Chapter 12

K.A.I.S.Y. pulled into the garage a few minutes after K.I.T.T.

Jason, Bonnie, and Devon were standing near K.I.T.T., discussing the best way to extract Carlee from K.I.T.T. without hurting her.

"If we want to try the antidote on her now, we can't have K.I.T.T. sedate her," Jason was explaining to Devon and Bonnie. "It might interact with the antidote."

"Kitt can bring her out," Michaela chimed in. "He can hold her without hurting her. Casey can help, if Kitt needs him to."

"That seems to be our only option," Devon agreed.

As they watched, Kitt appeared in the Corvette's passenger seat. He firmly took hold of Carlee's upper arm.

The driver's door opened and Kitt gently urged Carlee out.

She didn't come quietly, though.

Once she was out of the car, she lunged at Devon, shrieking, "It's your fault! He looked up to you as a father! You made him go on that mission without K.I.T.T.! He's dead because of you!"

Devon stumbled backward, too stunned to speak.

Jason caught Devon's arm before the old man could fall. As he steadied Devon, he said, "It's the drugs speaking. She doesn't mean it."

Even Kitt was shocked by Carlee's outburst. If he'd been human, he probably would have released her in shock.

Once Devon was solid on his feet again, Jason stepped forward, holding up a syringe filled with clear liquid. "I need you to hold her still, Kitt."

Casey appeared and approached Carlee from the other side, taking her left arm.

Carlee snarled at Casey, "You! Don't think I don't know how you feel about my daughter!"

Casey's eyes widened, but he didn't let go. He noticed Michaela blanche.

Jason moved in front of Casey, and pushed up Carlee's sleeve.

Carlee howled in rage, as the needle punctured her skin.

As the antidote entered her system, Carlee's ramblings began to get slurred, but she still struggled.

"Take her to the infirmary. I have a bed with restraints set up, so I can monitor her," Jason instructed the two avatars.

They propped her up between them and carried her to the infirmary.

* * *

Carlee was in and out of consciousness for the next two days.

Michaela never left her side.

"Michaela, baby? What's going on?" Carlee's voice was thick with exhaustion. It took on a confused tone as she asked, "Why am I restrained?"

Michaela sat up, rubbing the back of her neck because of the awkward position she'd been sleeping in.

"Mom? Mom! Jason, she's awake!" Michaela called down the corridor. "What do you remember, Mom?"

"I had just finished up a missing person's case. I stopped for lunch on the way out of town. What happened? Where's K.I.T.T.?" alarm filled her voice.

"K.I.T.T.'s fine, Mom. You were brain washed, two weeks ago. The Stalovs."

Confusion clouded Carlee's face. "What?"

"You were brain washed and K.I.T.T. was reprogrammed. They had you and K.I.T.T. steal a high tech laser. They were going to sell you to Al Quida insurgents. K.A.I.S.Y. and I tracked you down and got you both out."

Jason walked in just then, Devon trailing behind him.

Michaela looked from Jason to Devon. "She doesn't remember anything about the last two weeks."

Jason released Carlee's restraints and helped her to sit up.

Devon squeezed Carlee's hand affectionately, and told her to take it easy. Then he walked out, presumably back to his office and paperwork.

After she was sure Devon was out of earshot, Michaela said, "Mom, while you were under the influence of the brain washing drug, you said something."

"What, baby?"

"Do you blame Uncle Devon for sending Dad on that mission?"

Carlee didn't have to ask her daughter what mission she meant, "No! Absolutely not! Your father went on that mission because he couldn't turn his back on the innocents who were being hurt by those thugs!"

"You need to tell Uncle Devon that, then," Michaela gave her mom's hand a squeeze and stood up. "I'll see you later."