch, attempting to put herself together after that whole shit with her mother. She was able to process and find a goal to focus on. But only because of her friends. The Pierces needed someone to help them claw out of all that pain. Nikita had the team she had built around her, and so did Sean. Alex would make certain he knew that, "You really doing okay?"

He didn't reply for a long time. The only thing Alex heard over the phone was the crash of the waves against the beach. She did her best to not pressure Sean. She had spent enough time with Nikita to know that a Pierce would talk whenever they were ready. Hell, she had spent enough time with the Seal to know he would eventually tell her hat was on his mind. There was simply a lot of stubbornness to push through. And some trust to be shared, "We're managing."

"Do you think maybe you should talk?" Alex offered simply. Sean considered the idea.

"Nikita. Let me in," Michael knocked gently on the bathroom door. As soon as he turned the lights off to the livingroom, he knew she would return to the beach house. Carla was hidden away in one of the extra rooms, allowing Nikita to effectively continue avoiding her. He wasn't going to push her about that; she deserved the time and space. But he also wasn't going to let her be alone. She had endured so many other harsh revelations and family blows on her own. He couldn't stand by as she dealt with more.

When she didn't answer, he tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. Michael stepped into the bathroom, finding Nikita sitting on the sink. It appeared as though she had tried to wash off the sand and grit from the beach, but she gave up before hoping in the shower. She stared at the bandage on her arm, instead. They should probably change it, and clean her glass cut again. Yet she was transfixed. There was no moving her. He closed the distance between them, and noticed tears swimming in her brown eyes. She had been holding back a sob since her argument with Madeline. Tears had fallen, but not the full front of the storm. It was all about to break loose, "My arm hurts really bad."

"I know," Michael tenderly reached for her. He knew Nikita was deflecting. He knew she was distracting him from what was really hurting her. Except, he wouldn't fall for it. He'd fight through her stubbornness and unwillingness to share. He was there for her, despite whatever negative thoughts drilling into her made her believe. As he placed a tender hand to her cheek, however, she shoved him away. Anger flared though her, forcing her to hop off the counter.

"Why does everyone keep saying that hellhole was good for me?" Nikita couldn't keep her voice down. She didn't care if Ms. Bennet heard her on the other side of the house; she just couldn't hold it in any longer. The sorrowful and dull ache had subsided. All that was left was her rage. She had been through hell and back, and people she once loved claimed that was a blessing. How could any of that pain have been worth it, "Michael, Madeline knew. About Nikolai. About Hayley and Elizabeth. About Daniel. She knew what they did to us!"

Michael had no idea what to say. He had been aware that Oversight knew what Division, Percy, and Amanda were doing. That was the reason for the black boxes. Yet he hadn't made the connection between that and Nikita's adopted mother. Madeline knew what had happened to her daughter, and still fought against her; she still gave her up. He didn't think he could ever put himself in that situation. He'd have found some other way to save and protect his children. Nikita was probably thinking the same, while she frustratingly pushed back her wild dark hair, "Our mom. Our teacher. Who else is gonna side with Division over us?"

"Not Sean. Or Alex. Or Birkhoff. Or me. You have us," Michael was quick with soothing words that time. He had no doubt about his statement; her friends weren't going to leave her. Nikita didn't step into his arms, however. She wanted to be comforted by him, but she kept her distance. She wasn't ready to calm down just yet. Fury was running wild through her veins. Her body was agitated and trembling. The anger had to burn through her before she could accept any kind of help, as though it was a wall she had to hurdle over.

"And you have Max," Nikita wasn't trying to sound so cruel. She loved Max. He was a sweet and kind boy, who didn't deserve to be wrapped in the spyworld like his parents were. She and Michael simply hadn't resolved what had happened in London. She had left, and he had stayed. They hadn't had much time to talk it over since he came back. The one time they did, her brother had interrupted. Their future together was uncertain, just like everything else in their lives. It used to not be that way- she could clearly picture what was ahead of them. Then, it was as cloudy as ever.

"I can have you both," Taking small steps towards her, Michael spoke softly. They didn't have to reside in a world of absolutes. It might have seemed that way with evil black ops organizations, and multiple betrayals. Yet it was never one or the other. Nikita had taught him that. She had been the one to show the team that there was always another solution. They just needed to settle from their hurt, breathe, and think. They'd find solutions and answers eventually. They were going to save the world together.

She didn't move away from Michael as he approached her, yet she did avert her gaze. Nikita didn't want to talk about that; she didn't want to talk about anything. She simply had to vent her frustrations before putting all her anger into action. She was always good at rushing off to save the day. Missions and kicking people's ass were great things for her. Sitting and waiting for intel was hell. Especially when it was things she didn't want to hear, "We need to know the full story."

"Later. Okay. Just take care of yourself right now. You don't need to be a hero every second of the day. Let someone else have the cape, Wonder Woman," Michael nearly whispered, placing another tender palm to her cheek. All of Nikita's anger melted, and she finally sobbed.