Nikita's idea panned out. Sort of. Returning to the neighbor where she had gotten the glass butterfly sculpture, the rogues hoped to draw out Owen. He obviously had a connection to her. He had known where the butterfly had come from when he saw it. If the rogues talked to his neighbor, he'd be tempted to rush in and stop them. After all, they were a threat- a highly skilled threat. Without Division with him, Michael and Nikita could easily take Owen. They'd finally have a black box, and everything would start to go their way. That was the idea, at least.
That wasn't at all how it panned out, though. Owen arrived at his neighbor Emily's apartment, ready to kill the rogues. Michael attempted to reason with him as they fought, yet Nikita was pure rage. She wanted him dead, and the black box to be hers. None of them got what they wanted, however. Although Owen had escaped from Division to reach Emily, Roan followed him. His targets were the rogues and the newly disobedient agent, except the person closest to the window was hit first. Silence filled the apartment as Emily fell down dead.
Owen rushed to her, trying in vain to bring her back to him. Nikita and Michael stood helplessly to the side. That wasn't what they had intended. The two were trying to save innocents, not lead to more deaths. Emily shouldn't have gotten shot. Yet there was nothing they could do about it then. Division's Alpha team was coming; the rogues and Owen had to go. Whereas Michael and Nikita were ready to leave, the agent stayed. He wanted to remain by Emily's side. And he wanted to kill whoever had hurt her. It was a sweet sentiment. He really cared for her. But then wasn't the time.
Only Nikita and Michael managed to escape Division in time. Owen wouldn't leave with them. He thought he could get vengeance for Emily. The two rogues knew that wouldn't have been possible. Not without a plan. Not when Division had the drop on them. Yet Owen wasn't thinking (as predicted by Nikita). He rushed Division, and subsequently got grabbed. He was back in Percy's hand. It was almost as though the rogues never interfered. Percy got what he wanted. Though, it wasn't exactly what he wanted. His agent had caused a huge mess. He'd have to cancel him in order to set things right.
Michael assumed that would be the case anyway. After all, Owen didn't have the black box when he met them at Emily's. He had hidden it, believing he could protect her better without it on him. That sadly hadn't worked for him. He was going to be tortured for the information then killed. Michael was determined to get to him first. He and Nikita could secure a black box and have a new teammate to help them in the field. Sure, they'd have to also pry the black box location out of Owen, and Nikita wasn't technically on a team with the rogues either. But it could all work out great for them. That was their chance for more.
Although Nikita would rather let Owen die, she agreed with Michael. They needed a black box. Destroying it got them one step closer to destroying Division. So, with Birkhoff's help, the two rogues tracked down their agent. They found him beaten to a pulp in an abandoned ship along the St. Lawrence river. They also found him with Percy and Roan. Michael and Nikita were lucky they had one another. The two were able to take out the Alpha team and escape without harm. Well, almost without harm. They did have to jump into a freezing river. And they had to drag Owen with them. After the torture he had received, it was a wonder he was alive.
But he never gave up the black box. It still had to be located. Whereas that was horrifying to Percy, Nikita and Michael could take the great advantage. Owen just had to wake up first. Considering his injuries, that wouldn't be anytime soon. The rogues had to patch him up and look after him, which meant bringing him to the safehouse. Birkhoff didn't like the idea at first. But it wasn't as though they had any other choice. Michael, Nikita, and Birkhoff were stuck with a potentially dangerous Owen, all in the sake of a damn black box.
At least there were three of them to watch him. Nikita handled patching up his wounds. She had always been the best healer. Yet, she let Michael give Owen the morphine. She wouldn't even look at the drug. Her fingers twitched at her side as though she might reach out and steal it. He helped distract her by asking her about her stitching process. Nikita's voice was stiff as she discussed Owen. She appeared so livid with him- like by just existing he pissed her off. Michael couldn't understand it. Fortunately, he had a way to question it without her tearing his head off. It'd be another way to distract her, "You gonna tell me how you know Owen?"
