Wrapping his arms around Kimber, he pulled her up, and onto her knees. He deepened his kiss, his tongue exploring the depths of her. Then, moving his lips across her jawline, and down her neck, he blazed a fire that melted her down to her very core.

Kimber ran her fingers through Michael's hair, marveling in the texture and feel of it. Michael awakened feelings in her, that until this moment, she never thought she would ever feel. She had always said that she would save herself for when it was right, when it was true. And, in her heart, she knew that with Michael it was right. She could feel it, right now, right here in his arms.

Looking into her eyes, he took her head in both hands. 'Are you sure about this,' he asked, his voice low and husky from desire. 'I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life,' Kimber replied, kissing him tenderly on the lips. Then, reaching down, she removed the towel that was wrapped around her, allowing it to fall to the floor in a pool around her feet. Moving backwards, she laid down on the bed. Holding out her hand, she reached for Michael, beckoning him to join her.

Michael removed his shirt, and sweatpants, then leaned in, joining her on the bed. He laid alongside her, kissing her deeply, running his tongue along her bottom lip. Placing his hand on her forehead, he pushed her hair back from her face. 'Kimber... I...'

Before he could finish, she placed her finger on his lips, silencing him. 'I know Michael. I love you too.' Then, placing her hand behind his head, she drew him down to her, covering his mouth with hers.

***********

Raising up on one elbow, she watched, as Michael was caught in the state of a dream. He appeared to be agitated, and every now and then, he would flex his hands. Then, without warning, he cried out 'Nikita...no!!!'. Sitting bolt upright, he almost knocked Kimber off the other side of the bed. Shivering uncontrollably, his body covered in sweat, small tendrils of his hair plastered to his head, he turned and looked at Kimber. She only smiled in return, reaching out to him. But, the look in his eyes drew her up short. He looked at her as if he had no idea who she was. Then, after a few moments, he took a deep breath, and reaching out, ran his hand down the side of her face.

'Michael,' she began, hesitantly, 'who is Nikita?'

Michael tilted his head, looking at her, but not seeing her. 'I don't know. Why do you ask?'

'Because twice now, while you were sleeping, you called out her name. You yelled it is more like it. And, there was a tone of fear, and warning to it.'

Michael laid back against the pillow, propped against the headboard, and closed his eyes. Placing his hand over his forehead, he ran his thumb back and forth, unknowingly, across his eyebrow. Kimber only sat, and watched him, the bed sheet wrapped tightly around her. Looking down, she didn't notice Michael looking at her. A look of sadness, and loss crossed his features. Then, he took her arm in his hand, and pulled her down to him. Placing her head on his chest, she could hear the steady, comforting sound of his heartbeat.

'Do you think she is someone from your past? Maybe she can help you to remember.'

Michael wrapped his arm even more tightly around Kimber, kissing her lovingly on the top of the head. 'Let's not worry about that now. Get some rest. It's almost dawn, and we will worry about it then.'

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

It took Michael a few moments to regain his senses, and when he did, he felt someone tugging at him.

He raised his head up, trying to focus his vision. Suddenly, the lights were turned on, and he had to squint his eyes to adjust. The side of his face felt wet, and sticky, and he realized that he was probably bleeding from where he had been hit.

Hearing Kimber sobbing, he looked around, trying to find her, to make sure she was unhurt. It was then that he saw Gideon. He had his arm around Kimber's throat, and a gun pointed to her head. Looking to either side of him, Michael saw that the men holding him were the men that had tried to assault Kimber, a few nights before.

'So, Michael, I see that you fared well, after our last meeting,' Gideon asked, tightening his hold on Kimber. Kimber only closed her eyes, her sobs the only sound she made.

'What do you want Gideon?' Michael asked, his voice clear and concise. He had his memory back now, thanks to the blow on his head, and he knew that he couldn't deal with Gideon, not when Kimber's life may depend on it.

'Michael, no hellos? No how are yous? I am crushed.' Gideon then laughed, throwing his head back. When he looked at Michael again, his eyes were as cold as ice water, and Michael had to keep himself from shivering.

'Okay, we will dispense with the formalities. When you were in our *company*, we made it a point to *install* a little something on your person. Now, for this to work, you will have to do your part. You will have to return to Section, and allow us to track you there.'

'Then, lets just say that Zeke and Tommy Boy here will get a little extra payment for their services, in the form of this pretty little thing here.'

When Gideon said that, Michael tensed. Zeke and Tommy Boy, tightening their hold on Michael, looked to each other, then back to Kimber. Licking his lips, Zeke laughed, viciously.

'So, Michael? Its your call. You lead us to Section, or we have a little party with your girl here.'

Before Michael could answer, the door crashed open, flying off its hinges. Gun fire rang out, as the team of operatives moved into the room. Chaos took over, and pandemonium ruled. Michael freed himself of Zeke and Tommy Boy. Turning, he delivered a blow to each of them, that sent them to the ground. Then, turning, he caught sight of Gideon, still holding onto Kimber, and moving through the fray. Reaching the doorway, he pulled Kimber through, and disappeared.

'Kimber!!' Michael cried out, watching as she disappeared from his sight. Just as he was about to follow, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. Turning, he saw Nikita. Holding out a gun to him, she winked, then returned to helping the other operatives clean up the mess.

Rushing through the doorway, Michael hugged the wall, moving quickly in the wake of his target. Coming to the head of the stairs, he looked down. Making sure that he was safe, he moved down the stairs, his weapon aimed steadily in front of him. Reaching the bottom, he turned the corner, to see a side door, that opened onto the alley between the apartment buildings, swinging on its hinges.

Walking up, and peering through, Michael's head was almost taken off by a bullet. Jerking back, he closed his eyes, and took a breath. 'Let the girl go, Gideon. There is no way out of this for you.'

