‘Empty Silhouettes’
by Tomy & elfin
 

Scenes from ‘Alana’ by elfin, coming soon:

Michael had bought the extravagant barn conversion a year ago.  It was secluded, about twenty miles out of town, fifteen from the warehouse, still their base of operations….  The large area downstairs was a lounge and office, with a dining table in front of the patio doors that was very seldom used.  A white leather suite faced a glass coffee table, a log fire and a beautiful deep grey rug that had seen many long, enjoyable winter nights. Stairs went up from the left of the dining area to a balcony area that they used as the master bedroom.

…. This had been their treat, long after the contract with the Foundation had finally ended, when they’d decided that it was time for their lives to change…..  They’d made some very dangerous enemies in their time, and they’d wanted somewhere that they could feel as secure as possible, where they could completely let their guards down.

…. This android body in which Kitt now walked was the second generation ‘Jez’, as Swan had called it.  She’d learnt a lot from the data and findings Kitt had provided her with during his brief existence in the prototype model almost ten years ago.  They’d stayed in touch, and Kitt had helped design this new android.  At the time, he’d had only fleeting thoughts about one day inhabiting one of her creations.  Now it was real.  And finally he felt he was home.

…. Different model android body, but the same almost angelic looks.  The light brown hair like spun silk, liquid brown eyes like malt whiskey.  His love for Kitt had never wavered, but had intensified over the years, and now they had it all.

from 'Alana'

* * *

Swan sat back, sipping from her can of Diet Coke.  Kitt had been leaning over that laptop for hours now.  She wasn't even sure what he was up to anymore.  Something about boosting the remote control range to the Trans Am.  It was beyond her understanding how he could find it so easy to re-code parts of his own system.  Not that she minded.  This gave her an opportunity to observe him.

He had never fallen into any of the typical categories she had stylized for AIs.  He was so very human in so many ways.  Even the simplest of actions in the android body gave away many of his human qualities; running his hand through his hair in frustration, hugging himself when unsure, his varied expressions and gestures.  And, of course, his love affair with Michael.  That emotion was all encompassing.  It was something she had never known.  Not that there had been a shortage of guys interested.

She'd had a few flings here and there.  But men tended to be intimidated by her dedication to her work, and she'd always cared more about her research than about going out on dates or returning phone calls.   Only Jez had ever shown her any kind of real love, and that was strictly the young, pain-in-the-ass brotherly sort.  She'd never seen anything like the devotion she witnessed between Kitt and Michael.  And over the last year or so she'd found herself wondering what she might give to sample the kind of long-standing love they shared.

It just added to her perception of Kitt as a man.  Even while still in the car that had come across to her.  Maybe it had something to do with his being with Michael for so long.  Maybe it was just him.  He and Michael were vastly different in many aspects, yet so alike in others.  Both treated her with respect and care.  Both could banter inventively for hours and hours.  Yet, no matter what she did, she found herself attracted to Kitt.  She had done when he’d still been in the car, and even more so now in the android.  Jez had slowly become a distant memory, one replaced by Kitt.  She no longer saw her creation as Jez, only as the sentient being that it now was.

With all his knowledge, there was an innocence that radiated from him.  Almost like Michael's self confidence radiated off him.  That impressed and awed her.  With all the shit they'd been through, all the people who had attacked them, tried to take their lives, Kitt had managed to keep that spark.  That was the largest part of her attraction to him.  She had designed the body, but that wasn't a factor here.  It was more how he made the body look, the grace with which he held himself.

"Hey."  Swan startled, having been so deep in her thoughts that she'd neglected to notice Kitt approaching her.
"Sorry.  Dozing."
Kitt smiled at her little lie. "I'm done.  Was there any thing else you wished to go over?"
'Hell, yeah'. She mentally tossed that thought aside.  "Nope, I think we're finished.  How much longer until Michael returns?"
Kitt checked his watch, another very human gesture when he could so easily just have consulted his internal processor clock. "Half an hour I should think."

Leaning forward, she put her can down, standing at the same time and awkwardly tripping over the chair leg.  Moving quickly, Kitt caught her, straightening her before her head hit the table.   Blinking, Swan found herself eye to eye with Kitt. Without her usual high-heels, they were about the same height and she met the bright, whiskey gaze with her own intense green stare.  She was acutely aware of his hands on her waist, the look of concern on his face.  Before she realized what she was doing, she was leaning towards him.

Kitt felt her arms slide around his neck just before their lips touched.  He hadn't expected this.  In his confusion, he found himself responding.  His arms slid easily around her to hold her tightly against him.   Her lips were full and soft, so unsure as they moved over his.  Her fingers curled into his hair as she pressed against him.  Her body fitted with his in a strange, yet very pleasant way and he was slowly becoming aware of his own bodily reactions.  His hold on her tightened, his arms sliding up her back, his hands twining in her long blond hair, his head tipping sideways to encourage greater contact.  His body was growing hard at her nearness, her femininity, her sheer sexuality.

Her tongue touched his lips in a fleeting move, attempting to deepen the kiss.  He was beyond thinking, his body easily responding to hers.  Initiating the deeper kiss, his tongue caressed hers.
//Kitt?// Michael's distant question came to his mind with an amused smile.
Sucking in his breath he realized what he was doing.  Jerking back from the kiss, he stared at her, unable, for a moment, to come to terms with what had just occurred between them.
//Sorry.//
Swan, too, came to her senses.  She saw the look on his face, the disappointment, the shock.  She saw Kitt's gaze turn inwards for a moment and knew she had stepped over the line.
//Aren't you supposed to be working?// there was a definite chuckle accompanying the question.
//I'm done. Where are you?//
//En route.  Be there shortly.// Kitt heaved a quiet sigh of relief but kept it from his partner.

"Sorry, I didn't..." Disentangling herself from him, Swan walked across the room, back to her computer.  Her mind was reeling.  How the hell could Kitt trust her again after that?  She felt that in one swift, thoughtless action she'd betrayed not only Kitt, but Michael as well. But God, she hadn't wanted it to end.  The hand on her arm surprised her, caused her to turn, coming face to face with him again.

There was a smile playing on his lips.  "How long was that waiting to happen?"
It took a minute for his words to sink in. Relief causing her to sag against the desk when they did.  "Kitt, I would never - could never - come between you and Michael. Please believe..."
He held up a hand.  "I understand acting on impulse, believe me.  Even more so since being in this body."
Knowing Michael had mistaken the reason for his arousal helped Kitt to cope with his actions.
"It won't happen again."  She assured him and herself.
"I trust that."  He walked to the door, figuring he should wait outside to avoid further 'accidents'.  Pushing the door half open, he turned to face her again, regarding her steadily, with something akin to mischief dancing in his eyes.  "It wasn't that bad was it?"  He asked it with perfect innocence, she could only stare at him.  With a wink, he slid through the door, closing it firmly behind him.

*

Michael had been noticing Kitt's strange behaviour all day.  It was difficult not to.  For years, the longest they'd blocked one another was a matter of hours, maybe when Michael was working one side of a case, Kitt the other.  But the block that Kitt had held in place since earlier that afternoon was hiding much more than his thoughts.  Michael couldn't feel anything coming from his lover.

Kitt's distant attitude and constant block were beginning to frighten him.   Not knowing the reason for it, and Kitt's obvious avoidance patterns, were slowly eating away at him. Michael had tried a few times to close the distance between them, but each attempt was brushed aside with a joking claim that Michael was getting in the way of delicate procedures.

On the other side, Kitt had been very aware of Michael's concern.  He wanted to alleviate it, yet he couldn't stop his CPU from focusing on the incident with Swan.  He hadn't believed it possible.  He *liked* her, he had done for a long time, but he was in love with Michael.  How could he have allowed himself to kiss someone else?  He'd never even considered touching anyone but Michael that intimately.  He'd been toying with the idea of telling Michael all evening, masking his indecisiveness and confusion in work that required his undivided attention. Michael wasn't falling for any of it.  And Kitt couldn't blame him.

The AI was beginning to miss the familiar comfort of having his friend, his lover, in the back of his mind, speaking with him, sharing silent smiles and distant touches as they would when they were both working.  He wanted to discuss what had happened this afternoon, maybe even needed to.  But until now the fear of Michael's reaction had kept him quiet.  Kitt could clearly recall how he had felt each time Michael had been with a woman.  He distinctly remembered disliking it. The first time he'd been jealous, angry and hurt.  Even the times that had happened later, even after they'd talked about it first and Michael had made all the right, reassuring noises, Kitt had hated every second he'd known his driver was with someone else.  All these emotions were things that Michael's hot headedness would only accentuate.

Glancing up from his computer, across the sunset-tinted tinted room, he caught Michael staring at him.  The block held Michael's emotions beyond Kitt's reach, but his eyes displayed them all.  Unable to cope with the sight of his partner contemplating worst case scenarios, Kitt finally decided it would be for the best to get this out in the open. Before Michael's imagination created a larger problem.

He got up and slowly moved to sit on the couch across from Michael.  Too afraid to drop the block, Kitt searched for the right words to say. He couldn't find a way to confront what had occurred so how was Michael supposed to?   "Mi....." Kitt shook his head, looking away.  There was no way he could look his friend and lover in the eye and say what he was about to. Michael stared at his partner, unable to understand what had suddenly come between them.  His heart was pounding, his imagination coming up with a million terrible ways his life could fall apart right now.

"Kitt, whatever it is, we can deal with it.  But you have to let me in."  Even if he couldn't feel it first-hand, Michael could empathise with Kitt's distress, could mirror it as he sat watching Kitt fidget. He had believed they were long past being afraid of one another.
"Something happened today."  Again a long pause.
Michael swallowed and nodded. "I figured.  With Swan I take it."  It was difficult to keep his voice normal because of the questions, the doubt running through his head.  Nodding, Kitt ran a hand through his blond hair, ruffling it. It was a gesture Michael usually found very alluring. "You are not going to like what I'm about to tell you."
"Okay."
"Please believe I had no intentions of it ever...."
Desperation surging into his voice as he interrupted.  "Kitt, please, just spit it out."
"I kissed her." Silence. Kitt slowly looked up to Michael's ever changing expression.  But the smooth voice was steady when he eventually spoke.  "You can drop the block."
The AI shook his head quickly, frightened. "Not yet. I need to know... how you feel about this first."
Michael took a deep breath. "I can't say that I'm not upset.  On the other hand, I've always wondered when you would want to… try something with someone else."
"Michael, how can you...?"

Holding up a hand, Michael stopped Kitt's outburst.  "I love you Kitt, you know that.  And I am very secure in the knowledge that you love me.  But you've always been curious.  About your surroundings and about yourself."  He shrugged.  "To be honest, I wasn't sure this hadn't happened earlier."
It was Kitt's turn to feel a sudden stab of hurt.  "Why?"
Michael half-smiled, even in this, Kitt could be so innocent, so beautifully naive.  "There's no shame in admitting you’ve thought about what it would be like to make love to a woman.  Swan's beautiful, body and mind.  And don't think I haven't seen the way she looks at you."  His smile broadened, and he couldn't help the twinkle in his eyes.  "I guess it's a lot like how I look at you.  You two have worked closely for a number of years now, I just thought... maybe...."
Kitt shook his head slowly.  "Not until today.  And then... it just happened!"  He held Michael's understanding expression for a moment longer, then tore his eyes away.  "How can you be so calm?"

