Birkhoff was ready to delete Markov's videos as soon as he was given the order. Division had killed their Dirty Thirty once they had gotten all the information they needed out of him. They simply had to wait for Sean to establish his cover and create a convincing story of Markov's death before they could wrap the mission up completely. In the meantime, Birkhoff could focus on decrypting the mole's communications. He was no further in hacking it than he was days ago. The cryptograph wasn't that great of a help. He was out of ideas.
Collapsing on his desktop, the hacker tried to think of something. The mole couldn't possibly be smarter than him. He had an incredible system, and he could hack his way out of any situation. However, Birkhoff was stumped. He was missing something; he knew it. He just couldn't figure out what. While he bemoaned his fate, Sonya slowly entered his nerd cave. She had intended to ask him a question. Yet seeing him so defeated as his computer ran code stopped her in her tracks. That was far more interesting, and it seemed more important. Especially since she recognized the code on his computer, "Is that the cryptograph?"
"Yeah. I managed to merge it with Shadownet," Lifting his head, Birkhoff huffed. Although that had helped him deal with Markov, the mole continued to elude him. It didn't seem fair. The cryptograph and Shadownet were supposed to mesh perfectly, which was why he had no qualms handing the device over to the President (well, that amongst other reasons). He shouldn't be having any more difficulties. However, Amanda just had to stay one step ahead. The bitch didn't even have to be there to keep destroying the team.
"To decrypt something, right?" Sonya pulled up a chair and sat at the spare monitor. Birkhoff cast her a confused glance, yet she ignored it. She had witnessed the team struggling from the sidelines. Although they didn't ask for help, she knew they needed it. She should step in and help. Her skills could definitely be of assistance. Besides, the sooner Division's problems were resolved, the sooner they could go home. Sonya desperately wanted them to be home and safe. She could make herself work with Birkhoff again to ensure that outcome, "I'm sure if you rotated the servers you could get more hits."
He didn't question Sonya's help. Birkhoff did as she suggested, giving her access to his other server so she could keep helping. He wasn't sure who the team was all telling about the mole. Obviously, they had to keep it a secret. But maybe Sonya could know about it. Birkhoff clearly needed help, and her idea panned out. He could trust her with the information. They could be hacking partners once again. And maybe back to more. Though, he wouldn't focus on that possible false hope. The mole had to be the priority, "You wanna… you want to help?"
"You buying dinner?" Already beginning to hack, Sonya flashed Birkhoff a smug grin. He smiled wide. He could work perfectly under those conditions; though, in order to get food, he'd have to make the long trip to go buy it and then return. It was a hassle since they couldn't exactly order delivery. But it didn't matter. He and Sonya would be working together again. The mole didn't stand a chance with their combined might. Birkhoff could actually hope with that. Just sitting next to her made things all the more better.
"Hey," Michael sighed as he entered their apartment. Whereas he had to stay in Division, dealing with the aftermath of Markov, his wife went home. She had texted him that she was bringing files, logs, and things like that with her to continue the mole hunt. She wanted to search in peace, and with the ability to relax. Michael was jealous. He wished he could just rest at home instead of dealing with the hells of the Dirty Thirties. Though, Nikita wasn't exactly resting. Just because she was curled on the couch, eating a bowl of fruit, didn't mean she wasn't working hard to discover Amanda's mole. She simply took the stress out of the situation by going home.
"Hey," Nikita echoed, her muscles instantly relaxing at the sight of her husband. As he removed his shoes and jacket at the door, she shoved aside the papers littering the couch. There should be enough room for him to collapse next to her, share her fruit, and relax after a long few days. Michael didn't join her immediately, however. He stole a kiss from her lips as he walked by, yet his destination was the kitchen. He needed water or something far stronger to wash off the stress from Markov. They didn't have any alcohol, though, so he settled on water. While he chugged a glass, he noticed a tablet left on the counter. He couldn't help but scroll through it.
