Go forth and read!

It was still another week before Michael let Ashley return to school and when she did she found out that everyone had been worried about her even Miss Avery. When they found out she was coming back they threw her a surprise welcome back party.

'Are you alright? What happened to you?' Chloe asked concerned. Devon had told her not to tell anyone what had really happened so she had to make something up.

'I was riding my bike and I fell off and rolled down the side of a rocky hill.' She shrugged.

'Ouch, I'm glad you're back though, we all missed you. Right everyone?'

'Yeah!' They cheered.

However when recess and lunch came she was sad as she had to sit on a bench and watch as the rest of the kids ran around without her. She soon became bored without her friends who were all either doing extra co curricula activities or in the toilet and despite being told not to use her comlink at school she decided to call KITT anyway, just to talk to him.

'Hey KITT.' She sighed.

'Hello Ashley, you know you really shouldn't be talking to me while you're at school.' The AI reminded her.

'I know, but I'm alone and I wanted someone to talk to.'

'I see, now Michael wouldn't like me doing this, but... What would you like to talk about?'

'Um... What's happening over there?'

'Well Bonnie thinks she might have tracked down the Chameleon and Michael is preparing to catch him, oh dear he's coming. I'm sorry Ashley, but I can't talk anymore, goodbye.'

'Bye KITT.' She said dejectedly.

Now she really was alone, her school friends were to busy to hang out with her, her teachers wee to busy for her to ask questions, she couldn't talk to Michael, Bonnie or Devon and now even KITT couldn't talk her. So she sat there staring out across the oval watching the other kids in the class until the bell went and lunch finished. Afterwards they had English next and they were talking about making sure that all sentences have a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. She tried to listen and ask good questions like she had before the accident, but the teacher just ignored her and paid attention to the other kids. Defeated she gave up and just sat staring at her book with all of her perfect sentences, each with perfect gramma (or at least as perfect as a nine year old could get it) and the edition of question marks where they were appropriate.

That after once school had finished she went to the car park and was surprised to see that Michael and KITT weren't in the car park waiting for her. She looked carefully at all the cars in the car park, but no where could she see her favourite black t-top. Thinking that they were probably just late she decided to wait and she stood watching as her classmates met their parents by the car and they hugged and talked about what had happened. She saw as they other young girls cuddled their mothers tightly, smiling and laughing in their arms and others doing the same to their fathers and she snapped. She got up and hobbled back into the school just to get away from the site.

She was angry, her life had been miserable from the start; born to a mother that couldn't keep her and a father that didn't even know she existed. Then given to an orphanage where she was mostly ignored in favour of kids that were sure to be adopted before being given to people who were more interested in their own self-image than caring for her. Now she had a father who said he cared about her and yet he was almost always to busy and she still had no mother. No mother to look after her while her father was busy, no mother to read her bedtime stories or tuck her in to bed.

She kicked her bag with her bad leg and cried out, both in pain and in frustration, then she sat on a bench and waited. Every minute felt like an hour as she waited on the bench and stared around the now empty courtyard, even the teachers had gone home, but she waited all the same.

By now Michael was driving KITT to Tonie's house to check up on her and make sure she was ok. When they got to the house he went inside to hear the quiet sound of music, which he assumed was one of the new songs her old band had created. He found her sitting alone at the dinning room table studying for college.

'Hi.' He greeted, smiling as she jumped and looked up at him before breathing a sigh of relief.

'Michael you gave me a heat attack.' She said smiling back at him. 'Take a seat.' So he pulled a chair out from the table and sat opposite her.

'Thanks... How have you been?' He asked concerned.

'Scared. Every time I go to sleep I wake up and expect to see he smiling sickly at me with a gun at me like the Joker from Batman.' She replied.

'I'm sorry that I let that happen, Tonie, but I promise I will get him behind bars again and-'

'And then what? He's already been sent to jail twice and he just keeps escaping!' She sobbed. Michael reached across the table and gently took her hand, then he looked her in the eye as he spoke.

