Notes: This chapter includes a reference to the episode "Just My Bill" (Season 1).

Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story.

A Knight's Christmas

Chapter 13

With Christmas approaching, Devon chose not to take on any new cases. He wanted to make sure that his team wouldn't be forced to continue working on the holidays if it took longer to solve the case. There weren't any pressing and important assignments anyway and therefore he decided everything could wait until the New Year.

Michael appreciated that Devon did his best to make sure that all of them would be able to have a short vacation. Neither he nor KITT minded that they didn't have to work much before Christmas either. It was Devon's way of showing him, Bonnie and RC that he was sorry that they weren't able to have the time off they had originally been promised. Whether it was Devon's fault that the dates were messed up or not, everyone was glad they only had to prepare the Christmas banquet and the board meeting instead of having to travel in the semi or solve cases.

Though Devon had asked Michael several times to remove the mistletoe swigs from the mansion, Michael kept ignoring his wish. Christmas was all about traditions, and mistletoes were a tradition after all. While Devon cherished Christmas pudding, and RC loved ugly Christmas sweaters, Michael enjoyed the lights, the decorations and especially the mistletoes.

Walking into Devon's office, Michael noticed that the mistletoe swig he had placed there, was still there. He knew that this year, even though he complained about it, Devon let him get away with his tradition. Otherwise, Devon would have already removed the mistletoe swig from his office.

"Yo, Devon." Michael sat down in the huge chair next to Devon's desk.

His boss looked up from his paperwork, surprised to see Michael in his office. "Hello Michael, I didn't expect you here already. Didn't you plan to drive around and enjoy the Christmas decorations?"

Enjoying the Christmas decoration. This had been his excuse to leave the mansion in order to make arrangements at the Riesling Inn for him and Bonnie and to find a perfect Christmas present for her. Bonnie didn't care about expensive presents. Therefore, he wanted to find a gift that showed her how much she meant to him. KITT had jokingly suggested that Michael should consider crafting, an idea which Michael had quickly rejected. The longer he thought about it however, the more he liked the thought of giving Bonnie a gift he would have made himself.

"RC called me and insisted I'd come back for the cookies." Michael grinned and showed Devon the cookies he had snatched from the kitchen earlier.

"Reginald and his cookies. I should consider giving him a huge box of them for Christmas." Devon shook his head. It amused him how much their young friend loved the cookies that the cook baked every year for Christmas. "Speaking of Reginald, has he mentioned to you when he will be leaving for Chicago? I have been so preoccupied that I haven't had a chance to ask him or Bonnie if they were able to change their plans."

This was only partly true. Though Devon had been busy, he had also avoided any conversations about Christmas and his team's new plans.

"He's leaving right after the banquet. He'll probably be the only one in a tux on the plane." Michael said while chewing on a cookie. "Bonnie will be visiting friends from university and KITT and I will drive up the coast."

They had decided to keep their plans vague, without mentioning too many details, when Devon would ask about them. Technically, it wasn't a lie. They would drive up the coast to Napa and they would stop at the University of San Francisco where Bonnie had spent a year to pursue post-doctorate studies. They wouldn't tell Devon though that they were traveling together, and what their destination would be. Michael hadn't told even Bonnie yet where exactly they would go after Christmas. All he had revealed to her was that they would be going up North.

He noticed the concerned look on Devon's face. "Don't worry, I'll behave. I won't do any crazy stunts and I won't get sidetracked by pretty ladies in need of help."

Devon sighed. "I'm not worried about this, Michael. I trust you and I know you'll be there for the board meeting."

"Then why do you look like you are going to read me the riot act?" Michael sounded confused.

"It's because you, Bonnie, and Reginald had to cut your vacation short because of the banquet and the meeting. All of you have worked hard this year and you would have deserved to have more than a few days off." Devon explained. He was glad he had already given them the week of Thanksgiving off. "And I have to apologize to you. I've worried about Bonnie's and Reginald's plans with their families, but not about yours. I took it for granted that it would be easier for you to change your plans as you don't have any family commitments. I'm truly sorry about this, Michael. I am aware that family holidays aren't easy for you. None of us can imagine how it feels when your family thinks you are dead, and you cannot tell them the truth."

Not being able to tell his family that he was alive and not being with them, especially on family holidays or birthdays was indeed hard for him. Michael often wondered if Devon felt guilty that Wilton Knight had made that decision for him. However, he hadn't felt left out or offended when Devon had been more concerned about Bonnie and RC than him. "It's okay, Devon. I would be lying if I didn't wish I could see my family. But I'm not alone. You, Bonnie, RC, and KITT are my family now."

"I'm glad you were able to spend Thanksgiving with Bonnie's family." Devon smiled at Michael. "I'd only wish you wouldn't be alone on Christmas."

"Actually …." This was a good moment to tell Devon that he and Bonnie were considering spending Christmas with him before they'd leave for their vacation. "You mentioned that I was welcome to spend Christmas here. So I was thinking about leaving for my road trip after having celebrated Christmas with you. Bonnie might want to join us too. "

Devon looked at Michael in surprise. "My dear boy, I had no idea that you were considering spending Christmas here with me. I assumed you couldn't wait to enjoy your days off and would leave as soon as the banquet was over. Or forget about the banquet like in the past."

"Yeah, I was planning on doing that. But then I realized that you would be alone too. No one should be alone on Christmas. Besides, I'll still have a few days off before the meeting." Michael explained wondering why Devon seemed to be hesitant.

"This is very thoughtful of you." Devon's voice sounded fatherly. "And under normal circumstances, I would feel honored that you'd rather spend Christmas with me than enjoy your vacation."

"Under normal circumstances? What do you mean, Devon?" Michael wondered if Devon knew more than he was telling them. Was the future of FLAG in danger? "Is this because of the meeting? Are you afraid they'll shut us down?"

"Don't worry, Michael. Jennifer is on our side now. We are not in danger." Devon stood up from his chair and rested his hand on Michael's shoulder. "However, to make sure the board members know how important and valuable FLAG is, Jennifer and I met with some of the people and friends who we either helped in the past or who are board members as well."

"And?" Michael asked curiously. He wondered how this was related to Christmas.

"Well, on this occasion I called Maggie Flynn. You remember Maggie? Senator Maggie Flynn? Maggie Flynn who's on the Foundation's Board of Trustees?" Michael nodded and Devon continued. "Maggie and I discussed the case, and she came up with an idea for a mutual project which we can present to the Board then. She invited me to talk about it in person before the meeting. She's a busy woman, so Christmas was the only day that she would be available. "

"I see." Michael grinned. "So you are having a date with Maggie Flynn."

"It's not a date, Michael. Maggie is an old friend. It is a business meeting. Really, Michael, only you would consider it a date." Devon shook his head. "I would have suggested that you and I spend Christmas Eve here at the mansion instead, but I already agreed to meet with Jennifer that day to inform her about Maggie's proposition. You see I won't have time for Christmas this year. You are of course welcome to join me and Jennifer or me and Maggie. Her assistant Jane might be there as well."

"That's okay, Devon." Michael was still grinning. "I'll pass on spending Christmas Eve with Jennifer. And I wouldn't want to intrude on your date either. I'll see Maggie and Jane at the board meeting anyway."

If Devon wasn't alone on Christmas, he and Bonnie could already leave the day after the banquet. He would call the Riesling Inn instead and move up their reservation.

"I already explained to you, Michael. It's not a date." Though Devon protested, he couldn't help but smile at the fact that Michael seemed to be cheerful again. He was glad that the old Michael Knight was slowly coming back and the pain in his eyes had begun to disappear.