Chapter 223 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 01:17:52 03/22/12 Thu
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-58-161-104-139.kybq1.win.bigpond.net.au / 58.161.104.139
Subject: Chapter 223
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "Next couple of chapters of The Rising Dragons" on 22:14:22 03/09/12 Fri

Chapter 223

The sound of the automatic doors opening registered in Michael�s mind, but he didn't bother turning his head around at the sound. He knew who it was. There was only one person that he wanted to see ... and it certainly wasn�t Madeline.

Obviously she�d been told his recovery was better than the doctors had expected. No wonder Madeline had felt compelled to come down to check on him to see if that was true. If there was any chance of him returning to the Rising Dragons mission quicker than expected then Madeline would grab it with both hands. He�d improved day by day, his strength was gradually returning and he�d finally turned the corner. This Intel would be most pleasing to Section�s leaders as the more time Sun Yee Lok and his triad were left to their own devices to restructure once more, the smaller the window of opportunity Section had to contain them while they were still vulnerable. Regrouping and rebuilding the triad was a possibility not to be taken for granted. The more the Rising Dragons grew in strength the more Section would be on the back foot. Resources were already stretched to the limit with other pending missions. If the Rising Dragons reinvented itself by amalgamating with other triad groups, this could mean greater problems also. Hence, Section wanted an End Game to happen as expediently as possible and for that they needed both he and Nikita.

Michael also hated being in Med Lab any longer than necessary and Madeline knew this only too well. Was she here to say he was getting out of here? If so, then what about Nikita? When would she be out of medical too?

It had been several long, miserable days since he and Nikita had been taken into Med Lab and he was determined to see her now he wasn�t hooked up to all the equipment and monitors. Although Birkoff and Walter had been making visits to see Nikita in shifts and had given him progress reports on her welfare, it was not enough. He needed to see her for himself. He had little concern for his own welfare when the person he cared most about was but a heartbeat away � but now Madeline had turned up un-expectantly. He hoped her visit would be brief.

Her footfalls stopped and Michael could hear her speaking to Dr Johnson for a short while. He assumed she was going over the doctor�s note on his condition. He closed his eyes knowing that Madeline would soon come nearer. He braced himself for her visit.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Michael was surprised that Operations wasn�t with her. No doubt Madeline was here to ascertain what the chances were of his release from Med Lab and his recovery timeframe back to mission status. As he lay in bed waiting for Madeline to finally speak with him, Walter�s words suddenly echoed in his head from his and Birkoff�s visit earlier this evening.

�I see you have finally decided to visit Nikita tonight. I was wondering how long it would take.� But he had also uttered some concern. �Do you think that a wise move in your condition?�

His condition was of no consequence. All that mattered was Nikita. He would know soon enough for himself, then he would be satisfied. Michael had planned to see Nikita as soon as everything was quiet for the night. More than likely Madeline had already paid a visit to her bedside and now, her impromptu visit had put a damper on his plans for the time being. It was inconvenient but not a total set back. He would prevail when he could. Michael had arranged for Birkoff to deactivate the surveillance cameras in Med Lab but in particular his and Nikita�s room for a while and replace them with a recorded feed when he said so. When Operations and Madeline monitored the tapes, as they would, they would find that he was still in infirmary and everything was normal. They would be none the wiser that he had been to Nikita�s room and seen her. Instead they would be watching the feed that Birkoff had instigated without knowing anything had occurred between the two operatives.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

�How are you doing?�

The sound of Madeline�s question roused Michael back to reality. He turned his head and looked at Section�s head strategist as she approached his bed. �I�m fine.�

Michael�s answer was nothing more than what she would have expected. Madeline knew exactly how he was doing. Dr Johnson had told her. She�d read his files to clarify his observations, she and Operations had watched the surveillance tapes. They knew everything they needed to know.

�Good �� She gave him a cheerful look then added. �Nikita is recovering well also. That�s good news? Is it not?� Madeline knew Michael wouldn�t react to her question; she was not surprised with his response.