It was then that Michael realized just how upset Kitt was over this.  He began to get an inkling about what exactly his lover had been beating himself up over most of the afternoon and evening. "Kitt....  You've accepted that I make mistakes. How can I not give you the same courtesy?"
Relief surged through the AI and he dropped the block.  Moving to Michael, in body and soul, he was engulfed in a hug.  Michael's arms held him closely. "I do have a question."
"Anything."
Michael smiled, closing his eyes, rubbing his chin in his lover's soft hair, feeling the warmth not only of his body but of Kitt's presence in his mind, badly missed. "Did...did you enjoy it?"  He could feel the sudden surprise, then Kitt considering his answer.  There was a singular emotion he could pick up on, though he could not identify it.
"Yes and no."  Michael snorted.  This was not quite what he had expected, but he could feel Kitt's care in choosing his words. "It was different....  But it was no where near what we share."
Kitt seemed to think for another moment, well aware of Michael scrutinising gaze.
"What is it?"  Michael's head was tipped around Kitts.
"I'm the one that...." How did he explain this one?
"That kissed her?"
"No, it began evenly, but..."
"But?"  It was now more of a case of curiosity on Michael's part.  Seeing Kitt's reaction, feeling the turmoil, the guilt in his partner's mind, Michael was overwhelmed by the security of their relationship.
"But I...encouraged the kiss.  I urged her on, I responded to her, like I do with you."

Michael began to understand why his partner had blocked the link.  Kitt was punishing himself, thinking in agonizing circles.  He couldn't ever remember going through this kind of a guilt trip when he'd been with a woman.  He thought he might be pressing his luck, but he asked anyway. "Would you be interested...?"
"No."  It was a quick, almost panicky answer.  "I've said it before Michael, I'm yours.  I do not wish to be with anyone else."

The pleading look in Kitt's eyes brought Michael's heart pounding into his throat.  Twisting around, over his partner, he held Kitt's chin firmly in his hand, lowering their bodies onto the couch while simultaneously capturing his partner’s lips.  Kitt was startled.  Michael had never kissed him with such power and ferocity before.  Lost in it, Kitt reached up, around Michael's neck, half-clinging as he arched up, pressing himself against Michael's body.

The link that he had blocked for hours was now being flooded with possessiveness and desire the likes of which neither had experienced in the past.  Irrational ideas of abolishing any trace of Swan's kiss overrode everything but Michael's desperation to make love to Kitt again.  Kitt was his, had always been. The dropped block unleashed a tidal wave of Michael's greedy passion on Kitt.  Thoughts and words had been obliterated by all-consuming fire.
 
Kitt yelled out as Michael's teeth bit into his throat.  He'd never known his body to be on fire like this before.  He remembered kissing Swan, unsure of her intentions and of that being a turn-on in a way.  But this... this would be have frightening if he hadn't been very aware of Michael's thoughts and rolling emotions.

He felt Michael push across the link, reaching out both physically and mentally for him.  A brief gasp at Michael's boldness, then Kitt's guards dropped, allowing his lover into his core. Unable to stop his own reaction, Kitt twined his presence around Michael, guiding him, almost pulling him further into himself.  Michael growled. Kitt's image, the shared kiss with Swan inflamed him. For a moment he knew the memory, knew how his partner had reacted to the woman's touch, the closeness of her body, the touch of her hands.

Michael soared forward, reaching a part of himself across the link, deeper, thrusting himself further into the pure white light, he touched Kitt in the only way left that was his alone.  No one, not even Karr knew this part of the person writhing beneath him.

Wrapping their presences together mentally, Michael spread one hand down along the line of buttons down Kitt's shirt, pushing some through their holes, popping others from their threads, feeling his own sweater being tugged upwards.  Michael broke the kiss for a moment to allow Kitt to drag the material over his head.  Immediately dropping back to Kitt's mouth. Shifting, letting his chest rub firmly along Kitt's.

Kitt grasped his lover's shoulder, unable to do anything but hang on as Michael started over his collarbone, biting and kissing a raw path down to Kitt's chest.  When one of his nipples was taken between hard teeth, he arched up, his groin moving against Michael’s, feeling the rock-hard erection tapped in the black jeans.  Whatever he had been feeling before that moment, all he wanted now was the passion they could unleash between them.

“Mi….”  Kitt leaned down, kissing Michael’s forehead, hoping the touch of his lips would coax more.  He wasn’t disappointed.  Michael’s head lifted and accepted his challenge.  A hot mouth sealed over Kitt’s over, tongue sweeping over his own.  Kitt pushed his hand between them, unzipping his own jeans before unzipping Michael’s.  It wasn’t exactly romantic, but at that moment, neither of them cared.  Michael wanted them flesh to flesh and he was broadcasting that intention into Kitt’s mind, sending images and ideas.

Suddenly, Michael sat back, getting to his feet long enough to remove his socks, jeans and underwear.  His hot gaze wondered deliberately over Kitt’s gorgeous form lying on the sofa.  His blond hair was ruffled, his lips swollen.  His white shirt was open, contrasting beautifully with the slight tan of his skin.  He still wore his faded blue jeans but the fly was undone and his thick, deep pink erection stood proud from the open material.

“God, Kitt….”  Michael could barely believe himself sometimes.  When the hell had he started to find male bodies so attractive, so damn hot?  But he knew he hadn’t.  Not male bodies in general.  Just this one.  Just Kitt’s.  He thought he might start to drool if he stared any longer.  “I have to have you.”
Kitt was astounded as what his lover brought out in him.  “Then take me.”
Slowly, almost blushing under the intense regard, Kitt lowered his hands to his own jeans and stroked his fingertips over his erection.  Michael’s breathing changed pace.  No one else saw this blatantly sexual side of his partner.  He watched Kitt unbutton his fly and lift his tight buttocks up off the leather cushion in order to slide his trousers and silk boxers off gracefully.

Michael dropped back onto the sofa on his knees, moving between Kitt’s legs, leaning down to take his lover’s penis into his mouth.  Kitt dropped his head back, unable to stifle the moan that rumbled up from his chest.  Michael moved his lips down over the silky erection until he reached the base.  Kitt’s moan was rewarded.  His lover sucked hard on him before lifting his head to swipe a hot tongue over the tip of the reddening erection.
//Mi….//
Michael smiled to himself, reaching his mental presence further into Kitt’s mind, closer to the core of brilliant light.  He drew the tip of his own presence over that core, revelling in Kitt’s shuddering all around him.

He leaned down further to gently take Kitt’s testicles into his mouth, one by one, tonguing them with loving care, lavishing them.  Kitt was thrusting up, the top of his erection touching Michael’s forehead in his desperation.
//Please//  The word was redundant in the sexual energy burning in their minds.  Kitt was close to him now, touching his nerves, sending shocks down his spine without physical contact.  It wasn’t enough.

Surging up, Michael found his lover’s mouth with his own, thrusting his tongue against Kitt’s, rubbing their bodies together, skin to skin.  He stroked his hand over the underside of Kitt’s thigh up until he could squeeze his lover’s buttock in his palm.  Kitt helpfully lifted that leg and wrapped it around Michael’s waist, deepening the kiss at the same time he deepened the link.
//take me//
//we need….//
//do it!//

Michael moved his hand over Kitt’s smooth, round buttock until his fingers dipped into the crack.  Kitt’s moan into his mouth urged him onwards and he drew his fingertips along that hot crevice until he found the tight entrance to his lover’s body.  Kitt shifted his other leg, hooking his ankle over Michael’s so that his partner now lay between his thighs.

Michael’s mental fingers roughened their caress of Kitt’s core while he pushed the little finger of his right hand passed the tight ring of muscle and into his lover’s anus.  Kitt groaned, the sound vibrating across the kiss they were sharing.
//yours// he sent fiercely, and Michael’s reply matched his possessive tone.  //mine, Kitt, always//  He forced a second finger inside the willing body to join the first, feeling Kitt clenching, clasping him.  His shaft ached painfully.

//just fuck me!//  That crude, bright swear word spoken in Kitt’s soft, beautiful mind voice sent a jolt of white-hot desire through Michael’s body, exploding in his groin.  Using his fingers to part Kitt’s buttocks, Michael drove into him with a force he’d never used before.  Kitt yelled out into the room, but he wrapped his legs up around Michael’s waist and drew him deeper, finding a dark pleasure in the pain.

Deep into the link, they caressed one another.  A fierce love bound them together in this place, a trust beyond anything they had known.  Michael stroked the core of Kitt’s being, matching his strokes here to the long, deep strokes of his cock inside his lover’s body.

Their shared climax was only moments away.  Michael touched the inside of Kitt’s mind, at the same time moving and changing the angle of his entry into Kitt’s body, thrusting almost viciously against his prostate.  Kitt screamed his lover’s name as Michael put a mirror of his own feelings into Kitt’s mind as he made love to his partner.  For an instant, Kitt knew what it was like to have his erection surrounded by the heat of another’s body, the ever-clenching muscles trying to both draw him in and expel him at once.  The mirror shattered, shards of pleasure digging into the core of his mind.

He came hard against Michael’s stomach at the same moment Michael swelled to orgasm deep inside him.  Kitt found his lover’s mouth and ravaged it, pouring love and ecstasy into the kiss, sweeping his tongue across the other man’s before breaking the contact and dropping his head back to the arm of the sofa, spent.

Letting himself slide from his lover, Michael dropped to lie along Kitt’s damp body, his breathing starting to calm, his heartbeat slowly returning to its normal pace.  With some effort, Michael lifted his head and regarded Kitt with all the love he’d ever felt.  He tried to think of some words that would convey everything about what they’d just shared.  But their communication ran below the physical and they both already knew what had happened.

Michael smiled and returned his head to Kitt’s shoulder, feeling his lover’s fingers idly playing against his shoulder.
“Mi?”
“Yeah, Beauty?”
“Can we do that again?”

* * *

The trip into town was uneventful.  Which was a nice change.  Kitt parked the Ferrari behind the old grocery store before proceeding to gather the long list of supplies he and Michael had come up with.  He’d warned his partner that they should shop more often!  Michael had lost the toss of the coin, having to take the long drive to the Foundation to drop off the files while Kitt enjoyed himself outside, browsing through the stores, just generally killing time.  The day was warm, the sun was out and puffy white clouds chased each other around the sky.

Sitting in the park across the road from the strip mall, Kitt allowed himself to relax, take in the scenery.  He and Michael had been so busy lately he had almost forgotten how to relax and let the world drift by.  The mid-morning traffic was light, as usual.  A few of the regular shoppers had greeted him pleasantly, reminding him why he helped people, why both he and Michael kept up the open, friendly demeanour.  Despite everything they did, everything they saw.  He couldn't imagine living as Nick did.  So anonymous.  Granted he and Michael couldn't afford to go about announcing themselves, but having the old lady call 'Good morning Young man' was music to his ears.  This part of his life was so different to the part he spent living and working out of the warehouse.  He liked the contrast, it made life interesting.

Kitt smiled to himself at the memory of the old lady and his reaction to her greeting.  In the car he had never had the ability to act this natural.  To be himself.  If he’d spoken, he’d run a fifty/fifty chance of the person thinking they were hallucinating or grudgingly putting up with a computerized car.  Now he was accepted, no questions asked.  He could come and go at will, with no fears of someone reporting a driverless car, or giving the bad guys a hint as to Michael's capabilities.

Michael had once said he was satisfied being Michael Knight.  That he loved his life.  Kitt had thought he was.  Now, in the android body, he knew fulfilment.  His relationship with Michael, his connection to his brother, his job - for lack of a better term - had their highs and lows for sure.  Breathing in the warm breeze, feeling it on his skin, having completed another assignment, saving another life... there were no words to express his contentment.

Rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt, opening the top button, he stretched out along the park bench for another moment.  He’d used to laugh at Michael's attire, now he knew why his partner dressed in jeans and dress shirts all the time.  Not only were they comfortable, easy to keep looking new and sharp, and they allowed movement in fighting situations.  There was another memorable occasion.  Something Kitt had never considered.  He had grown accustomed to using the car to battle, now he was just another enemy.  Michael had laughed at him the first time Kitt tried to ambush someone.

It had taken a number of months for Kitt to get the co-ordination of fighting tactics.  Strength was not a concern.  The android body could easily out power any man.  He had had to learn to control it, aim it, increase its flexibility.  Roundhouses had Michael in stitches.  A move that Michael performed with relative ease had Kitt on his rear end more times than not.  When he finally did get it, he tossed Michael across the yard.  It was then that he’d realized how much damage he could do. If he wasn't careful, he could kill a man without thinking about it. The work had been enjoyable, and well worth the effort.  Just another shared experience with his lover.

Sighing, he stood.  It was time for him to get on with his errands.  He could sit all day, but it would accomplish nothing.

Waiting at the light, Kitt felt an unusual transmission across the link.  Almost like it hiccuped in his head. It had been dormant most of the morning.  Michael was driving, holding a light block.  Nothing unusual.  Kitt checked the link again as he walked across the street.  Michael sent back his simple acknowledgement of Kitt's query.  Shrugging to himself, he headed towards the stores.

Rounding the corner, at the far end of the building, the link suddenly surged with a heavy block.  Kitt paused in his tracks.
//Mi...??//  Nothing, his partial question echoing back against the solid wall in his head.  Before he could try again, he received a quick Morse code SOS across the Comlink channel. Turning around, he found two armed men behind him.

He could have easily out manoeuvred them, but what if they had Michael?  How many times had they gained the upper hand by Kitt's body being protected by the MBS, by the assailants not realizing he was an android. One of the two would-be thugs waved the gun, indicating the direction Kitt should lead.
"In there."  The storefront was entirely glass, but behind was the inventory storage room.  Brick design, two doors, one in front, one to the back alleyway, no windows, no vents other than the roof ductwork. There was a rectangular table in the middle of the room.  "Lie down."  It seemed that these guys did not possess the intellect to string more than two words together.  Kitt considered his options.  Michael could easily be in any of the other vacant stores.

Hearing the alley door open, Kitt spun.
"Just do as you are told and neither you, nor your friend will be hurt."
Regarding the woman that stood by the door, he felt he knew her from somewhere.  She was pretty, though young.  Most likely about his chronological age.  Dark hair to her hips, pale skin, no make up from the looks of it.

He felt a gun jab into his side.  Deciding it would be safer, if they indeed had Michael, he nimbly hopped up onto the table.  The woman's smile was chilling.  Like she held the greatest secret.  One unexpected shove was all it took for the two burly thugs to get the restraints on.  A hand on his chest held him down, while the other pinned his arms to the legs of the table.  They must have known what they were after.  The wrist straps were at the perfect height, forcing him to remain lying back.  The other arm was easily locked down after that.  Feeling confident that Kitt was sufficiently captured, she approached him.  Smiling happily as his legs were pinned across his ankles by one large band.  Once that had been accomplished, Kitt heard the two men leave via the front, locking the door behind them.

Kitt watched the woman walk circles around the table he was strapped to. He'd tried time and time again to free his arms.  He couldn’t.  The metal of the table was cold against his back and the cuffs holding his arms down over the sides of the table were strong enough to hold him there.  Still, he wasn't afraid, more curious.  All she had done to this point was stare at him.  It reminded him of how some people looked at him while he was still in the car, mixed in with how some women looked at Michael. He wasn't sure if he liked it.

Gently she ran a hand down his bicep.  It was a gentle touch, one that caused goosebumps along that arm.  She smiled, seeing the reaction below the rolled up sleeves of his white cotton shirt.
 She hadn't said anything since her initial threat.  He was confused, not understanding what was happening.

Again he tried to move his legs, but the metal strap allowed very little movement, he could move his feet about three inches apart, but nothing else. The woman snorted watching his efforts.
"Why have you lured me here?"
"You will see soon enough." Her voice was surprisingly deep.
Kitt shuddered involuntarily.  "You don't have my partner do you?"
Again she smiled down at him, shaking her head.  "I want to know *you*." She leaned over him, bringing her face uncomfortably close to his.
"What is it you wish to know?" There was a panic rising inside of him unlike any he had experienced before. No one had managed to trick him like this in the past.  That alone was a frightening thought.

"This." Dropping her head, she pressed her lips to his.  Shocked, Kitt twisted his head, trying to shake her off.  The table beneath him restricted his movement too much.  No matter how he turned, she stuck with him. Breaking away, she licked her lips.  "So you do feel it?  I wasn't sure.
That makes it all the more fun."
"Why are you doing this?" He tried to keep his growing discomfort with the situation from his voice.

She ignored his question as her hand slipped under his collar, against the skin of his neck.  He shivered again.  Her hands were cool, softly caressing his skin.  She remained leaning over him, watching her own hand travel across his neck, back to his throat, then slowly down towards his chest.  Stopping at the restriction of the buttons of his shirt front.  Removing her hand, she undid one button at a time, deliberately pushing the material away.  He tipped his head up, watching her, beginning to get an idea of what she wanted to know.

"Tell me Kitt, how old are you?"
"Twenty." He answered, before he could stop himself.  She had his shirt completely undone now, brushing the material off to the side. Exposing him.  The cool air touched his skin and he felt the prickle as he shivered from it.
"Really?"  She sounded surprised. "You look twenty, you have a young body, but your mind... You're not like any of the men I know.  That's why I want to experience more of you. I've wanted to since we first met."

Deb had always felt an attraction towards this person.  The town she lived in was near to wherever he and the man he lived and worked with stayed. Quietly she had watched them.  The other man was devilishly handsome, but Kitt, he had drawn her in another way.  In all the time he had never changed.  He always had a smile on his face, was happy to help out.  He held doors, offered to carry bags that sort of trivial nonsense.  Even if he seemed in a rush, he lent a hand.

Their one and only meeting had been brief and accidental. She had not been paying any attention when they collided. He had been walking out of the store as she was walking in.  One of those stupid things that one always felt only happened on TV.  But it happened to her, and she met him.  Dropping her bag in the shock of bumping into this man, he had immediately knelt to help her retrieve her purchases.  She had immediately recognized him. He was even more handsome up close.  His eyes a mix of orange and brown, like fine scotch or brandy.  The moment he'd looked at her, she'd been smitten.  He looked young, but seeing him up close, hearing him talk, as he apologized for what he called his carelessness, she realized he could not be as young as he looked.  Plus the confidence and grace he carried himself with.  Like he knew he could take on the world and win. Perhaps he had done.

His friend was like him in that manner, but the tall man scared her, he was a dark horse.  Kitt, who had introduced himself to her that day, was beautiful. He seemed more at one with the world surrounding him, even if he didn't quite seem to fit with it.  The silky blond hair, flowing around his face, made her want to reach out and touch it.  It took all her self-control not to. He handed her bag back with a smile, then paused for a moment, asking if she was okay.  His voice was smooth, flowing with a tinge of an accent she couldn't place.  At that space in time, as she mumbled something about being okay, she knew she had to know more about him.

That had proved to be easier said than done.  He and his friend; whom she suspected was also his lover, were almost impossible to track, follow or find any information about.  The car's license plate wasn't even registered. Knight - what she assumed was his last name.  Suited him, though she was never able to prove it.

The car was easy to recognize as it tooled through town, at times well over the speed limit, but no one at the authorities would lift a hand against them.  Brushing her off every time she mentioned them.  In desperation she contacted a friend of her mother's, someone she knew could give her an answer.  He had simply said that Michael Knight and Kitt worked on their own level, for the good guys.  Then warned her to drop it from there.  But she couldn't get him out of her mind.

He had a slight routine of coming into town. Sometimes Michael joined him, sometimes he was alone.  She followed him from afar.  Watching his movements, where he went, how long he stayed.  Wishing to have the balls to talk to him.  But why would someone who looked as sophisticated as him, go for a poor farm girl?

Now she knew the truth.  Who and what he is.  That shocked her at the start. Now it intrigued her.  Would he respond? Could he respond?  Everything else about him was perfect. Human.  How many others had he been with?  Could he...? No of course not.  How could a computer get her pregnant?  Letting her dark hair trail over his side, she pressed her ear to his chest.  He had a heartbeat!  It was amazing.  Maybe he wasn't all android, maybe the information she'd hired out to get wasn't completely accurate.  He was strong, that she knew.  Taking no chances, she'd followed advice and built the titanium restraints.  The money was easy to attain once one was willing to take the appropriate steps.  Drugs, theft, black market, all easy things to become involved in.  Her body had helped.  Anything to know the feel of him inside her.

Kitt swallowed, trying to access the link, to reach for Michael's help. The panic was growing as she touched him.  No one, other than Swan and Michael had ever touched him before.  Swan for repairs and Michael out of love.  He had vowed to never let anyone else this close to him.  Her fantasy was becoming reality.  She wanted to savour every moment, hoping he'd enjoy it as well.

She lifted her head, catching his confused, even slightly afraid eyes.  Smiling sweetly, she placed her hand along his cheek, tracing his jawline, feeling his strength, wondering if that would transpire into his lovemaking.  Shifting she kissed him again, holding his head between her hands, willing him to participate.  Pulling away suddenly when he made no allowances for her tongue.

His eyes were wide, his breathing had increased slightly. Changing tactics, she trailed kisses along his chest, stopping at the nipple as he sucked in his breath at the intimate contact.
"Don't do this, please."
Lifting her head at his plea, she regarded him for a moment. "Why?  Don't you want me?"
Kitt swallowed nervously.  "I'm seeing someone."
"So?  Why not expand your horizons?"  The devious smile sent chills down his spine.  He thought he recognized her a short while ago.  This couldn't be the shy girl he'd seen watching him from a distance.  The girl Michael had mercilessly teased him about.  'Your secret admirer is drooling at you from over the road'.  He'd thought it harmless, child's play.  Now he knew different.  She had serious intentions.  Yet, if she cared for him she would respect his wishes.
"Look Debby, I'm happy with my relationship."
Lifting up, her face radiating joy at his mentioning her name. "You remember."  Flinging her arms around his neck, he was engulfed in a hug.  Shamelessly she pressed her body against him.

Moving again, kissing down his chest, she paused, looking up at him, watching him watch her.  Slowly, beyond his line of sight, she brought her left hand up, over his thigh, in a single stealthy movement, she placed her hand between his legs.

Kitt's breath froze in his throat.  He couldn't believe this was happening to him.  That she'd disregard his wishes like this.  Feeling her hand grasping and sliding over a part of him only Michael had touched brought his fear to the forefront of his mind.
//MICHAEL!!!//  Nothing, silence. //God Michael Please answer me!//
Shifting away from him, he felt his belt being undone. Lifting his head, he had to be sure, his CPU not wanting to acknowledge her actions.  But she was and it would be remembered for his entire life.  Opening his jeans, separating the material enough to allow her access to her prize.
"Why are you doing this?" He could hear the desperation, the pleading in his voice, why couldn't she?
Looking up from between his legs, she answered simply, "because I want you."  Gently she pulled him from the confines of his clothing.  His eyes wide, disbelieving that his body would betray him to this extent.  Taking her time, stoking him, encouraging him, reaching to hold all of him in her hands.

