Chapter 191 -- LFN Storyboard 2

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Date Posted: 02:08:48 12/08/08 Mon
Author: taurus2124
Author Host/IP: CPE-124-188-6-223.nsw.bigpond.net.au / 124.188.6.223
Subject: Chapter 191
In reply to: taurus2124 's message, "The Rising Dragons - continued" on 02:02:26 12/08/08 Mon

Chapter 191

As Nikita nestled back into Michael�s warmth she continued to glance over to where Walter sat in the transport plane. He�d returned her faint smile with a reassuring one and she had picked up on his tacit clues ... they were safe at last and he was glad. However, Nikita also saw the concentration that furrowed Walter�s brow. What was he thinking about? she wondered. He was probably wishing that they were already back at Section One and that the plane was travelling too slowly in his opinion. Well ... she thought the same thing too.

Unconcerned about her own wellbeing, Nikita was more worried about Michael. Although he gave the impression that he was okay, she was convinced that this was not the case. The sooner he got medical attention the better. Not only that but she loathed the thought that Madeline and Operations would analyze every phase of this mission once they were recovered and before that if they thought it would be more advantageous. Nonetheless, she and Michael would deal with their interrogation once they were better, but right now she couldn�t concentrate enough to think clearly about what was to come. She was much too drowsy and exhausted.

Nikita chanced another look at Walter. He�d been the last person she would have thought would have been on the retrieval team. It was still hard to believe that he actually was here. If the truth be known, she was still recovering from the surprise of seeing his craggy face at finding her. Walter�s wrinkled yet concerned smile had been pure magic but as usual he�d tried to brush it off as nothing. But it wasn�t nothing � it meant everything to her. It must have taken a lot for him to volunteer for this mission. It was wonderful that her best friend had come to their rescue, and both she and Michael were fortunate that Walter and the team had arrived when they did.

Overcome with fatigue Nikita closed her eyes unable to keep them open a moment longer. One word however, reverberated through her brain. Safe. They were all safe at long last. For a while there it had been touch and go. Nestling into the warmth of Michael�s body, she was thankful that they were out of that situation once and for all. Being subjected to such horrific things at the hands of these particular triad members would not be forgotten. Michael would not forget or forgive their actions and once he had recovered from his wounds there would be no stopping his mission to find them and bring them to Section justice.

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

Walter too was incapable of taking his eyes off of her. He sat in his seat and stared at Nikita as she lay against Michael fast asleep. Knowing that they were both safe was a great relief as these last couple of days had been the longest of his life. His emotions had certainly gone through the wringer as well. Not knowing where Nikita was being held and not being able to contact Michael had sent he and Birkoff off on a mission of their own. They�d done everything possible to contact Michael, while nothing would have stopped him from going on this mission to rescue his Sugar once they had finally found them.

Little did they know but they would also be rescuing her rescuer as well. Walter knew Michael was a chameleon but he had witnessed his love for Nikita when others were merely speculating as to their relationship. Michael had moved heaven and earth to find Nikita and had gone to hell and back for her. He had manipulated missions to protect her and had managed to save her from the wrath of Operations and Madeline on many an occasion and the Rising Dragons� mission was no exception. Still waters ran deep with Michael Samuelle but Nikita was the one person who had been able to penetrate the barriers he had placed around himself. Despite his condition Walter saw Michael tighten his arm around her pulling Nikita closer to his warmth even in sleep. Those two were joined at the hip. They were the ying and yang � one could not survive without the other. Walter sighed knowing that when they returned to Section One Michael would be under the microscope for his actions on this rescue mission. The question was how would Operations and Madeline deal with their recalcitrant operative? His life in Section was always one test after another ... what would his report card be this time?

The pressures placed on Michael by the Section were great but his self imposed pressures were at times far greater. Just keeping alive day after day was enough of a challenge but where Nikita was concerned; Michael always went that extra yard. He was her protector and Nikita his � and despite all they had been through on this mission for Section One they still remained true to each other. Aaahhh � young love. They may deny their feelings for one another and hide them from their superiors but Walter knew all the signs. Together they were formidable operatives � Section�s best � they deserved a break. Michael and Nikita were meant to be together but the consequences of their relationship still riled Operations and Madeline. The two operatives couldn�t take a trick, but maybe this time their superiors would relent and grant them some well deserved downtime together to recover.

