Knight Rider 2010

Trapping Knight With A Queen

Written by
Ldydeb
Chapter Two

The next morning, at the Foundation for Law and Government, Michael came into Devon's office; sat down quietly next to Bonnie; and began staring at her to gain her attention. At first, Bonnie tried not to let it bother her; but, after a few minutes of being watched and not talked to, she gave in to her curiosity.  She faced Michael squarely and asked, "Do you want something?"

"No," shrugged Michael.

"Then quit staring at me." After another few minutes of him just staring at her, Bonnie studied his face and smiled, "Oh no. You've got that look again, Knight. What's her name and how can I help?"

Michael grinned, "Selena. And I need a quick picnic lunch and some time off."

"Well, give me the details. When did you meet her?"

"Yesterday. I picked her up in the rain."

"You mean to tell me that she was hitch hiking in that terrible storm! What happened?" asked Bonnie.

"Never mind the details, Bonnie, there's no time. Will you take care of Devon for me?" persisted Michael.

Devon entered the office before Michael could escape him. Devon carried a pile of manila folders with him. He laid them on his desk. His voice caught Michael before he could get out the door; "I have a new case for you and KITT to get started on."

Michael indicated to Bonnie to hurry up with the address she was writing down. He attempted to brush Devon off, "Sorry Devon, I can't right now. I've got a more pressing engagement waiting for me at this very moment."

Devon asked seriously, "What could be more important then Foundation business?"

In amusement Michael answered, "Right now, Devon, a lady named Selena. Bonnie?"

Bonnie handed him a piece of paper as Devon instructed, "Please Michael, just get acquainted with the case for now. Read the background information that's all I'm asking." Michael picked up some of the folders and promised to have them looked over before the day was out. He got out of the office after that to make sure Devon would not change his mind.

Simultaneously at Judson International, Selena and her friend Caiti were chatting by the filing cabinet. Selena finished putting some of work away, while Caiti had just begun hers. Caiti asked, "So, what is he like?"

Selena smiled mischievously, "Nothing special, Caiti, he just gave me a lift home." On the other side of the room, Patrick waltzed in and chatted with one of the other secretaries. Catching a glance at him, Selena's eyes hardened when he smiled her way. Her mind drifted to the night before.

Caiti's voice interrupted Selena's thoughts; "I don't blame you for being angry! Don't even pay attention to him." She pulled Selena down to the bottom file drawer and demanded, "Now! Tell me more about your Michael Knight. Did he ask you out?"

Selena scolded, "Caiti you are acting like we're still in high school. Comparing notes on our dates and gossiping for Christ's sake! I really don't believe you." She smiled smugly and continued replacing the files she had. She made a show of looking for a file that she had been told to get, ignoring Caiti's attempts to get her to talk.

Caiti grabbed Selena's hands out of the drawer and persisted, "Come on, girlfriend, did he or did he not ask you out?"

Selena nodded, "We're having lunch together this afternoon."

Caiti commented, "No wonder you had me pick you up this morning. Well, I am glad you're going out with him. Maybe now you'll be treated better." The look in Selena's eyes told Caiti she hit a sore spot. Caiti knew she should not have brought it up, but it was not a secret to anyone how Patrick abused her. As her best friend, Caiti had warned Selena plenty of times to stay away from him.

Hugging her friend, Caiti consoled, "I am sorry, Selena. Anyway did he tell you where he was taking you?"

Unexpectedly, Patrick peered over the filing cabinet. He asked, "Where is who taking you, Selena?"

Giving him a dirty look, Selena jumped in before Caiti could reveal her plans, "I have a lunch date. Caiti is making a big deal out of it."

A young woman from Selena's office called to her, "Selena, your sister Jasmine is on the phone. Line five."

"I'll be right there," called out Selena. She threw her files at Caiti; gave her a "don't say anything" look; and hurried into her office. Picking up the receiver, she asked, "Hello, Jasmine, whatchya need?"

Jasmine explained, "Marie got sick and..."

Selena sighed, "Uncle Dave brought you all home."

"Yeah, we got here just of a few minutes ago. I called to ask you what to do about Tina?"

Selena scolded, "Come on, Jasmine, she is your sister. What kind of question is that? You'll have to stay home and watch her for just this once."

Jasmine whined, "But, Selena, you know I can now go to that art class that you made me almost miss this weekend. We're supposed to go to the art institute for a tour. I'd take her with me, but all my friends are going and she'll just get bored."

Before Selena could respond, she was interrupted for a second by Patrick's light tap on the door. She knew he was trying to get her attention, so she pointedly ignored him. He came to stand by her desk as she offered, "I'm sorry, Jasmine, I forgot about the tour. Don't worry; I'll pick Tina up at 12:30. But please do not leave until I get there. I know that bus doesn't leave until 1:30, so you'll have plenty of time to make the trip. By the way, I wish you would let Tina hang out with you once in a while. You'd be surprised to find how much fun she can be."

Reluctantly, Jasmine agreed and hung up before she got herself into any more trouble. Patrick inquired, watching Selena move away from him to the chair behind her desk, "Trouble among my favorite ladies?"

"Would you care if there was?" Selena replied, slightly irritated. It infuriated her that he was pretending that last night had not occurred. She put her desk between them to guard against any more lies that he loved her or anything else for that matter.

Reading her mood, Patrick asked apologetically, "Selena," he defeated her defensive position by joining her behind the desk and behind her caressing her neck and shoulders, "You are not still angry with me for last night? We got out what we wanted, didn't we?" He spoke into her ear knowing how sensitive she was there, immobilizing her. He wanted her to feel his domination of her and let it sink deeper. He stated, "Dinner this evening. We could make up for losing last night together." His tone and a touch of his hands let her know what he wanted from her and that it was not a request.

