Early Lessons
  By Tomy

 It was something that had never crossed his mind before.  In retrospect, it
was sheer stupidity on his part.  It had made for an easy target, almost as
good as placing a bullseye on the roof.  Foolishness. And many other words
he would beat himself up with for years to come.

 Devon was en route to another meeting.  This one called for him to travel
to Washington DC.  Members of the Board and a number of Federal Agents
needed detailed information on FLAG's ever growing abilities.  There were
those that scoffed at the idea of a car as a partner, that no single person
could make a large impression.  With a sense of pride, Devon noted that
Michael and Kitt had proved them all wrong.  In just under a year, they had
accomplished more than any single agency in the US.  Wilton had been right,
as he usually was.  Michael and Kitt had formed a team the likes of which he
had never had the pleasure of working with.  The young man had taken on the
responsibilities of not only the Foundation's beliefs, but of the gentle AI
as well.  It had taken almost six months before Devon witnessed the bond
between the two.  When Michael told him that he felt something that day in
the garage of the empty house, Devon had been sure he was making it up,
trying to cover the loss of the AI.  But when Michael picked up the familiar
CPU casing from the box, and held it like a cherished antique, something
occurred to the older man, something he had not thought possible. Michael
could 'sense' his partner.

 Sighing, he leaned back inside the limousine.  He hated these long trips.
The Lear jet was due for repairs and could not be deemed safe for a few more
days yet.  Hopefully in time for his trip home.  Checking his watch in the
now dark car, he noted that if they were on time, and he prayed they were on
schedule, he'd arrive at the layover hotel in under an hour.  The idea of
being able to stand up and stretch made his bones ache.  Typically he did
not feel old.  But sitting stationary in a vehicle for long periods, did
tend to remind him that his circulation was not what it used to be.

 Glancing behind, he noticed how close the headlights were to the rear of
the car.  Shrugging, he began to think that maybe they should incorporate
AI's into vehicles.  It would make driving much safer.  The car lurched
sideways as they were cut off from in front.  Shocked, Devon watched a third
car, move in along side the limousine, forcing them off the road.  Bracing
himself, he waited for the car to slide to a stop, halfway down the slope of
the shoulder.  Four men were already circling the limo.  One shot through
the open driver's window ended his struggles.  Devon watched in horror,
waiting his turn.
 "Out." His door was yanked open.  The men wore blue ski masks that matched
their outfits.
 "I don't understand?"  He tried stalling for time, only to be pulled from
his seat and forced into the car that sat beside the disabled limousine.  No
other words were spoken, not to him, nor to the men around him.  The vehicle
he was forced into looked like an old police cruiser, with the screen still
in place.  Once the doors locked from the outside, he knew he was trapped.
He had never considered himself a target.  Not until now.  The driver gunned
the engine and peeled off towards their new destination.  Leaning back,
Devon held on.  Not even Michael drove this erratically.

 Kitt's tyres locked as they pulled in behind the abandoned FLAG limo.  It
had taken them almost twelve hours to locate it.  Jumping out of the car,
Michael ran to the other vehicle.  It's right hand side was halfway into the
ditch.  The driver's side had blood stains in the gravel around it.  Peering
into the back, Michael was somewhat relieved to not see any blood.  Devon's
briefcase was still sitting on the seat.  Nothing looked like it had been
touched.  Straightening, he noticed where the blood originated.  Opening the
driver's door, his stomach dropped.
 "Can you pick up anything?"  He aimed the question at the black car behind
him.
 "Not much I'm afraid.  It looks like they were surrounded by three other
vehicles, then forced off the road.  The driver was killed most likely at
the same time Devon was kidnapped."
 Michael swallowed the lump in his throat. "So does this mean you can't find
any traces of them having harmed Devon?"
 "It appears that they dragged Devon from our car, into an awaiting vehicle
parked beside."
 "Can you trace it?"
 "No, but I think we can follow it.  I detect washer fluid on the pavement."
 "It's worth a try anyway."

