Hey everybody! Pretty quick update right? Lol. So this is the next chapter. I hope you enjoy…I actually kind of like this one…so, yeah. Oh, and I saw some other people doing this, and thought I would start. I think it's nice when people address other people's reviews, and I wanted to reply to several of yours so this kind of worked out anyway. Thank you to those who alerted me and read that means a lot, and to those who reviewed…

EricDelko's3Lil'Angels – Lols. Thanks I appreciate it a lot! Can't wait for January 27…too long. Ugh.

tamilnadu09 – Definitely epic. And I felt the same way. While I didn't like Alex with Thom, I didn't want him to die. That was just so sad and heart wrenching…Anyway, thanks for your review!

yourname316 – Thanks so much for the encouragement! :o)

vampiricmermaid – Lol. Dang straight! You know what's funny…I never knew how people could get obsessed with shows and books until now…I feel lame. LOL. BUT IT"S SO GOOD! :)

eljammal1986 – Thanks, dude. I appreciate your compliment. And yes MALEX is amazing. I honestly don't see the Mikita chemistry everyone talks about. I mean at times I do, but idk, it's just not there for me. [mini rant] lol. Thanks again.

One punch, two punches, three. Alex lost count as she sent another flurry of hits at the punching bag, and it swayed precariously. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and strands of hair fell loose from her ponytail, but she continued the bombardment upon the unsuspecting punching bag.

Where are they? Alex threw a high kick to change up the pace. –should've been back by now…I've had to deal with this shit on my own… Alex took a sidelong glance at Jaden, and it didn't surprise her that Jaden was watching her every move. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, and Alex took in a few labored breaths before returning to her onslaught. She could still feel Jaden's eyes on her back. If she had hated Alex before it was nothing compared to this. That's right, keep staring. You can't do anything. I have the pic. However small the consolation was that she had dirt on Jaden it just made it that much more difficult to think. It was yet another thing to worry about in an already complex and dangerous mission, and Alex had no doubt that the blackmail on Jaden wouldn't last but a week.

Alex smirked though. It had been interesting to enlist Jaden's help in the 'doctor' situation. Even Amanda had believed her story with Jaden's backup.

"Recruits, head to sparring!" The voice of one of the security guards boomed through the training room. Alex looked up. It was almost a surprise to hear someone yell at them. That was usually Michael. For a fraction of a moment Alex had thought it truly was Michael, but the light in her blue eyes quickly faded when she realized it was not.

It shouldn't matter anyway. Alex thought as she threw her white towel over her shoulder and began filing out with all of the other recruits. Of course, she fell in right next to Jaden who merely smirked at her in that passive aggressive way.

"Hey, bitch, just wanted to say congratulations that you actually made it back to us." Alex continued her walking, trying to think of anything but Jaden. "You know, I'm actually glad you got your missions. I mean at least they know that you're not all that now. Percy and Michael I mean." Alex pursed her lips, and could feel anger building in her stomach.

How far away is the effing sparring room?

"You know…" Jaden began with mock realization, "haven't all of your missions been escorts or distractions. Maybe Percy knows that's all you ever were and all you'll ever be…"

Keep talking, Jaden, keep talking…

"And obviously since Michael doesn't object he feels the same…" Jaden let the sentence linger in the air, and watched as Alex's passive expression slip into one of anger.

"You can go to hell, Jaden." Alex said, not even sparing Jaden a glance to the side.

"I will, but God knows you'll be following me." Jaden smirked when Alex didn't respond, and feeling that her work was done moved on further up the line. Alex grimaced at Jaden's last sentence.

Probably am doing the wrong thing. That's what I've done my whole life. Why should it be any different now? Alex could feel the doubt creep in again, followed by the anger at Division, and finally the turmoil she felt in her gut.

…..

Michael stared out the window of the plane his black hat pulled low over his face in an attempt to conceal the swelling and bruises, but it was a failed mission just like Kasim had been.

I was so damn close. Michael stared at his deeply cut hand where the piece of glass had dug into his skin. It had almost numbed the pain, being so close to his revenge, so close to his family. He had been so close, and then she had taken it all away from him. Her face was etched into his mind as the person who prevented him from his mission. Whether that mission was killing Kasim or himself he was still unsure.

…..

Alex walked into her room, and slammed the door. She daintily touched her wrist and immediately winced. The sparring session had been horrible. She had not won a single match, and had now sprained her wrist. This whole situation was getting to her. She was virtually alone. The mental stress of keeping her true mission from Division was tiring as hell. Jaden was now in on her secret. And her new worry about Michael had refused to resolve itself as once again Nikita had not responded to her.

So much for being in as much contact as possible. Alex thought harshly, using her good hand to pull back the sheets of her bed. She crawled into the warmth of the covers and lay back on the pillow, completely exhausted. It only took a moment before sleep overtook her, and even then she could not find peace.

