"I'm trying desperately to figure out whether that was an impatient slip up
or just a sick idea of a way to scare the shit out of me?"  Michael's anger
had risen dramatically over the past few hours.  Kitt had driven home while
Michael recovered from Tanya's sudden appearance.   He hadn't slept more
than a quarter of an hour.  He spent the time trying to calm his nerves and
figure out how this could have come about.  Cameron Zachary was supposed to
be spending his life in prison, and Tanya was thought to be dead.  But he
had never confirmed it.  Kitt had driven off, both of them assuming that
episode of their lives was closed.  Even the quick shower hadn't helped him
to relax.
 "Michael please,"  Devon's tone said a great deal.  Michael stopped pacing
to perch himself on the desk again.  He looked up at the man he considered a
father figure.  More so than his own.  He couldn't keep up the illusion of
cocky anger when Devon looked at him like that.
 "How do you do that?"
 "Do what?"
 "Break through whatever barriers I try to put up.  Like Kitt I can't hide
anything from you." He paused looking from the floor into the older man's
eyes.  He imagined that if Kitt had eyes, he'd look at him in a similar
fashion.
 Devon placed his hand on top of Michael's, where it rested on his knee. "We
may not have started out on the right foot, but...."  The older man
struggled with his emotions, not knowing how to voice them.
 "You don't have to say it, I know it anyway." They shared a quick smile.
 "Your parents are adding to this problem.  I hate to bring this up."
 "I know they are.  I'm just not sure how to handle them.  I wanted so much
to have part of that life back.  To let them into my life now.  To know
*me*. "
 "They will never accept this way of life." Devon paused, afraid of the
possible answer to his next question, "You have to decide what is important
to you.  Please know that whatever you choose, I'll stand by your decision."
 Michael was almost in tears, "I could never leave this.  Here, with this
family is the most content I've felt in my life."
 He could hear the Englishman release the breath he had been holding.
Michael had faced him straight on as he spoke.  The four of them were a
family, a very close knit one at that.  Hearing Michael say it was something
he needed.
 "Good, I'm glad to hear it," was the best way he could voice his feelings.
"Do you have anything in the works?"
 "Kitt's looking into Zachary's prison records, trying to find out why he's
on the loose.  I believe Tanya, she's most likely been hiding behind
Zachary's wealth, waiting for the right opportunity.  I also believe my
parents are still in danger, but, they don't seem to have connected Jay to
me."
 "Or they don't care.  Either way it's one less worry.  We have been keeping
tabs on him as well."
 "I figured.  This also explains how he could avoid Kitt's scanners and know
where to send his people.  He has the contacts to buy or produce whatever he
needs to block Kitt's signals."
 "He conceivably still wants Kitt."
 "And me dead.  I still can't figure out why.  Why now? Why this elaborate
scheme?  And just where is he getting all his information from?"
 "He seems to know your every move doesn't he?"  Devon had walked over
towards the window, deep in thought.
 "Could there be a leak here?"
 "Inside the Foundation?" Devon was appalled at the idea, but, "possibly,
I'll have Bonnie run another 'routine' check on all employees."
 Michael moved towards Devon, "Thank you, I needed to talk about this."
 "As did I," he gently squeezed Michael's shoulder, one of the few ways he
physically expressed himself.
 "I'm going to go for a drive. Maybe Kitt and I can sort through this a
little more."
 "If anyone can, you two will." A smile passed between them before Michael
left to find his partner.  He did feel better, emotionally.  The groundwork
they had established over the years was reaffirmed and held strong.
Bonnie's anger and concern and Devon's open display of emotion said
everything.  Things began to fall into perspective as he approached the
black car waiting just outside.  He paused in front of Kitt's hood, watching
the scanner track back and forth, knowing Kitt was watching him and waiting.
A feeling of contentment filled him and he smiled, the first real one in
days.  Kitt's scanner band lit up fully seeing this smile and a touch of
relief surged through his CPU.  They were a long way from passed this, but
the wounds were beginning to heal.

