12 Days of Ficmas: Day Eight - LFN Fic - Seems Like Old Times - Michael/Nikita, PG
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! And Happy Day Eight!!
So...a really long time ago, I tried my hand at writing out of my normal fanfic arena for a challenge. I've shipped a lot of couples from a lot of shows, but the very first one that captured my interest to an obsessive level would be Michael and Nikita. I mean the chemistry between them just reached right out of the screen, grabbed me and wouldn't let go. And like pilots, so much of what they feel is all played out in the subtext. GAH! I have a serious kink for that. :D
Anyhoo...I was remiss and never posted the ficlet to my LJ...an oversight I'll be fixing momentarily. :D
Without further ado...(And Lynn...this one is for you. :D)
Title Info:
Title: LFN Fic: Seems Like Old Times
Author: Monti
Date: June 1, 2010
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1637
Category: General
Pairing: Michael/Nikita
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Loose references to aired season episodes…
Disclaimer: Don’t own the characters. But oh, I wish I did…I mean Michael cried blood for criminy's sake. I like that in a man. LOL
Author's Note: Originally posted for the Write & Gripe comm challenge. First time writing for this particular fandom so I kept it very short. My goal was to explore the subtle changes that might occur in five years, but hopefully keep the underlying always present connection between Michael and Nikita. My own personal concrit? I wanted to spend more time with Michael but he wanted to see Nikita RFN. LOL
And behind the cut for fic we go...
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
Nikita took up her spot on the perch and watched the hum of activity below. She'd made a lot of changes in the last five years, but the quiet hustle and bustle in the hub never altered. There was always something going on-an op, research, listening posts. It never died down.
Right now Section was in the planning stages for a take down. The briefing area was dark at the moment, but as soon as the tech group finished gathering data, she'd be down there with her teams setting up their scenarios. Off to the side, the weapons station was closed, the wire mesh gate drawn down and locked up tight. But she knew Walter's replacement-she still thought of him as that-was holed up in the farthest cubicle working on something new Walter had sent back with her.
Her gaze was drawn to the corridors where operatives and staff came and went, going about their daily tasks, training and learning, or finding respite when they needed it. Sometimes they had to find their way to the infirmary for therapy after an injury. Or they could be headed out for some downtime away from Section.
She didn't always know or care. It was just steadying to see them. Her people.
She grew to like and appreciate knowing that at anytime, whenever she needed to not be alone, she'd find someone. As Walter liked to say, being the HBIC could be a lonely job. But she was the best there was.
Nikita smiled. Her first three years as Operations were bumpy ones. She didn't have time to feel alone as she slowly weeded out the old school regime. The job took a lot longer than she thought it would. Only the timely arrival of Adrian's files helped speed up the process.
Nikita had a damn good idea where that information had come from. But she never named the source. Jason figured it out, the guy could read the electronic fingerprints and back trace like no one else. But she would neither confirm nor deny the information. Better to leave it unsaid.
Her comm panel blipped and she picked it up. A message from Walter scrolled across the screen.
Lunch was nice, Sugar. We gotta do it more often. I don’t see that gorgeous face of yours as much as I want to.
She cracked a smile and chuckled. Only Walter. She'd been back less than half an hour.
Putting him in charge of the farm two years ago had been one of her best decisions. Walter's age made it hard for him to keep up with day to day training, but the man knew weapons. Between working with R&D and putting the new recruits through their paces at each stage of testing, he did an extraordinary job. He knew exactly what to look for in an operative. She also knew he wouldn't let anyone make the grade that wasn't ready.
Sending a quick response back, Nikita promised she'd try to bump their lunch briefings up to twice a month.
Placing the panel aside, she called down to Jason. "You have that updated intel on Gold Coast yet?"
Jason's fingers didn't stop flying over his keyboard. "Not yet. Still working on it." He paused and looked up at her.
"When?"
He gave her a cheeky grin. "As soon as my crack team is finished with the decryption." He exaggerated that drawl of his, so unlike his brother's, reminding her, again, they had different ways of working.
She stared him down, but bit back a smile of her own. "Sooner rather than later, Jason." He knew they had to work quickly.
He went back to typing. "I'm on it. I'm on it."
Nikita picked up her comm panel again and paced back and forth. It wouldn't help Jason's team work faster, but she could start planning who to send once they pinpointed the location of their latest terrorist cell. This group was particularly nasty and she wanted them taken out of play.