Growling in fright and anger, he focused his mind on the wall beside him, anything to stop the pleasure.  God, it was the last thing he wanted.  How could he enjoy the feel of her hand around his testicles?  He swallowed, feeling her mouth close around him.  His head dropped back.  Trying to will himself to stop the erection from happening.  He searched his CPU for something, anything that would stop this.  But he and Swan had deliberately designed the android body to react as a human male would.  He hadn't wanted to be able to switch his pleasure on and off, he had wanted to be able to react to Michael naturally as he had before.  Now he wished they'd designed it differently.   The more she kissed him, licked him, the harder he became.

//Michael!!!// Still nothing.  He wasn't sure what was worse, her actions or the link not responding.  It was there, he could feel it, it was heavily blocked.  He gasped, half groaning as she nipped at him.
"See, you do want me." Moving over him once again, laying her body over his.
Desperately hoping to make her realize he didn't want this, he shook his head. "Please stop.  Don't do this."
Catching his mouth open she forced her tongue past his lips, to slide against his. To taste him. He tried to turn away, break away from her somehow.  It was futile.  He was trapped and at her mercy.
"Please no."  He begged, trying to catch his breath when she finally pulled back.  Her hands were all over him now.  His chest, shoulders, down his arms, back up, then to his erection, pausing there, touching, caressing, causing him to jerk in response.  He hated himself for allowing his to happen.  When had he lost control and why couldn't he regain it?  There had to be a code here, somewhere, to stop this.

She stopped.  Kitt heaved a small sigh of relief.  She wasn't touching him any more.  Maybe she was done.  He could find Michael now, ask for his help, his forgiveness.  Opening his eyes, he regretted it immediately.  Deb climbed over him, naked.  He'd never seen a naked woman before.  Unable to stop himself, he stared at her.  There was a part of him that wanted to touch her, to feel her breasts. He clamped down on that thought, shame and disgust at himself leaping. How the hell could he have permitted himself to think that?  Why was there any pleasure or need in this when he hated himself for what was happening?

Leaning over Kitt, desire rising as he looked at her, Deb kissed him again, easily worming her tongue between his lips. As her breasts came into contact with his chest he gasped. She took the opportunity, deepening her kiss, ravaging him.

Kitt struggled.  Against the bonds, against her kiss, trying to get out from under her.
But his movements only turned her on even more.  His chest rubbing against hers, his erection touching her body.  The ache she had felt for him had turned into full-blown desire.  She'd never felt a man respond like this.  Deepening the kiss, she reached between them, grabbing him again, feeling rewarded as he moaned. Holding him against her, she shifted, rubbing him along herself, letting him know just how much she wanted him.  No man could deny this kind of need.  Slowly she lowered herself onto him, sheathing him in a slow continuous moment.

Kitt's eyes sprang open as he felt himself enter her body.  All other functions suspended as she took him. He had never imagined this kind of heat surrounding him.
//Michael! Oh God Michael please!//

She was moving over him now. Her breasts rubbing against his chest, her body sliding along his.  Kitt's head tipped back, breaking from her demanding kiss.  His hands clasped onto the tables legs, holding on for dear life.  Deb was moaning, panting above him.
//Michael!! Oh God Michael please help me! Michael!!//
 

When the block dropped, Michael was standing outside FLAG, delivering a file to Devon. //Michael! Michael help me please!!//  Michael bit back a cry of surprise.  He dug his fingernails into his forehead, his knees almost giving way as Kitt's panic overloaded him.
//Kitt?//  His reply was bordering on mirroring his partner's panic.
//MICHAEL!!  Please help me!  Stop her!  Oh God, please stop her!//
Stumbling to the car, unable to acknowledge Devon's questions, he gunned the engine, hitting the tracking system, aiming for wherever Kitt might be.

Kitt's terror wasn't what had Michael trembling in fear, it was whatever it was underlying it.  Holding a slight block in place, listening to his partner's screams in his head he pushed the car passed its limits.  He didn't remember a time when he'd wished the car could go faster.
//Kitt, I'm on my way.//
//Stop her! Please Michael!!//
'Oh, God, Kitt, stop who?'  He kept his thoughts carefully to himself, but he couldn't stop his mind working madly.  //Hang on, Kitt, I'm coming.  Hang on, Beauty//
 

Debby sat back, taking him as deep as she could.  Michael's use of the beloved pet name made it worse, pushed memories to the forefront of his mind, memories she was corrupting.  How inappropriate the name was now.  She was looking down at him, with hunger, his head stretched back as far as possible, she dropped back to him, nipping, kissing at his offered throat.
"Stop, please stop."  She never heard him.  Lost in her own world, feeling herself approaching her own peak, she strove to have him join her there.  Picking up the pace, caressing his body, anything she could imagine to help him.  Instinctively, he reached for the link, for loving warm glow, only to be harshly met by confusion and fear. Revolted at his own actions, he slammed a block in place, saving Michael from this, wishing he could save himself.

He never heard his partner’s desperate cry of his name as he vanished from Michael’s mind.

He couldn't stop it, tried to prevent it.  He felt it begin, his mind focusing in on that one section of his anatomy.  Still, it happened, he climaxed.  A terrible, unwanted feeling that was so far from the mind blowing explosions he experienced with Michael. A mix of shame, disgust and relief.  She cried out, her body gripping him inside her before collapsing to lie over him. It was over.  At least it was over.

Breathing heavily, she lifted slightly off him to place a soft kiss on his lips.  After dressing herself, she slowly, almost tenderly did up his jeans. Looking past him, something caught her attention.  Walking around the table, the small silver box had a quickly fading red light on top.  Tossing it carelessly off to the side, before re joining Kitt, she smiled. "Batteries ran out.  I guess it's time for me to leave.  I hope Michael enjoyed it too."  Kitt cringed at the mention of his lover's name. Placing another kiss on his lips, not seeing the turmoil she had inflicted, she caressed his face, her eyes filled with lazy satisfaction.
 

"Kitt?!" Searching the building took no time at all. Two rooms back to back.  In the rear room, he spotted Kitt, tied down onto a sterile looking table.  His shirt was undone, hanging off his arms that where held down along the sides.

Rushing forward, Michael stopped at Kitt's side.  The restraints were easy to unlatch, if one could reach the latches.  Calling Kitt's name, seeing no response, dread filled him.  With shaking hands, Michael ran his fingers through Kitt's hair, pushing it away from his face.  "Kitt, come on, Partner, wake up." At his touch, Kitt's eyes sprung open, fear streaming across the link.
"It's okay.  You're alright." Michael helped Kitt sit up, all the while trying to translate what Kitt was feeling and hoping to calm him at the same time.

Kitt was shaking uncontrollably.  There was nothing he could do about it. And he knew why. He knew what rape was, had heard how horrible the experience could be.  It was nothing like it had been described as, it was far worse.

Michael's blue eyes where staring into his.  Kitt had blocked the link before going off line.  He knew some of the worse tremors were passing through, reaching Michael. His body and mind were completely at odds.  A part of him wanted to jump into Michael's arms, be comforted by him, the other part wanted to run away.  He couldn't ever expect Michael to forgive him.

Michael couldn't understand what was going on.  Kitt refused to look at him, refused to drop the block. The only hint as to what was happening was the crumbling of the block Kitt was holding.  As if he was in such inner pain, it dissolved the block from inside.   Looking around, he spotted the rectangular silver box.  "What's this?" Picking it up, Michael turned the heavy metal over in his hands.
"It blocked the link, she used it to lure me in." Michael's eyes snapped up.  Kitt's voice was weak, a tremor running through it that tore at his heart.
"Kitt please, what happened here?"

Kitt's mouth opened, then shut again.  He couldn't bring himself to say the words. Looking up, he caught Michael's gaze.  Something sparked within him. A fire, desire wrought with defiance.  Standing he practically jumped towards the man he loved, praying this would erase her action.  Standing on his toes, he brought Michael to him, burying his hands in the dark hair, capturing his lips with his own.

The kiss was deep, demanding, like nothing Michael had ever felt from Kitt. Wrapping his arms around the still trembling form, he returned the passion, letting his own fear rule this moment.  Pulling back suddenly, Kitt stared into the blue eyes he knew so well.  Breathing heavily he stepped back, eyes wide, astounded by his actions. Guilt weighed heavily on him.  He had no right to treat Michael like this.

It wasn't fair, it didn't feel right.  God, even touching Michael felt tainted now.  Looking at his best friend, Michael could literally see Kitt shrink before him.  Closing himself off to everything and everyone around him.  Reaching out, Kitt jumped back.

Controlling the flood, Michael motioned to the car. "Let's get out of here, huh?" Keeping a wide berth around Michael, Kitt looked to the car out in the alley, to what he hoped would be safety.

*

The swift drive home had been in silence.  Kitt was holding up a heavy block, but periodically it would crack or fall and a myriad of emotions would pour through in the seconds before Kitt built it again.  Michael had wrapped his coat around his shaking partner, and on the drive back he’d called Swan, asking her to meet them at the barn.  That had been one of the times that the link had dropped and he wasn’t sure that he’d done the right thing.

Back at the barn, Kitt had silently climbed out of the car and headed inside, turning the alarm system off, moving on auto-pilot to drop into the corner of the couch and pull his legs up under his chin.  He winced as he did so, feeling his soft penis against the denim of his jeans.  He didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to be reminded.  For the first time since he’d moved into the android, he wished he were still in the car.

Michael crouched on the floor beside him, reaching up to touch his hair, drawing his hand away when Kitt flinched.  After the desperate screaming that had been in his head, this silence was almost unbearable.
“Kitt… talk to me, please….  I came for you as fast as I could….  I know they hurt you.”  Whiskey eyes regarded him with sorrow and Kitt shook his head, but he didn’t say a word.  Michael wished his partner would drop the block.  He tried a different tactic.  “Are you injured?”
His lover wouldn’t let him touch him, never mind check his body.  He had the image in his mind of Kitt lying strapped to that table, shirt open, and a terrible dread was growing in the pit of his stomach.

Kitt shook his head in answer to Michael’s question.  The care and concern in the ocean blue eyes was eating into him.  He knew he’d have to tell him sooner or later but he couldn’t find the words.  The proximity alarm announced Swan’s arrival, and as the gentle bleep sounded, a shudder passed through Kitt’s body.  He didn’t want this, didn’t want her prodding and poking at him.  His android wasn’t damaged.  It had betrayed him.  He’d betrayed himself, climaxed despite his hatred of what Debbie had been doing to him.  In his mind, he was screaming.  But the heavy blocks over the links there kept the shrill sound within himself.

They heard her car in the drive and Michael went to let her in.  Kitt heard their quiet initial conversation and then she came to sit on the opposite end of the couch.  She made no move to touch him and he was thankful for that.  She just looked at him for a long moment.

His seated position spoke volumes to her.  He had himself pulled into until into as small a package as he could manage.  His eyes were filled with self-hatred.  His whole demeanour had changed since she’d been with him only two days ago.  That, and what Michael had told her he’d found and heard through the implant, was pointing her in a definite direction.  If she was right, there was nothing she could do here.

“Kitt, is there something wrong that I can fix?” she asked carefully.  He shook his head, not trusting his voice.  She nodded.  “Michael told me how he found you.  I’m going to ask you, Kitt, because I know you won’t say it.  Just nod if I’m right, and I’ll leave, okay?”  A nod.  “Were you raped?”
Michael’s drawn breath was audible in the silence.  Kitt lowered his head, closing his eyes, but he lifted his chin once, twice.  Swan’s heart sank, she felt marginally sick, but there wasn’t anything she could do or say that would make this any easier.  Slowly, she stood, taking Michael with her as she went outside.

