Ari was very talkative once he was given time to rest, eat, and recover from the beating he had received. He shared everything he knew about Amanda and her operation, giving Division enough leads to finally take her down. Although Ops came alive with the new data, everyone acting on the intel and running down leads, Alex was distracted. She had heard other news that completely stole her attention. Instead of working in Ops with the others, she excitedly hurried to find her boyfriend. He had to hear the news too. It didn't matter that he was in the weapons locker for some reason, he had to know, "You can go home with me! You ready?"

"Yeah! I can't wait," Sean exclaimed in response. The one good thing about the Crimson Resistance (and saying anything that came out of that horrible shitstorm was good was a stretch) was that news coverage of them bumped news coverage of Sean off the air. It was safe enough for him to leave the bunker and sleep in a nice, big, warm bed with his girlfriend. Though, unfortunately, he had to wait just a little bit longer for the latter. He had already known he could go up top, and he had already accepted other plans. Going home had to be put on hold, "But uh… it'll have to wait for when I get back."

"Get back?" Completely puzzled, Alex wondered. Only then did she notice the mission bag Sean was packing. But where on Earth could he have been going. He had just recently been cleared to move into Alex's apartment. Ryan told Michael that, who then told Alex and Nikita. Sean should've been packing his stuff into a suitcase and boxes so he could finally live with his girlfriend. He should've been enjoying being able to go up top again, and he should've been going to her apartment. Packing a mission bag and going on an operation didn't make any sense.

"Ryan's gonna shore up some funding overseas. I don't know what exactly he's doing, just that he wants Division to have more secure funds. He asked me to tag along as backup and protection," With an excited smile, Sean clarified. When Ryan had asked him to tag along, he very eagerly jumped at the chance. Even if things were probably still iffy for him out there, he was ready and willing to get back into the world. No more sitting around feeling useless. He was ready to kick ass, take names, and shut Division down once and for all.

Since Sean was excited, Alex was excited as well. He loved being active, especially if it meant he was helping people. She couldn't take that excitement away from him. However, she couldn't help but feel wary about the fact that he was leaving. Sure, it was safe for him to leave Division and walk around outside. He could join her in her apartment and maybe go out with her to a restaurant. But could he go on missions. Could he go back to what he had always done like nothing had changed. Could it really be that alright, "Are you sure you can?"

"We'll be overseas. I'll be fine. I promise," Sean should've told Alex he was leaving with Ryan as soon as he had accepted the opportunity. But, in his lame defense, he wasn't given much time to prepare. He had to gather weapons, supplies, and gear, and meet Ryan in transportation. There was a rush to fly out and secure much needed funds, which Sean understood. Division needed the money. Luckily, Ryan's plan- or at least Sean's limited knowledge of Ryan's plan- would work. He'd have a former Navy Seal who could understand doublespeak with him, after all, "Besides, who'd be better backup than a Seal who speaks politician?"

"Me," Walking up to the couple, Nikita shrugged. She didn't know what the two were talking about, but she was certain that she'd be a better option than her brother. Before Sean could open his mouth to retaliate, Ryan joined them. Alex immediately interrupted the siblings and had the former analyst explain in detail what exactly was going on. Although he wouldn't go into why they had to go overseas for funding or how they were going to get the money (something about helping the team by giving them plausible deniability) Ryan did answer Alex's questions. It was good to stay informed; it lessened the anxiety.

Unfortunately, it also spurred Nikita to fire off a couple more sarcastic quips. She didn't like the fact that her brother so soon after Amanda had painted a deadly target on his back. Rather than say anything directly about that, though, she just fired off one snarky comment after the next. Most of them came down to the fact that she'd always be a better choice than her brother. Although Sean got a few quips about his sister out, Nikita remained superior. So Ryan eventually tried to shut her up and take her down a peg, "I don't want you anywhere near a politician. Not one we want as an ally, anyway."