Corbett slowly moved toward Alex's unconscious body. She stared at him unable to move or do anything. Not even to scream. As he moved closer he began muttering things. It almost sounded seductive in nature. Alex glanced back and forth her blue eyes filled with fright.

This is not happening.

Corbett continued to close in upon her. Alex could feel the syringe in her neck, and almost felt like an animal. She was tranquilized for his personal needs. In fact, the more she thought about it, she was less than an animal. She was a thing. Meant to be used and only used. She had no feeling or thoughts to people like Corbett. She was something to be had, and then Corbett was upon her. In her mind she screamed. In reality she lay there, unable to do anything. The more things progressed, the more she felt like she was thirteen again. She felt trapped, isolated. She had nothing to live for.

This is not happening.

And then Corbett's face shifted. Alex couldn't quite make out their face, but it seemed familiar. As if she had seen it in a dream. The face shifted again and again and again, but the haze of drugs she had been under prevented her from remembering any of their faces.

…..

Alex opened her eyes, cold sweat covering her body. She was breathing heavily, and everything was spinning. Her eyes had a hurt look about them, almost broken. The vulnerability of a thirteen year old girl, and Alex only found it in herself to whisper one word.

"Help…"

This defenselessness only lasted a moment before her eyes hardened once again. There would be no one to help her. She knew that this was her mission, and nothing anyone said or did could change that. In an attempt to calm down, Alex got out of bed and walked out of her room, sure to shut the door quietly. This was definitely past curfew.

She walked through the dark halls, clearing her mind of everything. Her rate began to slow down. Walking helped.

It was near 2 am so Alex was surprised when she saw dim light coming from the training room, and a faint rhythmic sound accompanied by the gentle squeak of metal on metal. Alex walked forward slowly and peered around the corner. She felt her heart stop for a second as if adjusting itself, and then restart with renewed strength.

Michael was battered and bruised and looked horrible. He wore a black t shirt and jeans instead of his normal suit, and Alex had to take this in for a moment because it was impossible to not notice the muscles that were so easily hidden beneath his normal wardrobe. He was punching the crap out of the same punching bag Alex had been attacking earlier. She had to smirk at the irony. Almost as if he had felt her stare, Michael turned to look over. Their eyes connected for a moment. Any reasonable person caught staring at someone in the dead of night would have turned and walked back to their bed. Instead Alex walked further into the light, and down into the gym.

"What are you doing up?" Michael asked, continuing his punching.

"Couldn't sleep," Alex responded, shrugging her shoulders as if it were nothing. "You look awful." Michael gave her a look, and then returned to what he was doing. "How did the mission go?"

At this Michael turned to face her. The punching bag continued swinging, but after a moment Michael held out his arm to stop it. "Exactly how I look…awful."

Immediately Alex tensed. "What happened?"

"Someone interfered…"

Alex stared at him for a moment in bewilderment. "Who?"

Michael broke contact with her eyes, and turned his head away as if in shame. Alex felt the need to walk over to him, but settled with merely taking a step forward. Michael was the best at what he did. She couldn't think of a single reason why he would've failed. Finally, he looked up. It was surprising how much pain covered his battered face. The word exited his mouth barely more than a whisper, but the amount of venom it contained could have killed. "Nikita…"

Immediately Alex felt dread. She never told me…that she would be involving herself in this mission…what makes this one so important? Alex stared at Michael, until his hazel eyes met hers. "Did you not have back up?"

"I shouldn't be discussing this with you," Michael responded, his eyes hardening to the point where all other emotions were shut out. Alex winced at the statement, and the already dim light of the room seemed to get even darker. Michael returned to his punching bag.

After a minute of nothing but Michael beating the crap out of the punching bag, Alex stepped forward warily, and placed a hand on Michael's shoulder. She immediately felt his shoulder tense at her touch. He stopped the punching, and turned to look at her, his hazel eyes studying her face. Alex almost drew back from the intensity, but stood her ground.

"I think the punching bag's done for, Michael," she whispered, "Now I," Alex stepped back and into a fighting stance, "am well rested, and more of a challenge…" She smirked when he pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

"There are several things wrong with this; past curfew," he took a step forward, "you're still…recovering," Michael looked down at her wrapped wrist, "apparently you've done something to yourself." Michael was slowly closing the distance between the two. His head was now inclined towards her, and despite the bruises on his face, his expression had softened.

"I think you're just scared," Alex responded, raising her eyebrows, "besides I could beat you with one arm behind my back." At that Michael lunged forward.

Sooo….what'd you think? If you've got time to review, please do! (It makes me happy :) Oh, and if anybody knows anything about the upcoming episodes or even just Nikita news lol, please tell me! Thanks, and see ya soon!