Michael sat in the driver's seat, and KITT mapped the shortest route back to the location where he had made his escape. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as Jamie laid back in the passenger seat sleeping. Sighing, he wanted answers.

"You need to relax because your vital signs are showing you are stressed," KITT said.

"I agree. The continuance of tapping is getting on my nerves." The seat clicked in the upright position, she sat. "KITT is making excellent time on the route."

He glanced at the rolling landscape of desert sand stretching out for miles in early dawn's light. A slight cold shiver raced throughout his spine creating a sharp stinging sensation flooded into his skin as he squeezed the steering wheel.

"Do you know the pilot steering wheel cost a small fortune?" She pulled her hair out of her eyes, gazing at him. "Hard to replace too." She stretched, searching for a comfortable spot in her seat to avoid eye contact with him.

Michael glared at her.

"I like her," KITT said.

"You would," he snapped.

She giggled, hiding her laughter with her hand.

"You're an expert of KITT?" He eyed Jamie wanting to make her cringe in the seat.

"Bonnie is the expert in KITT, and I have read several of her research papers and comments pertaining your use of the equipment. We don't have access to Foundation resources to bail us out of trouble."

"You sound like a woman starting her cycle," he blurted out releasing his emotion.

She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him.

"That was not nice," KITT stated.

"You're lucky I'm not. I just finished for your information. An offensive remark I'd have nailed your hide to the seat. I get it you don't want me here! You've made quite clear by your body language and your choice of words."

"Ms. White, he did not want me either when we first started," KITT explained.

"KITT, please call me Jamie. This is a Michael's trait. I see why my uncle chosen him." She relaxed in the seat staring at the ceiling.

"You both realize I am sitting here?" He pounded his chest an attempt verifying his own existence.

"Whether you like it or not we're working together," she said with a softness in her voice.

"You're right. I don't want you here, but you need to understand I'm used to working by myself with KITT..."

"If I had a penis the situation would be different, and then you would accept my assistance?" She stared at him demanding an answer.

"You didn't just say that?" He chuckled, concealing his amusement.

"A man's business being a spook. I have learned not to take prisoners with my attitude." She glanced at him, grinning. "Yes, I said that." She giggled, relaxing in the seat.

"Okay. Are you attracted to men? The last time, I encountered a woman with a similar attitude she had no desire towards men." He waited for her response hoping she was attracted to men.

"I enjoyed the company of the opposite sex during my time off when I'm not being shot at." She held back her giggles.

"I do not understand what your sexual organs and attitudes have to do with this situation," KITT said.

Jamie busted out laughing, and Michael joined her in the laughter.

He frantically waved his hands back and forth. "You need to be human to understand."

The laughter settled, as the tense feeling eased between them.

"Jamie, I'm sorry. You're here to help. I get that now." He longed to touch her hand and deny himself of the pleasure by keeping his hands on the steering wheel.

She placed her hand on his arm. "It's hard to trust someone when you have doubts nagging at you about a certain person."

Michael touched her hand as a spark raced through both of them as he gazed into her green eyes. "I believe you." He held her hand.

Her fingers interlocked with his, she squeezed his hand longing for reassurance in this uncertain moment, as they headed to their next destination. He hoped Jamie's fears would not come true, but a nagging suspicion haunted him that what she suspected be correct what they would encounter. Not knowing what to expect was the most difficult part being an operative, Michael found himself bringing along a woman possibly into a dangerous assignment. There was no other way, he had calculated in his mind playing out the scenario over and over, resulting in his conclusion that he needed a third partner.

He hoped it wouldn't cost Jamie her life.