 For the next forty minutes, Michael sat behind the wheel, straining to see
what Kitt was following.  Sighing, he leaned back.  All he was doing was
giving himself a killer headache. Their speed was a quarter what it usually
was.  Kitt having to continually reduce speed to maintain his lock on the
washer fluid trail.  Ever since the signal from the limo had stopped,
Michael had been beside himself with worry.  He should have driven Devon to
his meeting.  Two reasons kept nagging at him.  First off, they would have
made it in half the time.  With Kitt's speeds, Devon would have been more
comfortable and secondly, he would have been safe.
 "You didn't let him down.  There was no way to foresee this."  Kitt's
gentle voice interrupted his thoughts.
 Rubbing his face with his hand, he looked at the familiar voice modulator,
taking comfort in it's dancing lights and Kitt's voice surrounding him.  "I
know that.  But I can't help feeling like this.  Like I could have prevented
this."
 "You are not a soothsayer, Michael."  That got a chuckle.
 "I should have thought about this when Devon asked me to drive for him
months ago.  Thought about all the dangers we encounter.  Jesus, even the
Semi has a light MBS shell, why not the limo as well?"
 "Though it may have saved David's life, it would not have changed the other
events."
 "But someone with tactical manoeuvering skills driving would have."

 Kitt mentally sighed at his partner.  Though his affection for the man had
grown substantially in the last year, there were still times he wanted to
eject him into the dirt, hoping it might knock some sense into him.
"Michael, we were on an assignment.  We cannot be in two places at once."
 "I know Pal."  Looking up, he noticed that Kitt had slowed even more. "What
are you picking up?"
 "Four vehicles around the house at the end of the street.  One of the cars
is still leaking washer fluid.  But there seem to be only two men inside."
 "One of them could be Devon."
 "I can't tell for sure.  There is a great deal of interference."
 "From where?"
 "I can't be certain, but there is an unshielded engine nearby."
 "Great."  Looking around, he hoped for an easy plan.  "Okay, I'm going in."
 "Michael, this is an obvious trap."
 "I know.  But what if that is Devon in there?"  Silence.  "And we can
easily handle two guards." They had before, Kitt knew.  That didn't mean he
had to like this.

 He watched as Michael crept up to the front door.  The two that Kitt
detected were near the rear of the house, in what looked to be a kitchen.
Michael easily picked the lock and swung into the house.  Switching to the
comlink channel, all Kitt could receive was static.  It was the first time
since Michael had received it that Kitt could not pick up his partner's
heartbeat.  The feeling that he was missing something grew.  He wasn't even
sure of Michael's location inside the building.  Whatever was blocking the
signal, most likely metal deposits in the ground, there seemed to be a great
deal of it near the front of the structure.

 Michael had made it inside without incident.  His confidence growing as he
snuck through the house.  Turning into the hallway, his eyes caught movement
to his right only seconds before he realized there were far more then two
men inside, then pain behind his eyes and darkness.

 Kitt was not expecting it.  Before he could lock a clear scan on any of the
vehicles, three of them tore past him from behind the house.  Each car had
three men inside.  He tried the comlink again.
 "Michael?  Michael answer me!"  Static.  Not even a definite signal to
trace.  Gunning the engine, he followed, hoping that maybe they'd stay
together.  Forty minutes later, they began to disperse.  One off the ramp,
the next twenty minutes on, off another and the last forty minutes later
turned off the deserted freeway.  All the while Kitt had been checking the
comlink, trying to activate the homing signal.  As he tailed the final car
into the desert,  he knew he'd been had.  He knew this stretch of roadway.
He and Michael had traveled along it many times.  It lead to the Mexican
border and nowhere else.  A feeling of loneliness washed over him as he
recalled the first time Michael had opened up the throttle of the car.  The
wild screech of reckless abandon as the speedometer topped 200 mph and kept
climbing.

 Just before the border, the car pulled into a shack and the three men
climbed out.  None were Michael.  He could tell that from their builds.
They were all carelessly laughing.  A spike of anger coursed through the AI.
He had lost no only Michael, but Devon as well.
 Turning about, he went to follow what was left of the trial of the other
two cars.  Maybe, just maybe he might get lucky.
 

 Michael woke to find himself in a small, but well furnished room.  Slowly
sitting up, trying not to disturb the pounding headache, he took stock of
his surroundings.  The sun was shining fiercely through the curtains,
meaning he had been out for quite some time.  At least the night.  He was
alone in the room, though the camera in the corner faced him.

 Hearing the door click, he turned his head, regretting it immediately.
Trying to shift, to see who had entered the room, he felt a small prick on
his arm.  Jerking back, the two men who were now standing over him, hefted
him over to the bed. Leaving him sitting on the edge, gasping for air, they
left as easily as they had arrived.
 Fear gripped him.  He had no idea what the hell they had just given him.
It didn't take long before his brain began to cloud.
 