His only response was that of Gideon laughing, and Kimber crying out. A multitude of thoughts and scenarios ran through Michael's head, and he didn't like the outcome of any of them. He was going to get Kimber out of this alive, he had to lull Gideon into releasing her.

Having made up his mind, Michael placed his gun in the waistband of his sweatpants, and placing his arms in the arm on either side of him, stepped through the doorway, and into the alleyway.

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

Walking into the alley, Michael turned, to find Gideon a few yards from him, holding Kimber tightly in front of him. She was sobbing, and looked like at any moment she would faint. The pale complexion, and the red rimmed eyes looking back at him, caused his heart to lurch, and anger to well up inside of him. Then, realizing that he had to keep his emotions in check, he stopped, and composed himself. After a few moments, he spoke.

'Okay, you have me now Gideon, let her go,' Michael said, hoping beyond all hope that Gideon was a man of reason. But, much to Michael's disappointment, but not to his surprise, Gideon proved to be hard headed, and suicidal.

'Why should I give up my only insurance that you won't try anything Michael? How stupid do you think I am?'

'Then again, I so wish to see you die together,' he yelled out. Raising his gun, and pointing it at Kimber, he laughed. A shot rang out, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. Michael, moving forward, tried to pull Kimber to him, and out of the way. But, he couldn't outrun the bullet that slammed violently into Kimber's back. The impact was so strong, that it propelled her forward, and into Michael's outstretched arms.

'Kimber!!! No!!!' he screamed, catching her limp body, her protectively to him. He fell backward, the momentum from her carrying them both to the ground. He couldn't tell if she were still breathing or not, and as he began to turn her over, he felt a gun barrel on the back of his head.

'One down, one to...' Before Gideon could finish, another gunshot cut through the night. Michael jumped, reflexively, then realized that he was not the one who had been shot. Gideon was lying on the ground, behind him, a river of blood pouring from his chest, Looking up, and back down the alley, he saw Nikita, her gun hanging casually at her side. They looked to one another, no words needing to be said, when her gaze shifted and fell on Kimber's prone body.

He looked at Nikita, with such sorrow. He looked at her, as if asking her to bring Kimber back. Nikita had to turn her head, for fear of Michael seeing her own tears. She didn't know how long they had been there, when she heard a police siren in the distance. Knowing that, if the police caught them, there would be a lot of explaining to be done, Nikita took hold of Michael's arm, trying to drag him to his feet.

'Come on Michael. We have to go...now,' she said, pulling with all her might.

Michael only continued to cling to Kimber, holding her and rocking her back and forth. 'I am sorry Kimber,' he whispered, 'I am sorry I couldn't keep you safe like I promised.'

Then, with one final tug, Nikita was able to get Michael to his feet, and moving towards the end of the alley. 'I can't leave her here, not like this,' he sobbed, looking back down the alley, in the direction from which they had just come. Nikita reached the end of the alley, signaling the mission van. Once the van had pulled up, Nikita climbed in, pulling Michael in behind her. The last vision had been of flashing blue lights, coming down the alley from the opposite end. The lights played across Kimber's body, as the patrolmen bolted from their vehicle, rushing to save Kimber.

Closing the van door behind him, Michael closed his eyes, forcing the unshed tears to run down his cheeks. And, inside, down deep in his soul, he screamed.

***********

'Well, it has only been three months since his return to Section, but his training percentages are better than when he left. Physically, he is in even better form than ever, but mentally...' she trailed off, following Operations gaze.

Michael had just walked across the lobby, heading for communications. He appeared normal, and he was dressed in his usual dark gray suit. But, there was something about him that wasn't quite right.

'But mentally, he has been scarred. He has a strong psyche, and given time, I am sure he will overcome this. But, in the mean time, we might want to limit his active missions.'

'No, keep him in the rotation,' Operations replied, taking a long drag off his cheroot, 'and make sure that he is paired up with Nikita. She helped him with Simone, she can help him this time too.'

With this thought, and the possibilities that it implied, Operations smiled, darkening the glass of the deck.

***********

~~Epilogue~~

Kimberly Elise Evans

1975-1999

Toujours et pour toujours...mon amour

Placing his fingers to his lips, then to the tombstone, Michael whispered 'Always and forever...my love'. Standing and moving back, he tilted his head. Looking up, sunshine enveloped and warmed him. But, there was one place that it couldn't touch. He would never know the warmth in his soul, which he felt when he was with Kimber.

Turning, he crossed the cemetery the way he had come, weaving in and out of the tombstones. After he was out of sight, a young woman stooped down in front of the tombstone, picking up the flowers left there. Standing, she turned to her blonde haired companion.

'I wish he didn't have to suffer so,' she said. The blonde haired woman took off her sunglasses, smiling warmly at the young woman.

'It is better this way. The people we work for can never know of your existence. If they did, they would use it against him.'

The young woman nodded in understanding, placing the flowers beneath her nose, and inhaling deeply. Then, both women turned, as the blonde put her arm around the young woman's shoulders.

'So, any thoughts on what you are going to call him?' the blonde asked, patting the young woman's stomach.

'I have a few ideas,' the young woman smiled. 'Nikita?' she started.

'Yes Kimber?' Nikita replied.

'What is Michael's last name?' Both women stopped walking, as Nikita looked down to Kimber. 'Samuelle, why?'

Kimber looked down to her stomach, encircling it with her arms. 'Samuelle...Samuel Evans. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?' Kimber asked, smiling brightly.

Nikita smiled, shaking her head slowly. 'I think it would be absolutely perfect.'

Then, placing her arm back around Kimber, they moved across the graveyard, and over the knoll.