While Nikita gasped, Alex and Sean laughed. It was no secret that Nikita hated talking to and dealing with politicians. She was perfect for exposing their corruption or things like that. But forming allies and making connections with them, not so much. With the hot water Division was constantly found in, a much softer touch than Nikita was needed. Although a part of her did agree, she wasn't going to take Ryan's comment lying down. She turned towards Michael, who had spotted her and was joining the group, for any sort of help. But all he did was think for a long moment before changing the topic, "So you think your plan will work?"

"It has to," Ignoring Nikita's indignant glare, Alex's and Sean's snickers, and Michael's barely contained smirk, Ryan replied seriously. What had happened with Ari was a wake up call. Division couldn't be placed in another situation where their lack of funds could get themselves or innocents killed. They needed to have the operating budget they once had- or at least close to it. That was the best way they could stay afloat. And, maybe, once pardons were earned, the remaining funds could be distributed amongst the agents. It was probably too hopeful of an idea. But they should have some sort of parachute to help start their new lives.

"Why? I have money I can loan you," Recognizing the stress settling on Ryan's shoulders, Alex offered him an easier solution. If Division was struggling that much with their funds, she could help out; she had done it before. It wasn't as though she was doing anything from the billions she had inherited and earned by selling her shares in Zetrov anyway. Sure she lived comfortably, she treated her friends, and she donated to charity. But that barely affected her bank account (accounts, plural, since that was the easiest way to manage it all). There was so much more Alex could be doing. She could make a real difference in the world.

"No," The others quickly shut down her idea. Even though Alex had the means, she should not be spending her money on Division. Ryan did his best to explain why, "Look. It's safer if your money stays out of Division. If something were to ever go down, there shouldn't be any trails leading back to an Udinov. You could get into serious trouble funding us, especially since you're not technically a US citizen. It's bad enough the Pierce name is heavily tied to the place. You need to keep a low profile when you're with us."

Alex fought the argument on the tip of her tongue. Ryan was right. She knew Ryan was right. Any name attached to Division if things ever went bad would be destroyed (it was one of the things Sean had been worried about when his mother was in Oversight). Alex's connections to the black ops unit could never be obvious, not if she wanted to live after it was all over. She was fine with living a double life for the most part. But she hated that it hindered her ability to truly help. She had to force herself to the sidelines and watch people she cared about put themselves in danger when it wasn't that necessary, "Yeah. Alright. You two be safe out there."

"I'll call you when we land," Sean promised Alex and kissed her goodbye. He also playfully tried to kiss his sister on the cheek. She pushed him away with a glare. Whereas Sean, Ryan, and Michael chuckled at the interaction- and Nikita cracked a small smile- Alex fought a pout. Despite all she did to help Division, she still believed that there was more she could do. The team was right about her money. It was one thing to lend Birkhoff money to help with the rogues, but it was a completely different mess tying her money up with Division. If she really wanted to help the black ops group, she should just lend her skills. And apparently her boyfriend.

She knew he was less likely to be recognized in a foreign country, especially with his news story being beaten out by thousands of other tragedies. Also, he was with Ryan, who had contingencies in place. Despite that, though, Alex didn't like that Sean was going on a mission so soon. That was what he did, of course. He was a Navy Seal. His whole life was about protecting people and saving the world. He couldn't change that, and she wouldn't want him to. She'd just have to suck it up when he went away. She didn't think she'd ever get over the empty, anxious feeling in her chest when he was gone. But she could find ways to not let it drown her.

Nikita seemed to be able to, after all. Although she had shown her disdain about her brother leaving the safety of the bunker to go on a mission, she didn't say anything. She also didn't let her bitter emotions weigh her down. Though, that was mostly because she had Michael to distract her. She could focus all of her attention on him and on the fact that he didn't back her up with Ryan. It wasn't that big of a deal. She knew she shouldn't be the one sent to sweet talk a politician. But her fiancé could've at least said something in her defense instead of taking the coward's way out, "So I can't talk to politicians, huh?"