She scrolled through Section's database and had about half her operatives flagged when she noticed a light-one she never thought to see activated-begin to flash slowly on and off.
Walking over, she stared at it a moment, then depressed the button. A small recessed niche revealed itself and tucked inside was a comm panel, one that couldn't be traced, and one she never really thought would be used.
Nikita lifted her hand and hit the switch, sending the perch into privacy mode. Then she reached in and took the panel out.
She stopped for a moment, took a deep breath and let herself look.
The device contained a set of coordinates and a single name.
Adam.
Nikita sucked in a breath and looked up, almost expecting to see Michael standing before her. Or course he wasn't there. He'd be at the location he sent. The one she'd head out for…she checked the time…in under an hour.
The Gold Coast operation would be handed off to one of her division leaders. And she'd be unavailable for as long as necessary.
Five years.
She'd had no contact with Michael in all that time. Nikita knew where he lived, but never attempted to see him. Or even keep tabs on him. She wanted him to raise his son, be the father Adam needed him to be.
It came as no surprise that Adam would be the reason Michael finally reached out. Nikita didn't need to know what happened-she could imagine too many scenarios.
Sadly, none were good.
Whatever Michael needed…it didn't matter. She'd do whatever it took to get his son back.
Working quickly, Nikita set plans in motion for her to leave section…
For an undetermined amount of time.
~*~
Michael stoked the fire in the pot belly stove on the barge docked along the river bank. He listened to the sound of the water slapping gently against the hull. Picked out the sound of pedestrian footsteps walking briskly in the chill of the night air.
Knew the moment she arrived, though her feet didn't make a sound, even once she reached the boat. He could almost see her silently crossing the deck, her grown out hair tucked up under a black cap, as she stealthily made her way to the cabin. Heard the snick of the door when it swung inward.
Michael didn't turn around when she opened it. He wasn't quite ready for the shock of seeing her again. Didn't know if he could face the love he'd see in her eyes. Wasn't sure he could handle it right now, even though he'd need it more than he should.
He'd lost his son. Not from lack of vigilance or being careless. He never let his guard down when it came to Adam.
But no one was infallible, including him. If they'd come at him physically or with weapons drawn, Michael could've fought against them. Instead they'd used a toxin to incapacitate so they could get to Adam.
Part of him respected the intelligence behind the tactics, but it battled with the part that felt regret. He should've been able to prevent and defend against a campaign like that. Hadn't he used similar methods to get what he needed during his tenure at Section?
He should've been ready for the same to be used on him.
Lost in those dark tangled thoughts, he stiffened when he felt Nikita's arms go around him. But only for a moment. Then he leaned back into her, let her wrap him in warmth and light. Felt a peaceful calm settle over him and knew they'd get through what lie ahead and make things right.
Nikita would use whatever resources she had to help him find his son. If that meant bringing in people from Section, she'd do it. Michael had no doubts on that front.
Turning in her embrace, he drew her closer to slide his arms around her waist. She reached up to pull the black cap off her head, and as expected, her blond mane spilled out over her shoulders. Michael leaned forward to press a kiss against her forehead then finally met her tentative gaze with his own.
The ghost of a memory…of another time and a different placed hung between them. So many things had changed since then, but the feeling between them remained the same. It always would.
It didn't matter that years had passed since their last interlude on a boat, being together on this one was like coming home.
Nikita reached up and cupped his face. She angled her head and touched her lips to his. Easing back, she smoothed her hands along his shoulders and down his chest.
Then she lifted her gaze to his. "This seems like old times, doesn't it?"
It did and he offered a slight smile. She returned the gesture, let it hold for a brief moment, then put it away.
Mask firmly in place, she got down to business. "Whatever it takes, we'll find him. We'll bring Adam home."
She didn't say alive and Michael loved her for it. Because hearing her say it, even knowing it might be too late to save his son, lifted the dark swirl of regret and doubt he'd lived with for the last 48 hours.
However they brought Adam back, Nikita would be by his side.
And for now…that was enough.
Later…after…he didn't know.
Maybe they'd pick up where they left off or start from a new beginning. But they wouldn't fade away from each other again. He'd given Nikita what she needed to clean up Section and it was in good hands now.
She could walk away at any time.
Or he could return…
But first…Adam. It was time to get his son.
FIN
*****
And that's it for Day Eight. :D I hope you enjoyed.