'I know and I can't change what he's done, but I give you my solemn word that he will be brought to justice and you will be free of him.' She nodded through teary eyes as he got up, walked around the table and hugged her gently. 'We'll get through this.' He whispered. Then his comlink beeped. 'Not know KITT.' He said quietly.

'I'm sorry Michael, but-'. The AI pressed urgently.

'Not know.' He hissed.

Back at the school a winter wind was blowing and the shadows were stretching across the playground as the sun was headed down towards the horizon. By now Ashley had moved to sit on the curb at the front of the car park and she was trying to use her jumper to cover as much of her as possible and shield her from the bitter cold. She had tried to call KITT, but he hadn't responded and there was still no sign of her father and she had begun to wonder if he had forgotten her. No, KITT would never have forgotten her, he was like an older brother to her, after all even helped her with her homework when the others were to busy.

Now though, no one was here to help her and she knew that unless someone came to take her home she would have to spend all night at the school. The very thought of being alone on the street at night terrified her, especially with people like the Chameleon around and it was with that thought in her head that she heard a rustle in the bushes behind her.

After he had made sure that Tonie would be alright by herself Michael got back into KITT and headed for the mansion, he noticed that the sun was setting behind the trees and he decided to call Devon and see how everything was going.

'KITT, call Devon for me would you?'

'Certainly Michael, but-'

'Just call Devon.' The car did as he was instructed, but he felt apprehensive as Devon came up on his monitor along with Bonnie.

'Hello Michael.' The old Englishman smiled.

'Things have been very quiet here.'

'How's Ashley been?'

'I was about to ask you the same question.'

'Why would you ask me? Bonnie picked her up this afternoon.' He said, his stomach starting to knot with uncertainty.

'No, I didn't pick her up.' Bonnie shook her head.

'Then that means...' Devon trailed off.

'She's still there! Oh no!' He cut the call and swiftly made a U-turn, listening to KITT's tires howling and screeching as he raced towards the school.

'That's what I was trying to tell you.' KITT explained.

'I'm sorry pal, I should have listened, but right now we need to hurry. She probably thinks we're not coming.' He said and he pushed the accelerator down harder.

Minutes later they drove into the school's car park and the car's headlights bathed the scene in light and he saw the young girl sitting slumped on the curb with her school bag next to her. He saw her rocking back and forth slightly and her head was pointed down at the road, staring at something he couldn't see. He quickly got out of the car and ran over to her and kneeling down beside her he pulled her close to him in a hug and he could feel she was shivering from head to toe.

'Ashley, I'm so sorry I-'. Michael cut himself short as he heard her soft sobbing and felt her hot tears on his shirt.

'I-I t-thought you weren't coming. I-I thought you'd f-forgotten me.' She said between sobs. Michael rubbed her back just as he had done when he had brought her to FLAG and they found out that she might have been his daughter.

'I would never forget about you.' He replied holding her tighter, as if to protect her from the wind and trying to get her at least a little warmer. 'I promise you that I will never let this happen again.'

'Never?' She asked looking up at him.

'Never.' He replied leaning down a little bit more and kissing her forehead.

'Michael, he vital signs show that she is very cold and I believe she should be taken home and given a warm bath.' KITT suggested.

'Couldn't agree more, pal.' He replied and he lifted her up and carried her over the the car, who opened his door for them and Michael placed her inside. KITT turned up the heater to warm the cabin and make her feel better, he had a bad feeling that she might get a cold.

'I'm sorry Ashley, we thought that Bonnie had come to pick you up.' KITT explained.

'It's ok KITT.' She sniffed.

'It's not.' Michael said getting in. 'I was stupid for not making sure that Bonnie had picked up, instead I just assumed she did.'

'I know you didn't mean it.' She said and she snuggled into his arm as KITT drove them home.

'You know pal, if I ever ignore like I did today just remind remind me of this would you?' Michael asked.

