Chapter 203 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Walter had catalogued and returned all the weapons on the mission inventory which had taken longer than he'd anticipated after Belinda's visit. His mind had been preoccupied on other things � or more to the point � on someone in particular. Consequently, he was surprised when he realised that time had gotten away from him. Walter had planned to make his way to Medical to see Nikita when the inventory was completed but it had taken longer than he expected due to his daydreaming. Now, because of his procrastination he'd unwittingly let enough time lapse until the staff change over before heading to check up on his Sugar. Fortunately it may have worked in his favour. Although he didn't know if Belinda was rostered on to care for either Michael or Nikita nonetheless she could access their files more easily than he could. Walter had asked her to check on them, then she would be able to tell him what was really happening with the two operatives.

Surely Belinda would have had enough time by now to check the medical records before her first shift began, he thought.

Making his way to Medical, Walter soon found the room where Nikita was recovering in. Glancing into the room, he saw a Section Medic working at the other end of the room filling in her report after having obviously just finished taking observations of the patient. He quietly entered the room only to find Birkoff already there standing beside Nikita�s bed keeping vigil. He was taken aback in shock to see the very person he was worried about standing there. How had Birkoff managed to get here before him and without letting him know? He had some serious explaining to do.

Surprised to see his friend at Nikita's bedside, Walter hadn't really noticed who the medic was at first, but caught his breath when he realised Belinda was the one on duty. Absorbed in her report she didn't hear him enter either. Walter was momentarily gob smacked. Belinda hadn't said that she was looking after Nikita � the minx! What a tease. She knew how worried he was about her but she hadn't let on that Nikita was her patient for this shift � He'd asked her for a favour too. Wait until they got together again � Belinda had some explaining to do too.

Walter approached the bed. He exchanged a concerned and enquiry look with Birkoff before standing opposite him; he then looked at the patient. Dressed in the standard Med-Lab whites, Nikita was asleep in a sitting up position in bed. In repose her hands were loosely linked in her lap. It was little wonder Birkoff had a fearful expression on his face as she was hooked up to some monitors and equipment.

Moving to stand next to Nikita, Walter's eyes glanced at his friend then back to his Sugar. He studied her. Walter watched the slight rise and fall of Nikita's chest, but to him she was still too pale. She was a shadow of her former self and in the clear light of day; it was evident that she had taken a hard beating. Nikita had deep circles under her eyes and Walter watched her with concern. Although she was certainly breathing better, the rosy hue of her cheeks was missing. Even her dark lashes resting against the paleness of her cheeks were a stark reminder of what she had suffered. The bruises on Nikita's swollen face were testament to what she had endured at the hands of the triad; they had turned to a deeper shade of black and purple since last night. The cut near her lip also still looked very tender and swollen. But all that mattered was that Nikita was alive and she would heal ... it would just take some time.

Walter cast a look at Birkoff before walking over to the Medic. He looked back towards the two then spoke quietly to her. "How is she doing Belinda?"

Surprised at the sound of Walter's voice, she turned around to face him with a huge smile on her face knowing that he would want answers to her omission earlier. Walter's eyes were serious and Belinda knew he wanted to know how Nikita was really faring.

"That's great ..." Walter replied happily, then putting on the charm once more he asked, "Hmm ... if it's okay, will you excuse us for a while, please?"

Looking up at Walter, she nodded without surprise at his request. He followed Belinda as she walked over to replace Nikita's file at the end of her bed. "Don't stay too long Walter ... she needs her rest."

Satisfied that Walter and Birkoff wouldn't over stay their time, Belinda left the room pushing her observation trolley before her.

Running late, Madeline made her way to the Tower for her luncheon engagement with Operations. She walked down a long corridor until she came to the end of the hall. Stopping outside a locked door she put her hand on a security handprint reader. When the door slid open Madeline entered to find Operations seated at the table pouring champagne into two glasses. He looked over towards her and held out a glass of the bubbly liquid when she approached the table.

"I contacted Medical this morning, but I haven't been there yet. He's still too groggy to been seen."

"She is still under sedation too, but I'm to meet with Dr Johnson in the Infirmary this afternoon. I'll check on them both then."

A short while later Christopher appeared with their meals. He placed them on the table and discretely left. As they ate, their conversation centred on the mission and the after effects of having their two key operatives temporarily out of action.

Operations sat back in his chair at the dining table in a relaxed mood. He looked up at Madeline sitting across from him. "You've read all the reports?"

Nodding in agreement Operations leaned forward to pour some coffee into Madeline's cup.

"Thank you. Perhaps we can use them again when Michael and Nikita recover," she replied.

"So do you think we are we any closer to knowing where Sun Yee Lok is or how we can locate him?"

'We need to make contingency plans first. Michael and Nikita will need to be fully recovered before they will be functional."

Operations' relaxed mood was tempered again by his frustration with problems that kept popping up with this mission but more particularly with its two operatives. His ire was palatable. "And how long will that take? A week? A month?" We can't wait forever. Section needs to reach its End Game. We can't afford to take valuable resources and personnel from other areas for the Rising Dragon's mission."

"I'm sure it won't take that long Paul. They have both returned to the field after major setbacks before. This should be no different."

"There is a lot at stake here Madeline. Regressing back to square one would not be acceptable."

"We need to keep George onside � Centre too. He has powerful friends in Oversight. This could blow up in our faces, if it's not handled properly."

"I'm still worried about Michael. What shall we do about him? We can't afford for him to go off on a vengeance mission because of what happened to Nikita. You saw his reaction last night to her wellbeing."

Madeline conveyed the inscrutable gaze Operations knew she conveyed when her mind was weighing up her thoughts. It appeared they were on the same wavelength. "Desire is always weakness. Their relationship may have to be explored more fully to find the extent of their bond."

"I will not tolerate collusion. If it affects their performance we have a problem."

"Perhaps Michael needs to be reminded of the importance of the End Game for the Rising Dragon's mission?"

"When they're strong enough, we'll test them thoroughly before sending them back into the field."

Operations absorbed Madeline's words, knowing that Section's head strategist was well on top of the situation. "Yes, you're right."

She looked at him and smiled the enigmatic smile Operations knew only too well. "I'm always right. I've studied Nikita's file. She can be controlled and through her so can Michael."

Nevertheless, there was still a small seed of doubt in Madeline's mind that she didn't convey to Operations. Michael and Nikita would need to be watched closely if only to prove her right or wrong about their relationship. To do this a third person may be necessary. Yet, by bringing another person into play, she ... and the Section ... would be taking a huge risk. It could backfire and have sweeping ramifications. But with any risk, there was also the possibility of success. Madeline needed a course of action should her intuition prove true and this was as good as any. Last night's display of concern could have been just a storm in a tea cup, but she needed to have all bases covered.

However, once their two operatives had had their psyche evaluation, she would assess the situation once more.