Nikita's idea to fake a bank robbery worked. The instant the black box was put into jeopardy, Winters came running. Nikita tried not to brag that she had been right about the Guardian. Though, she did smirk proudly at Michael. He fought his own smile as he rolled his eyes and shook his head. Her plan had worked well, yet they should really focus on their next move- especially since it involved spying on a Guardian. The two rogues very carefully followed Winters after she had checked on the black box. She traveled across the small town to a residential area. Then she parked in the street and walked towards a house.
The first thing Michael and Nikita noticed was the cop car in the driveway of the house. Instantly, they went on red alert. They watched the Guardian's every movement, readied their weapons, and prepared for the worst. Except, as the door opened, Winters didn't attack the off-duty cop who owned the house. She hugged him, and she kissed him. Weapons becoming loose in their grip, Nikita and Michael stared at the scene in shock. They couldn't believe it- two Guardians had fallen in love on the job. However, with Winters, that wasn't the extent of it. There was also a kid in the house.
Birkhoff was the first to hear the startling news. Nikita and Michael relayed everything they were seeing to him, and he immediately compiled as much information as he could about the man and the kid. Apparently, the cop was a widow, and the boy was his son. Winters must've been the line-in girlfriend. That definitely changed things. The rogues couldn't proceed with their original plans with civilians- especially a child- involved. They had to shift gears. Calling Alex, and finally getting an answer from her, they decided to meet at the diner and discuss everything.
Honestly, Alex was grateful for the chaos on the mission. It distracted her from what had happened with Nathan. That problem wasn't one she could easily fix- she had messed up so badly. However, she could definitely help the rogues with the Guardian. The fact that Winters had removed her tracker to play house was undoubtedly a huge mess. But if anyone could figure it out, it'd be the rogues. They seemed to already have something in mind when Alex joined them at a diner in town. They were huddled together over a barely touched ice cream sundae, muttering something. She collapsed across from them with a huff, "Well, this is unbelievable."
"I know. Ice cream?" Offering Alex a bite of the ice cream she had ordered as they had waited (mostly to blend in with the other patrons and to not draw any unwanted attention) Nikita shrugged. Both Alex and Michael shot her an unamused glance. She had expected that kind of reaction; she knew then wasn't the time for jokes. Yet she couldn't help but be sarcastic. The situation was absolutely unbelievable. A Guardian in love, sure that was plausible; that happened to Owen. But a Guardian having a family, it was completely and certifiably insane. The rogues had to at least make one joke about it.
"We have less than an hour before I have to call Percy, and what am I supposed to tell him? The Guardian adopted a family? Send in the cleaners?" Alex whispered desperately. She was lucky that she was able to travel to Pennsylvania early and meet with the rogues without Division questioning her. But if she didn't report to Percy on time, or if she got caught in a lie, there would be hell to pay. The rogues had to figure out what to do and do it in only an hour. It'd be a miracle, yet maybe they could pull it off.
"No," Nikita and Michael instantly shook their heads. They knew that Alex wasn't serious about alerting Percy to the fact that Winters had a family. However, they wouldn't entertain the idea. They were both very aware that Percy wouldn't hesitate to kill a child. If it got him what he wanted most, then of course he would sacrifice a child. The rogues could never give him that option, especially while he was crazy with paranoia. No, their best course of action was to hide the cop and his son from Percy and Division. They could do whatever they had to to Winters or the black box. But the civilians stayed out of it.
"Guys, all we have to do is grab that black box," Alex suggested. They didn't have to worry so much about the Guardian if she was so distracted with her cop boyfriend and his son. Obviously, she didn't care so much about Division if she was willing to cut out her tracker and focus on a family. The black box was just a second thought to her; it only became a concern when she had to ensure that Division wasn't going to ruin her perfectly built new life. The rogues could steal it without her ever noticing. They could then use it to take down Division. And no one- innocents, civilians, everyone- would ever get hurt.
"And when Percy finds it's gone, he'll kill Winters and the cop and his son along with her. There's civilians involved," Michael shook his head. Maybe they could steal the black box from under Winters' nose, but Percy would soon find out. He wouldn't let the theft go lightly. The whole world would burn in his resulting warpath. First, the innocent civilians that were brought unknowingly into the war. Then, the rogues. The team had to find a better way to get what they wanted. They couldn't allow any collateral damage. Destroying the first two black boxes were the worst things would ever get. The next had to be easier.