"I think Ari wants to talk to you," Michael shared why he had gone looking for Nikita in the first place. He could've made a comment about what Ryan had said. He could tease his fiancée about her interactions with politicians and flash a smirk. He could pile on more sarcastic remarks and make her roll her eyes. Yet, instead, he chose to torture her. She glared at him, and he smiled adoringly. She had to purse her lips to keep from smiling back. Chuckling softly, Michael leaned close to her in a silent invitation of a kiss, "I love you."

Scoffing, Nikita stomped towards interrogation. As she rounded the corner, though, she looked back with humor bright in her eyes. Michael and Alex chuckled and returned to Ops. Nikita was left on her own to gain more intel and to control her smile. The latter turned out to be easier than she had thought. Once she entered interrogation , she was met with an overly anxious Ari. He was too concerned about his son to relax. He needed results immediately, "Stefan is running out of time. I have given you everything I know about Amanda. Bank accounts, safehouses, contacts, henchmen. Now use them to hunt her down before she finds my son."

"Michael is running all the intel through Ops, but you haven't given me everything. Tell me small details about Amanda. Anything you can remember. You were together for what, twenty years? You know her better than anyone," Nikita refocused Ari on what he was supposed to be doing for Division. They were searching for both Amanda and Stefan. Birkhoff had Shadowbot running all the vetted intel from Ari in the hopes of getting anything in return. They were doing their part. Ari was the one who had to do more. There was so much more he could share about Amanda- so much that Division could use to finally take her down.

"Yes, but she was different then. She was less unhinged, less… psychotic," Ari muttered, sounding distraught, downtrodden, and disheartened. Nikita stopped the harsh comment that tried to immediately jump off her tongue. Amanda had always been unhinged and psychotic. Though, Ari was right. She had been acting differently lately. She didn't seem as cool and collected. And she was far more villainous than usual. Something had changed her. It was like she had lost a hold on herself and reality while she was on the run. What could've done that to her. What could've turned the Inquisitor into the bitch.

"What made her change?" Nikita wondered. She had her ideas. Losing Division, having the world turn against her, being on the run, all of that could've deeply fucked with Amanda. But what had happened exactly that made her so obsessed with burning Division to the ground and with hurting everyone Nikita loved. She didn't depose Amanda from her throne. Her own actions had forced her to go on the run. There was no need for revenge. Yet she hated Nikita for some reason. And that hate had turned her into an even colder and meaner monster.

"You," Ari replied simply. Nikita was the reason Amanda did everything. She cared more about hurting her than anything else. And it was all because of one misguided heroic moment. That, in hindsight, should never have happened, "In Moscow, you had a gun pointed at her, and you didn't shoot. You let her live, and she found that self-righteous display of mercy to be humiliating. An insult she will never forgive you for. However, I want to know if you forgive yourself. If you had killed her, a lot of people would still be alive today."

The words sunk deep into Nikita's skin. She couldn't escape from them; they made their way to her core and etched their burning meaning into her bones. She should've killed Amanda when she had had the chance. Of course she had had that thought before. What if she had killed Amanda that day. What if she could've stopped all the bloodshed before it had begun. Yet Nikita had always assumed that was just the darker parts of herself speaking. She had thought her doubt had won control for a second and was controlling her emotions and perspectives. She never believed that she could've been wrong. But she was wrong. She had been so wrong.

If Nikita had killed Amanda when she had had that gun aimed at her head, Michael wouldn't have lost his hand; she wouldn't have had to hurt him. Sean wouldn't have been recruited; she wouldn't have had to hurt him either. Kendrick would've been alive too. So would've various Division agents. And innocent people never would've been the targets of brutal attacks- the Crimson Resistance never would've been given power. Every single life that had been lost because of Amanda and her schemes since Moscow was because Nikita hadn't killed her. She should've killed her. Ari was right. How could she ever forgive herself for that.