ASSUMPTIONS

By....N507


Operations moved quickly down the hallway, purposefully missing all areas that Nikita or Michael might be standing in and about. Operations walked to the door and tapped his fingers loudly as he waited for the steel door to slowly open to expose himself to Madeline's office. He snapped down the four stairs and stared at Madeline as she kept her attention on the flower she was currently working with.

"We have a problem." Operations said sharply and Madeline allowed a mist to flow from the bottle.

"I figured that much." Madeline commented as she slowly placed the bottle down and moved away from the stand.

"Nikita is pregnant." Operations said firmly and Madeline stood back a few steps from the shock of the statement.

"I knew she was seeing someone new," Madeline said slowly and Operations moved ever so slightly closer to Madeline.

"She has been seeing Michael. It is Michael's child." Operations said firmly and Madeline nodded her head and moved back to her desk, not appreciating the lack of personal space from Operations.

"Are you sure?" Madeline questioned firmly and Operations stared at Madeline and leaned down over the desk and glared at her.

"I heard the conversation. Nikita was telling Walter. Walter agreed to help her. What more is there to prove?" Operations stubbornly said as he focused on Madeline. He leaned back when Madeline unleashed her Mona Lisa smile.

"It could be a trap to get Michael back. They have been on again and off again." Madeline stated as she politely and calmly folded her hands on the desk.

"Nikita is not that stupid." Operations stated firmly and Madeline held back her smile. Madeline had her own gut instincts here, knowing that something was quite off. She had just had tea with Nikita two days ago. Nikita had developed her skills of lying, but not to the point of being able to hide a pregnancy from Madeline. Madeline would have noticed it right away.

"So what do you have planned?" Madeline asked, knowing whatever he had plan, she would have the neutralize the violence and deadly content.

"She is being cancelled in a mission today." Operations said firmly and Madeline stood up and walked over to the bonsai trees that she had been neglecting.

"But Walter knows, and he will know that Nikita's death was planned and tell Michael. Do you want that?" Madeline asked slowly and Operations swallowed.

"Then I cancel Walter too." Operations stubbornly said and Madeline turned around and softly smiled.

"And get Oversite on our case again." Madeline stated and she moved towards Operations.

"Give her an head injury, examine her, and then get rid of it, while she is unconscious." Madeline stated and Operations smiled at Madeline.

"I knew there was a reason why I came to talk to you." Operations said firmly and Madeline smiled and watched him walk out of the room.

"Because I am the smart one around here." Madeline said out loud and then turned back to her plants. ============ Assumptions..... Two Birkoff looked up to the Observation Desk and trembled in his seat. Rarely, on such a routine mission, would Operations gather a communications unit and listen to every second. Birkoff did not know what to expect, but he started to prepare himself for the worst.

There were several operatives on this mission that Birkoff could identify Operations having a problem with. Cooke had misplaced explosives three missions ago, and it caused six operatives being injured. Then there was Masserrese, who in her errant ways, slept with one operative too many. Yet, the people Birkoff were concerned with was Michael and Nikita.

Operations waited for Michael and Nikita to split ways in the warehouse, and then patched into his private communications unit.

"Cooke, knock Nikita unconscious. Hard." Operations ordered.

*

"Nikita.." Cooke said as he moved towards Nikita. She spun around to find the butt of the rifle connecting with her head. She fell to the ground with a grunt. Cooke looked up and reported back to Operations before he scurried back to his position.

*

"Nikita, cover the right hallway." Michael ordered from his position as he watched three men walking towards Nikita's direction. Michael turned his head slightly and waited.

"Birkoff, is Nikita's unit on?" Michael questioned when there was no response.

"Yes. Wide open.'" Birkoff replied, now starting to worry. He waited in the silence, and tried to call out to Nikita. Birkoff flipped the computer over and started to push buttons in sequence.

"I still have a heartbeat, Michael. I don't know what has silenced Nikita." Birkoff buzzed in on a private line. Michael looked ahead and then turned to the side.