Walter had nothing but admiration for Michael but the sound of a soft groan snapped him back to the present. He chanced a look at Section�s cold operative and found himself biting the inside of his lip with concern. Knowing that Michael had finally found Nikita was a welcome relief but they certainly were not expecting that he may have been captured. Michael was in a sorry state too. Like Nikita he�d been tortured as well � badly by the looks of him. Walter scrutinized the sallow and pain filled features of the young man. Michael was obviously in greater distress than he was letting on. Walter was very worried about him. This trip back to Section was taking far too long for his liking. Both of them were in a bad way. They needed medical attention and the quicker the better. He�d noticed that Michael�s wound had started to seep and Nikita�s lethargy was a worry too.

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

Averting his eyes away from the sight of the two wounded Section operatives still protecting each other even in repose, Walter glanced from the sleeping couple over to Jasmine when he heard her communicate with Birkoff once more. With his curiosity peaked; he just couldn�t help eavesdropping on her conversation with him and when he heard her statement his admiration for the team leader increased tenfold. Bravo!

�Tell Operations that they�re going to need some downtime when they return.�

�I don�t think he�ll agree to that request,�Birkoff stated despondently as his mind raced with visions of what had happened to Michael and Nikita.

�He will when he sees the condition they are in. They�re badly injured, but alive.�

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

Birkoff had been living on tenterhooks ever since Nikita�s tape had arrived at Section but he had also been worried about his good buddy Walter. Having volunteered to go on the retrieval mission had not really surprised him especially knowing the fondness that he held for Nikita but he was very worried about him and hoped that Walter had come to no harm. Although he knew he was being repetitious, Birkoff took the opportunity to ask about his buddy again while he had the chance. He wanted to make sure that what Jasmine had said the first time was true ... and that she wasn�t just saying things to appease his worry. He hesitated ... he wanted to know, and yet he didn't. There was no point avoiding the issue. Birkoff bit the bullet and asked the question that was uppermost on his mind.

�And Walter? How did he do? He�s okay isn�t he?�

There was a slight pause before Jasmine replied. To Birkoff it was an indescribable few seconds of torture not knowing the fate of his friend. Finally Jasmine answered. �Like I said before ... He did good � He�s fine Birkoff.�

Releasing a sigh of relief, Birkoff acknowledged her report before closing the channel thankful that nothing serious had happened to Walter. He ran his hands through his hair grateful that everyone was finally returning back to Section One. Removing his comm. unit he sat back in his chair and stared into space marshalling the strength he knew he would need to face his superiors. A nervous tick suddenly started to throb in Birkoff�s head and he felt a bead of sweat appear on his brow. He wondered how in heaven�s name he would be able to relay Jasmine�s Intel and requests to Madeline and Operations. Perhaps if I wait a while longer, they would see for themselves and he wouldn�t need to say anything. His superiors would surely greet the team on their return to Section, Birkoff thought.

Finally he got up from his terminal and took a deep breath. With that thought in his mind as the solution to his dilemma, he made his way towards the perch.

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

Jasmine felt a pair of eyes trained on her as she spoke. Turning her head she saw a wily grin plastered over Walter�s face. She stared back in a similar vein pointedly asking. �Well, what are you looking at?�

Feigning ignorance he responded. �Oh ...Did you say something?�

�You know what I mean � One of these days you're going to carry this cranky old man act a little too far Walter.�

His brow rose at her teasing manner. �Really?�

�Really ... If you want something from me, just come out and say it.� Jasmine tried to hide the mirth from her voice.

�I just wanted to say thanks for the good work.�

Taken a back by his compliment, Jasmine nodded her head in confirmation. �I don't need a pat on the back ... but thanks Walter ... coming from you that means a lot.� She gave him a warm smile, blinked then broke off their conversation before turning her attention to other matters.

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

Deciding to try and get some shuteye on the journey back to Section One Walter knew that when they returned, Madeline and Operations would want a thorough debrief from all team members ... himself included. He felt a slight smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he anticipated Birkoff's reaction to Nikita's return. . He�ll be stoked. I can't wait to see his face! he reflected.

Yet it was Jasmine�s reaction to his flirting that put a genuine smile on his face. Walter you old devil you!he chuckled. Well, well, well. All those years of � uh � experience ... still held him in good stead. Jasmine was eating out of his hand.

He smiled to himself thinking that he hadn�t lost his touch with the ladies after all, then closing his eyes Walter too succumbed to weariness.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Play on text from ... TOP, LITS, and ITLG

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