************

Part 22 by Sherry

Birkoff couldn't believe all that had happened. He had tried to help out a group of young people so they wouldn't suffer the same fate he had -- becoming Section material. Then he finds out the two leaders of the gang are Madelines daughters. Then he runs into Michael on the streets in New Orleans. He couldn't believe Michael had left Nikita alone at the hospital like that. But then, when they had arrived back at the hospital, Walter was there with Nikita! Seems everyone was in New Orleans but Operations.

And I'll bet he is steaming mad, Birkoff thought. He also remembered Nikita's anguished cries when they had gotten close to her room. They could be heard down the hall. He remembered the anguished look on Michael's face ... then his stern demand to speak with Madeline in private.

As he and the girls sat outside the hospital room waiting, five very big men approached them. Birkoff immediately knew they were from Section. He figured Operations had sent them. The team leader walked up to him and said "You are needed back home now. You and the young ladies will accompany us. Please do not resist."

Birkoff nodded, stood and began to follow. The two girls remained seated. As the other four team members headed toward the girls, they exchanged glances, realizing that perhaps they should just go along for the ride and see what happens. They really didn't want to cause too much of a scene in the hospital. Besides, they knew it would drive their mother crazy not knowing where they were. So they got up and walked along behind Birkoff.

Now they were all headed back to Section.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Inside Nikita's hospital room, Nikita's happiness was short-lived. Madeline had just told them that Birkoff and her daughters were missing. Nikita moved to get up and Michael held her down. "Kita, what are you doing?"

Nikita smiled at him and said "I'm fine, Michael. We need to get out of here and find them. We can't waste any more time."

Madeline saw Michael's hesitation. He was worried about her and the baby. Madeline was too. But she knew Michael wouldn't argue with Nikita now, not after what he had just put her through. So, Madeline stepped in.

"Nikita, please rest. You have been through quite an ordeal, most of which was my fault. Walter and I will locate Birkoff and my daughters. Michael will stay here with you until you are ready to be released." Just then Michael's cellphone rang.

"Yes," he answered.

A voice on the other end said, "Jacques ... mission abort ... everyone return ... George." Michael was very wary of the message until the last word had been added.

"George." That was the key word that informed all Level 5 and higher ops that it was a directive from the top. He turned to Nikita and Madeline. "It seems we have orders from the top. We must all return to Section immediately. The mission has been aborted."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Operations couldn't believe the predicament he was in. George had actually placed him in abeyance. And Madeline had turned against him. He had expected it from Michael one day, and wherever Michael went, Nikita followed, but Madeline? Never in his wildest dreams could he conceive of her turning him over to George.

"George, be reasonable. I'm sorry about Adrian, but we couldn't let her continue to try and destroy Section. You should understand that."

George stared at Operations for a long time. "Of course, you would think that anyone who doesn't follow your line of reasoning would be trying to destroy Section. I think, sometimes, I made a grave mistake in letting you run Section after your little coup. I should have cancelled you then. But Adrian begged me to let it go, and I obliged."

Just then the five-man team returned with Birkoff and two identical girls in tow. The team leader turned to George and spoke. "Sir, we found them in New Orleans at the hospital. They put up no resistance."

George nodded. "Fine, thank you. Would you please escort Mr. Birkoff and the young ladies to a holding cell on Level 9. I will send for them when I am ready." The man nodded and led the little trio off to await their fate.

Operations was stunned. "George, you know those were Madelines daughters. Why did you bring them here? They were never to find out about this place."

George smiled. "Well, I've taken care of you, Paul. You are in abeyance. Now, I will also take care of Madeline. And if you breathe one word to her about where her children are, you will be cancelled immediately. The two of you should never have tried to cross me. Madeline must pay as well. ... You know, if it were totally my call, I'd give Michael control of Section the minute he steps foot back in Section. As it is, I must discuss it with the rest of the Committee and see what they think. But I do believe Michael will be in charge for the foreseeable future, so get used to it. And I'm sure Nikita will do a fine job as his second-in-command. Maybe I'll finally get Section back to what it was supposed to be."

Just then, a voice came over the intercom and said "Sir, van arriving with the team from New Orleans."

************

part 23 by Lauren

Michael looked around thinking, "We're flying back." He stated. "I'm not going to have us driving again, and our ETA is less if we fly." He finished.

Nikita looked over to Walter and grinned. "Uncle Walter could fly us couldn't you?" Nikita joked. Walter grinned back at her.

"Michael why don't you go get Nikita signed out? Walter go gather any gear that was salvaged, get us ready to go." Madeline said.

Nikita had to laugh out loud and the group looked at her questioningly. "I hope they don't loose the luggage." She said laughing, almost rolling off the bed. Walter chuckled and the rest of them blinked. Madeline smiled and she and Michael left to get things straightened out.

Madeline walked side by side down the hallway. "Nikita seems to be in a better mood now." Madeline stated. Michael nodded with a strained look on his face. "What is it Michael?" Madeline asked.

"It's Nikita...there's something not right." He said.

"I see. Then Michael, what do think that is not right." She questioned.

"Madeline I can't have you playing mind games with me right now, I don't know, partially the fact she was hysterical a few minutes ago and I just left her laughing. It does not make sense." Michael said.