"You looking at nursery stuff?" Exploring the tabs of baby furniture, toys, clothes, and other necessities for a newborn, Michael wondered. Nikita must've been researching things for the baby during her mole hunting breaks. He couldn't blame her. He did his own readings and planning whenever he could. She was approaching the end of her first trimester. Their baby was going to arrive sooner than they'd like to believe. The expecting parents had to ensure they had everything ready by the time it did. They also had to shut Division down completely, yet planning for a newborn was more within their control. It was also less stressful.
"Yeah. A lot of it depends on if we're staying in this apartment or moving into a house, though," Nikita explained the problem she had run into. She cleared all the files off the couch and put her fruit on the coffee table. She stretched out on the cushions and just went limp. If she and her husband got a house, they'd have more room for the baby. They could get more things and spread them out. However, that also depended on the house they bought. If they stayed in their apartment, they had less space to move around and crowd with baby stuff. Being stuck in their apartment would also mean they were stuck in Division. And that was a whole other worry.
Setting down the tablet, Michael joined Nikita on the couch. He plopped against the arm rest, and she draped her legs in his lap. Absentmindedly, he began to massage her tired feet. She hummed in contentment. The married couple was silent for a moment. They didn't have anything to say about their messy situation. There wasn't a clear solution or future ahead. Even with the massive successes they've had, there was still more to battle against- like Amanda's mole. Michael became tired at the thought of it, sharing his exhaustion with his wife, "The Markov Mission was a success. But can't tell if we'll have this all wrapped up in twenty-eight weeks."
Nikita stole her feet back from her husband and sat upright. She studied his worn expression, but he wasn't focused on her. Michael stared off into the distance, lost in thought and anxiety. She could soothe him. She knew what to say to calm his fears. However, there was a better way to bring him back to the moment. Part of the reason she searched up baby things while mole hunting was because it was a great distraction from her stress. She and her husband could find peace and happiness in their baby. Hopping to her feet and lifting her shirt, Nikita wanted to show Michael just that, "Hey. Do you think I'm showing yet? Or am I just bloated?"
Jolting out of his daze, Michael chuckled softly. He rolled down the waistband of his wife's leggings to get a better look at her lower abdomen. Nikita was petite. Chances were that she wouldn't truly show in her pregnancy until she was much further along. However, holding her gently as she proudly showed off her toned abdomen, he noticed the slightest bit of a bump. Their baby was definitely there. Michael had to kiss where it was before Nikita righted her clothes. She smiled brilliantly. He grinned, caressing her small belly with his left hand. After a moment, he decided to extend their warmth with a joke, "I think all that fruit is getting to you."
"You know, you can touch me with your prosthetic. I'm not gonna freak out and run away," Pushing her husband back against the couch cushions, Nikita called him out instead of returning the quip. She didn't intend to judge him or be mean; she simply pointed out a ridiculous fact. Michael's prosthetic wasn't a grotesque piece of machinery. He didn't need to treat it as such. After all, he hadn't let it hinder him in the field. He could touch his wife and their baby with his fake hand. Nothing terrible would happen if he did.
"I know. I just don't want to hurt you," Tenderly guiding his wife to stand between his knees, Michael hesitatingly placed his prosthetic on her lower abdomen. The fake worked well for missions, especially as he had learned to become more reliant on his nondominant left hand. Yet he knew he couldn't be gentle with the prosthetic. He couldn't control the strength of it. He had pinched and harshly squeezed Nikita with it before. It was an accident, and she had brushed it off completely. But he couldn't forget the brief look on her face when he had unintentionally yanked her roughly by the arm. It was a look he never wanted to see again.
"I've survived several dangers in Division. I think your hand is fine," Scraping her knuckles along his stubbled cheek, Nikita smiled. It wasn't something she should joke about, especially when she was actively trying to avoid all that. But she could tease her husband for his ridiculousness. He didn't appreciate it. Michael's green eyes turned dark, and a morose, apprehensive expression crossed his features. Sighing, she softened her grin. Her grip tightened on his chin, forcing him to look directly at her, "Which is why I'm gonna wear bubblewrap from now on. Just head to toe protection. Nothing's gonna get me."