 Kitt had spent the night uselessly trying to follow the trails left by the
other cars.  In a last hope, he traveled back to the house, looking for
clues.  He found the house deserted. Trying the comlink again, only to
receive the same agonizing results, Kitt headed back to the Foundation.
 Reaching the highway, he answered an incoming call.  What he saw almost
sent him spinning off the road.
 "Devon!?  How..?"
 "I was returned to the city, with a terrible headache I might add,
approximately twenty four hours after the incident with the limousine."  The
older man frowned.  "Kitt, where's Michael?"
 "I lost him."
 The guilt in the AI's voice tore at him.  "I suspected as much.  Where did
they lead you to?" Giving a detailed, yet quick description of the day's
occurrences, Kitt pulled over to await further instructions.  Wanting only
to find his driver. Something terrible was happening to Michael, he just
knew it.
 

 He had no concept of time anymore.  His brain was filled with haze.  His
mouth felt dry and his body felt heavy.  He knew he had leaned back across
the covers at some point, but he had no idea when.  His brain faintly
registered the door opening.  It was work to sit up.  Once he'd managed it,
it took another few minutes for his head to stop swimming.  There was
someone standing in front of him, he could feel it.  Blinking a few times,
his eyes focused.  He blinked a few more to be sure.  It couldn't be? Last
he knew she was behind bars.

 "Surprised to see me?" Her voice still had that soft, melodic tone. He
nodded. "We have some unfinished business."  She had sidled up to him, her
arm around his waist, the other splayed over his shoulder.

 He swallowed, trying to pull back.  She smiled, confident at what she was
doing.  She would have him, and have him respond in return.  She just had to
be patient.  They had explained everything to her, and as long as she
followed directions, he would lose control.  Closing in on him, she let him
feel her body against his, let her hands begin to teasingly caress his
chest.

 Michael closed his eyes, his brain was clouded enough without the rising
desire.  "Adrienne, stop."  His voice sounded strange in his ears.
 "Do you really want me to stop?" She had leaned against him, her cheek
against his.

 Michael fought for control.  His brain wanted her to, his body had other
ideas.  And it had been too long.  As she nuzzled into his neck, he heard
himself groan.  His heart was pounding, he had to get away now, or he'd lose
the will. Shifting, he only brought his body into contact with hers.

 She pressed into him, causing him to lose his balance.  'It's working!' She
thought as she joined him on the bed.  He moved over, allowing her space.
She could see the battle on his face.  There was still a part of him
fighting the drugs.  That would be easily remedied. She let her hand slip
inside his open shirt.  She had longed to do this ever since he fell onto
her couch the day she had lured him and his car over.  His eyes shifted
towards her, a haze of confusion in the blue depths. She smiled easily,
leaning closer.  Letting her lips touch his, she waited for a moment before
releasing the caress.  Her hand on his body undid the few remaining buttons,
letting her fingers roam. His eyes closed.  She had expected him to be a man
of dedication, but his responses were far better than they predicted they'd
be. He wasn't a man to sleep around, but he wasn't celibate either.  The
research she had put into this was turning out to be well worth the money
she'd spent.  Michael was like a hungry man being awakened.  She could see
his growing desire, even though he was still fighting it. It wouldn't be
much longer before the drugs had full effect on him.  And he would be hers.

 Leaning over him again, letting her body touch his, she kissed him again,
this time feeling his lips move beneath hers. A few seconds later, she
chanced it, touching her tongue to his lips.  He allowed it.
 Michael's brain filled with longing.  The woman in his arms was warm and
sensual.  Her hands on his body reminding him just how long it had been
since he had been with a woman. Trying to roll towards her, he found he had
little to no control of his own body.

 Slowly breaking away from the kiss, she whispered, "let me." She moved away
from him, only to return with no clothing.  Her body against his felt so
very good, overshadowing the voice in the back of his head telling him how
wrong this was.

 Taking her time, Adrienne, worked his clothes off, never ceasing to tease
and touch him.  She had to keep his body on fire, or she'd lose this chance.
Crawling back over him, she let herself lie over him.  Feeling his moan of
longing, then his arms circling her.  Triumph soared through her.  She had
done it.  He was willing.  Letting her fantasies run wild, she touched and
caressed every inch of him while locked in a maddeningly slow, yet
passionate kiss. His hands had begun wandering over her back.  From her
hair, all the way down to grasp her buttocks, pulling her closer to him,
thrusting up against her belly. Letting her legs slip to either side of his
hips, knowing that as much as she wanted him to take her, the drug in his
system would not allow him the use of his body.  She took control, feeling
him squirm, knowing he was ready. She guided his entry, moaning as she felt
him push into her.  He moved beneath her, helping her, his hands on her
breasts, hers on his chest.  It was over quickly.  As she knew it would be.
She felt him tense, then cry out, his hands dropping from her body.  They
had warned her that the climax would overload his body.  She didn't care.
She had had him.  That was all that mattered.  Kissing his relaxed lips, she
slid away.  Dressing herself, then him as best she could, she slipped out
the door to leave him with whatever memories might linger.
 

