Birkhoff couldn't get a hit on Carla through Shadownet. She was completely off the grid. The fact wasn't shocking; she had once told Nikita she was running from a drug charge. She was probably still running. Yet they had to find her. They couldn't let her fall into Percy's grasp. They couldn't have an innocent person be involved in that war. So Michael and Nikita reached out to Senator Pierce for help. They'd reach out to Carla through a press conference about the attack on the Gates House. The senator would relay a message about wildflowers for them, hoping Carla would understand they could keep her safe. Nikita really needed her to be safe.
While she and Michael ran off to save an old friend, Ryan and Sean focused on helping Alex prep for her re-emergence as Alexandra Udinov. There wasn't much left to do besides secure the cover story and discuss how she was going to remain in contact with the team. Her safety, though a concern, wasn't anything to worry too much about. She could take care of herself. Also, the public spotlight would keep her from any dangerous shadows. Ryan was soon satisfied with where they were for the night, and went to figure out what Amanda planned to do with Division since Oversight was gone. Birkhoff left as well, resuming his quest to increase the safehouse's security. That left Sean and Alex alone together for the first time in a long time. She smiled brightly, "Hey. How are Jill and Sandy?"
"They're holding up. Uh. I think they want to have another dinner with all of us," Sean was a tad shaken by the topic change. But Alex had been beyond busy lately, she hadn't had the chance to see how her friends were. Clean Sweep and the attack on the Gates House had shaken them all up. His sisters certainly were struggling, not able to know exactly what happened to their mother. He was doing what he could to calm them. However, a return to normal routines might be best for them. They didn't need to know how much things had changed.
"That'd be great. We'd have to do it before the whole 'Alexandra Udinov' thing though," Alex would love a moment to relax and turn her mind off. Even at work, she was going over everything she had to do with the team and practicing some language skills. It would be nice to be normal for a night, before her world changed all over again. She had never really been normal, though. She could pretend for a couple of hours; she could pretend that was the life waiting for her when all the dust settled.
"Right. Yeah. How's that feel?" They hadn't had the time to discuss how Alex felt about coming back from the dead. By the time Sean leaned of the idea, he was being pulled in to assist with the mission prep. He understood it was another attempt to save her mother, however. He couldn't fault her for that. He'd do anything for his family, despite how corrupt he discovered his mother was. He admired how strong Alex's will was in the matter. She was willing to risk the danger of Semak, Gogol, and whoever had been following her for Katya. She was going to get her family back no matter what. He, of course, would help her in any way to achieve that. Including, talking about how she felt.
"Weird. But right. If that makes sense," Alex chuckled. Sean flashed her a smile. Although having to reveal her true identity after years of keeping it a secret was beyond weird, she knew it was the right course of action. She could rescue her mother, and she could screw over Semak; it was perfect. Alex and Sean soon started to drift closer. They had already been standing near one another. But at that moment, they were standing so close she could see the freckle on his lip. Thoughts of their constantly ruined date came to her mind. She was determined to follow Nikita's advice. She could make anything work, if she tried hard enough, "You know, we should do something else before then too."
"Like our pizza date," Sean excitedly beamed. He hated how often the plan to make homemade pizzas, eat ice cream, and watch movies was canceled. The reasons were valid and sound; the two got involved in a crusade that seemed to get more and more complicated. Yet that shouldn't stop them from living. He had seen Nikita and Michael make time for one another and for their team. He and Alex could do the same. Sean knew it was a struggle, and it wouldn't go exactly as they planned. But it was worth it. To spend time with her on an actual date, it was worth it.
A brilliant smile pulled at Alex's lips. She was momentarily stunned. She didn't know why she was so surprised Sean wanted a date as much as she did. The way he smiled at her, talked with her, and stood so very close to her should've let her know her feelings for him were returned. His own grin etched brightly across his features. The two took a moment to smile, and somehow move even closer. In a joyful and hopeful tone, she breathed, "I know it's late. And I don't have the ingredients to make the pizza. But…"
"Places are still open. We can grab something. Adjust to our new lives," Sean finished the thought. They were on the same page. Though, they probably didn't need a pizza date to confess emotions or a desire to move their friendship forward. There was no need for the two to hide behind gestures. Words would've been enough. They knew each other so well. Not only from the years of being friends and helping one another, but from their current crusade. That was a strange positive to give their war against Division. Yet they had truly seen each other's hearts and the lengths they would go to for those they loved.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'll… I'll go get it," Reluctant to leave Sean's side, Alex mumbled. He chuckled, watching in awe as she left. The friends were finally going to move forward together. They didn't have to clumsily hide their crushes, afraid how the other would react. They could be open and carefree. However, as Alex hurried to rush out the door, Michael and Nikita returned to the safehouse. She wouldn't have stopped to ask what had happened with Carla; she was sure they'd tell her later. But their haggard appearance and Nikita's bloody forearm pulled at her attention. Something had gone wrong, "Whoa. Hey. What happened?"