Slowly placing the last bandage on Owen, Nikita stiffened. She knew Michael had noticed her hatred for the agent. She didn't hide it. Her harsh feelings lessened after his reaction to Emily's death, however. She did feel sorry for him. And she knew he wasn't any different than her. It just hurt. Except, it wasn't until a while had passed before she decided to tell Michael. The words came out halted and broken. Not from grief and sadness, though. But in bitter anger, "He killed my boyfriend. His name was Daniel Monroe. He was so normal, and so goofy. I think I actually loved him. As much as I could ever love anybody inside Division, that is."
"Oh, Nikita. I'm sorry. I didn't know," Quietly, Michael wasn't sure what else to say. He had no idea Nikita had attempted to date someone while inside Division. That wasn't unheard of. Agents falling in love had happened before. Yet it was always met with dire consequences. Either the agent or the one they loved would die. Nikita knew that. She had also bought into the 'Division was the only family you'd ever need' narrative. At least, that was what Michael had thought. He never suspected her to try to find a life outside of all that.
"I discovered who Percy ordered for the kill job. I think that's why Owen was reassigned to guard the black box," Casting a glance at Owen, Nikita turned her back to Michael. She was honestly becoming ashamed of how angry she still was. Daniel wasn't like Michael's Hayley and Elizabeth. He wasn't even like Owen's Emily. She didn't mourn his death as much. It didn't affect her. What did was that her one chance at finally having something normal was taken from her. And that anger grew the more Percy and Amanda stoked the fire, making her a hate filled killer. It wasn't Owen's fault, though. He was just following orders to stay alive, like she had.
"Yeah. That'll do it," Michael wasn't sure if he meant that in a light tone or not. He tried for one, at least. The way Nikita had turned on him and Birkhoff, there was no doubt that if she had gotten her hands on the agent that killed her boyfriend it would be worse than hell. Her fury had just been twisted inside of her so much, all she knew was rage. There was no rationality, simply the need to hurt like she had been. No wonder Owen was sent away from her. And no wonder she used drugs to try to fix herself. She couldn't let the anger continue to consume her.
The team of rogues could help her with that. Michael knew that Nikita was calmer being around him and Birkhoff. Even after everything, the three had a solid connection. They managed to be friends in a soul stealing hellhole like Division. They could repair the damage that had occurred. Their friendship could be stronger than ever. Michael knew it could be. Yet Nikita knew it was going to take a lot of work. A lot of harsh conversations had to happen first. One was burning on the tip of her tongue, waiting to be spoken. She just had to summon the courage. With her back towards him, she could finally and softly ask, "Why didn't you take me too?"
Suddenly, Michael remembered the look in Nikita's eyes when he had left with Birkhoff. She had run towards him. She put down her gun, put Division behind her, and sprinted towards him. She didn't know why he was rogue, but that didn't stop her from knowing he was right. She had to join him. Yet then he shot at her and left her all alone. He knew he had hurt her. Michael knew he messed up. He simply believed Nikita would be safer in Division. She wouldn't be hunted, she wouldn't be a target, she could stop running for two seconds of her life. She deserved at least that, "I thought it'd keep you safe. I just wanted you safe."
"Well look how well that turned out," Sharply, Nikita turned on her heel and marched out of the room. Michael tried to call her back. But it was no use. She was gone. He was left alone with an unconscious Owen, who would no doubt be glad he missed that conversation. Maybe Michael didn't screw up too much, however. He had spoken from his heart before. That time couldn't be any different. Maybe it just wasn't what Nikita wanted to hear. He cared about her, that much was obvious. It probably would've been easier if he didn't. He knew that feeling well.
Stomping to the other room, Nikita didn't want to know why she got so angry with Michael. A part of her did know, but she refused to let herself think about it. Just like with the morphine, she needed something to distract her. And fast. Fortunately, that was when Birkhoff came through the front door. She could easily talk to him instead. Well, in theory she could. There was a lot left unsaid between them as well. Then could be her chance to fix it, find the courage like she had with Michael. But she had hurt Birkhoff more. She really fucked up, "Hey. This is long overdue. But, Birkhoff… Seymour, I'm so sorry for what I did to your hand."