“Call Nick, get him and Karr over here.  I’d be surprised if they weren’t already on their way.  If you heard his screams, the chances are that Karr heard some kind of backwash at least.”  Michael was staring at the car in front of them and she could almost feel his reaction.  “Anger isn’t going to help here,” she told him quietly, “he needs you.  He probably doesn’t even understand what’s happened, or why.”  She touched Michael’s arm, feeling the subtle trembling through him.   Nothing she was going to say was going to change the way he felt at this moment.  “Call me if you need to, but I think my presence here right now will just make things worse.”
 

He watched her leave, and almost without thinking, he went back inside the barn conversion.  Kitt was still in the corner of the couch, forehead resting on his knees, when Michael took the seat that Swan had vacated.
“Kitt….  Please, drop the block.”  The blond head moved from right to left.  “I can help you, I want to help you.”
There was a long silence.  Then he heard a tear-filled voice.  “Why?  Why do you want to help me?”
Michael’s heart threatened to break.  “Because I love you.”
“How can you love me?”  This time that broken voice was filled with self-loathing.  “I’m disgusting.  I betrayed you.”
“You didn’t betray me.  And you’re not disgusting.  Please drop the block.”  Another shake of his head.  Michael just wanted to comfort his lover, and if he couldn’t do that the part of him that was raging wanted to tear apart whoever was responsible for this.  Sighing, reaching back, Michael grabbed the phone handset and pressed the speed-dial for Nick’s mobile.

It rang once.  “What the hell happened?” Nick’s strained voice asked the moment he picked up the call.  Michael could hear the quiet of the Stealth’s engine in the background.  They were on the move.
“Can you come to the barn?”
“We’re in a bit of a situation at the moment….”  Michael heard him swear softly and realized all was not well.
“Nick….”
“Don’t worry about it.  Karr went nuts about twenty minutes ago and dropped us in it.  We’ll be with you when we get rid of the tail.”
“Don’t bring them here.”  Nick didn’t answer that.  But for Michael to have said it, he knew there must be something wrong.
“We’ll be there.  Then you can explain what the fuck is going on.”
Michael ended the call.  Nick had enough to deal with at the moment.  So did he.
 

Facing Kitt again, he took in his position.  Kitt usually sat tucked up, but not like this.  Sitting on the coffee table across from him, Michael thought about sitting on his hands, but he couldn't do that to himself or Kitt.  He had to convince Kitt to come out of his cocoon. Soon.  If not, he could see his friend slipping further and further away from him.

"Kitt, I know your hurting, blaming yourself, but believe me when I say I still love you.  Don't say anything."  He could see Kitt's head move. "Listen to me.  We've dealt with rape before.  Helped so many people deal with the aftermath.  Now it our turn.  It's going to take time, I'm aware of that.  I can deal with that, but God Kitt, please talk to me.  Anything.  Just start talking.  Closing up isn't going to help you.  Please... let me help you.  Let me love you."

Kitt's head tipped up slightly.  Tears flowed slowly over his cheeks.  Hugging his knees tighter, he forced himself to look directly at Michael.  A tiny wave of relief washed over him.  There was no revulsion, no reprimands. Only open concern and love.  He hadn't realized he'd relaxed his arms and lifted his head a little further.

Hope sparked inside Michael.  He hadn't dared to dream of Kitt coming around this much this fast. "Kitt, I'm going to touch you now, okay?"  Lifting his hand, he waited, his fingers close to Kitt's face until the terror subsided from his eyes and he nodded.  Slowly, making sure Kitt could see his intentions, he lay his palm against Kitt's wet cheek.  Waiting.  Kitt had never been anything but receptive to his touch.  Now, they both sat, eyes closed.  Finally, Kitt's head tipped into Michael's hand. Looking up, Kitt watched Michael exhale the air he'd been holding since he'd dared to reach out.
"Michael, I need..."
"What?  Whatever you want Kitt, please...."
Tears still running down his face, he finally gained the courage to tell Michael what he'd been wanting ever since he'd come back online.  In the smallest, most pleading voice Michael had ever heard from Kitt, "Hold me?"

Shifting over, reining in the idea of pulling Kitt into him, he slowly sat beside him, continuing the deliberate movements, opening himself, letting Kitt lean against him.  Then shift to cuddle right into Michael's chest.  Michael's arms came around him, cradling his head, holding him secure.
"I love you Beautiful.  Please don't ever doubt that."  Gently, without thinking, he placed a small kiss atop Kitt's head.  Kitt stiffened, sucking him his breath, but didn't break away.

Closing his eyes Michael waited for Kitt to break from him.  Instead, Kitt's head shifted towards the centre of his chest, removing the possibility of Michael making the same mistake and allowing Kitt to feel and hear Michael's heartbeat.  For as long as he could remember he had searched out this familiar rhythm.  It had always been able to calm him, reassure him.  Now it meant so much more.  It was no longer an electronic facsimile, it was the real thing an it held a great deal of power over him.  Right now it was fast, much faster than normal.

"She said she just wanted to know me."  Michael's heart jumped as Kitt began speaking.  Settling in closer, feeling it flutter beneath his head, Kitt continued. "She's been stalking us, me.  I've seen her so many times. I never thought she could...." Collecting himself, he continued. "It was so different.  A different kind of... pain.  She touched me so lightly to start with.  I had no idea what she was thinking."

Michael sat with his eyes closed, holding Kitt tightly, listening, wishing with all his heart that it had happened to him and not Kitt.  At least he deserved it for all the terrible things he'd done in his life, but Kitt....  God, how could anyone do this to his Beauty?
"I've never been... never thought about making love to anyone but you.  How could I have let myself be used like that? By a woman?  How can you enjoy that?"
A soft smile touched Michael's lips, one that Kitt could not see. "It's a lot different if you're in love, or even in lust."  It was difficult, so difficult to keep himself from caressing the slight form snuggled against his chest.  To stay still, ignoring his own need to comfort and be comforted, was the most he had ever asked of himself.
"She used that transmitter to block the link, then sent an SOS over the Comlink.  I had no reason to think it wasn't you.  Two men escorted me into that room, securing me down.  I didn't want to hurt them.  But if I had, I could have so easily escaped.  Prevented this."
"You have nothing to blame yourself for.  You're wonderful.  Selfless."
"Too much so."
"Maybe, but it's who you are.  You can't let this change you."
"Why not?" The words were bitter, filled with spite
"'Cause then she'll have won."

Kitt tipped his head up, facing Michael straight on.  Lifting slightly, he allowed their lips to meet for a brief second, a touch that sent shivers down Michael's spine.  He had never felt anything so tenuous before.  It had taken a great deal for Kitt to bridge that gap.  One he knew was not going to be crossed again for a great deal of time.

Kitt turned back, resting against Michael again, feeling a small semblance of security.  Closing his eyes, he let the block drop slowly, hearing Michael's relieved in take of breath, and gentle moan as Kitt allowed his misery to be felt by Michael, as he felt Michael's warmth and reassurance in return.  Michael remained at a distance from the implant, waiting, letting Kitt find the depth of the link with which he was comfortable. And slowly, eventually, Kitt powered down to recharge his stressed systems after his ordeal.

*

He heard the car in the drive.  Reining in his stormy emotions, Michael stroked his hand over Kitt’s hair.  Dropping a kiss to the blond head, he gently eased himself out from under his partner and settled Kitt with infinite gentleness onto the sofa cushions.  Heading up the stairs to the bedroom he took the light duvet cover off the bed and brought it downstairs.  Being careful not to disturb the sleeping AI, he covered him, crouching beside his lover’s sleeping form.  Kitt had  overloaded his own systems.  He had needed to offline, to recharge his stressed-out neural nets.  To sleep and to start to heal.

Nick let himself in, stopping just inside when he saw Kitt.  “Mike?”
Michael rose, dropped a light kiss to his partner’s forehead and took Nick over to the other side of the barn conversion, to the patio doors at the other end of the ground floor.  “You lost them?”  Nick nodded.  “Easily.  Want to tell me what happened?”  Michael shook his head, smiling ironically.  “We were conducting silent surveillance on some very nasty people when all of a sudden Karr screams, and I don’t mean in pain, I mean….”  Nick shrugged, shaking his head.  “I don’t know what I mean.  But it wasn’t pleasant, and it instantly gave us away when their sound sensors picked us up!”  He glared at Michael.  “What happened?”
Michael hesitated.  “Block Karr.”  Off Nick’s surprised expression, he said, “If he reacts, he wakes Kitt, you’ll destroy a lot of progress.  Believe me.”  Nick sighed, but he erected the block against his very annoyed partner.
“It’s done.”
“Okay.  Some bitch lured Kitt to her with my Comlink signal, and then raped him.”

Nick stared.  He let out a deep breath and turned to glance at the sleeping AI on the couch.  For a few seconds he couldn’t think of anything to say.  And then he looked back at his friend to study his expression.  “Jesus.”
Michael sighed, a deep, shuddering sound.  “I have to find her, Nick.”
“Of course.”  There was nothing else he could do, he was all business in a moment, although his eyes betrayed his calm exterior.  They were murderous.  “Where do we start?”
Michael’s mouth opened then closed.  He looked away to gaze out of the patio doors.  “I have a name – Debbie.  She lives somewhere in town although I doubt she would have gone back home.  I think she’s been planning this for some time, she had some hardware that could block the link.  Kitt can place an image in Karr’s CPU from his memories.”
Nick nodded.  “He can.  Would he want to?”
“No.”  Michael swallowed back, harshly forcing his emotions into check.  “There’s something more.  If it would help, if we need to we can get DNA.  Kitt hasn’t… washed.”

He lost the battle with his deep emotions.  Without another word, Michael turned and headed for the front door.  He closed it behind him and stood for a few seconds in the sunlight, watching the golden rays dance on the surface of their TransAm.  Then, in a moment, the anger flooded to the surface.  He launched at the car, slamming his bunched fist against the unforgiving surface, at the same time kicking out at the door.  Again and again he smashed his fists and feet against the car’s body, letting out his rage, his hatred, so that – God help him – he wouldn’t take it out on her when he found her.

When his rage finally faded, and the pain he was inflicting on himself cut through to his brain, he broke down.  Leaning heavily on the car, Michael dropped his forehead on to his crossed forearms and let his tears begin.  The breath choked in his throat and his whole body jerked as his tears turned to sobs.

Inside, Nick crossed to sit on the armchair to the right of Kitt’s head.  Keeping his gaze on Kitt’s still form, he dropped the block.  His partner was waiting, furious.
<Don’t you dare do that to me again!  What is happening?  Michael is out here… he is upset>
Understatement of the century.  Nick sent a wave of calm.  <Block your link with Kitt>
<He is blocking me!>
<Do it anyway>  He felt Karr’s grumble, but also sensed him complying.  <Karr… Kitt has been raped>  There was no response for a second.  Then he could only feel the spectrum of emotions that poured from his partner.  He felt him move to touch his brother.  <No!>  Karr glanced at him, surprised.  <Don’t.  He’s sleeping.  He’s been through hell, let him keep the peace he’s found, just for now, please>
Karr backed away, turning his attention toward his partner.  <I don’t understand… how can this happen?>  Nick could feel the confusion coming from the AI and couldn’t help but feel for him.  This was a conversation he hadn’t imagined himself ever having.
 

"He is strong."
Michael looked up.  He hadn't even acknowledged that the Stealth was there.  His head felt stuffed full of cotton wool.  "Don't wake him, please."
"Nick has explained to me.  Kitt still sleeps."
Not bothering to wipe the tears from his eyes, Michael regarded the Stealth from over the TransAm.  "What did you feel?" he asked Karr quietly.
Karr hesitated.  But in this, he and Kitt's partner were sharing the AI's suffering.  "Panic.  Betrayal.  Hatred.  Confusion.  I felt them all at once."
Michael blinked at the black car near him.  "Betrayal?" Yes he had felt it, but he hoped Karr could help him know why.