"Cooke, take the right hallway. Everyone shift over three positions. Ready.... Now." Michael called out. He quickly made his way through the maze, and saw the blonde hair on the pavement of the warehouse, and then he saw the blood.

"Nikita is down." Michael hissed through the communications unit.

"Switching to alternate profile. Start sequencing in two minutes." Birkoff ordered out, as Nikita was going to be the point on this mission.

"Evacuate building." Michael ordered as he leaned down and pulled at Nikita's body. He supported her neck and gently lifted her as he turned to retreat.

"Awh..." Nikita moaned out and Michael continued on his way. He entered the van, to find Walter pushing the buttons for the missiles to fire. He moved from the panel and grabbed the medical kit.

"Butt... head..." Nikita moaned out and Michael looked down at her as he held his hand supporting her neck as Cooke placed the neck brace around her neck.

"Don't fight it, Nikita. Go to sleep." Michael whispered softly and he looked around as her eyes shut. Walter started to tend to her. ============ Assumptions 3 "Do you think it was wise sending Michael on the mission with her?" Madeline asked as she walked up into the office. Operations lifted his head and nodded it quite quickly.

"He would have questioned it had he not been there." Operations said firmly and Madeline slightly raised her eyebrows and then nodded her head. It was a motion that Operations had become familiar with. Madeline had just disagreed with him.

"How do you see this, Madeline?" Operations asked firmly, trying to stop Madeline's overactive imagination before it got started. She always read too much into the situations.

"First, if Nikita is pregnant, and I mean if, it is possible that Michael already knows." Madeline said and Operations stood up from his chair and rubbed his chin. He nodded his head and then looked at Madeline.

"So we observe the medical examination of Nikita and see if he tries to have it stopped in any form." Operations countered and Madeline nodded her head. It was almost reasonable, although she thought this whole process was uncalled for. Madeline was sure if Nikita was pregnant, and had told Michael, that Nikita would have disappeared by now.

"Fine. So we say that she is pregnant, and Michael doesn't know. Now that he has found her, injured, he will make it his personal responsibilty to watch over her until she regains consciousness." Madeline stated and Operations rubbed his chin.

"He will be ordered to debrief." Operations stated and Madeline slightly raised her eyebrows. He had effectively neglected to remember that Michael knows about one hundred ways to access the cameras in the medical areas of Section One, but Madeline smiled. It was going to be nice to see this entire thing blow up in Operations' face.

"What if she isn't pregnant?" Madeline asked firmly and Operations frowned and shook his head.

"She is." Operations stated flatly, and annoyed that Madeline was questioning again.

"For the debate. Say Nikita isn't pregnant. What occurs then?" Madeline asked again, and Operations smiles evilly.

"Then we know." Operations said firmly and Madeline forced a smile and rubbed her hands together.

"You have all the answers." Madeline said and Operations smiled broadly. Madeline looked out of the glass and at the arriving team. Michael walked beside the stretcher that had Nikita on it. The wound looked nasty from this view point, and Madeline pressed her lips together. Now she needed to get down to the real business as Operations ran around with this crazy notion that Nikita was pregnant. She needed to find out what Nikita had that was Michael's and that she might need Walter's help with. =========== Madeline stood outside the room and shook her head. She tried to keep her calm and collected face on as she stared into the room that the doctors now used to make Nikita comfortable in. Madeline stared in, as the doctors maintained the neck brace around Nikita's neck.

"Where is Michael?" Madeline asked as Operations entered the area. She didn't have to turn to face Operations. She stared as the doctors finally moved in the equipment to care for the head injury.

"He went to his office." Operations said slowly and Madeline dropped her head and continued to stare into the room. She was not surprised to hear the doors to the medical area slam open.

"Hello, Michael." Operations said slowly and Michael moved into the room and went to Nikita's bedside. He had a hushed conversation with the doctor, who was just now trying to find out the extent of Nikita's head injury. Michael shook his head in disgust and walked back into the hallway.