"If Percy didn't order this investigation, Winters could have flown under the radar for years. And the only reason he ordered it was because of us," Nikita added morosely. She had come to that conclusion while she and Michael waited in the diner for Alex. Winters could've stayed hidden with her little family for years had it not been for the rogues. Her tracker was removed and close by. The black box was safe and sound. There was no reason for Percy to worry. Until the rogues had intervened. They brought the war and all the disastrous destruction it caused with them wherever they went.
Alex didn't know what to say for a moment. She couldn't exactly argue with Michael and Nikita. They were right. They couldn't involve civilians in their war. They couldn't let Percy hurt more innocent people than he already had. And they couldn't let kids suffer because of evil men's actions. Yet what else were they supposed to do. They could help Winter's escape, but what about the cop and his son. They shouldn't have to live that kind of life, "If we get them out, they're gonna spend the rest of their lives looking over their shoulders."
"Worse ways to live," Slumping in the booth, Nikita muttered. Living apart from your loved ones and living completely alone were just two examples of how life could be made worse. She had tried that for a while. She had thought living isolated from everyone was for the best. Except, it only led to more pain. Yes, she could survive on her own. But she couldn't survive alone. One always needed their friends and family. Even spending the rest of your life looking over your shoulder was worth it as long as you were with somebody you loved.
Michael squeezed Nikita's hand, helping her sit upright again. None of them had to be alone anymore. Division couldn't keep separating and isolating people. The rogues were stronger together, and so could everyone else. There was a way to save the Guardian, the cop, and his son. They could be saved from Percy's wrath, and the team of rogues could steal a black box. They simply had to think of a good enough plan that they could pull off in under an hour. Between the four of them (they'd have to catch Birkhoff up on the conversation) they could create something. Michael was certain of it, "We can help her. You have an hour before you have to call in."
"Yeah. If Winters takes your help. Remember, she's a Guardian. It's not like you could just show up on her doorstep," Although Alex was positive that they could think of something, it was ultimately up to Winters if she wanted to be saved or not. And as a Guardian, she might not trust the rogues to save her. Nikita only half listened to Alex. The last thing the young agent had said sparked an idea in her mind, and she began to grin widely. She and Michael could just stop by Winters' house. They could tell her what was going on and force her to accept their help. It wouldn't be easy, but it'd just might work.
Recognizing Nikita's grin, Alex sighed. There was no use in stopping what the rogue seemingly had planned. She and Michael would do whatever crazy stunt she had in mind while Alex continued to play the role of the perfect, loyal Division agent. Though, she wasn't quite sure how she was supposed to do that. Her tracker showed that she was already in the same town as the Guardian. Although she didn't have to report for an hour, she still had to seem like she was actually doing something. She couldn't just remain in the diner, eating the abandoned ice cream sundae the rogues had bought, "And what am I supposed to do in the meantime?"
"Send Division on a wild goose chase," Nikita suggested, handing over Winters' recovered tracker. Alex (with the help of Birkhoff's hacking skills) could trick Division into believing she was following the Guardian's tracker around town. That'd definitely buy Michael and Nikita an hour to talk to Winters and figure out a way she could safely run with her family. Then, their plan could continue as it normally would have. Alex would report to Percy that the Guardian was missing, and the rogues could successfully steal the black box. It'd all work out. No one was dying on that mission.
As Alex and Birkhoff worked together to lead Division in circles for an hour, Michael and Nikita went to the Guardian's door (after swinging by a store to pick up wine). They posed as newlyweds who had recently moved into the neighborhood and who wanted to meet their neighbors. Winters recognized the two immediately; however, she couldn't say anything while her boyfriend and his son were near. So, she invited the rogues in for dinner to keep an eye on them. Nikita and Michael graciously accepted.
Surprisingly, the two played a married couple very easily. It just seemed so natural to constantly hold each other, smile, and talk about how much they loved each other. Unfortunately, that was the only easy thing about that awkward dinner. Between the cop's son, who clearly didn't like his future step-mother, and Winters, who was clearly planning ways to kill the rogues, (and, of course, that horrible moment where Nikita and Michael were asked about having kids) dinner was a minefield. They needed a way to break up the tension. Eventually, Nikita asked the Guardian where the bathroom was, and she gladly led her away from the table.
