Whatever Nikita was planning soon fell apart after Alex contacted Division. Winters couldn't convince her boyfriend to run; his entire world had been turned upside down, and he couldn't accept that- just as Alex had predicted. And during their heated argument about her being a government assassin, his son had overhead them. The teenager freaked over what he had heard, and he ran. By the time anyone noticed, panic began to set in. The boy was alone in town with armed Division agents on the prowl. Someone had to go rescue him before a terrible situation became even worse.
Since Winters and her boyfriend knew the town best, they were tasked with finding the teenager. Nikita, meanwhile, would finally grab the black box from the bank. And Michael and Birkhoff would help Alex distract the strike team. They'd have to figure out how to truly escape Division as they went along. There still had to be some way the rogues won and Winters could be happy with her new family. Yet that wasn't as much of a priority as saving another innocent from Division's path. The boy couldn't die because of all their mistakes.
Birkhoff did his best to find the teenager and to hide the rogues from street cams. But having to constantly kick Division hackers out of the system slowed him down. (seriously, who was the annoying noob who kept trying to beat him and who couldn't learn their lesson). Fortunately, Nikita eventually found the boy. After she had stolen the black box, she found him trying to steal from a hardware store. He admitted that he needed money for a bus to run as far away as possible when she confronted him. However, she was soon able to talk him out of it. There was no need for him to run. His parents would love him and keep him safe no matter what.
Although Nikita helped the boy, Division managed to find her. The strike team surrounded the store, calling for her head. Immediately, the rogue agreed to come out if- and only if- the boy was left unharmed. Alex easily made that deal, but an overzealous agent disagreed. He vowed to kill everyone for the black box. Luckily, Michael and Winters put a stop to that. The strike team was shot and killed, and the teenager was safe in his future stepmother's protective arms. Alex would have a hell of a time explaining how she was the sole survivor again, but it was worth it. A child was saved; she'd take all the consequences that entailed.
While Alex returned to Division and thought of the best cover story to spin, Michael and Nikita continued to help Winters and her family. Although the coast was clear, they had to leave town that night. The further away they moved from Division and the faster they left, the better. With Alex's lie about Winters going rogue, with the destroyed tracker, and with the fact that no one in Division knew the cop and his son were involved, everyone could be safe and sound for a while. They could start a new life- as soon as Winters completely gave up her old one, "This blood sample will give you access to the black box."
Securing the blood sample that'd let them crack the first level of encryption on the black box, Michael and Nikita gave their thanks. They were nowhere near out of the woods yet, but peeking inside the black box and stopping whatever the fuck Operation Sparrow was would bring them a hell of a lot closer. Although that was a huge positive, the rogues were mostly glad and thankful that Winters and her family were safe. They didn't have to look over their shoulders or fear the retribution of Division. The family could simply be free, "You know, before you came, I was trapped. Stuck between two worlds and afraid to…"
"Walk away from either one. Now you're in the world where you belong," Michael completed Winters' thought for her. He understood what she had meant to say. Walking away from Division was difficult- not because there was any obligation to stay, but because of the danger one faced by escaping. It was hard to leave that life behind and step blindly into the unknown with the haunting paranoia that the past would rear its ugly head. Yet there was always one thing that made it worth the risk- one thing worth sprinting into the unknown for. And Winters had found that for herself with her boyfriend and his son.
"What about you? You think you'll end up in the world where you belong?" Winters asked Michael and Nikita. The two glanced at one another- for once, their expressions unreadable. They honestly had no idea what to say. They couldn't think of an actual answer, at least not in time. Winters' boyfriend soon called for her to join him in the car. It was time they left and started a new quiet, peaceful life somewhere else. As she backed away from the rogues, though, Winters made certain she expressed her thanks one last time, "Thank you. Just, uh… When you're out there fighting, you be careful, okay?"
"Okay," Nodding, Michael responded. Whereas Nikita stayed rooted in her spot, watching the family leave as she helplessly thought over what the Guardian had said, Michael moved towards their own car. His attention had returned to the stolen black box and the blood sample Winters had given them. That was enough for the rogues to start planning against Operation Sparrow. No more guessing and scrambling when it came to missions- just direct action to take down Division and protect more people like Winters' family, "I hope Birkhoff can crack this thing. Otherwise, we have to look for new leads on Sparrow."
"I'm sorry," Nikita blurted. She finally turned back to her boyfriend, guilt eating her away. She hadn't known how much Michael had thought about their future together. She had always thought that they were taking their relationship slow. They were committed to one another, yes. But their future remained uncertain. At least to Nikita it was. She hadn't known that Michael had thought of her as his new family- as a world where he could then belong. If she had, she wouldn't have said those things earlier. She wouldn't have questioned him.
"For what?" Michael was startled by Nikita's sudden apology. What did she have to apologize for. She had done the best she could. Sure, there were bumps along the way. But she had protected Winters and her family, and she had stolen the black box. The rogues had won. There was no need for Nikita to feel sorry. She didn't need to worry about anything that had happened- including when she had fallen silent when Michael and Winters talked about finding the world in which they belonged. Michael knew how Nikita felt about families. She didn't have to have the same thoughts as him. As long as they were together, that was perfect enough.
"I can make plans for the worst-case scenario no problem. But when it comes to planning ahead for positive outcomes, I'm just not used to that. It does not mean I don't want one. It's just… you're the best thing that has ever happened in my life," Suddenly shy, Nikita confessed. She always wanted a positive outcome; she hoped and prayed for positive outcomes. But she knew better than to get her hopes up too high. Nothing good ever lasted long, and the worst things possible always occurred. Yet, all of that changed when Michael pulled her off that street. He constantly proved that good things could come her way- that she could be happy.