 They had searched endless data banks, still nothing.  Kitt was frustrated,
worried and scared.  Scared that he'd let his partner down.  And when they
did find him, he would be too disappointed in him to want to work together
any longer. Kitt shook his virtual head.  He had to snap out of this.
Michael was counting on him.  He tried another search, using the partial
plate numbers he had recorded. He hadn't realized how important his  driver
was to him, until now.  He *would* find him.  No matter what it took.
Backing out of the garage, he headed back to the abandoned house.
 

 Michael woke in the early morning hours.  His body felt like it had been
through a wringer.  He sat up slowly as the fog in his head cleared.  He
vaguely recognized the room, the bed he was on. Dream like visions swam
before his eyes.  A woman touching him, making love to him.  His body unable
to hold out.  He stood slowly, feeling an unreal urge to get the hell out of
there. His comlink!  He lifted his shaking arm, relieved to see it around
his wrist.
 "Kitt?" He swallowed, his voice almost unfamiliar.
 "Michael!" The answer was immediate.  "Where are you?"
 "I have no idea, Pal.  But I need to get the hell out."
 "Keep talking to me, I'm homing in on the signal."
 "How long have I been..."
 "41 hours."
 Michael's breath caught.  "How close are you?" The urge to leave was
growing into a panic.  He had no idea why, but the need to be safe inside
Kitt's cabin was overpowering.
 Sensing his partner's anxiety, Kitt accelerated. "Five more minutes
Michael."
 "Okay.  I'm going to see if I can make my way out of here."
 "Are you sure that's wise?"
 "No, but I don't like just sitting here either.  I don't hear any other
movement in the house."
 "Be careful, Michael."
 "Meet you outside, Pal."

 It was literally one step at a time.  His mind was clearing, and with that,
his control over his own body was returning to him.

 There was no one else in the house.  All the furniture in the lower level
was covered by dust sheets and tarps.  He barely had to touch the walls to
support himself by the time he reached the bottom of the stairs.  His mind
was still cloudy, like there something he needed to know, but couldn't quite
put his finger on what it was.

 Michael's eyes closed and a breath of complete relief escaped him.  He knew
that sound.  Would know it anywhere and for the rest of his life.  The door
was in easy reach now.  As was the safety and comfort of his friend.

 Kitt watched with great relief as Michael appeared in the doorway.  He was
weak, shaky, but alive and his vitals were quickly regaining their usual
strength.  He popped the door as Michael walked around the car.

 Dropping into the familiar seat, the door closing behind him, he felt at
peace.  This was where he belonged.  Looking up at the house, he was just
about to open his mouth when Kitt began.
 "There is no one inside.  There are no traces of anyone having been here,
other than a set of tire marks.  The owner of this house passed away three
months ago and the house is still in probate to see which of the remaining
members of the family it will be transferred to."
 That about answered all his questions. "Can you tell what they used on me?"
 "I think I had better get you home.  I believe the doctor is more qualified
than I am."
 "Any excuse to subject me to a doctor huh?"  Kitt didn't answer.  There was
no need.  Instead the soft rumble of the engine flowed under him as Kitt
began the trek back to the Foundation.

 "Michael!" He jerked awake.  The darkness enfolded him. His heart was
pounding, sweat on his body, but he couldn't catch the dream that was
haunting him.
 "Michael?"  Kitt's worried tone helped to clear his mind.
 "How long....?"
 "Were you asleep?  About twenty minutes.  Dreaming, about ten."  There was
a tentative pause.  "Do you want to talk about it?"
 Sitting up slightly in the partially reclined seat, he looked to the voice
box. Trying to grab whatever it was that kept eluding him in his brain. "I
want to, God Kitt, I want to know what the hell this is.  But I can't seem
to figure it out.  I dream it and I see it when I'm awake, but I can't *see*
it."

 Michael's vitals were rising again.  Whatever they had done to him, the
memory was beyond his grasp, either that or his brain was blocking it. "You
can't force it.  You have to let it come to you.  Maybe after you see the
doctor, you'll have a better idea."
 "What was I doing Kitt?"
 "Thrashing about, repeating the word 'no' over and over. But nothing more."
Michael nodded, his face in his hands as he searched his brain for the last
two days.