It was good news � in fact it was great news but Michael certainly wasn�t going to say that. The mission had brought him and Nikita closer together to the point where he was now unable to deny his feelings. Unequivocally, irrefutably and completely he knew that he loved her.

�Of course,� he responded with his customary laconic reply.

Michael�s eyes were vacuous in response not wanting to give his superior any more damning evidence of his feelings regarding Nikita for her mental file. His show of concern when he bought her into Medical on their return from the mission was already damning enough. No doubt, it had left Operations and Madeline with just enough uncertainty for them to jump to conclusions about a relationship between the two of them. It would now be necessary for him to negate any thoughts they may suspect of a greater attachment between himself and Nikita more than that of mentor and his recruit. Diffusing their attention away from any hidden agenda they may have about them and solely back onto the mission�s end game was his plan.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Madeline had long gone and Michael waited until the night medic had finished his last observations and had also left before making his move. Seizing his chance and unable to fight the urgent need to know of Nikita�s condition for himself any longer he contacted Birkoff. �Covered?�

Yeah, they're watching the feed; they think you're in ICU.�

�Good.�

�The Med Lab staff don�t check on the patients when they are asleep unless they buzz Michael, so � how much time do you need?�

�An hour.�

�The tape runs another five hours, but you won�t need all that time.

�No.�

�If there is any problem � Walter and I will cover it.�

�Good. How is the feed? Is it clear?�

�It�s fine. You�ll have plenty of time. I�ll put the cameras back on real time when you�re ready.�

�Thank you.�

Michael gingerly got out of bed, thankful that the cumbersome intravenous drip had been removed from his arm this morning. Steadying his body and ignoring the dull ache in his shoulder, he made his way to Nikita�s room.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

In the quiet of Med Lab, Michael stood like a looming sentinel in the doorway of Nikita�s room. It was empty except for one lone cot, but his eyes immediately zeroed in on his love. His eyes caressed Nikita from head to toe as she lay in bed asleep.

As he slowly walked over to her bed he couldn�t look anywhere else but on the reposing form of the woman he loved. Moving closer to the bed he was able to observe Nikita much better while his eyes took inventory. Michael catalogued every inch of Nikita�s exposed features riddled with the evidence of what she had suffered for the Section. He missed nothing. Although her face had been cleaned up, the extent of the injuries she�d endured were clearly evident. Her beautiful, porcelain skin was riddled with dark lesions. Michael studied her more closely. Nikita still had deep circles under her eyes and she was far too pale for his liking. Madeline had said that she was recovering well, but to his eyes Nikita was not. Any abrasion or blemish that marked her flesh was a kick to the gut for him and a firm reminder of what had happened to her.

Vivid images coursed his mind of their captivity at the monastery. His Nikita bore the noticeable scars of the incarceration and torture she�d endured from Andy Koo. In time her physical wounds would heal and fade but it was the scars he couldn�t see that worried him more. Nikita�s psyche would have taken a telling blow. Without a second thought, Michael vowed that he would avenge what the Rising Dragons had done to her. Caressing her once more, his lips wanted to kiss away the marks on her face. His feelings ran deep for this woman, deeper than he ever thought were possible. A longing so intense for her overpowered him. Michael�s body shook with the desire he felt � a feeling so profound and intense it overwhelmed him.

Nikita was his everything.

Michael ached for the woman who had his heart. She took his breath away. Nikita was his lifeline � she was the only ray of sunshine in the hell hole of Section One. She brought lightness to his dark world and made his life worth living. Before Nikita, he just existed; his life ruled by Section�s mantra. Missions were the means to an end and if he died what did it matter? Section had trained him to be the penultimate cold operative who killed without compunction. His life before Section had ceased to exist. He was emotionally dead and cared not if he lived or died. Not only was he dead to the world he once knew, but more importantly he was dead inside. He cared nought for his own wellbeing and emotionally he was devoid of feelings for others. This mission had helped Michael realize something that was pointless for him to deny any longer.

Because of Nikita � he wanted to exist. She�d made him feel things he had buried deep inside, stirred emotions he had long ago denounced. Nikita made him come alive. She had changed everything.

He couldn�t live without her.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from � Psychic Pilgrim

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