Bear grinned at Michael. "Sugar´s a real babe, I was just telling Walter."

Michael glowered. "I´m glad you think so." Anyone else would have known that was not encouragement to continue that line of conversation. But Bear did not know.

"Yep, a real fine woman. Bet she really gets you going, huh?"

Michael punched Bear in the nose, not surprised that the bigger man didn´t go down immediately. Bear registered a startled look, but before he could react further, Michael backhanded him and Bear fell over, like a ton of bricks.

Walter gave Michael an appraising stare. "Now that was just great. He was gonna tell us where to find the Angels of Death."

"I didn´t like his attitude." Michael smiled at Walter. "And I don´t much care for yours either, Walter. I may not be team leader, but don´t you ever overstep your boundaries with me again. Got that?"

Walter harrumphed. "Is this still about me calling you Big Mike?"

Michael gave Walter a considering look. "Find out where we can meet these Angels of Death, Walter. But don´t find them until tomorrow morning."

He slung his arm around Nikita and kissed her quite openly, in front of Walter. Walter´s mouth dropped open.

"We won´t be home till late, Walter. Don´t wait up." Michael spoke to Walter, but his eyes were only for Nikita.

Michael and Nikita walked for a long, long time, their steps somehow sure despite the darkness of night falling around them. When they were on the fringes of the enclave, well away from anyone else, Michael stopped. He hooked his hand behind her neck and pulled her against his mouth. His hands stroked the softness of the buttery smooth leather, finally sliding it off her shoulders and onto the ground. He pushed his hands gently under her shirt, cupping her breasts in his hands. Never losing contact with her mouth, he rubbed his hands back and forth across her breasts. Nikita finally broke off the kiss, gasping for breath, her breasts aching, her groin echoing that ache with a fierceness that gave her pause.

"Michael…here?"

"God, yes." He took her mouth with a sharpness that panged him even as it pleasured him. He didn´t want to hurt her, and his need was so strong, so intense, it was as tangible as the throbbing between his legs.

She ran her hand over his arousal, and he ground his hips against her lower body. He kissed her repeatedly, his tongue lapping at her lips, until she responded in kind. She moaned. "I wish I could see your eyes, Michael." He smiled.

"They´re green, Kita." He kissed her briefly. "Definitely green right now." His mouth moved against hers, and she felt herself sway from the force of her own feelings.

He removed his jacket and threw it down on the ground next to hers. He framed her face with his hands, holding her still under the ravishment of his mouth. He pulled off his shirt, baring his chest, which moved as he panted. He nuzzled her neck, and she pressed tender kisses to his cheeks. Her hands slid down to the top of his leather pants, and he shuddered.

"Too soon, Kita."

"What if we get interrupted again?" She asked anxiously.

"We won´t. I put the fear of God into Walter. We´ve got all night, and for once, I´m not stopping."

"What are you running on, adrenaline? We´ve been up since early this morning…"

"Nikita, are you telling me you don´t want this as much as I do?" He searched her face. She shook her head. "No."

"Then what?"

He watched as for once, she was the one putting distance between them. "I don´t know, I can´t even explain it to myself."

"Then let me persuade you," he said softly.

He pushed her shirt up and kissed her breasts, one by one. His tongue laved her nipples and she arched her back, unconsciously thrusting them further into his mouth. He pulled her shirt off, throwing it into the growing pile of clothing on the ground. He ran his hand down her abdomen, stopping just at the line of her leather pants. "Nikita…"

He grabbed her hands and pushed them to the edge of his own leather pants. "Please…"

She unzipped his pants and thrust her hands inside, barely touching his arousal, but he gasped, his mouth opening against hers. She took full advantage, chewing on his lower lip till it was swollen. Rubbing her bare breasts against his bare chest, she moved back and forth, feeling his nipples grow just as hard as her own. He groaned into her mouth.

"Nikita…" he breathed.

"Michael?" she answered.

"It feels as if I´ve always wanted you…needed you…" Trying to hide her disappointment, Nikita shivered nonetheless as Michael continued to kiss her.

"…loved you…" he finished, making her heart sing.

He laid her down on their clothing and gently helped her out of her leathers. He removed his own leathers and rejoined her moments later. Covering her with his body, he surged into her, joining their bodies. "I love you, Michael," she managed to get out as he began to move within her.

He stroked inside her, building to a fiercer rhythm, and just when Nikita thought she could not take any more pleasure, the ache exploded into a climax so intense it took both of them by surprise. She moaned under his mouth, beginning to shudder in earnest. Michael spent himself within her a moment later, no longer able to hold onto his control. He rolled onto his back, taking her with him, their bodies still joined. He splayed his hands across her back, then her hair, trembling himself. It almost frightened him, the feelings that totally overwhelmed him. He was used to shutting off his feelings, not indulging in them with such utter completeness.

Her breathing already slowing, Nikita glanced at Michael. He kissed her almost absently, his hands tangled in her hair. She buried her face in his neck, and she felt him shiver. A hot tear ran down his face and into her hair. She looked up, her heart dreading what might come next. "What is it, love?"

"I never expected to love you this much, Nikita."

She kissed his neck, snuggling under his chin. "Michael, I´m not asking for anything beyond this moment." She closed her eyes and wished it were more truth than lie.

He closed his eyes and wished his heart didn´t know she lied.

He sat up, pulling their clothing towards him. He watched silently as she slowly dressed. "Michael?"

He pulled his pants on, grabbing his jacket. He didn´t feel like putting his shirt back on, and the leather felt good against his skin. It reminded him of her. All buttery soft everywhere he touched. Lost in thought, he never answered her.

