Two days and one night in the hospital was all Michael could take.  Devon
and Bonnie had been in to see him once, but quickly slinked off after being
recipients of Michael's impatient temper.
 Kitt was waiting for him as he exited the hospital, chuckling quietly to
himself at the petulant expression on Michael's face.
 "What?" The question had an almost indignant quality to it.
 "I'm glad you're feeling better."  Unfortunately the amusement came through
clearly.
 "You are, are you."  As Michael hit the 'manual' button, Kitt let it go,
there was no talking to Michael while he was in this mood.

 Zachary had been arrested that night.  They found him, in the same position
as Kitt had left him.  The man had literally been scared stiff.  He'd
misjudged Kitt and was paying dearly for it.  Those that knew Michael and
Kitt found it oddly stirring that the AI had taken such an extreme position
to protect his driver.
 Tanya was in critical condition, but was expected to pull through.  Both
would stand trial as soon as physically capable.  Zachary had not spoken a
word since Kitt had almost run him down.  That repercussion was found to be
satisfying by the members of FLAG.  He was not expected to cause trouble
again.  FLAG was also overseeing the trial procedures, to make sure everyone
involved stayed clean.

 Michael, however was left to deal with the fallout of his family's
involvement with Zachary.  The depression and insomnia remained for weeks
following his release from the hospital.  Jason had retreated back to his
apartment.  Michael pulled a few strings to ensure Jason's life would
continue as if none of this had happened.  His parents had refused to speak
to him.  They remained housed in one of the guest cottages on Foundation
grounds until the closing date for their new home.  In the eyes of the
police, the house fire remained an accident.  Only Kitt, Devon and Michael
knew differently.
 Feeling boxed in, Michael drove back to the beach late in the evenings.
Two weeks had passed, his side was healing nicely, his emotions were not.
He'd made a few attempts to speak to his parents.  Each time they refused to
acknowledge he was at the door.  Kitt had watched as his friend's depression
increased tenfold after each endeavor.  Unable to help, Kitt had stayed by
Michael's side, offering silent strength and support.  In return, Michael
had spent increasingly more time with Kitt.  Very little was said.  Any
inquiry into Michael's well being was greeted with hostility.
 Now, lying on the hood of the car, arms acting as a pillow for his head, he
allowed to desolation to take him.  Breathing deeply, he rehashed the events
of late, desperate to find reasoning for his parents behavior.
 "I guess turn about is fair play."
 Kitt jumped at Michael's voice.  He had grown accustomed to the lengthy
silences. "I don't understand your meaning here Michael?"
 "I left them out of my life for so long, this is just turn about, them
leaving me out of their lives."
 "Michael, can I ask you something, without offending you."
 He grimaced at the fear in Kitt's voice. "I'm sorry for treating you the
way I have been.  Please, ask me anything."
 "Why.....does this bother you so much?"
 Taking another deep breath, eyes closed he considered Kitt's question.  "I
guess, because they brought me into this world.  It would be like Bonnie
turning her back on you.  I did betray them, and they have a right to be
angry."
 In the softest tone he could muster, Kitt tried to turn his partner's
thinking. "You didn't betray them.  You almost died, we wanted to protect
you.  I have a small confession."
 "Ummm?"
 "For the first year we worked together, I was instructed to monitor their
actions."
 "What?!"  Eyes opening, he turned to face the windshield.
 "I'm sorry I never told you."
 "Why Kitt?"  There was more puzzlement in his question than anger.
 "Because the Foundation wanted to be sure you didn't accidentally run into
them.  I was told to make sure that you were kept away from any location
that might present a chance of your meeting."
 The silence that passed seemed to be the longest period in Kitt's life.
When he was just about to break it, Michael spoke.  "I can't fault you Kitt.
I see the reasoning.  I was pretty messed up at the time.  I would have made
that mistake."
 "Giving Zachary an opening three years ago." Kitt's relief was tangible.
 "If not sooner.  If Tanya has been watching me, she might have found her
opportunity long before we established our connection."
 "I'm glad to hear you say that."
  "I think I should have said it sooner.  But, you are right.  This
shouldn't be effecting me as greatly as it has been.  I think I may be
wallowing in self pity."
 "What do you wish to do about it?"
 "Two things."  Michael slipped off the hood and entered the car.
 "They are?"
 "One, face my folks.  We can find a way in there."  The mischievous smile
was like old times.
 "And two?"
 Michael turned serious as he watched the lights on the modulator, "Tell you
that I love you as well.  I've fallen into the habit of taking you for
granted.  I don't know if I can change that, but I'll try."
 "I don't expect you to.  Having heard you say that to me will make it
easier the next time."
 Smiling Michael hit the ignition.  "So, Partner, let go stir up some
trouble."

 They arrived at the guest cabin well after dark, but most of the lights on
the ground floor were still on.  Kitt moved in as close as possible in
silent mode.  Noting with great amusement the devious smile on Michael's
face.
 "They up?"
 "Yes Michael, in the living area."
  Exiting the car, Michael snuck towards the door and picked the lock.
Flashing a brilliant smile towards his partner, he threw the door open,
watching the occupants startle.
 "What the hell are you doing?" Peter Long asked in a fury, tying to slow
his racing heart.
 "Getting you undivided attention."  The response was maddeningly simple.
 "There is no cause for this."
 "Hell yes there is.  You've been avoiding me, so I'm taking it into my own
hands to talk to you." Closing the door firmly, Michael strode over to his
parents, feeling a bit of his old confidence return.  "I know you don't
approve of what I'm doing with my life.  But, that's just it, it's my life."
 Sitting back down his father calmly turned to his son.  "Do you truly enjoy
this lifestyle?"
 "Unbelievably so."  The answer came without any hesitation.  "I admit, I
didn't when this all began five years ago."  Crouching in front of his
parents, he needed them to realize how important this conversation was to
him.  "Five years ago I lashed out at anyone who I thought had taken me away
from my other life.  I didn't want to be here.  Now.... now I don't think I
could live any other way.  Kitt and I have shared a lot, especially over the
passed few weeks.  Things that are personal, things that have made me feel
even more complete.  I am Michael Knight, *this* is my home and I refuse to
change that."
 Nodding to each other, both parents began to see beyond the changes the
hardships had wrought within their son.  Dorothy placed her hand over her
youngest's on his knee.  Looking up, he began to see acceptance.
 
 

The End