 Kitt sat outside the mansion.  It was one of the few things he hated about
being in a car.  He couldn't follow Michael inside.  Instead he had to wait.
Michael had been instructed to leave all this clothing and person items in
the change room while the doctor examined him.  This left Kitt without the
connection the comlink offered.  Granted, he had no right to listen in.  But
he was frightened.  Whatever Michael was dealing with, he prayed he wasn't
the cause of it.

 Kitt had heard that time appeared to slow when waiting for important
information, he had never believed that, until now.  He wouldn't even let
April look him over.  He knew his systems were in perfect working order,
unlike his driver.

 Kitt focused in on the comlink feed as Michael placed the watch on his
wrist.  His heartbeat was quick, but not beyond normal parameters.  He had
needed to know his driver was well, and knowing he was getting dressed was a
good sign.  Unable to stop himself, he activated the link.
 "Can this remain confidential?"  Michael's question puzzled Kitt.
 "I have no reason to pass this information on.  The memories may return to
you in time, they may not.  It depends on a great many things.  If they do,
you might wish to consider speaking to someone."
 "I'll do that."

 Michael walked outside, into the sun slowly.  His brain reaching for the
memories.  Almost on autopilot, he walked to the black car, settled in and
gunned the engine.  Driving to their favorite spot out in the desert,
Michael killed the engine.
 "Kitt, turn off the homing signal."
 "What?"
 "Please. I need to tell you something.  I want to be sure they can't find
us while I try to work this out."
 A second later, "it's done.  As are the communications lines.  The only
channel open is the emergency signal."
 Michael sat back, unsure how to start, confused, still disorientated and
scared.
 "What did the doctor say?" Kitt prodded gently when it was obvious that his
partner was too distressed to begin.
 "I was given Sodium Pentothal.  A fairly large quantity.  And it looks
like....."
 Kitt waited, a feeling of dread surrounding him. "Please Michael...?"
 Taking a deep breath, "it looks like I slept with a woman.  I can't
remember it.   I have vague memories, but I can't put them together."
 "You have to relax.  Getting yourself agitated will not help you."
 "I know, I know.  But I've never.....I can't remember who, or why."
 "It's the drug, Michael.  You know that as well as I do.  You may never
know for sure."
 "It was a setup.  You know that, I know it and so does Devon.  But I can't
tell him this."
 "Why?  I do not understand why you would wish to keep this from him?"
 "Kitt...how long has it taken us to become comfortable with one another? To
become friends?"
 "Too long if you ask me."
 Michael snorted without humor. "Devon is... I'm still on shaky ground with
him, and April as well.  I can't have them thinking this was just another
encounter with a woman that went bad.  I can't afford to lose their
respect."
 "Then why tell me?" Kitt cringed, regretting not having thought before
asking this question.
 "Because I need you."  The words were spoken in such low tones that Kitt
had to go back to be sure he heard his driver correctly.
 "I..." Michael held up his hand.
 "You know it as well as I do.  You know me, Kitt.  You've been with me
through every aspect of my life.  And you haven't driven away scared, or
disgusted."
 "I wouldn't leave you, you know that."
 "I'm going to need to talk to someone, to sort this through.  You are the
only one I trust to help me."
 Kitt was taken aback.  He had never dared to think that his driver trusted
him to that degree.
 "Kitt?"  There was a note of unsureness in the emotion filled voice.
 "I don't know what to say.  I didn't think that you would ever..."
 Michael smiled, knowing his confession was in safe care. "I thought you
knew.  I've felt like I can tell you anything for some time now.  But Devon,
I don't think he would handle it.  Lord knows what April actually thinks of
me, but I'm sure it's not complimentary."
 "She doesn't tend to talk about you."
 "That's probably a good thing."

 "What do you see?" Kitt knew they were far off topic, even though he liked
the conversation, they still needed to unlock what happened.
 Michael closed his eyes, letting his head fall to the headrest.  "I see a
woman, tall, thin, long dark hair.  I can hear that she's saying something
to me, but I can't actually see her, nor can I make out what she's saying.
But I know that I know her. She's touching me, everywhere.  It's arousing,
but I don't want it.  It's all so hazy, as if I was drunk."  The blue eyes
snapped open.  "And that's it.  This is killing me.  I have to know, Kitt."
 "You can't force it come to you."
 "The doctor said the same thing.  Unless this becomes a problem, or if it
clears up, I want this to stay between us."  Michael was staring at the
voice modulator, as if it could let him see into his partner's soul.
 "Thank you for trusting me. I will not betray you."
 "I know that, Kitt.  Now more than ever."