The agents did their best to explain. Nikita was confused and livid, her words coming out in harsh pants. On the other hand, Michael calmly stated what had occurred while focusing on his fiancée's wound. Sean brought them a first aid kit, and Alex urged them to try to relax in the livingroom. It was a lost cause. They might have found Carla, but so had Percy. His goons shot at them, until Carla voluntarily walked to them and got into the car. Alex and Sean collapsed on the couch, attempting to absorb all of that in. Nikita continued to pace, hurt and disbelief overwhelming her, "It doesn't make any sense. She knows him. How does Carla know about Percy and Division?"
"Maybe she was an agent," Michael threw the speculation out there. It stumped Nikita long enough for him to grab her arm, and dress her wound. He wanted to know about Percy's and Carla's possible relationship as well. But he was far more concerned with his fiancée's injury. His heart always skipped a beat whenever she was bleeding or hurt. Although he knew it was a common part of their missions, it filled him with so much rage and dread. He couldn't lose her. Yes, she was capable enough to save herself. But, he was still afraid to lose her. He didn't think he'd be able to survive without her. She meant more to him than he could possibly express.
"No. I was the first to escape," Too lost in her own thoughts to notice her fiancé's concern and gentle touch, Nikita shook her head. Carla shouldn't have been involved in that world. She had helped her all those years ago at the halfway house. She had cared for her and loved her. No way someone as kind and charitable as that would be associated with Percy or Division. There had to have been some kind of mistake. Nikita was probably missing something- something that would explain everything without hurting her. She shouldn't have felt so betrayed. She hadn't seen Carla in years; she didn't know her anymore. Yet her heart felt as though it was going to break.
Alex and Sean shared a glance. Once again, they had to cancel their date. And once again, it was for valid reasons. Any association of Percy's was worth looking into. Even if it seemed improbable, they had to investigate. Burning that bastard to the ground by any means necessary took precedent. The young woman and the Seal at least knew where they stood together. They could have a meal or watch a movie later. They had realized it didn't matter when, as long as they were together. They'd figure it out, after they figured out Carla and Percy, "She could've just walked to him to draw fire from you,"
"They stopped shooting when they saw her. This wasn't a trap for you, Nikita. This was a trap for Carla," It wasn't a conclusion Michael wanted to make. Yet it explained why Percy didn't make a move against Carla until Nikita found her. He used her love for her old friend to his advantage. As much as Nikita wanted to argue against it, she knew her fiancé was right. She shouldn't have put something like that past the bastard. But why would he go to such lengths to find Carla. What could she have possibly meant to a heartless monster like him.
"But why? Does she work for them? Did she get me recruited?" Nikita was finally still. Her heart sank. She didn't know where that thought came from. Except, the only connection she had of Carla and Division was herself. She was at the halfway house, then prison, then Division. Her old friend could've put her in that path. Division loved to recruit fucked up runaways and junkies. Nikita was perfect for them. Carla could've seen that, and handed her over.
Michael was quick to dispel that from her mind. He didn't know much about the recruiting process, but he doubted Carla had anything to do with that. She had been genuinely surprised to see Nikita alive and well. Sean and Alex remained silent on the couch. Neither had anything helpful to say; they were as lost as the others. The team had been able to know their enemies' motives before. But the current situation seemed so different. Michael was fighting against it, determined to stay positive, "Hey, no. From what you told me about her, she wouldn't. She could've been hiding from them. Saw some Division hit, or something."
"And they connected her to me, with… with the gun. Michael, she touched the gun that night," Remembering the last time she had seen Carla, Nikita shared the sparse events she could recall of the night she shot the dirty cop. Her old friend's fingerprints had gotten on the weapon. It had to have been run as the police investigated, putting her back on Division's radar. However, that didn't explain why it took Percy so long to make his move. What could have changed, "But what does that have to do with now?"
"Will we ever know what the hell is going on?" Alex scoffed when nobody had an immediate answer. That war felt like a constant game of keep-up. They were scrambling after their enemies' moves, doing their best to stop them. The team was successful. And they were finally going to gain the upperhand with the return of Alexandra Udinov. Yet the uncertainties were weighing on them. Things just couldn't be straightforward and simple for once. Why did everything have to be a complicated mess.
"I can get us a pizza and we can try to find out," Sean supported Michael in trying to be optimistic, however. The team had gotten that far; they could keep going. Taking a moment to actually rest on the couch, Nikita relented. She could calm down and figure out what Carla was doing; it couldn't have been that awful. Alex shared a soft grin with Sean. Relax and breathe, they could do that. Relax and breathe, and things would fall into place. Like their date. They'd figure it all, and everything would fall exactly where it needed to.
"It's our new normal, right?"