"Of himself."  Was the quiet response.  One Michael did not wish to face.  Letting himself sag against the car, he knew he'd never look at another rape victim the same way.  That neither he nor Kitt would ever see them in the same light as they had before.
"You...."Michael began, unsure of how to ask this.
"I am not as detached as I would wish in this situation."
Michael nodded, he had suspected as such.  Still he needed to know if the other soul that was seeded into Kitt's being was as understanding.  They were Kitt's only hope of recovery.  The two Kitt could be absolutely secure in their feelings towards him.

*

Outside it was pitch black.  They were far enough away from a major city to avoid light pollution and from the garden at night the stars and galaxies were clear.  Kitt loved to sit on the hood of their car and just watch the night-time activity in the skies.

Not tonight.

Tonight he lay on the sofa, still asleep, still covered in the duvet Michael had pulled over him earlier.  Nick had been out to collect Kitt’s beloved Ferrari from behind the grocery store in town and had brought back Chinese take-out.  Michael hadn’t really been hungry, but Nick had persuaded him to at least try to eat.  He’d made his way through a carton of Sweet & Sour noodles before he’d realized it.  They’d done some research and Karr was currently tracking down an address for one Debra Mckannon.  Nick had gone to catch up on some sleep in the guest bedroom.

Michael silently lit the four wicks of the large, square candle on the coffee table.  Leaning down, he let his gaze linger for a time on the peaceful face of his sleeping partner.  The android made him look young, but tonight he seemed too young.  Gone was the lively, giving, sensual being he’d lived with for so long.  In its place was a broken, distraught AI who didn’t understand why or how this had happened to him.  He made a silent promise to see Kitt through the nightmare ahead of them.  Gently, he touched his lips to the warm forehead and moved away, softly turning off the dim lights.

Heading upstairs, Michael grabbed the spare duvet from the airing cupboard in their en-suite and kicked off his shoes.  Changing his jeans for dark sweatpants, unbuttoning his shirt, throwing it to the floor, he dropped onto the bed, pulling the duvet over him.  A minute later, he turned, so that his feet were on the pillows and his head was cushioned on his crossed arms where he lay on his stomach.  Like this he could keep an eye on Kitt.  He hadn’t wanted his partner to wake in the dark, but neither had he wanted to wake him.  Thus the candle.

He’d believed himself to be tired, but now as he lay here alone, he found he couldn’t sleep.  His mind was too active but at the same time too empty.  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept without Kitt next to him in some form or other.  Tonight he was keeping his distance from the link, not blocking but waiting, watching.  Kitt was close by but he was curled in upon himself.

Sighing deeply, Michael moved his arms and settled down, closing his eyes.  But the images in his mind came closer, images borne of what Kitt had told him of his experience at Debbie’s hands.  Without prompting, Michael’s sometimes deranged imagination had conjured up his lover’s terror, his endurance of her unwanted advances and the android body’s terrible betrayal.  Aided by the memory of Kitt screaming in his mind, the pictures were clear in the dark behind his eyes.

Shivering once, he grabbed one of the pillows at his feet and beat it into the shape he wanted before pushing it under his chin and getting comfortable.  He wasn’t going to sleep, and with the images in his head, a part of him wasn’t sure he wanted to.  Instead, he let his gaze rest on his beloved Kitt and shut any other thoughts from his mind.
 

In his dream, he was screaming, but when he woke he realized that he wasn’t making a sound.  His heart was racing and he was too hot under the heavy duvet.  Slowly the darkness of the barn conversion gave way to the light of the candle still burning below.  The memories of his nightmare faded.  In the circle of the candle’s glow, he could make out Kitt shifting on the sofa.  Something had woken him, Michael hoped it hadn’t been nightmares.
“//Hey//”  He backed the quiet word up with a gentle call through the link, and Kitt sat up, confused for a moment, bemused when he looked up and saw Michael watching him from the end of their bed.  //”You okay?”//

Kitt didn’t answer.  Instead, he climbed out from under the duvet and lifting the candle into his hands he used its light to illuminate his way to and up the stairs.  Michael sat up, watching his partner make his way to him, keeping the relieved, joyous expression from his face and from the link.  Carefully, Kitt placed the candle onto the wooden floor at the end of the bed and knelt onto the mattress.

Michael wasn’t sure what to do next.  Before, Kitt had allowed the embrace.  But that had been on the sofa, this was in bed.  He wasn’t sure if this was different or not.
“Want me to put a sweater on?” he asked quietly, experimentally.
Kitt shook his head.  For a few moments, he continued to look down at the sheets.  When he did look up, when he met Michael’s eyes, the link flared with painful uncertainty.  “I… I can’t….”
Understanding, Michael slowly reached out and covered Kitt’s hand with his own where it was palm down on the mattress.  “I’ll just hold you.  Nothing more.  I do understand what you’ve been through, that you’re frightened.  I’m not gonna make that worse.”

In the warm candlelight, Michael saw the tears gathering in Kitt’s whiskey eyes.  “Come ‘ere.”  Kitt stretched his legs out from under him and let Michael’s arms surround him, pull him close.  Letting go for just a moment, Michael reached up and grabbed the end of the duvet, hauling it over them both.  Kitt settled against the heat of his partner, his head under Michael’s chin, his arms tucked between them.
//Mi…//  The voice in Michael’s mind was distant.  He could understand the AI not wanting to come too close but he wished he could communicate that it wasn’t necessary.  He was more than willing to share the pain of Kitt’s memories, to lessen the humiliation and self-loathing that he was feeling.  But it was too soon.  He could only hope his partner would slowly open up to him and let him help.

Reaching a tendril of his own amber presence toward his restless mate, he stroked over the small white light with infinite care.  //ssh, sleep now//

*

Michael woke to the sunlight streaming in through the tall window at the head of the bed.  His feet were poking out from the top of the duvet, comfortable on the pillows.  Kitt had turned in the night and was still sleeping, his back pressed against Michael’s front, his hands rested on Michael’s arm still wrapped over him.  For a time he just lay there, happy to hold his lover, to offer what little comfort and security that he could.

Movement downstairs caught his attention and his tipped his head back to look through the wooden railings to the floor below.  Nick was wondering into the lounge area with a pot of coffee and a mug in one hand and his laptop in the other.  Dropping into one of the armchairs he silently booted the machine up, leaving the pot on the coffee table to stew some more.  He liked his coffee as strong as it would get before going cold.

Shifting carefully, not wanting to wake the AI, Michael slipped out from under the duvet and grabbing some clean clothing he headed for the en-suite.  He washed and changed, gazing at his own reflection in the mirror.  Despite having slept a good five hours or so, he looked as if he’d had no rest in days.  He looked as if this nightmare had been haunting them for days instead of hours.  He mentally shook himself.  This wouldn’t help anyone.

Stepping out of the bathroom he let his eyes linger on Kitt for a few seconds.  The silky blond hair had fallen back behind his ear, giving Michael a stark view of the young face.  He loved Kitt so very much, he supposed if he didn’t, this wouldn’t have hurt as deeply as it had done.  His once-innocent partner had been cruelly shown yet again proof of the evil that could live in the human soul.  In the past they’d worked through the bad times, putting it down to the job, to the hazards of their profession.  This time the attack had been of a different nature, one Kitt could barely understand and couldn’t comprehend.  Maybe he still looked okay on the outside, but on the inside he’d been shattered, and for anyone who knew him, the signs were obvious.  Usually Kitt’s chest would rise and fall in sleep like any man’s, but this morning he was completely still.  He’d taken all his systems off line.

Resisting the urge to touch Kitt, Michael turned and headed downstairs to steal Nick’s coffee.  The other man looked up and smiled.
“How is he?”
Michael just looked at his friend, not answering until he’d grabbed a mug from the kitchen and had taken a seat on the sofa.  “He’s….”  There wasn’t one word to describe it.  The plethora of emotions that Karr had spoken of yesterday were all still there, vying for importance in the front of Kitt’s mind.  “She took probably the last shred of innocence he had,” Michael said sadly.

Nick couldn’t help.  He couldn’t express his own fury at what Kitt had been put through.  He loved the AI, simply put.  They’d grown close over the years the four of them had worked together.  Nick had, on rare occasions, even touched the bright presence when he had been in Karr’s CPU.  That someone had lured him, trapped him, and forced him into sex was ample fuel for Nick’s explosive anger.  But he kept it on a tight leash.  Whatever he was feeling, he imagined Michael was feeling it a hundred times more intensely.

“I’ve found her,” Nick stated carefully.  “I have an address.”
Michael was silent for a moment.  Very subtly, he built a light block between he and Kitt.  “Where?”
“Other side of town.  Satellite shows some activity at the house around eleven last night.  I don’t think she’s planning on making a run for it.”
For a time, Michael sipped at the hot coffee, eyes staring unfocused through the low table in front of them.  “I’ll pick her up.”
Nick regarded him sceptically.  “Sure that’s such a good idea?”
“I want her to know who I am.  I want her to realise that if she so much as looks at him again, I’ll bury her.”
Nodding once, Nick glanced out at the driveway.  “I’ll come with you.  Take two cars.  We can leave Kitt here with Karr.  They need some time to talk.”
Michael was grateful for the understanding.  Kitt would eventually find out, but by then the police would have the bitch that hurt him in their custody and Nick would ensure she wasn’t immediately freed on bail.

The sound of the bed creaking quietly drew Michael’s gaze to the balcony.  He could see Kitt’s head moving from side to side.  Putting his mug on to the glass table, Michael stood, heading up to be with his partner once again.  Nick watched him go.
<Your anger is justified>  Nick couldn’t help but smile at the reassurance.
<And yours?>
<Equally.  His belief in himself is in ruins.  She has torn into his stability>
Nick raised his mental eyebrows, but didn’t comment.  <You can help him>
<Only if he will let me>
Nick nodded to himself.  Up in the balcony bedroom, Michael was crouched on the floor next to the low bed.  Kitt was half-sitting up, clinging to his partner, held in tight, safe arms.
<Nightmare>  Karr supplied.
Nick was surprised.  <I thought he was blocking you>
<He does not have the will to block me that heavily>
That made sense.  Even in the state Kitt was in, Michael and Karr were his lifelines.  Perhaps he was too, indirectly.  He realized that if Kitt came to him now, he wouldn’t know what to say to the AI, how to help him.  This wasn’t something that could be solved by knowledge, threats or violence.
<You would listen.  That would be enough>

Smiling, Nick reached out, wound a part of himself around the dark velvet of his partner and held on for just a moment in a silent thank you.

*

In front of the tall window to the left of the front door, Kitt stood with his arms wrapped around himself.  Earlier, he’d watched Michael take the TransAm out after returning from a run during which he’d obviously pushed himself too hard and too far.  Nick had come from the shower, seen that the car was gone, and had taken off after him after asking Kitt politely but hurriedly if he could borrow the Ferrari.  They’d left Karr to protect him, to look after him.  Something was happening and it didn’t take a genius to guess what.  They’d found her.  And they were going after her.

He didn’t want to think about how he felt, about her, about what she’d done, what she’d taken from him.  His gaze fell on the black shape of the Stealth and slowly he walked to the front door, opening it, closing it behind him.  He was one of only three people who would dare to sit on the hood of this car.  Nick and Alex were the only others who were comfortable enough with Karr to trust him not to injure them.  Michael, despite the years that he’d known this changed Karr, would never consider coming so close without a very good reason.