'Yes Michael.' He replied, he knew that eventually Michael would get sick of him reminding him about this this incident, but he would do it anyway. Then he picked up a call and realised it was FLAG. 'Michael, Devon's calling.' Then Michael flipped a few switches and the monitor came to life, however it wasn't Devon's face that greeted them.

'Bonnie?' Michael asked confused.

'Hello Michael, I wanted to make sure that you picked Ashley up.' She said.

'I did.' He nodded.

'How is she?' She asked relieved.

'I'm fine.' Ashley leaned across a little and smiled at her friend.

'I'm glad to hear it.' Bonnie said relieved. 'How far away from the mansion are you?'

'About five minutes,'. KITT replied.

'Thanks KITT. See you then.' She said and she ended the call.

Bonnie then went to run a hot bath for the young girl, knowing that she would be cold tired and no doubt hungry as well. So she made sure that she would be able to have her dinner once she was dressed in her pyjamas. Indeed Autumn was preparing a very cold winter, which reminded her that Ashley's birthday was only in a couple of months and she and Michael had been trying to pin-point a day that was at least close to her real birthday.

Once Bonnie had run the bath she went back downstairs to see that Devon was working on something, she had seen him working on it a lot over the past few weeks, but he avoided her every time she asked him what it was. Cleary he didn't want anyone else to know about it and that just made her all the more curious. So when he left for a few moments to go to the bathroom she went in and started searching through all the paperwork on his desk. She was surprised to see that it was all about Ashley; about her previous foster families, they orphanage she went to, her old school, but what really shocked her was her birth certificate that had been lying amidst the other papers. The date read 14 July 1976.

Devon had discovered her real birthday, why hadn't he told anyone? Then she saw the name on the certificate Ashley Victoria Knight, Father Michael Arthur Knight, Mother... The name looked like it had been scribbled out so that it was impossible to read, but she could make out a few letters. B, e, w.

'Frustrating isn't it.' Bonnie jumped and stared at Devon who was standing in the doorway watching her.

'You nearly gave me a heart attack.' She said breathless.

'I'm sorry Bonnie, but I had a feeling you might try to find out what I was doing.' He replied walking in.

'What have you been doing?'

'Research, you see Ashley asked me to try and find out anything I could about her mother and I've been through every piece of information ever collected on the girl and this is the only clue, but as you can see it's unreadable.' He said sadly.

'Not entirely, I can pick out a few letters and maybe KITT can read it.'

'That's a good idea Bonnie, but...We can't let Michael know.' He sighed.

'Why not? He'll want to know what we've found.'

'I asked him right after we found out that Ashley was his daughter, he said he didn't want to go chasing ghosts from his past.'

'What about Ashley? Have you told her? Does she know?'

'Not yet.'

'I'll tell her when she comes home, it might cheer her up.'

'Yes, but just don't tell Michael.'

'Fine.' She sighed annoyed. Then she walked out and was happy to see Michael carrying the young girl in to the foyer and he put her down gently.

'Bonnie.' Ashley smiled and limped over.

'Ashley. Oh, I was so worried, I'm sorry it's just that I thought that Michael had-'. Bonnie rushed before being cut off.

'I know and I forgive you.' She smiled, putting her arms around the woman's waist.

'Thank you.' She said running her hands through her hair. 'Now upstairs, there's a nice hot bath with your name on it.'

'Ok.' She said and she limped over to the stairs and slowly walked up them.

Michael noticed something was upsetting Bonnie and he looked at her as she watched Ashley go, then he walked over and out his hand on her shoulder. She turned her head to look at him with her big blue eyes and he had to use all his willpower to keep himself from just leaning down and kissing her right there and then.

'Are you ok?' He asked.

'Yeah, I'm just fine.' She nodded, but she couldn't hold his eyes.

'You're not, I know you're not, so tell me what's wrong.'