Madeline saw his concern, she had the same, of course at this point even she had no idea what it was all about, and she didn't like it. "Michael, I can offer you no condolences for your concern. Perhaps she hiding her emotions from you...or blocking them. I will Michael, let you find out for yourself." Madeline finished as Michael stopped watching Madeline pass him and keep walking. He stood there, trying to grasp hold of something that was constant, of which there were none.

~~~~~~~~

Walter was about to leave the room when he turned to Nikita who was staring out of the window, the fits of giggles having subsided. "I know what you're doing Nikita, and it's not going to do anyone any good." Walter told Nikita firmly.

"What are you talking about Walter." She asked.

"The two of you!" Walter said looking out to the hallway. "Do you know why the two of you are never happy, even in section? Because you repress your feelings, because the two of you are too scared of the truth, him of having a weakness and you of loosing him, but you've never had him you can't loose him! And you are his weakness, whether he admits it or not!" Walter said.

"I'm tired of watching this go on Nikita, I care about you, and I won't be apart of it until you two figure out for God's sake!" Walter finished and walked out of the room letting the door slam behind him.

Nikita sat there looking at the door, trying to take in everything she had just heard.

'Did Walter just yell at her? His sugar? Yes he just yelled at me, and what makes that even worse, is he's right.' She thought.

************

part 24 by Marie

"Don't lock me in there with them, please." Birkoff pleaded with the guard shamelessly as the men took them to level nine.

"What's the matter Birky?" Fiona grinned and gave him a dashing smile that Birkoff knew meant trouble.

"Yes Seymour are you scared of little old us?" Copper continued.

"Yes!" Birkoff told them.

When the guards left Birkoff slumped against the wall leaving the smiling twins to their own devices and hopefully leaving him out of them. As he sat on the floor the door of the room opened and lord and behold George entered.

@@@@@@@@

George looked at the twins who sat quite quietly in the room. "Do you have any idea the trouble you have caused?" He asked them.

Copper's chocolate brown eyes flew up to meet George's blue ones and she stared blankly. Fiona cracked a grin and nodded. George stared at both of them and frowned.

"Well Mr. Birkoff I see you are not to happy with your escapades." George said finally staring at the young man.

Birkoff looked up at the older man. "Those two are utter monsters." Birkoff told them.

"Yes, I suppose they are, but they are my godchildren." George told him. "And I've been wondering what to do with them for ages." He said and laughed.

"Godchildren." Birkoff managed to stutter.

"Of course, George used to work with Daddy before he died." Copper snickered.

"And he went to school with our grandfather." Fiona told Birkoff as she sat next to him. "You've have got to be kidding me." He said in disbelief.

"Let's put it this way. It's all in the family. And it's time Section returned back to the fold." Copper said her voice suddenly gravely serious.

"What do you mean?" Birkoff asked.

"Adrian first ruled Section and she was our sort of grandmother." Fiona said seriously.

"Adrian pretty much adopted Madeline." Copper explained

"Madeline should have taken the reins of Section after Adrian disappeared and since she was Adrian's daughter in all but the biological sense." Fiona told him.

"Then you are to rule Section?" Birkoff asked.

"Lord no, this place is an utter bore. It is Michael who must take his place." Copper said.

"Michael's not..." Birkoff stopped before he stuck his foot in his mouth.

"Michael is my nephew Birkoff and when he decides to retire maybe the twins will want a shot at it, but I doubt it. They have always been more of the mercenary types, then the seat behind the desk type." George told him.

"Well I must go my dears, promise to behave." George finished.

"You know we can't do that Uncle George." Copper and Fiona said together.

"Well then be good for a little while, and please stay put." George said his voice sounding like a plea.

Both girls smiled and both of them kissed him on a separate cheek and smiled. George sighed and left the room.

@@@@@@

Madeline was worried out of her mind as she returned to Section and started to look for Paul.

"Hello Madeline." Operations said seeing his second in command.

Madeline nearly jumped out of her shoes. Maybe she was just a little edgy.

"My dear." George crooned as he entered the room. "It is so good to see you and my darling goddaughter's again." George told her.

"Where are they?" Madeline nearly cried.

"Safe. And where is my nephew?" George asked.

Madeline knew something was wrong. "Safe." She told him.

Operations smiled evilly. "Madelines daughter's may be safe from me George but your heir is not and neither are you." He told George. "Take them to Level 14 and into the guest room I have prepared." Operations said proud of himself. "And I will see to Level 9." He finished and turned his back.

"Paul, what, what are you doing?" Madeline asked.

"You should have never betrayed me Madeline." Paul told her and finished walking away.

Michael and Walter watched carefully as Madeline had told them to do from their hidden position. They had never known of the secret tunnels and passages that had laced through Section's walls and the good thing was neither had Operations.

"What's going on?" Nikita asked in a whisper.

"We have to get to Level 9 my love." Michael told her.

"Why?" Nikita asked.

"The twins lives are at stake and so is Michael's." Walter told her.

"What do you mean?" Michael asked.

"You're the heir Michael. It's a long story but I'll explain as we go."

@@@@@@@@

"It's been too long." Copper said.

"Way too long." Fiona commented.

"Come on Birkoff, we are leaving." Copper told Birkoff.

"George told us to stay here." He told the girls.

"Something's wrong." Fiona told him.

"You're just paranoid." Birkoff huffed.

Copper began to fell the walls of the room. "I know it's here." She said to herself.

"What?" Birkoff asked.

"There is are secret passages all through out Section. Safeguards that Adrian put it." Fiona told them.

"Damn-it, I knew I should have paid more attention when Adrian was explaining this stuff to us when we were kids." Copper huffed in annoyance and slammed her fist into the wall. Miraculously a section of the wall slid open.

"I'm a genius." She told herself with a smile.

"No you're just damn lucky." Fiona told her sister and slipped through the opening.

As they all stood in the dark they heard footsteps.

"Shhh." Copper told them and began forward.