“Kitt….”  Karr’s deep growl was surprisingly gentle as his brother slipped gracefully onto the jet-black hood, pulling his knees up under his chin and after stroking the flawless paintwork once, wrapping his arms around his legs.  He stared off into the distance, over the gravel of the drive, the small oval lawn beyond and the forestry that surrounded the property.  He loved it here, loved the peace and quiet and security of this place.

“Are you in pain?” Karr’s question, again, was quiet and gentle.  The younger AI was still blocking him and he could only feel an inseparable mix of emotions.
Kitt shook his head.  “No.”
“I… can not know what you’re going through….”  The words were carefully chosen.
Tipping his head to one side, leaning his cheek on his knees, Kitt gazed in through the windscreen.  “You’re trying to understand.”  It was more a murmur of surprise than a statement of fact.
“Of course.  You’re my brother.”  Kitt smiled.  “Would you… like to talk about it?”
Turning his face to rest his forehead on his knees now, Kitt whispered, “no.”  Karr heard him perfectly.  “They found her, didn’t they?”

Karr hesitated, but humans lied to one another, AIs did not.  “Yes.”
“And Nick thinks that Michael will… hurt her, that’s why he went after him?”
“Yes.”
Lifting his head, Kitt stared into the sunshine.  “He won’t hurt her.  He’ll want to, but he won’t.”
“For you.”  With no pride or boasting, Kitt nodded.  “That is the difference between Michael and Nick.  No one would stop Nick from doing what he wanted to do.”  He waited to see if Kitt would open up a little, when he didn’t, Karr spoke again.  “Do you wish him to hurt her?”

As the tears came again, Kitt squeezed his shut, letting them drip slowly on to his clean blue jeans and soak through the material.  Karr’s monitoring of his brother picked up the dip in his emotion state almost immediately.
“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you further.”
But Kitt moved his head, side to side.  “No….  Michael said this was natural.  He called it… a release.”  Sniffling, he wiped his eyes with his fingers.  “I don’t know how I feel about her,” he answered Karr’s question.  “All the people that have hurt Michael or I, or both of us… I’ve never wished harm on any of them.  Even Jennifer….”  He swallowed back on his freely flowing emotions.  “I thought if I ever really hated someone it would be the person who took Michael from me.  I didn’t imagine that anyone could take me from myself.”

“No one can.  You will always be who you have always been.  You are too… unique to be changed by this.”
Kitt regarded his brother with a small smile, his eyes still misted with tears.  “That was very poetic.”
“You sound surprised.”  There was a gentle tease in his tone designed to pull Kitt up from the depression for a little while at least.
“You’re not known for your artistic side, Karr.”
“I keep it hidden.”
Kitt smiled.

*

Michael stood, watching the young woman.  He’d seen her as he’d driven through town.  He knew she had been watching Kitt. Had seen her watching Kitt.  Maybe if he hadn't teased his partner, taken this threat seriously, he could have prevented....  He sighed.  Knowing this 'what if' and 'maybe' would not change what had happened.  They had thought they were invincible, unfortunately Kitt had taken the fall that proved otherwise.

Following her, she led him to an old farm house on the other side of town from the road leading to the barn conversion.  He had left Kitt in Karr's care.  Left him believing that he just needed some time to sort out his feelings.  It was a good excuse for the block, for the time to track her.  There were no other vehicles in sight.  Activating the scanner, it proved to him that she was the only one home.

Before leaving he'd gone for a run.  Running further and faster than he usually did.  Making sure he was tired, less highly-strung before he faced the one who had hurt the only one he truly loved.  Breaking in was simple.  The old lock turned with ease, only clicking rustilly.  Moving through the house, he followed her sounds of movement.

Finding her in what would best be called a sitting room, he waited, fighting for control as she stood, her back to him, long dark hair swaying to her hips as she moved about the book case. He watched her.  This woman who had torn something from his partner that could never be replaced.

Whirling around, Deb dropped the book she was holding finding a man watching her.
"Who?"  Then she realized. "Michael." Unconsciously she stepped back.  The man was across the room from her, but she could feel his anger almost touching her.
Michael stood, drawn to his full height, staring down at her.  His jaw clenched painfully.  Finally he trusted himself enough to speak. "Why?" His deep voice shook.
"I'm in love with him."
Her answer only fuelled his barely restrained rage. "How can you say that?  After what you did to him? You don't even know him!"
"I didn't do anything.  We made love." Michael's eyes closed.  Could she possibly be so blind, so stupid, so unconscionable to not understand?  "You raped him."  The words were calm, even, with a terrifying undertone.

Stepping back again, even though Michael had not moved, she felt panic rise.  The look in his eyes, they terrified her.  She'd seen angry lovers before, but this man.... he was very different from any of the creeps she had dealt with.
"I didn't...." She never got a chance to finish.  Michael lunged across the room, hands on her shoulders, painfully forcing her back against the furniture.
"Don't you dare say you didn't.  He's my partner, I've known him for twenty years.  I have never seen him in the state he's in right now."  Michael's face was in hers, his voice more of an evil growl than any human tone.
"I didn't hurt him."  She felt the tension in his arms and for the first time, feared for her life.
"You didn't hurt him?!  Did you even look at him while you were forcing him to have sex with you?"  He almost spat the words at her.
"He wanted it!"
Michael's expression was incredulous, raging. "Do the words, 'no don't, please don't' mean anything to you?"  Her mind was reeling.  His hands were gripping her shoulders, his face in hers, so close she could barely breathe.

Michael straightened, breathing shallow, fighting for control.  Only Kitt's voice in the back of his mind stopped him.  It wasn't the link, it was a knowledge that he would never let himself live this down if he did any thing rash, that Kitt would not approve.  Deb trembled under his hands. Cringing in fear.
"I never meant any harm."
Smirking he released her, crossing his arms.  Making sure they didn't lash out at her.

"Michael."  He didn't even bother to turn at Nick's voice.  "Let me take her in.  Go back to him.  He's asking for you."  Michael turned to Nick.  To the understanding, yet unwilling to back down icy eyes.  Nodding, Michael stepped away.
"Do you love him?" Her voice was tentative, begging him to answer.
Pausing in his tracks, eyes closed against the tears that threatened.  He took a deep breath before facing her one last time.  "Fucking right I do."

Walking to the Trans Am, he opened the door, almost wishing Kitt was safely inside.  But then he'd never have known Kitt's touch.  Never have felt anything like what he experienced during their love-making.  They had never grown tired of each other's company, of just being together.  Michael selfishly knew he'd not trade that for anything.  If it meant that they had to go through this to get that part of their lives back, he'd do it. Do anything.  Their lives were full of risks, but it was well worth it.  The final tear made it's way over his cheek.

*

Kitt was still sitting on the hood of the Stealth when Michael turned the car into the drive and headed up the incline to park in front of the house.  Watching his partner, Kitt moved until he was cross-legged on his brother’s hood.  Michael had kept him blocked until around ten minutes ago.  Kitt had asked Karr if he knew what was happening and whether Michael was on his way back.  Karr had replied yes and yes.  Nick was accompanying Debbie to the police station – unharmed – and Michael was heading back now.  He didn’t offer any other details.  Kitt’s reaction to her name had been subtle but emotional and Karr hadn’t wanted to make things worse.

When the block had dropped, Kitt had felt his partner’s emotional upheaval, the anger and hatred mixed in with the agony of second-guessing his own actions the previous day.  Kitt had sent what little reassurance he’d been able to, his own battered emotions preventing him from giving too much.

Michael closed the car door and walking straight to his partner, he paused next to the Stealth.  He could see the dried tears on Kitt’s cheeks and the fresh ones in his reddened eyes.  He could feel the swirl of confusion through the link, tempered at that moment by the warmth of the sunshine, the safety of his brother’s nearness and the relief at having Michael back.

Slowly, deliberately, Michael reached down to wrap his arms around his partner’s body, and in response, Kitt reached up around Michael’s neck.
“You okay?” Michael whispered softly.  He felt Kitt’s slight nod against his head.  “She’s in custody.”  It was all he was going to say about what had happened in the last hour.  Kitt’s hold on him tightened for just a moment.  “I love you, Beauty.”
 

* * * One Month Later * * *

With infinite care, Michael lay his lover down on to the blanket. Kitt’s wide, whiskey eyes looked up at him, a frightening mix of buried need and fear.  The sunlight that streamed through the boards, played in the hay, kissed Kitt’s dark blond hair.  “Just tell me to stop,” Michael reassured.  “I won’t hurt you.”  Kitt bit into his bottom lip, just hard enough to split the delicate skin.  A tear glistened in his eye.  Lying next to him, Michael reached up and touched his fingertips to Kitt’s cheek.  “I want to remind you of how it should be.”

With a hand that was trembling beyond his control, Kitt twisted his fingers in his lover’s hair.  “I don’t ever… ever want anyone else touching me,” he whispered, his words barely audible in the warm air, but the emotions behind them as clear as daylight in Michael’s mind.

Now, a month on, and they’d reached this point.  Kitt wanted to obliterate everything Deb had done to him.  His memory would never let him forget, but Michael’s touch could finally end it, finally reclaim him as Michael’s own as he’d once been.
“I love you, so much.”  The sincerity in the words touched Kitt deeply. He’d believed Michael would hate him, wouldn’t ever want him close again.  But the link was deepening, and Michael’s touch, just light fingertips on the side of his throat, was slowly having an effect on his body.  “Don’t worry, about anything.  I will never, ever let you fall.”

More tears gathering in the corners of Kitt’s eyes, but his fingers tightened in Michael’s dark hair and shaking, he pulled his lover’s mouth to cover his own.

Letting Kitt lead, slowly, gently.  Waiting for him to ask, to want the kiss to deepen.  Their lips moved together, separating for a moment before touching again. Re-familiarizing themselves.  Michael let his body lower to just barley touch Kitt's, making sure he didn't trap him in any way.  Kitt paused for a second, as he felt the contact, but it was just a whisper of what he knew.  It was so agonizingly familiar.  There was a part of him that recognized the person in his arms and screamed to be let loose, the larger, more vocal side was terrified of the act itself.  He wanted Michael.  Knowing what they could give each other, having experienced the high of not only his own pleasure, but of watching Michael reach his, Kitt wanted this, wanted to proceed, to let Michael near.

Michael slowly shifted, rolling onto his back, moving so that Kitt was above him.
"You lead, take us wherever you want this to go."  Michael's voice was already slightly breathless. Kitt could feel his desire.  They had not gone this long without making love since they discovered they could.  He felt the same need within himself.  Looking down at his partner, taking in the open trust as he lay, waiting for him to make the next move, Kitt felt a slight confidence grow within him.

Resting his elbows on either side of Michael's head, he touched his lips to his lover's.  Michael's remained soft beneath, not tensing, reacting without furthering the kiss.  Finding himself wanting more, Kitt touched his tongue to Michael's closed lips.  Michael's breath caught at the simple caress.  He'd hadn't expected it so soon.  He opened his mouth slightly, inviting but still not demanding.  Accepting the invitation, Kitt let his tongue drift over his partners. Slowly, from the full bottom lip around to the centre of the top one. Michael's lips parted further, his tongue reaching to touch Kitt's teasing one.  Tip to tip, they touched before retreating, then reaching out again.