'I just...I can't.' She said and she fled upstairs, leaving Michael to stare after her worried.

Bonnie locked herself in her room and sat on her queen size bed, she was appalled with herself; she now was keeping secrets from her best friend and for a moment she had wanted to stretch up and kiss Michael. She longed to feel the soft touch of his lips on her own and to freely show her affection for him, but she couldn't. Not now that she was keeping a secret from him and even if she wasn't what about Ashley? Would she approve of someone else getting together with her father? How would that affect her friendship with the little girl? Would she even want to live in the mansion with her anymore? Then there was Devon, what would he think if two of his colleagues decided to start dating and where would it lead? No there was just to much at stake, it would never happen and after all that she fell into a restless sleep.

Michael was worried for his friend, she had been a little strange lately and he hoped he hadn't done something to upset her, the last thing he would ever want was to hurt her. He walked to her room and knocked on the door, but the only response he got was a soft snore and he knew she had fallen asleep. So he decided to go and talk to Devon, he found him at his desk surrounded by a mountain of paperwork which he seemed to be putting away in his filling cabinet. He glanced at Michael and smiled as he packed away more papers.

'Hey Devon do you know what's up with Bonnie?' Michael asked.

'I haven't the faintest idea, why?' He replied.

'She was upset and when I asked why she said she couldn't tell me and she ran up to her room.' He explained.

'Hmm...' Devon knew exactly why she was upset, but of course he couldn't tell his friend that, however he had a feeling there was another reason that he didn't know about. 'I don't know Michael, perhaps she just needs a goodnight sleep, after all I think we've all been a bit stressed over the last few weeks.'

'Yeah, but something's not right. Bonnie isn't like that, there's gotta be something that she's not telling us.' He said and he headed back to the door. 'I'm going to find out what it is.' Then he disappeared into the corridor before walking out into the foyer.

She's not upset with you, you know.' He turned around and saw Jennifer standing there in her pyjamas.

'How do you know?' He asked confused.

'A woman can tell and I think Ashley's picked up on it too.'

'Then why was she upset?'

'I'm afraid I can't tell you that.' She said sneakily. Michael groaned in frustration.

'Why?'

'It's something she has to tell you herself, but I recommend not to push her into it and let me ask you how do you feel about her?' She asked. He looked at her, confusion written across his face.

'She's a friend, what more can I say?'

'Oh Michael I know you.' She waking him on the arm and dragging him into the lounge room. 'Look I know you think that no one else can see it, but let me tell you this: everyone can tell how you feel about her, even KITT knows that you like her more than you're letting on and that's saying something. The only person that's not sure is Bonnie and that's why she's upset, she doesn't know what to do and that scene in the foyer ten minutes ago freaked her out because she didn't know whether or not you were just being kind or if there was something more there now you tell me which one it was.'

Michael thought about it, everything she had said made sense, but one thing still puzzled him: did she feel the same way about him? Or was she worried about it because she didn't and she didn't want to hurt his feelings? Either way he knew he could trust his sister (she was his only family left except Ashley and the closest thing to a real sis yer he'd ever had) and he answered her honestly.

'I... I love her.' He said quietly.

'You have no idea how long Devon, KITT and I have waited for you to say that.' She smiled at him. 'Now you just have to tell Bonnie that, but of course you'll have to say it a little more like you mean it.'

'More like a lot more.' The two of them spun around to see Ashley standing about a meter behind them.

'You heard all that?' Michael asked in disbelief. She nodded casually.

'Yeah, but I won't tell her, you've gotta do that and I wouldn't wait too long either cause you're sending her nuts.' She said simply before walking out. 'Oh and by the way, I was wondering how long it was gonna take you to admit it.' Then she went up to bed, happy that her Dad had admitted that he had fallen in love.

She went into her room then got underneath her blankets, she was happy to be curling up with her teddy bear and get some rest. She held her teddy close, closed her eyes and soon she felt fast asleep.

Should they get together or not? You Decide!