 About half an hour out along their drive, something hit Michael.  "Kitt,
access Jason's bank account?"
 "Of course, care to tell me why?"
 "Just check it please."  Michael's voice held a hint of foreboding.
Something Kitt rarely heard from his driver.
 The information came back and Kitt flipped inside his CPU.  How was he
going to tell Michael this.
 "It's true isn't it?  His account has increased substantially."
 Kitt hated how well Michael could read him sometimes. "The balance of the
account has increased over two million dollars in recent months."  Kitt's
tone held a hint of an apology.
    His own brother?   He'd never experienced an emotion like this, like his
own brain couldn't wrap around this idea. Tears filled his eyes.
     "Michael?"  The tentative voice brought him out of his downfall.
 Blinking back the tears, he let his partner into his thoughts.     "I,  I
can't believe Jason is behind even a part of this.  I always believed in
family first. How could he....."
     "Betrayal to this degree is beyond me as well.  But, you do have a
family, though maybe not in blood."
    "Micro chips are thicker than water huh?"
    "I wasn't necessarily referring to myself."
    Michael picked up on Kitt's tone immediately, "Kitt, I'm not sure what
exactly Wilton had in mind when he brought us together, but, there is no one
who knows me better than you.  You are my family, more so than Devon or
Bonnie.  This whole incident has made me realize a few things, not only
about myself, but about those I depend on."
    "Such as?"
    Michael couldn't prevent the quick smile at Kitt's fishing.  "The fact
that  I can't leave this.  It's what I was meant to do.  Also my feelings
towards Bonnie and Devon.  This isn't a job anymore.  I'm not sure it ever
was." He glanced towards the familiar dash, "I could never leave you."
    Kitt was taken aback, "I'm not sure what to say."  After a brief pause,
Kitt continued, "My information on Wilton Knight expresses only a working
relationship, not what we have."
    Michael had been paying more and more attention to the voice modulator
as Kitt spoke. Especially as his tone changed to almost an embarrassed
softness.
    "I'm not ashamed of you, nor of what we have.  Don't let anything my
parents say make you think anything different.  You have shown me time and
time that you are always behind me.  To know that *we* can make it through
just about anything that is thrown our way.  And I believe that is the only
thing holding me together right about now.  Did you have any luck in finding
out how Zachary managed to get his butt out of prison??"
    "As a matter of fact, I believe I just might have."  Kitt mentally
smiled at Michael's amazed reaction. "According to prison records, Zachary's
lawyer found a loophole in one of the cases.  The judge then dismissed all
charges citing a mistrial."
    "In other words, he was bought."
    "Most likely, and Michael, I have more...."
    It was a warning, Michael knew.  He took a deep breath, preparing
himself for whatever Kitt was about to tell him.  He nodded, knowing his
partner was watching and waiting.
    "Jason Long was in charge of that prison."
    Michael closed his eyes as disbelief washed over him.  He heard Kitt
take over the car and brought his hands to his face, struggling for control.
"How deep does this go? My God, what is this gonna do to Mom and Dad?"
     "How about we concentrate on getting Zachary  back behind
bars and keeping you safe until then?"
     "Rational thinking, keep my mind on the job and all that?" Michael
queried.
     "If I were to hazard a guess at this whole scheme, I would have to say
that they are hoping for your emotional state to interfere with your
judgment. They've been threatening you and your parents.  It all came to a
head with Tanya and Zachary showing themselves and now the discovery of
Zachary involving Jason...."
     "It throw's a whole new wrench into the works."  Michael finished for
Kitt, realization written all over his face.  "You're right, and if I let my
emotions get the better of me..."
     "You'll end up dead.  And after everything we've said to each other
over the past few days, I don't believe I could handle that eventuality."
     "These guys are good, but you and me Kitt, we're better."  Michael
rubbed his fingers along the dash a few times before hitting the 'manual'
button and continuing the drive back to the mansion.

    "Michael, have you discovered anything?" Devon asked in way of greeting.
