Hey guys! Here's another new story! I've decided to do an ABC fic! Yay! This idea has kinda been playing around in my head for a while and I never really pulled the trigger on it. But today, that changes! So, if you guys have any ideas or suggestions, please, please, PLEASE tell me! This is my first ABC fic, so I can use all the help and support I can get! Ok darlings! Let's get reading! Oh boy! Our first letter! *squeeeeees* OMG I'm so excited! Please review, for they are very much appreciated! (And in case you're wondering, I haven't gotten three people to review yet on 'Deep Sleep.' I need to have THREE PEOPLE review on that story before anyone gets a shout out. Ok? Great!) Also, please note that this fic is set in ORIGINAL KR! I may or may not switch between both KR's, but for now, it will mainly be set in the original version. Or at least until I get a suggestion *hint hint*...

Anyway, ANY and ALL flames will be fed to my two loyal werewolves...*glances at Michael*...with Michael's permission, of course *grins darkly* or not...

A is for...Appreciation Is Key

"Michael," Kitt groaned, practically begging. "we've been going at this all day. Can we please give it a rest?"

Michael didn't even so much as glance at the voice modulator. They've been tracking a thief for the past 48 hours...

And have not taken any time off. Not even a minute. Every millisecond for the past 48 hours has been spent scanning, watching and waiting. Though much of it has been on Kitt's part, since he was the only one that could spend all this time without so much as a wink of sleep. But even though Kitt was, well, technically machine, even this was starting to ware on him. Yes, he was a super sophisticated being with just as high tech to match, but even machines have their limits.

And Kitt was meeting his.

"Michael-"

"Kitt, not now. I'm trying to focus here. Anything on the scanners?" Michael responded curtly, still keeping his eyes locked on to the little shack the guy was supposedly holed up in. Kitt sighed.

"No. There hasn't been anything on the scanners for the past 30 minutes!" Kitt finally snapped. It was then that Michael looked down at the voice modulator.

"What the hell was that for?" Michael snapped back, not really appreciating Kitt's new found tone. Kitt only scoffed angrily.

"Michael, I need a break. Please. There are systems that need re-calibrating and that's not even mentioning my power cells. Please, Michael. The semi's not far-"

"Kitt, you and I both know that you've been through worse. You can hang in there for a little longer. It ain't gonna kill ya."

Kitt felt his virtual heart sink. How could Michael be so...so..careless towards him? How could his best friend for the past 5 years, do this to him? They'v been to hell and back. And this is how Kitt gets thanked for all those years of sticking by his side through thick and thin? Even when he knew what they were doing was wrong?!

"Michael...how...how can you say that?" Kitt barely whispered. Michael, hearing it or not, didn't even acknowledge it. Only keeping his now, seemingly cold, steel blue eyes ahead.

Kitt felt like crying right then and there. This new, hurtful, emotionless Michael was not something he liked. Let alone loved. Yes, he knew that they've been at this guy for a while now. And yes, he knew this could make or break it. But...

Oh who was he kidding? He's a damned machine! He's been through worse, just like Michael has said. This was nothing. He'd be fine. He needed to quit being so selfish and thinking of himself. He'll get his pampering when the mission is done and over with. Not before hand. Right now, he needed to have his head in the game.

"Kitt! Scan the shack! I think I saw something!"

Michael's determined tone got Kitt's head back in the game. He did as his driver told him and relayed the results back to Michael. The only response was Kitt's tires furiously kicking up dust and shooting off towards the little shack. When they reached the little shack, Michael quickly jumped out of the car and began to pummel the thief until he rendered unconscious. Michael then made a quick call to Devon that they got the man.

Kitt, in the mean time, was beginning to feel very...tired, for lack of another word. It wasn't a normal tired that he usually felt when he came back from a normal mission. No, this 'tired' was something rendering closer to exhaustion. And it scared the young AI.

"Mi...chael!" Kitt cried helplessly before his world went black with one, painful burst of pain.

A few hours later...

"How is he?" Devon asked worriedly from their rest bay, directly in front of Kitt's. Bonnie shook her head sadly. Keeping a hand on the silver curtain that now separated Kitt's bay from the rest of the semi.

"He's hurt, Michael. But he'll live. Turns out the time that bastard decided to come out of hiding was Kitt's saving grace. Any longer and I...I probably wouldn't have been able to save him."

"Is he going to be ok?" Michael asked, who was sitting in one of the chairs.

"Yes, he will. But he won't be going out any time soon. His power cells and many of his systems need to be repaired or replaced before he can."

"How long will that take?" Michael asked, silently urging to be with his partner.

"Oh, a few days. A week at the most. But I won't be able to start on any of the major repairs because I don't have replacements here on the semi."

"'Major?'" Michael repeated.

"Yes. Michael, you caused Kitt to blow an Alpha Circuit. Do you realize how painful that could be for him?" Bonnie questioned forcefully, allowing her anger to show. Michael only shook his head guiltily.

"An Alpha Circuit is like Kitt's bone structure, if you will, in his CPU. If something happens to one of those circuits, its like breaking a bone to us. The more you break, the more cripple and vulnerable you become. Michael! You pushed him so hard, he almost died!" Bonnie yelled. Michael winced and coward down some. God, why didn't he listen to his partner?

"Can I see him?" Michael asked, his heart hammering out of his chest. Bonnie looked him over with a skeptical eye before giving a reluctant nod. Michael quickly went over, gently pushing aside the curtain as he went in before allowing it to be dropped again.

Michael felt his heart swell at the sight of his partner. There were cables snaking out from under neath the hood, machines beeping softly as readings were passed through them and many circuit boards laid out across the work bench. Some burnt, some appearing to be new. With a soft sigh, he pulled up a stool next to his partner's left fender. Gently brushing a hand over the smooth skin as he did so.

"I'm so sorry, Kitt. I should've listened to you. I should've taken you more seriously. I'm sorry, pal. I'm so sorry." Michael whispered the last part as tears flooded his eyes and began trailing down his cheeks, stroking Kitt's fender affectionately.

"It's not your fault, Michael." Kitt whispered softly. "I-"

"To hell with that! It is my fault, buddy. I got you hurt. Dammit Kitt, I almost lost you!"

"No, Michael. I was the one that failed to notice it sooner. I was the one that failed to keep an eye on my own systems under such strenuous work. Not you. You did nothing wrong." Kitt said firmly. Michael just looked away sadly, not really believing Kitt in the slightest. His partner noticed this and softened his tone considerably. "Michael?"

A slight sniffle. "I just wish I appreciated you more, pal. Hell, if I didn't have you, I'd be road kill a hundred times over." Michael said, managing a small smile at the thought. Kitt chuckled good naturedly.

"Oh, Michael. I know you appreciate me. I know you do. It's just that little competitive streak of your's that gets the best of you sometimes. But I'll always know you appreciate me. We're partners. Bad things are going to happen, but we'll get through them-"

"Together." Michael finished for him, giving the wind shield a smile. He heard the smile in Kitt's voice as well.

"Exactly."

Awww, gotta love Kitt and Michael! They're the best!

Well, until we meet again! *goes and plays fetch with the boys* Ok! Ok! I'll throw it again. Jeesh...so impatient...