"We had reason, Michael." Operations said and Madeline finally turned to look at Operations. She wrapped her arms around her body and slighly leaned back.

"We? I believe it was you." Madeline said, correcting the phrase and Michael looked at Operations and then moved away. Michael did not say another word, as he exited and Madeline looked at Operations.

"Now, about that plan in which that Nikita isn't pregnant in?" Madeline asked as she turned and entered Nikita's room to consult with the doctor.

***

"Hey... hear anything about my sugar?" Walter called out from the weapons area as Michael walked by. Michael stopped and moved into the area. He didn't usually speak to Walter, knowing the relationship he had with Nikita. Michael thought Nikita would take it as Michael trying to control her even more.

"Did you hear what they did first?" Michael asked and Walter sat back on the stool and looked at Michael's abnormally tight standing position.

"An x-ray and a CAT scan I sure hope." Walter commented and Michael looked out to the hallway and then brushed past Walter and further into his area.

"A pelvic exam." Michael said and Walter stopped and stared at Michael.

"She isn't..." Walter said and Michael shook his head.

"No. But they have yet to assess her head injury." Michael said and Walter swallowed and started to shake his head.

"Damn Michael...I bet you Ops was playing around with the cameras again!" Walter exclaimed as he felt the guilt wash over him.

"What do you mean?" Michael asked and Walter half frowned.

"Me and Nikita had a conversation the today... and Birkoff showed me what the lookers had chosen to view..... it sounded like we were covering a pregnancy. We thought it was a hoot." Walter said and Michael's face drained.

"So they purposely knocked Nikita out to find out the truth." Michael finished and he turned his head. Walter rubbed his hands together and looked back to the guns from the mission that Nikita was on.

"I'll find out who thought Nikita's head was a baseball, Michael... but I won't tell you what the conversation was about. I can't." Walter said and Michael nodded his head.

"I have to see someone." Michael said and left quickly. Walter turned back and picked up the gun that Cooke had used.

*

"So you don't think I would have noticed." Michael said as he walked into the office. Madeline lifted her head and smiled at Michael. She stood up and looked at him.

"I am sure you would have noticed. That was why I never put much thought to what Operations had claimed." Madeline said and Michael stared at Madeline and then swallowed. Both were admitting something that was almost fundamentally against Section policy, but what made Michael and Nikita working together, work. There was something more there, an understanding of each other, the either one could not explain with words.

"Have the assessed the injury?" Michael asked and Madeline nodded her head and sat down. She folded her hands and looked at Michael.

"She has a cracked skull." Madeline said and she watched Michael's eyes close lightly and then focus back at Madeline.

"Yet, her brain functioning is fine, and with the medication being reduced, she should wake up soon." Madeline said and Michael turned to look at the flower. He wanted to pull it off and pluck each petal and then tear it to shreds.

"Will she be told?" Michael asked and Madeline dropped her head.

"Operations doesn't feel that it is needed. Yet, a woman can tell when things aren't right. I am sure that since Nikita is.. so.."

"Emotional." Michael stated and Madeline smiled lightly.

"Yes, Emotional. Since Nikita is so emotional, I think it would be best if we, or you, discuss what occurred." Madeline said and Michael turned and blinked.

"With the restraints on." Michael said bluntly and Madeline raised her eyes in horror. Did Michael actually think Nikita was going to react so violently.

"A Joke." Michael commented with a slight lift of the corners of his mouth. Madleine smiled and nodded her head. "Who did it?" Michael asked and Madeline stood up with a look of uncertainity in her eyes. Michael lifted his head slightly in half disgust that Madeline did not know. Michael turned and looked at Madeline.

"It doesn't matter. Walter will know soon." Michael said and walked out of the room. Madeline held back the huge smile until the door close, and then she allowed the smile out. Although Operations was sure that the operative who did this to Nikita would not be found, Madeline smiled at the resourcefulness of Nikita's friends. Everyone who knew about Nikita's injury and of the profile, knew it could have only been a member on the team.