"Nothing, huh?" Michael's trademark smirk lifted the corner of his lips. Nikita triumphed in it for a moment. There was her loving and trusting husband. However, her pride only lasted for a second. Michael quickly leapt off the couch and scooped his wife up in his arms. Nikita squirmed and squealed, but her surprise and his strength got the better of her. She was tossed over his shoulder and carried to their bedroom. She giggled in defeat. Soon flopping onto the bed with her, he joined her in laughter. The joyful sound was only interrupted by their kiss.
"I was thinking of some baby names," Between kisses Nikita mumbled. She could've saved the comment for later and just let her husband kiss her senseless. Yet she believed she had to get back at him for throwing her over his shoulder. Michael just hummed at her false confession. He was more focused on kissing and touching her. Besides, they had agreed to pick out names once they discovered the sex of the baby. They could wait just a little while longer. Nikita was determined to mess with him, however. She pulled away from their kiss and gazed lovingly into his eyes, "Percy for a boy. And Amanda for a girl."
As soon as the tease left her mouth, she collapsed in giggles. It was too ridiculous to stay fake serious, even for a second. Michael stared at his wife unamused. Well, honestly, he was a little amused. And Nikita's joyful laughter made him want to smile brightly. He just couldn't let her get away with that awful joke. Climbing out of bed, Michael fought his smug grin as he regarded his wife. She simply kept laughing, until he ruined the bright sound with his own quip, "You know, that's divorce worthy. I mean, how can you not think of Gary as a name?"
Immediately, Nikita leapt out of bed and chased after her husband. He only made it halfway down the hall before she jumped onto his back. She cinched her limbs tightly around him and cursed loudly in his ear. Michael only laughed. She had to eventually laugh with him. But she didn't get off his back. He carried her around their apartment as they decided to make dinner and stop working for the night. Obviously, the expecting parents had far brighter and hopeful things to put their focus in. They should give themselves time to do just that.
Alex absentmindedly flipped through television channels. During the day, she could keep herself busy in Division with mole hunts and cleaning up Markov's mess. But at night, she was stuck with the emptiness of Sean's absence. She didn't think she could survive it any longer. He had mentioned that she'd have to get used to it when he was deployed with the Seals again; however, she didn't think she could. She didn't like not being able to keep an eye on him, not knowing he was safe. Luckily, that anxiety didn't have to last. Soon, keys jungled in the lock. Alex was on guard at first. Yet once she saw Sean open the door, she beamed, "You're home!"
"Thought I'd surprise you," Sean barely had time to close the door and set down his bag before Alex's lips were on his. The couple had managed to shoot each other a message or two while he was undercover. Yet it wasn't anything substantial. For a week and a half, the two had been kept separate from one another. Fortunately, they didn't have to suffer any longer. Sean tripped after Alex as she dragged him further into their apartment. His shoes and jacket were stumbled out of, and she roughly undid his tie. There was nothing he could do to slow her down.
"Well consider me very happily surprised," Unable to stop herself from giggling, Alex kissed Sean deeper. He had promised to let her know when he'd be coming home. Something probably happened that deterred that from happening. Or, he had simply decided surprising her was better. Either way, Alex didn't care. She was just glad her boyfriend was home again. The mission was a success, and Division could be safe. Those were all the important things that mattered. And since they were cleared up, other meaningful things could occur.
Sean had checked in with Ryan briefly before he returned home. He'd have to have a more in depth debriefing later. He should also check in with his Seal commander, ensuring his cover story was intact. There were a thousand little things that still had to be done. Yet kissing his girlfriend and letting her drag him to the bedroom was worth ignoring them for. It was nighttime anyway. Everything could wait until morning. It could be only him and Alex. He'd willingly spend all his time with her and talk to her, "The mission went well…"
"Great. Tell me later. You've been gone too long," Alex husked against Sean's full, parted lips. She was sure he had something important to tell her. Except, she didn't care. They had ten days to make up for. Talking could come later, preferably when they were sated and curled in each other's arms under the covers. She just wanted to kiss him senseless and be warmed by him once again. By the time they reached their bedroom, he felt the same. The couple was all over one another- there was no stopping them. And they were perfectly happy with that.