    Leaning on the edge of Devon's desk, Michael filled him in, "Kitt found
a connection between  Zachary.... and my brother."
    "Your brother?" Bonnie half squeaked, catching the last portion of the
conversation.    Michael nodded, unable to take his eyes off the floor.
 "I'm sorry, I had no idea." She rubbed his arms, hoping to  comfort him.
 "This is a rather large development."
 "I know. I was wondering why he hadn't been targeted, that was what lead me
to ask Kitt to do a check on his bank account."
 "I take it, it has increased?"
 "By two million dollars."  This was beginning to overwhelm him again.
"Look, I need some time." Michael excused himself.  Head hanging, he walked
from the office, only slightly aware of his friends concerned eyes.
     Feeling defeated, he walked to the only one he felt could  ease his
burden.  Michael stopped in front of Kitt, who was still parked just out of
sight of the mansion.  Sitting himself with his legs crossed under Kitt's
prow, he folded his arms on the bumper, resting his head against the scanner
track.  Hearing the gentle sweep of the LED's had always comforted him.
    "How can I help?"
    "You already are," came the honest answer.  Michael refused to move, for
once not caring who saw his needy display.  "I need to figure a way out of
this mess."
    "We."
    "We" Michael conceded, smiling against his arms.
    "I'd assume he still has his old contacts."
    "And then some I'm sure."
    "Michael, can I ask a favor?"
    "Umm?"
    Kitt smiled to himself, relishing the closeness of his friend.  It was
rare for Michael to be this open with his affection, or his need for that
matter.  "Please stay close so I can protect you?"  Kitt had meant it to
come out as a question, but it sounded more like he was begging.
    Michael's fingers followed the sweeping light before answering, "I was
kinda planning on it.  They have managed to get too close."
    "Maybe we should lay low for awhile?" Kitt wanted nothing more than to
keep  Michael out of the line of fire.  The memory of Tanya holding a gun on
his best friend was too vivid.  Sometimes he cursed his perfect memory.
    "No," came the muffled response.  "Running away won't help, it may
postpone, but they would find a way.  They know the people close to us.  I'd
rather be close by if they try for Bonnie, Devon or my folks.  I have to
believe that Jay would try to keep them safe, but I'm just not sure
anymore."
    Kitt could hear the distress rising again in his partner.  He had never
before seen him like this, not even after Stevie's death.  But then, there
were leads to follow.  This time, after every attempt on Michael's life,
there had been nothing.  The men behind this were expertly through.  Making
sure all evidence or witnesses disappeared or was destroyed.
    "They are watching us."  Kitt announced, suddenly realizing their
schemes.
    Michael raised his head, "What?"
    "Before each attempt on your life, you had put some distance between us.
None of the attacks occurred while you were within my reach."
    "Come to think of it, you didn't pick up anything before each attack."
    "Scanning difficulties?"  Bonnie asked having finally located the two
and happily distracted herself from the almost intimate connection between
them.
    "Yes, and each presented a different set of circumstances to be
dissimilar enough not to show a connection."
    "Can you pinpoint a cause for the scanner disruption?"  Bonnie's brain
was 'all business', but her heart noticed Michael's defeatist body language.
He was almost cuddled into Kitt, and it hurt to see him like this.
    "Unfortunately I'm unable to find the cause.  It may be a blocking
device."
    Kitt sounded concerned too.  Bonnie knew he would refuse to budge until
Michael stood.  "Okay, I'll see what I can do to try to boost the scanner."
    "Thank you."  Bonnie turned to Michael.  She hadn't expected a response
from him.  The look in his eyes.....She found herself on her knees, hugging
Michael's head to her chest.  He circled one arm around her, unwilling to
break contact with Kitt.  Bonnie placed a hand on Kitt's hood beside
Michael's, feeling the car tremble slightly.
    Devon smiled at the scene across the lawn from him.  It was something he
needed to see after the physical and emotional violence of the past weeks.
He turned taking one last look at the trio, before walking away.
 

part eight