Before Winters was able to seriously injure Nikita, the rogue managed to explain why she and Michael were there. Percy was going to be onto the little family soon. If Winters wanted to keep them safe, she had to give up the black box and go on the run with them. Apparently, she had planned to do that eventually; she simply never found the right time to tell the truth. Or, more precisely, she had been too scared to. Yet, she couldn't hesitate then. If Winters really wanted her family, then she had to tell them everything. The truth actually would set them free.
Unfortunately, speaking the truth about Division wasn't easy. Winters' boyfriend didn't like what he had heard. He fought with her about it, especially the fact that his son had inadvertently been involved in something so dangerous. Michael found himself empathizing with the man. Having your world- your family- turned upside down by Division was awful. It took so much time to adjust to that- more time than they were given. Alex soon met Nikita and Michael outside Winters' house to warn them that the hour was up. They had to get the Guardian out of there immediately. Or else, "My time is up. I need to call in."
"So call in," Michael tried to sound hopeful. There was a chance that while Alex was calling Percy, he and Nikita could help Winters and her family escape. The cop wasn't on board with running yet; he didn't want his son to get hurt in any way. The pressure of Division, though, might change his mind. Besides, with the rogues' resources, Birkhoff's hacking ability, and Winters' Guardian skills, the family could safely start their new life. They could settle in another small town, and Division would never know.
"And say what? Whatever I tell Percy has to stand up to verification, otherwise, he's gonna know I'm involved with you guys," Alex wanted to have the same hope as the rogues, but their plan didn't seem plausible. There were too many unknown variables. Yes, they had amazing skills and resources. And maybe they could save the day. But it wouldn't be enough. Division was always going to be stronger than them; that was why it was easy for Alex to play along so she could get what she wanted. Unless their plan was concrete and everyone was in it one hundred percent, it wasn't going to work. Percy was going to know.
"Winters agreed to run. All she has to do is tell her boyfriend the truth, get him on board, then we get the black box," Nikita knew how far-fetched that sounded. Convincing people to run from everything they had ever known was nearly impossible. You couldn't just rip people away from their homes. It'd take a fight; it'd take revelations. Winters couldn't uproot her family just like that. It took time. However, the rogues didn't have the luxury of time. Their safety and the safety of others always relied on blind leaps of faith. They were asking the cop and his son to make a huge one then. But surely, if the man truly loved Winters, he'd run.
Blinking, Alex stared at Nikita and Michael in total bewilderment. Their whole plan just involved telling the truth. What was that going to do. The cop and his son weren't going to run. Which meant Winters was staying put. Which meant that the rogues would never get the black box. Which meant there was no stopping Operation Sparrow. Their plan was blown. They either had to frantically scramble for a new one, or be left stranded, "What? Get the cop on board about going on the run with his kid? I couldn't even get Nathan on board with running. This is gonna take a lot of time, and we're all out of it."
"You tried to get Nathan to run?" Michael couldn't stop himself from asking. He knew that wasn't important at the moment, but it was so surprising. Alex hadn't mentioned wanting to escape with Nathan before. She hardly ever talked about him, really. It was surprising that she wanted to run from Division with him. Was their relationship really that serious. Or did Alex have other motives. Was Nathan in danger with Division. Did the rogues need to step in and help. What exactly was going on there.
"Do you have her tracker?" Nikita, on the other hand, remained focused on the mission. She had a plan to help Winters and her family, and she had a plan to secure the black box for the rogues. All she needed was Division to play their part. Since Alex had kept Winters' tracker after giving Division the run around, goading the black ops group into action was going to be easy. The rogues only had to raise the right amount of red flags, and a strike team would come running. Fortunately, Nikita knew just how to do that. She dropped Winters' tracker on the floor, and (to both Michael's and Alex's horror) she smashed it.
"Fuck," Alex muttered as her Division com instantly cackled to life. Percy was instantly aware that something was wrong, and he was demanding an update from Alex. She couldn't lie to him; he'd know if she did. She had to relay as much as she could about the situation in Pennsylvania. Hopefully, whatever insane plan Nikita had cooked up worked. Because, honestly, Alex didn't see how there was a clear way out, "Winters' tracker's offline, and she's gone MIA. The rogues are on the ground, and they're after the box. I need a strike team here. Immediately."