I do have a follow up for this piece and it's almost complete. If all goes well, I'll post it at the end of 12 Days. :D
Until then...Stay tuned. :D
Sky
So...a really long time ago, I tried my hand at writing out of my normal fanfic arena for a challenge. I've shipped a lot of couples from a lot of shows, but the very first one that captured my interest to an obsessive level would be Michael and Nikita. I mean the chemistry between them just reached right out of the screen, grabbed me and wouldn't let go. And like pilots, so much of what they feel is all played out in the subtext. GAH! I have a serious kink for that. :D
Anyhoo...I was remiss and never posted the ficlet to my LJ...an oversight I'll be fixing momentarily. :D
Without further ado...(And Lynn...this one is for you. :D)
Title Info:
Title: LFN Fic: Seems Like Old Times
Author: Monti
Date: June 1, 2010
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1637
Category: General
Pairing: Michael/Nikita
Warnings: None
Spoilers: Loose references to aired season episodes…
Disclaimer: Don’t own the characters. But oh, I wish I did…I mean Michael cried blood for criminy's sake. I like that in a man. LOL
Author's Note: Originally posted for the Write & Gripe comm challenge. First time writing for this particular fandom so I kept it very short. My goal was to explore the subtle changes that might occur in five years, but hopefully keep the underlying always present connection between Michael and Nikita. My own personal concrit? I wanted to spend more time with Michael but he wanted to see Nikita RFN. LOL
And behind the cut for fic we go...
SEEMS LIKE OLD TIMES
Nikita took up her spot on the perch and watched the hum of activity below. She'd made a lot of changes in the last five years, but the quiet hustle and bustle in the hub never altered. There was always something going on-an op, research, listening posts. It never died down.
Right now Section was in the planning stages for a take down. The briefing area was dark at the moment, but as soon as the tech group finished gathering data, she'd be down there with her teams setting up their scenarios. Off to the side, the weapons station was closed, the wire mesh gate drawn down and locked up tight. But she knew Walter's replacement-she still thought of him as that-was holed up in the farthest cubicle working on something new Walter had sent back with her.
Her gaze was drawn to the corridors where operatives and staff came and went, going about their daily tasks, training and learning, or finding respite when they needed it. Sometimes they had to find their way to the infirmary for therapy after an injury. Or they could be headed out for some downtime away from Section.
She didn't always know or care. It was just steadying to see them. Her people.
She grew to like and appreciate knowing that at anytime, whenever she needed to not be alone, she'd find someone. As Walter liked to say, being the HBIC could be a lonely job. But she was the best there was.
Nikita smiled. Her first three years as Operations were bumpy ones. She didn't have time to feel alone as she slowly weeded out the old school regime. The job took a lot longer than she thought it would. Only the timely arrival of Adrian's files helped speed up the process.
Nikita had a damn good idea where that information had come from. But she never named the source. Jason figured it out, the guy could read the electronic fingerprints and back trace like no one else. But she would neither confirm nor deny the information. Better to leave it unsaid.
Her comm panel blipped and she picked it up. A message from Walter scrolled across the screen.
Lunch was nice, Sugar. We gotta do it more often. I don’t see that gorgeous face of yours as much as I want to.
She cracked a smile and chuckled. Only Walter. She'd been back less than half an hour.
Putting him in charge of the farm two years ago had been one of her best decisions. Walter's age made it hard for him to keep up with day to day training, but the man knew weapons. Between working with R&D and putting the new recruits through their paces at each stage of testing, he did an extraordinary job. He knew exactly what to look for in an operative. She also knew he wouldn't let anyone make the grade that wasn't ready.
Sending a quick response back, Nikita promised she'd try to bump their lunch briefings up to twice a month.
Placing the panel aside, she called down to Jason. "You have that updated intel on Gold Coast yet?"
Jason's fingers didn't stop flying over his keyboard. "Not yet. Still working on it." He paused and looked up at her.
"When?"
He gave her a cheeky grin. "As soon as my crack team is finished with the decryption." He exaggerated that drawl of his, so unlike his brother's, reminding her, again, they had different ways of working.
She stared him down, but bit back a smile of her own. "Sooner rather than later, Jason." He knew they had to work quickly.
He went back to typing. "I'm on it. I'm on it."
Nikita picked up her comm panel again and paced back and forth. It wouldn't help Jason's team work faster, but she could start planning who to send once they pinpointed the location of their latest terrorist cell. This group was particularly nasty and she wanted them taken out of play.
She scrolled through Section's database and had about half her operatives flagged when she noticed a light-one she never thought to see activated-begin to flash slowly on and off.