Smiling softly, Michael wrapped his arms around Nikita and kissed her. She couldn't help but smile into the kiss. There had been no need for her to apologize. Her boyfriend knew that it was hard for her to see the bright things in life. Yet she was trying. And each day with him (and Birkhoff and Alex) made it easier. One day, they could have a future together- they could have that domestic bliss. It wasn't likely to happen soon, not with Division still around. But they were well on their way to a happily ever after. It was their light at the end of the very long tunnel.
Alex actually didn't have that hard of a time convincing Amanda and Percy what had happened on the mission. They believed what she had to say about the Guardian, the rogues, and the strike team. And then she was told she was allowed to go home. Division would deal with the fallout of the rogues having a black box in time; they didn't have to worry immediately since there was no way the encryption could break that easily. Besides, the rogues' threat wasn't nearly as important anymore. Not with Operation Sparrow on the horizon.
When she finally returned to her apartment, Alex couldn't relax. She should've been able to- people saved, Division defeated, a future mission already in the process of being stopped. However, her debrief had been too easy. Amanda and Percy had let her go without too many questions. She didn't like it. She felt as though something was going on. Unfortunately, she couldn't confirm that it was anything besides her continued distrust in the two. She must've just been reading too much into it. She should simply take the victory and move on.
If she did, she could feel better about being in her apartment without Nathan. Alex needed to talk to him. She had left him alone for far too long. She had to explain what she had said, and she had to convince him to run. If Winters had been able to do it with her boyfriend, then so could she. However, when Alex opened her door, Jaden stood on the other side of it. She was all smiles despite Alex's annoyed huff at seeing her, "Just moved into my new place. It was only like ten minutes away, so I figured I'd stop by. My neck is killing me, by the way. I got this ringing in my ear. How long does it take for all that to go away?"
"Well, you should feel better by tomorrow," Alex sighed, letting Jaden into her apartment. Although she definitely wasn't in the mood to deal with Division any more that night, she couldn't just slam the door in Jaden's face. Alex had been lucky when she got promoted to agent. Nikita, Michael, and even Birkhoff were there to help her adjust to the sudden rush of freedom and choices (as much freedom and choices as one got with Division). Jaden, however, had no one. Alex could at least help her a little bit- return some of the favor.
"These apartments are so big. I can't get over it. How long did you wait to try out your credit card?" Jaden brushed past Alex, excitedly exploring her apartment and taking in all the wonderful things Division had given them. Maybe if the two were actually friends and maybe if Alex wasn't aware of all the strings attached to accepting gifts and deals with Division, she would've gushed along with Jaden. Instead, the young agent just fought the feeling of being extremely annoyed, deliriously tired, and hopelessly crushed.
She just wanted to be with her boyfriend. Alex knew that being in Nathan's arms would make everything feel better. She could be warm, she could be safe, and she could be happy. If only she hadn't fucked things up so much between. Nathan would've probably been there then to cuddle her after a long day at work had she not accidentally pushed him away. She seriously needed to talk to him. Alex couldn't let a rift like that keep growing between them. Not if she wanted to be with him. And she really wanted to be with him. Maybe it could all work out once she got Jaden out of her apartment, "Listen, Jaden, I'm a little…"
"I know. I'm sorry. I should have called. I've been meaning to tell you, what you did for me in Switzerland… I just want to say thank you," Jaden recognized Alex's attempts to brush her off by saying she was busy or tired or whatever. However, there were a few things she wanted to admit first. Despite the past between them, she was thankful that Alex had saved her life on the mission in Switzerland. Not many other agents would've done the same; Jaden doubted she would have. But Alex was different. She actually was better than most.
"You'd have done the same for me," Alex only shrugged. She didn't know if she completely believed her words, yet she didn't have anything else to say. She didn't want to explain her thoughts and actions on that mission with Jaden; she shouldn't even have to. It was just something she did. And although it caused Jaden to burst into her apartment when she seriously needed to talk to her boyfriend, Alex didn't regret it. She was glad that she had saved Jaden. She wasn't who Division wanted her to be. She was forging her own path, and she was getting what she wanted by her own means.
What she wanted then, though, was to simply be with Nathan. Once Alex successfully nudged Jaden out her door (maybe promising to get dinner so that'd appease her and make her leave without question) then she could be with her boyfriend. She still didn't know what to say to make it right. But surely talking to him would've been a great first step. She had to at least try. Except, as she moved towards the door that had been left open, Nathan stormed right in. He wasn't looking to talk. Instead, he threw the clothes- mostly underwear- Alex had left in his apartment at her, "You left your stuff at my place."
"Uh, hey. I'm Jaden: one of Alex's coworkers," Jaden bounced back from the shock of seeing Nathan throw a bra at Alex much faster than Alex did. She held out a hand for Nathan to shake, and fought the urge to smirk. Although Alex felt mortified, she fought to disguise her reaction. Maybe Jaden would only believe it was a one-night-stand or something. There were no Division rules about hooking up with people. Alex and Nathan could be fine. As long as he left then, and as long as they talked later.
"Another government assassin? Awesome," Nathan, unfortunately, didn't pick up on Alex's silent plea. He huffed and stormed out of the apartment. Alex froze. Nausea rose in her stomach, and she could've sworn that her head actually spun. She couldn't lie or bluff her way out of that situation. Jaden could guess what she had told him. And so would Division once they heard Jaden's report that they had been compromised. It was over. Nathan couldn't be safe then. Once again, Alex had royally fucked up. It was all her fault. She was going to lose everything again because of her stupid decisions. She couldn't see a way out. It was over.