"Don't worry about it. I'm stronger than ever," Birkhoff brushed Nikita off. He seriously didn't want to talk about it. He had just spent the last hour or so revamping the safehouse's security (again) because of Owen. He understood why the Division agent had to be there- was it ex-Division agent then, whatever. It was important for the rogues to get a black box. However, with a dangerous man in his house and Percy on high-alert, he didn't want to deal with anything else. Enough was on his mind without her attempt at apologizing.
Regardless of his brush off, Nikita continued. Maybe Birkhoff didn't want to hear what she had to say, but she still had to let it all out. Keeping it in would only make the words fester and die out. She really was sorry for all she had done. She never meant for people to get hurt, even though it kept happening. She just never stopped to think, and everyone else paid the consequences except her. It was unfair. She had to do something to set it right, "It was wrong. I shouldn't have followed those orders. I should've fought against Amanda and Percy. I did it before. I should've again. I'm so sorry. You're my nerd. I should've fought harder."
"Hey, no. They made me do terrible things too. I know how hard it is to fight. I did horrible things too," All irritation left Birkhoff once he heard the rest of Nikita's apology. He knew she meant it, mostly because it was the same thoughts he once had. He should've fought against Percy and Amanda while he was in Division. He didn't want to hack for evil, yet fear kept him in line- made him do things he didn't want to think about. Having been in hell longer, of course Nikita would've done worse. He couldn't completely blame her. They had all been manipulated. It was breaking out of that cycle that mattered.
"I'm still sorry. I'm also sorry I duct taped you to a horse," Daring to approach Birkhoff, she just kept going. It was probably a mix of surviving an encounter with Percy and Roan, being exhausted from traveling, talking to Michael, and thinking about all those who suffered because of her carelessness- Daniel, Emily, Alex- but Nikita had to keep apologizing. Birkhoff was her friend. He should've been one of the last people she hurt. And she kept doing it, even when she knew she shouldn't. She didn't deserve forgiveness, just acceptance.
"Don't worry about the horse. It was pretty funny afterwards," Nearing Nikita as well, Birkhoff chuckled. Nikita cracked a small smile. Sure, he was pissed about it for a bit. But overtime he found the prank funny; she got him good. Besides, playing him like that and him laughing it off later proved they could still be friends. It was refreshing to know. Especially because Birkhoff knew Nikita wasn't the only one to have screwed up. He had done something awful to her too. Something he wished he never said, "I never wanted Michael to kill you. I don't want anyone to kill you. I was in pain, and scared. And I thought you were already gone."
All Nikita could do for a moment was nod. She and Birkhoff weren't completely healed. Their apologies were just a start- like Nikita's and Michael's conversations were. There was still more to do. If they continued working together, though, then it could be better. Smirking, she held a hand out to Birkhoff. He scoffed and shook it. Soon, the two laughed as though nothing had happened. They were just a nerd and an agent messing with one another again. She squeezed his hand tightly and offered more peace, "Do you want popcorn, pizza, and potstickers?"
"As long as we watch a shitty movie," Birkhoff squeezed back. He and Nikita didn't let go until they hurt one another. Then they pulled apart giggling. They'd have to invite Michael into their peace activity; he couldn't be left out. But nerd and agent could keep taunting each other and messing around. They'd get back where they were soon enough. And maybe Michael was right about it being better than before. Only time would tell. Not that time, however. As Nikita and Birkhoff raided the kitchen, they heard Owen stirring in the next room. Their mission had to take precedent for just a moment.
"Sounds great. Just after we deal with him," Sighing, Nikita returned to Owen. Birkhoff followed her. Michael had the man cuffed to the cot so he couldn't try anything against the three. He wanted to, though. There was rage in his eyes the rogues recognized all too well. Being cast aside by Division stung. Having to deal with the ragtag team was annoying. And Emily's death hurt more than anything. He had to enact those hurtful emotions on the three that seemed to be in his way. They'd deal with him, however, just as they managed to deal with each other. They'd find a way to work together, locate the black box, then destroy Division.