Walking over, she stared at it a moment, then depressed the button. A small recessed niche revealed itself and tucked inside was a comm panel, one that couldn't be traced, and one she never really thought would be used.
Nikita lifted her hand and hit the switch, sending the perch into privacy mode. Then she reached in and took the panel out.
She stopped for a moment, took a deep breath and let herself look.
The device contained a set of coordinates and a single name.
Adam.
Nikita sucked in a breath and looked up, almost expecting to see Michael standing before her. Or course he wasn't there. He'd be at the location he sent. The one she'd head out for…she checked the time…in under an hour.
The Gold Coast operation would be handed off to one of her division leaders. And she'd be unavailable for as long as necessary.
Five years.
She'd had no contact with Michael in all that time. Nikita knew where he lived, but never attempted to see him. Or even keep tabs on him. She wanted him to raise his son, be the father Adam needed him to be.
It came as no surprise that Adam would be the reason Michael finally reached out. Nikita didn't need to know what happened-she could imagine too many scenarios.
Sadly, none were good.
Whatever Michael needed…it didn't matter. She'd do whatever it took to get his son back.
Working quickly, Nikita set plans in motion for her to leave section…
For an undetermined amount of time.
~*~
Michael stoked the fire in the pot belly stove on the barge docked along the river bank. He listened to the sound of the water slapping gently against the hull. Picked out the sound of pedestrian footsteps walking briskly in the chill of the night air.
Knew the moment she arrived, though her feet didn't make a sound, even once she reached the boat. He could almost see her silently crossing the deck, her grown out hair tucked up under a black cap, as she stealthily made her way to the cabin. Heard the snick of the door when it swung inward.
Michael didn't turn around when she opened it. He wasn't quite ready for the shock of seeing her again. Didn't know if he could face the love he'd see in her eyes. Wasn't sure he could handle it right now, even though he'd need it more than he should.
He'd lost his son. Not from lack of vigilance or being careless. He never let his guard down when it came to Adam.
But no one was infallible, including him. If they'd come at him physically or with weapons drawn, Michael could've fought against them. Instead they'd used a toxin to incapacitate so they could get to Adam.
Part of him respected the intelligence behind the tactics, but it battled with the part that felt regret. He should've been able to prevent and defend against a campaign like that. Hadn't he used similar methods to get what he needed during his tenure at Section?
He should've been ready for the same to be used on him.
Lost in those dark tangled thoughts, he stiffened when he felt Nikita's arms go around him. But only for a moment. Then he leaned back into her, let her wrap him in warmth and light. Felt a peaceful calm settle over him and knew they'd get through what lie ahead and make things right.
Nikita would use whatever resources she had to help him find his son. If that meant bringing in people from Section, she'd do it. Michael had no doubts on that front.
Turning in her embrace, he drew her closer to slide his arms around her waist. She reached up to pull the black cap off her head, and as expected, her blond mane spilled out over her shoulders. Michael leaned forward to press a kiss against her forehead then finally met her tentative gaze with his own.
The ghost of a memory…of another time and a different placed hung between them. So many things had changed since then, but the feeling between them remained the same. It always would.
It didn't matter that years had passed since their last interlude on a boat, being together on this one was like coming home.
Nikita reached up and cupped his face. She angled her head and touched her lips to his. Easing back, she smoothed her hands along his shoulders and down his chest.
Then she lifted her gaze to his. "This seems like old times, doesn't it?"
It did and he offered a slight smile. She returned the gesture, let it hold for a brief moment, then put it away.
Mask firmly in place, she got down to business. "Whatever it takes, we'll find him. We'll bring Adam home."
She didn't say alive and Michael loved her for it. Because hearing her say it, even knowing it might be too late to save his son, lifted the dark swirl of regret and doubt he'd lived with for the last 48 hours.
However they brought Adam back, Nikita would be by his side.
And for now…that was enough.
Later…after…he didn't know.
Maybe they'd pick up where they left off or start from a new beginning. But they wouldn't fade away from each other again. He'd given Nikita what she needed to clean up Section and it was in good hands now.
She could walk away at any time.
Or he could return…
But first…Adam. It was time to get his son.
FIN
*****
And that's it for Day Eight. :D I hope you enjoyed.
I do have a follow up for this piece and it's almost complete. If all goes well, I'll post it at the end of 12 Days. :D
Until then...Stay tuned. :D
Sky