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Date Posted: 11:25:53 04/14/09 Tue
Author: Odelle
Author Host/IP: CPE0013f7f24246-CM0013f7f24242.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com / 99.234.121.213
Subject: When A Time Comes (Chapter 28)
In reply to: Odelle 's message, "When A Time Comes" on 11:23:04 04/14/09 Tue



The performance was incredible. Michael was not usually a fan of anything other than a brilliantly-executed reproduction of the classics, yet he admitted that the performance was nothing short of spectacular. The dancers were extraordinary professionals, and the pieces ranged from moving to hilarious and back again.

That Nikita had enjoyed herself was obvious – her continued narrative carried them until they were ensconced at a restaurant down the street. He had offered his own opinion, of course – but knew that Nikita had garnered his appreciation within a few of his softly spoken sentences. Her own feelings required, always required, significantly more explanation. It was a fact he shamelessly enjoyed. Once seated, Michael felt a uniquely male sense of success as she declared herself starving and ceased her happy account of the performance to look avidly at the menu.

Nikita couldn’t remember the last time she had gone out to dinner and theatre – or much of anything similar. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this alive, or – shockingly – this calm. It had taken until the second intermission, but finally she felt the tension of the week ease mercifully from her shoulders.

Her eyes flicked up over the menu to Michael, and watched him briefly as he searched for his own choice. She had sensed when he relaxed, somewhere just before the performance concluded. People like them didn’t settle into peace easily; it was too dangerous to let your guard down without being sure of the possible results. Without trusting the person nearby who could breach your defences.

That she trusted Michael was becoming increasingly clear to her. And that it wasn’t a struggle; wasn’t something she had to set out intentionally to do – was oddly comforting. This, what occurred when they were together, felt incredibly natural.

Even at this moment, she felt like she could sense him as she once did. It was as though there were no separation between them, and one could walk right into and through the other. It was a vulnerability that would have been terrifying, if it were anyone else.

Now, as he raised his eyes to meet hers, she felt a heaviness in him – like there was something specific on his mind; something he hadn’t yet said. But he was reluctant to break their idyll. She knew she would have to pull it out of him.

The waiter returned, took their order, and left the pair alone.

“Come on,” Nikita gestured in the air, leaning toward him, “Out with it.”

Michael arched a brow at her, not wanting to admit that he was so readable.

“The sooner you tell me, the sooner we can enjoy dinner,” she offered and watched him sigh and lean back in his chair.

A little red votive held a flickering candle on the table between them, and it made her skin glow warmly in the light. Michael let out a long breath slowly, and wished he didn’t have to break their peace. But she was right – the sooner he asked, the better.

Nikita felt him holding her gaze seriously as he reached into his right breast pocket to produce something in his palm. He extended his arm and then opened his hand between them. He still held her eyes firmly – searching as if he didn’t want to show her this.

Nikita tightened her jaw in readiness and looked down.

“I understand why,” Michael said softly, “But I need to make sure it’s you and not someone else.”

The peace of the evening burst like a giant bubble of air around them. It popped and vanished. She felt her breathing slow, felt her heart beating clearly within her chest. Her mind instantly raced, trying to determine how and why this was possible. Who would do this to him – would dare to do this to her.

In Michael’s hand lay surveillance equipment – of the new generation. Cameras, microphones, and sensors, all the size of tiny pebbles.

Nikita carefully reached down and plucked up one of the little electronic spies, wishing that she didn’t recognize it – wishing that it wouldn’t be hers.

“Michael,” she began in a low voice, and slid her gaze up to meet his which was resting on her steadily, “I did not – did not – have these put in your apartment.”

Michael nodded once in immediate acceptance.

She saw he believed her instantly, and leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “But,” she shook her head, “they are made by Centre. They are designed, manufactured, and owned by the Centre – and ultimately by me.”

Michael nodded slowly, seeing where her shock and dismay were coming from. “Jak?”

She immediately shook her head, “No, no Jak would never do something like that. Not to me.”

The answer dawned in her and she sighed. Who had both the means and the motivation to put surveillance in Michael’s apartment was obvious. Her eyes closed slowly and she chuckled without humour. How dare he, she whispered inside herself. She couldn’t believe that it would come to this between them; that he could be so possessive. That he could so intervene as to violate a space that even she herself went to.

She opened her eyes to Michael, and found him on the same page as her – though he was restricted in voicing such an accusation. His gaze was reluctant to criticise, and offered her more pity than she cared to acknowledge.

“I can’t believe it,” she picked up the remaining electronics from his palm.

As the pencil-head sized pieces rolled in her hand, she felt her instincts raise up like a tidal wave of reality. They screamed a truth at her she couldn’t imagine. Suddenly her mind flashed to the house and her skin prickled, the little hairs standing on end with a sudden awareness of the vulnerability of her own home. Could he possibly? Of course he could. But would he?

She couldn’t remember the last time she did a full search. Certainly couldn’t remember doing one without his “help”.

“Oh my gosh,” the reality slammed into her and she stood abruptly, pushing her chair back with a sharp scrape on the floor.

An instantly-alert guard shifted nearby and caught her gaze to make sure she was alright. She stared at the man a moment, and then nodded him toward the exit to get the vehicles ready. He left immediately to obey.

The truth stared her coldly in the face, and without checking she already knew the answer.

Nikita landed her gaze on Michael who had stood as well. “I have a feeling tonight is going to be a long night.”

Michael had long since sensed her thought process of what she needed to do next, “Can I help?”

She stared at him for a lingering moment. Bringing Michael into this to help her search her own home would define him on a particular side of this newly-emerging line. Her nod was tight, “Yes.”

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

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