Finally Kitt gave, dropping his weight fully against Michael's chest, his lips slanted over Michael's aching for the kisses they had shared before.  Michael's hands found themselves buried in Kitt's hair, caressing lightly as the blond head moved over his.  Lifting off, Kitt sat back on his haunches, eyes travelling over Michael's chest.  One hand placed itself in the centre, feeling the heartbeat, the rise and fall of his loves breathing.  Michael's head fell back, eyes closed, relishing the touch he'd waited so long for.  Moving his other hand in to help, Kitt easily undid the shirt, letting it fall to the side.  Seeing Michael like this, a sudden flash of himself, strapped down flashed through his head.  Michael's eyes snapped open and he reached for Kitt carefully, opening his mind, letting his lover feel the security and reassurance there.  Surrounded by his lover, Kitt swallowed back on the sudden wave of nausea and placed his hands on the skin, his fingers trailing from side to side.

Michael's breathing was shallow, his jaw clenched.  He wanted so much to return the soft touches, let Kitt know how much he wanted him, but he was afraid.  Afraid that if he made any advances, Kitt's flashbacks would increase.  He could feel them, occasionally see them.  God he was so proud right now. "I love you." He whispered.

Kitt's hand paused in its travels as he gazed at the man lying before him. He could see Michael's arousal on his face, feel it in his mind, and now hear it in this voice.  It was time, time he took the plunge, otherwise he would remain in this stasis forever.  Lord knew he couldn't handle that. Pulling his t shirt over his head, he bent to claim another kiss.

Michael's heart skipped a beat as he responded to the growing demands of Kitt's kisses.  The feel of skin against skin was almost his undoing.  His arms coming up to wrap around, to hold on tightly. Kitt froze for a moment as his unforgiving memory played him an image of himself responding to his rapist.  He whimpered, a sound that was drowned in Michael's mouth.  Michael felt it, sensed his lover's distress, but knew that if they stopped now they may never get here again.  Carefully, lovingly, he reached through the link and coaxed his partner into relaxing, caressing the beautiful white presence with long, luxurious strokes.

The memories faded. Kitt moaned softly, this time it was a sound of suppressed desire that sent a shiver down his lover's spine.  He moved his hands, combing fingers through the dark, thick hair, stroking over the strong, broad shoulders.  Taking a chance, Michael let his hands slowly slide over Kitt's shoulders, over his back, following the line of muscles, tickling the skin over his spine.  Kitt shivered physically and mentally.  The amber glow in his head was constantly reassuring, projecting his intentions before he felt the fingers move.

Knowing what was to come ahead of time added to this.  It gave him a second to long for the touch before feeling it on his skin.  The memories ebbed and a renewed confidence took over.  He had helped out, asked before, but never taken control, making Michael wait.  It was thrilling and quickly pushing aside everything else. Smiling against Michael's mouth, he reached between them to undo Michael's jeans.

It was Michael's turn to moan.  Kitt's fingers moved over the heavy bulge at his groin, stroking along the trapped erection teasingly before slipping the fly buttons through their holes one by one.  Michael's hands were gripping his hips as he tried to thrust into the fingers gently freeing him from his restricting clothing.  Lifting his head, Kitt chuckled quietly, the sound roughened with his need.  That sound drove a wave of heated desire through Michael's soul.  There'd been a time he'd believed this lost to them, ripped from them.  He knew now he'd been wrong to imagine that anyone could crush his beloved's spirit.

Palming Michael's erection, Kitt squeezed gently, loving to hear his partner's pleasure.  Dropping his mouth back to Michael's, he swallowed his partner's cry of frustration when he released the straining shaft to unfasten his own jeans. Pulling himself free, he wrapped his fingers around them both, pressing them along the length of one another.  This time he let Michael's cry ring out into the large hay barn.  No one was going to hear them and he wanted this – more than that, he needed it.

Sitting back to remove first Michael's, then his own jeans and underwear, Kitt looked his lover up and down, hooded eyes caressing every inch of his partner's muscled body.  Slowly, he covered it with his own once again, naked, touching them one to the other, dropping kisses to Michael's thighs, stomach, ribs, nipples, neck and finally his mouth as he let himself lie on the hard body beneath him.

Michael's hands were suddenly all over him, stroking him, teasing the places where he knew Kitt loved to be touched.  "I've got to have you, Kitt."  Michael breathed the words, his mind losing its grip on sanity.  He knew he couldn't push this, he'd taken himself into his own hand in the shower this morning to ensure his desperate need didn't cause him to hurt his partner.  But Kitt was the greatest turn-on he'd ever known, and his body was aching for an orgasm shared with his lover.

At Michael's words, Kitt stilled.

For a fleeting second, Kitt knew once again the feel, the initial thrill of entering Debbie's body, of feeling the tightness and wet heat surrounding him. Michael saw it too, felt it.  Desire overrode any anger he might have felt and he suddenly realized that had been Kitt's first time.  He'd never offered and Kitt had never asked, but now he knew what it felt like to be buried in another's body.  Even like this, Michael knew Kitt had liked it.  He thought about having Kitt inside him and found the idea didn't repulse him as much as it had, as he'd imagined it still would.  In fact, his body was reacting to the unspoken idea, his cock hardening.

Capping his fears, he spoke, "Do it."
Kitt just stared at his long time lover.  His surprise flowing into Michael's mind.  Sitting up, Michael looked over Kitt as he knelt by his lover's thighs. "I couldn't...."
Michael placed a finger on Kitt's lips, then sliding his hand under the blond hair, clasping the back of his neck, he leaned forward and pressed his lips tenderly to Kitt's.  "I've been greedy all these years. I think it's time."  He'd been watching Kitt's eyes carefully, holding the link wide open, looking for any rejection to the idea.  There was none.  Instead there was a spark of heated desire.  One Kitt was obviously trying to contain. "We can at least try.  If it doesn't work out, so be it.  But I think I'm ready." Michael hovered close, eyes half closed, lips brushing Kitt's as he spoke. "God Kitt, make me yours."

As their lips met, the withheld desire broke through. Clinging, naked bodies pressed together.  Kitt had never felt this exhilarated.  Michael was willing to give himself.  Wanted to give himself.
They had arrived prepared, knowing what it may lead to and hoping it would lead to this. Kitt could feel the fear, but the need was greater.  The link was completely open, like it had been while he was still in the car. Facing his partner, wrappings his arms around the strong body, he let his hands roam. Starting at Michael's neck, down his back, over his hips.  Michael moaned, kissing him thoroughly in response.

Reaching over, he grabbed the tube from Michael's coat. Covering Kitt's hand, he took it from him.  Opening it slowly, then warming the gel between his hands, his lips slanting over Kitt's as he caressed his partner, sliding his hands along the heated length, coating him. Kitt groaned, hands around Michael's neck.  His touch was so much different from hers.  So much more confident, so much more gentle.  After all the years they knew how to touch one another, where to get the best responses. Kitt jerked, pulling back slightly as his felt gentle fingers cup his testicles.  The feel of her hands being replaced by knowing hands.

Looking up at his lover, Michael waited, his breath caught in his throat. He wanted this, badly, but he was nervous.  Kitt smiled, recognizing the emotion just as Michael did.  He had felt the same the first time.
"I won't hurt you.  And if I do, stop me."
"I know you won't.  Michael lifted his chin for one more breathless kiss before letting Kitt turn him.

Kneeling between his lover's thighs, Kitt let his hands roam.  Leaning forward, he worked light touches and tongued kisses over Michael's shoulders and back, tracing the path of his spine into the small of his back and further, between his tight buttocks.  Reaching once more for the tube, he squeezed a little of the gel onto his fingers and stroked down, all the way to the base of Michael's testicles, teasing there before moving back up and stopping at his anus.

Instantly, he felt Michael clench, but he kept up his touch, rubbing in slow, hot circles over the tight muscle, slowly but surely pressing inwards.  When his body finally relented, and Kitt's finger slid inside, not stopping until it was all the way in, Michael's deep shuddering moan was Kitt's reward for his patience.  He could feel his lover's body surrounding his digit, clenching still.  He was so tight, and Kitt let his mind focus on how that would feel, how it would be to have his cock inside Michael.

He let his lover feel his flaming desire, respond to his need to be inside him. Michael knew, and sent back a single word.  //now!//

Moving Michael's leg up, exposing him, Kitt shifted until the tip of his erection was rested against the tight ring.  He pushed inside slowly. Michael's body clenched.  Kitt took charge, reaching for the link aiming to relax his love before continuing.  Caressing his mind and body, desire reclaimed them both.  Michael pushed back, taking him.  Kitt groaned, half collapsing over the strong back.  How he knew what to do was beyond him.

Moving in long strokes, need took over.  Michael was breathing hard, but had relaxed under him.  Touching the amber presence, he ensured it soared to the same high Kitt was experiencing.  He had never felt so in control before.  His lover moving against him, with him, reaching across into his CPU, expressing everything he was feeling.

Touching Michael in just the right ways, he brought him close to his release.  Buried inside the heat of his lover’s body he knew he wasn't going to last long.

It was so different, so much hotter and tighter than she'd been.  The love which burned them both separated this from what she'd forced him into doing.  There was no force here, nothing but a desire so strong it was driving them both to climax.  Being surrounded by Michael's heat was unlike anything he had ever known, taking him beyond the known boundaries of their pleasure.

Kitt cried out, letting himself go as Michael made the final reach into the white glow.  And they climaxed together.
 
Michael felt Kitt slowly pull out of him, a twinge of pain lost in the afterglow of lovemaking.  Turning carefully, he brought Kitt down against his chest.  Closing his eyes he let the tingles drift trough his body.  Kitt curled into his side, hand lazily caressing.  Lifting, Kitt claimed a slow sensual kiss before settling back down against his lover.
"You okay?"  Michael's voice still contained the deepened tones from desire.
Kitt nodded "More than."  He paused for a moment.  "That was…."
"Incredible."  Michael finished simply.
"Are you...?"
"I'm just fine."
"I hadn't thought it could be like that."
"Nice isn't it?"
Kitt snorted. "You always were one for understatements."
It felt so good to laugh with Kitt tucked safely in his arms. "I was so afraid we'd lost this."  Michael turned to the youthful face.
"So was I."  Kitt admitted. "I was scared today, not of making love with you, but that maybe I'd lost the ability.  That maybe I'd changed in your eyes.  And when you asked me to...."
"I felt your flashback. For a moment you knew how good it could be.  I just wanted to show you how it can be.  What it's all about.  No fear, no pain, just love."
Smiling, touching the so familiar face, "Thank you."
"God Kitt, don't thank me.  You give just as much as you take, you always have."
"Yeah, you're the more greedy one."
Tipping Kitt carefully on to his back, Michael held himself up in his palms. "There are times I  wish I could tickle the hell out of you.  But since I can't, I'll settle for this instead."  Eyes closing, he lowered himself to kiss a very receptive Kitt.

*

“It’s so wonderfully clear.”  Kitt gazed up at the bright star-filled sky, mapping the constellations and galaxies in his mind.
“Umm….”  Sweeping the blond hair out of his way, Michael pulled Kitt’s open shirt to one side a dropped a kiss to the smooth collarbone.  Kitt’s hands tightened on his arm where it was wrapped securely around his lover’s waist.  “Did you and Swan make any… changes today?” he asked quietly.  Kitt had spent the day at Swan’s house, redesigning a couple of modules of code for her research into advanced AI.
Kitt turned, smiling gently at his partner.  “No.  I like my body’s… natural responses.”
Michael didn’t keep his relief from the link.

Kitt had turned back to his stargazing.  “How can so much violence, so much chaos be so beautiful?”
Michael tightened his embrace.  His question exactly, and he wondered if it would ever be answered.
 
 

fin
Tomy & elfin