She grasped his arm finally, getting his attention. "Michael."

He looked at her blankly. "Maybe now you could tell me what Madeline said before we went out."

He grimaced, trying to forget what she wanted him to remember. "Just a few reminders."

"Of what?"

He didn´t answer, his expression becoming almost grim. She pulled on his sleeve, stopping him from moving away when he might have. "What? What did she remind you of?"

"Of where my priorities lie," he said softly.

She rocked back on her heels. "It had something to do with me, didn´t it?" He wouldn´t look at her. "Didn´t it, Michael?" she repeated, more forcefully.

He walked a step, and she grabbed his arm, pulling him back to face her, his surprised eyes meeting hers. The depth of pain reflected in his eyes took her aback. "She threatened you?"

He looked down, unable to maintain eye contact.

"She threatened me?" she asked hoarsely.

"At first, I thought this was a test. Of you, of me. Who knows?" Michael raked a hand through his hair.

"But Madeline does nothing without a reason." Nikita added. Michael nodded.

"I really don´t know why she took me out of first position, Kita. But it doesn´t matter. You´ll do fine."

She frowned. "I´ll do fine? Are you leaving, Michael?" She looked stunned.

"I don´t think she expects either of us back, Kita. Maybe she thought you would fail. I knew you wouldn´t. You´re a good operative."

"You trained me well, Michael. Anything I am, you made me." She moved closer and he shrugged off her arm.

"I can´t take credit for how special you are, Kita." He stared at her, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Her lower lip trembled as tears threatened. "Michael, are you saying goodbye?" she choked out.

He nodded, unable to speak. But the tears in his eyes said it all.

She swallowed. "Michael, what´ll I do without you?"

He reached out a shaking hand to touch her face, his fingertips rough against her smooth skin. "No, the question is, what am I going to do without you, Kita?"

"Michael, if you feel that way, why? Tell me why!" She begged him openly, not caring about pride or anything else at that moment.

"You can tell Madeline you had to shoot me, she´ll respect that. She´ll think you really have what it takes to be a good team leader. She admires ruthlessness."

"Michael, tell me!" She shook his shoulders and the tears fell onto her hands. She stared at them abjectly, unable to process anything more.

He sighed, taking her into his arms again. She leaned her head on his shoulder and cried. He knew he was crying with her, but he could no more stop it than the tides. "I´m sorry, Kita."

A dark figure watched the couple from the shadows, blending unseen with the night. If they had not been lost in their own pain, they might have seen it. But it might not have mattered.

"I knew you couldn´t do it, Michael." The voice came out of the shadows behind the couple.

"You see, it wasn´t really a test of Nikita at all, but you."

Michael and Nikita turned and faced the figure. "You!"

"Yes, me. Are you surprised, Michael?" The figure pulled back into the shadows when Michael reached for it.

"Madeline said you wouldn´t be able to cancel her. I was so sure you would. Always the good lil Section op, I´ve never seen you openly defy orders."

Michael glared at the figure, tears still drying on his face. "You might as well have asked me to take my own life!"

Nikita stared at Michael. "This is what you were hiding, Michael? Madeline told you to cancel me?"

He faced her, fresh tears appearing in his eyes. "Yes," he answered in a sibilant whisper.

"But you couldn´t…" said the figure sarcastically.

"I wouldn´t…there´s a difference," Michael snapped back.

"Instead, you let her destroy you. You would have sent her back to Section, your death on her hands, accolades all around. Why, Nikita might even have earned a promotion."

His eyes anguished, Michael pleaded with the figure. "Stop…please…"

"Tell me why, Michael."

He raised his haunted face to the figure. "No…"

He heard the gun click, and he knew the safety had just been moved into the off position. "Shoot me, but please don´t take her. Let her go."

"We don´t operate that way, and you know it, Michael," the voice chided.

Michael moved in front of Nikita, protecting her, his body a shield. "No!"

"Such weakness is unbecoming in an operative, Michael. She is your weakness, you know."

Michael felt Nikita clutching his hand. She wrapped her arms around him suddenly, making their bodies one target. "Then take us both. We belong together."

Michael stared at Nikita, aghast. "No, Kita, you have to run!"

Nikita stroked his face. "I love you, Michael. I won´t go without you."

He buried his face against her neck, wetting it with his tears. "I love you, too, Kita. I always have."

The gun clicked again, and they both flinched. There was no explosion. No thundering roar. Just silence. And the night.

Slowly, they realized they were still alive. A match flickered, then went out. A cigarette glowed in the dark. The figure was still there.

"What do you want with us?" Michael shouted.

"What you just gave us. A bond between two operatives can be a good thing, Michael, but it must be recognized for it to work. You´ve both done well. You may return to Section."

Michael frowned. "But wh—"

The figure laughed. "Don´t question your good fortune, Michael. Take advantage. You´ll be picked up in the morning." The figure waved and moved off into the distance, the night shadows swallowing it up as if it had never been.

Michael held Nikita in his arms, his mind still trying to grasp what had just happened. "Did you see what I did, Nikita?"

She nodded solemnly. "I didn´t know Walter had it in him."

He picked her up in his arms, swinging her around, then letting her slide slowly down the length of his body. She groaned softly. "Does this mean you´re not leaving me, Michael?"

"It looks that way, Kita." He kissed her, and she opened for him, a flower responding to sunlight.

"I love you, Michael. In leather and out of it."

"I love you, Kita. In Hell and out of it."

END