Chapter 121 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 00:45:49 07/29/07 Sun
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: WNPP-p-203-54-24-241.prem.tmns.net.au / 203.54.24.241
Subject: Chapter 121
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons ... continued ..." on 00:41:33 07/29/07 Sun

Chapter 121

Nikita had seen the reticent interaction between the two men from the drinks stand and knew that all was not well and as she returned with the juice in her hand, Karen was still making the introductions between the two men. She fleetingly looked at Michael, then smiled and spoke to Karen�s boyfriend. �Hi Steven ... so you found us after all.�

�Yeah.�

Evidently Michael had reservations about Karen�s boyfriend and she knew by his bearing that he was sizing him up. Whether it was his years of Section training or not, but Michael had an uncanny sixth sense about people whereas she was less analytical and took people on face value. When she had met Steven at the nightclub, her Section hackles had not been raised. Steven had appeared very demonstrative towards Karen and although somewhat shy and reserved, he was polite, but this was obviously not the case with Michael. They were quite aloof with each other.

Noticing that Michael was keenly watching them made Karen feel very uncomfortable so she interrupted before more conversation could take place. She also knew that they needed to get out of here before Billy Yu turned up as planned for they would have to rethink their plans again now that Michael had appeared on the scene. She dreaded having to contact Sun Yee Lok but he would need to be contacted because of their failure to carry out his orders. �Listen Nik ... Steven and I might get going ... you obviously have things to talk about with Michael.�

�Please don�t leave on my account,� Michael interjected, attentive to the way Karen and her boyfriend were behaving. He studied the interesting interplay between the couple, particularly as his presence had obviously unnerved them.

Nikita agreed. �You don�t have to go. Stay.�

�Yes ... I�ve only just met Steven and I�d like to get to know you both better.� Michael added in a friendly manner. He watched as Steven looked at Karen and vice versa weighing up how they could avoid his invitation.

Steven gave them a way out with his reply. �Sorry Nikita but I really have to get back for rehearsals with the band; we�re going on tour tomorrow. I�m already running late.�

�Oh ... Okay ... but what about your drink Karen?�

�Thanks ... I�ll drink it on the way back home,� she replied taking the offered juice in her hand. �Oh and Nik ... I forgot to tell you, but I won�t see you for a while. I have an interior design job in Beijing and will be away all week.�

�Wow ... that�s great! ... You�ll be back for Andy Koo�s party though won�t you?�

�I wouldn�t miss it.�

The couple began to leave and as they jogged away Karen turned and called out, �Enjoy the rest of your weekend Nikita.�

�Thanks.�

Following the couple�s departure with his eyes, Michael observed the obvious tension that was taking place in their conversation as they left and the frustrated way Karen disposed of her drink in the rubbish bin.

Regardless if Section had no Intel on Karen Ho yet ... she and her partner knew something and he would find out what it was. They were acting too suspiciously. It was all far too coincidental that this Steven had been at the park at the very same time as Nikita.

The couple had certainly not expected him to turn up at the park when he did. Had he foiled a kidnapping plot against Nikita by the pair?

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

�Hey!� Nikita said as she came up and stood next to Michael.

Turning to her, he removed his glasses and looked her square in the eyes. �Nikita ... be careful of those two.�

Her eyes reflected her inquisitiveness to his statement, but Nikita turned and quietly watched Karen and Steven leave with his words of warning echoing in her ears. Perhaps she should keep a more open mind about Karen and her boyfriend as this was not the first time that Michael had aired his suspicions. Continuing to watch the couple�s departure, she happened to see the man who had bumped into her on the other side of the park jog along the path. Nikita watched as he slowly jogged up to her friend and Steven. They nodded at him as if he was known to them and then they spoke for a short while. The man looked over towards where she was standing and waved at her, but he hurriedly continued on his way picking up the pace of his stride when he saw Michael look his way.

Michael missed nothing. He too witnessed what had looked like an ordinary friendly exchange between joggers, but his Section mind saw something more. They had clandestinely glanced over to where he and Nikita stood then just as quickly had looked away. The three people had exchanged a few, quick but what appeared to be heated words together before Karen and Steven had jogged off down the path out of sight.

�Nikita.... do you know that person who just passed by Karen and Steven?�

�No ... but he looks like the man who bumped into me earlier on the other side of the park.�

�Really? What happened?�

�Nothing much. He apologised and offered to buy me a drink ... that�s all.� Thinking nothing more of it Nikita turned towards Michael with the juice in her hand asking, �Orange juice?

However, although Michael was piecing two and two together, he was taken in by her infectious smile when she offered the drink and replied. �Yes, please.�

�Voila!� She said handing him a bottle.

Unscrewing the top, Michael placed the bottle to his lips. �Thanks.�

Nikita watched as if mesmerised by what he was doing. As he swallowed the orange liquid she felt a funny feeling inside her stomach. �You�re welcome.�

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

It was eerily too quiet all of a sudden. This was the first time Nikita had seen Michael since last night and if she was completely honest with herself, she was glad that Karen and Steven had gone. Looking around she noticed that there was not a single person in sight. They were alone. She suddenly felt a little nervous but excited too all at the same time. All thoughts of Karen, her boyfriend, the mystery jogger and the woman Michael had met in the park paled into unimportance. She looked at Michael as he lowered the bottle. Their gazes caught and it was as if they were in a world of their own. Nikita bit her bottom lip unable to break from his gaze. Although her mind was in two places at once her heart did a flip as her thoughts reflected on their growing relationship on this mission and in particular the consequences of their assignation last night.

This mission had certainly brought them closer together and last night had unquestionably proved to her that Michael did indeed have feelings for her. Her feelings for him were stronger than ever before, but she still had some trepidation about what would happen when they both returned to Section One once the mission was over. Would Michael pull back or would they be able to make a commitment to each other? She only hoped that they could have a relationship despite obstacles that may lie ahead. Operations and Madeline were obsessed with results and were cognizant to anything that would affect Michael�s team�s capabilities to achieve success. But if their numbers didn�t alter and 100% containment was achieved, would they be able to sustain their growing feelings for one another in Section? Time would tell. She was totally confident that she could appease any doubts he may have about continuing their relationship.

Michael could not make love to her so passionately or comprehensively as he did last night and not share the same desires.

Nikita smiled at him wondering if he could read her mind, but even if he could she didn�t care. She loved him. Nikita was drowning in Michael�s scrutiny however; there was something more in his gaze this time than she had seen before. Michael�s eyes were the window to his soul and she knew he was troubled about something.

He was worried about her and this time his concern for her was more tangible.

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

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