"I think I shall keep this tidbit of information for myself." Madeline smuggly said as she sat down. It was great to see Operations tumble a bit from his pedestal, and now it was going to be twice in one day.

*

Walter slammed the gun down and grabbed his own. He plunged it into his jeans and pulled down the fence. He moved quickly, as anger spread across his face. Michael turned the corner and knew with a look, that Walter had the answer.

"Walter... turn around." Michael stated in a deep voice that sounded off alarms in Walter's head. Walter frowned and sulked back to his area.

"I am going to kill him, Michael.... Doing that to Nikita. For NO REASON!" Walter yelled and Michael took the gun out of the pants and set it back down on the table.

"Whoever it was, was under orders, Walter." Michael said and Walter grabbed Michael's hands.

"Did you hear what it did to Nikita? Fractured her skull, Michael. We are lucky we aren't still picking up Nikita's gray matter!" Walter said and Michael swallowed. Now he was going to have to find out who was telling him the truth, Madeline or Walter, about Nikita's injury.

"Who did this?" Michael asked and Walter slammed his hand to the hard surface.

"COOKE." Walter said, and no more was the name out of Walter's mouth, Michael turned quickly and left.

==============

Somehow, walking into the medical area brought peace to Michael's blood that had been boiling as he moved down through the halls. Michael turned and looked into the room that Nikita was in, and slowly moved in. They still had a neck brace on her, and Michael trembled at the sight. Michael slowly moved in and looked at Nikita. He held his reaction back, as the sight was not a nice one. Although she was bandaged, Nikita's face was swollen and black and blue. Michael moved slowly to the bed and looked down at her.

"She has a cracked skull." The doctor said as he walked in behind Michael. He had seen Michael enter, and gave Michael some time to get over the first impression of Nikita. He moved to Nikita's bedside and looked at the IV line that was running into her.

"Walter said it was fractured." Michael said and the doctor smiled softly.

"No. Just a few small cracks." The doctor said and Michael looked down at Nikita and reached for her hand.

"Why is she still in the neckbrace?" Michael asked and the doctor looked at Michael and then to Nikita.

"We had it off, but in her sleep she was calling for you, and thrashing her head around. Once she wakes up, it will come off. It should be soon." The doctor said and moved out of the room. Michael leaned down and kissed Nikita's hand softly.

When he looked up, the black and dark blue bruises contrasted with the vivid blue eyes of Nikita. He smiled down at her and touched her shoulder.

"Too much light." Nikita moaned out softly and Michael made the adjustments and moved back to Nikita. She sighed and closed her eyes softly.

"What happened?" Nikita asked and Michael sighed. He wasn't going to lie to her now. He lightly touched her chin.

"Operations heard your talk with Walter today.... and thought you were pregnant. He did this to see if you were." Michael said slowly as his eyes watered over. He could see the disgust in Nikita's eyes and she ached to turn her head away.

"Is my neck broken?" Nikita asked in a hushed voice as she noticed that she couldn't move her head.

"No. You have some cracks in your skull." Michael said slowly and Nikita blinked back her own tears. Michael rubbed her hand and moved to the door. The doctor walked in and took the neck brace off of Nikita's neck and Michael sat down on a chair.

*

Several hours later, Michael walked out of Nikita's room and was face to face with Cooke. Michael swallowed, and found himself no longer angry at the man. He had done as told. Plus, Michael was sure that Nikita would recover enough to pay Cooke back for her injuries.

"How is she?" Cooke asked and Michael dropped his head and looked towards the door, where Madeline now stood. It was a test of some sort. Michael lifted his head and looked at Cooke.

"She will be fine, in time." Michael said and Cooke nodded his head and looked into the room.

"It was Operations, Michael. I didn't want too, but he threatened to kill my sister." Cooke said and Michael nodded his head and moved away.

Michael moved past everyone to make preparations for a day when Nikita could leave the medical area and heal at home.

================

"How are you feeling?" Michael asked as he sat down in the chair and looked at Nikita as she reclined on her couch. Her long legs laid on the other arm of the couch as her head was carefully placed on several pillows. Nikita forced out a smile.

"I'm glad to be home." Nikita said and Michael nodded his head as he stood up and started to move around the apartment. He hadn't told Nikita that as part of the arrangement, that someone would have to be staying with her for the time being. She still wasn't very mobile on her feet, and Michael had carried her into her apartment, where she had promptly fallen asleep for two hours.

"Nikita... someone will have to stay here with you..." Michael explained as he poured himself a cup of coffee and moved back to Nikita, when there was a knock on the door. Michael placed the cup of coffee carefully down and quietly moved to the door. Noise, everyone found out, hurt Nikita's head the most. Michael opened the door to find the huge display of roses.

"Come in, Walter." Michael said with a smile before Walter's head popped out of the roses. Nikita smiled and laughed slightly.

"Don't make me laugh." Nikita stated and Walter cover Nikita's body with the roses and Nikita tried not to cry.

"Now... now.. I am not going to watch you if you are going to keep crying like that." Walter said and Nikita's face turned white. Nikita turned her head carefully away from the two men.

"Sugar... what is it?" Walter asked and Nikita just closed her eyes to hold back her eyes.

"I'll go wash some of Nikita's sweatshirts. It seems as if she was late in doing the wash." Michael said and Walter waited for Michael to leave before approaching Nikita.

"Sugar?" Walter asked and Nikita opened her eyes.

"I thought Michael would be staying with me." Nikita said softly and Walter softly touched Nikita's chin.

"Oh? I think he cares of you, but he doesn't want to smother you, sugar." Walter said and Nikita turned her had with the tears in her eyes.

"Do you have it?" Nikita choked out and Walter sighed and handed over the box.

"Are you sure, sugar? I thought it was a gift for his birthday." Walter said and Nikita looked up at Walter and smiled.

"Do you realize how much trouble this has caused me?" Nikita asked and Walter nodded his head and frowned.

"Why don't you just ask him to stay, Nikita?" Walter said and Nikita shut her eyes. The door opened and Michael walked back in. Walter moved away from the couch.

"Michael...." Nikita called out and Michael moved over towards Nikita and sat down on the floor in front of Nikita. She smiled and handed the box to Michael.

"This is what Walter and I were talking about that day." Nikita said slowly and Michael raised and eyebrow and opened the box slowly and felt his heart stop as he looked at the beautiful gold pocket watch. Michael pulled it out by the chained and opened it up and gasped.

"How did you find it?" Michael choked out and Nikita smiled.

"I have gumption." Nikita said and Michael touched her cheek softly.

"How did you know?" Michael asked and Nikita blinked her eyes softly.

"You told me when you came that night about Rene." Nikita said softly and Michael nodded his head and then rubbed his hand with the watch against his chin. "I had to explain to Walter how I knew.. and I wasn't sure how to give it to you... and that was the conversation that Operations over heard. Me planning on giving you your gift." Nikita said and Michael stood up in shock.

Michael moved to the door and picked up his coat. Walter started to shake his head as he viewed from the French doors.

"Michael!" Nikita called out loudly and then squinted in pain.

"Walter will be here, Nikita." Michael said softly and Nikita felt her chin quivering.

"I was hoping you were staying." Nikita said and Michael turned around and looked at Nikita.

"After I allowed this to happen?" Michael asked in a stunned voice and Nikita was crying fully now.

"You couldn't have stop this Michael. And although I am sure that Walter would take great care of me... it wouldn't be the same if it was you." Nikita said and Michael dropped his coat and nodded his head as he moved back to Nikita. Walter walked over and picked up the coat.

"I'll just stay and watch.... so we don't have this problem again... Now.. keep your hands to yourself!" Walter playfully said and Nikita smiled as Michael touched her cheek.

THE END