Before Patrick could finish, two gentlemen entered the office. Sighing her irritation, Selena shook off Patrick's invasive hands to politely inform, "Your Guests are here, Patrick." Patrick looked up like a satisfied peacock as one of the gentleman stepped forward to address Selena.  Selena's cheeks flamed hotly as she remembered several other meetings with Patrick's business partners.

One of the gentlemen smoothed the front of his suit jacket as he replied, "Please inform Mr. Judson Sr. that we are here for the meeting, Miss Kirk."

Patrick extended his hand and answered, "Good morning, Roger, I'm glad you could make it." Patrick's interruption of the gentleman's introduction put Selena on the alert. Patrick squeezed her arm tightly to keep her silent.

The other gentleman approached Selena and lifted her hand to his lustful sneering lips.  She found herself pinned between the man and Patrick, as the two men shared amusement over her predicament.  The man offered, "Very Good to see you again, Selena.  I was happy to hear Patrick was able to convince you to take care of that problem for us after all."

Fighting off the fear Patrick tried to get her to feel, Selena withdrew her hand from the gentleman's and complied with Patrick's warning, quickly buzzing her boss's office.

Patrick Judson Sr. opened the door to his office to the right of Selena's desk. Expressionless the man guided his guests into his office. Patrick pulled his father aside and made a quiet suggestion/order to him. Patrick Sr. nodded and closed the door to his office while remaining with Selena. Taking Selena's hand, he instructed, "Miss Kirk, as you know, this is going to be a very private meeting and we don't want to be disturbed at all. I'd like you to close down the office. You and the others may leave whenever you're ready." He dropped his set of keys in her hand and continued, "Please make sure everything is locked and bring these back in the morning." He looked at her solemnly and said apologetically, "Patrick has really taken over everything and everyone, hasn't he? I'm very sorry for my son's actions toward you especially, Selena. I wish..." Selena felt the rest of this sentiment in her heart and squeezed his hand, allowing him the dignity of not having to continue.

She offered, "It'll work out for the best, Mr. Judson, I promise."

He commented mysteriously, "If things go as planned, my dear, they will. I just hope Patrick can forgive me for doing the right thing." Before Selena could ask what he meant, he disappeared behind the door; his last instruction for her to engage the answering service for incoming calls.

Selena did as she was instructed and noticed that he had let them go earlier than she had previously told Michael. That meant she would have to wait for him in the office alone. Oh well, she thought, this will be a good time to clean up my desk and put away the rest of my files. While working, she regretted letting Caiti drive her to work that morning. She was busy cleaning up her desk when she accidentally pushed the intercom button for Mr. Judson's office. She heard Patrick's voice, "Don't worry about her, I can handle her. I'm keeping her busy with our other problem. What we still need is a way to get the merchandise off the base and out of the country."

Another voice argued, "How can you guarantee she won't be a problem? After all, she did help the police investigate her last employer's illegal activities."

Patrick gloated, "Again, Roger, Lennox and I assure you that I have her exactly where I want her. She'll play this game by my rules for as long as I want her to."  There was heard a slight arrogant shared laugh between what she knew was Patrick and his friend, Lennox.

Hearing Patrick's last comment Selena knew she was the topic of their conversation. The irony of it was annoying. Patrick Judson Sr. originally hired her because of her honesty and actions to put away her former employer who had been laundering drug money for local gangs. She remembered that Mr. Judson had asked her to use her investigating experience to check out some of his clients, personnel, friends, and even certain family members the first year she started working there. Then Patrick took control of the company. She was an honest, dependable employee until she got involved with Patrick. Slowly and methodically, he found a way around her independence and integrity. Coming out of her thoughts, she sensed someone standing behind her. She turned around to face the visitor while shutting off the intercom system. The visitor smiled, "Where is everyone?"

Selena returned pleasantly, "Hi Michael. They have all gone home. Mr. Judson decided to close down early." Throwing her work into her top drawer, she grabbed her purse, her keys, and tried to rush Michael out of the office before he overheard something that would get them both into a lot of trouble. She said, escorting him to the elevator, "I just have to lock up. We can go."

In the parking lot, Michael opened KITT's door for Selena while listening to her explain the problem with her sisters. Gathering her courage, she informed, "What I'm trying to tell you, Michael, is I have to take a rain check on lunch. If you want, you are more than welcome to have lunch with Tina and I." She waited for the inevitable complaints or rejection. She remembered only too well how Patrick did not like to have her sister's around let alone changing his plans at the last minute because of them.

Michael could see her hesitation, her dilemma at wanting to be with him yet having the responsibility to take care of her sister.  Michael enjoyed being with children and had no problem offering, "Why don't we just take her with us? I'm sure we can find something to make her happy." KITT was about to quip something sarcastic about children and messy car habits; but Michael talked over him.

Unnoticed from the fourth floor window, Michael and Selena were watched until they disappeared out of the parking lot. As they drove, Selena's eyes caught a glimpse of the subject of one of the folders stacked on "KITT's" dashboard. She asked, "Michael, could you pull into the next gas station or something? I have a terrible headache and no pain reliever."

Michael agreed and proceeded to do as she had requested. When he was safely out of the car, she quickly began to examine the information in the folders. As she suspected, Michael's new case involved Judson International. Patrick will be interested in knowing about this, she thought. As she paged through, she was astonished to find how complete and detailed the information was. The information contained background on all of Judson's employees, from top executives to last janitor. She recognized several of the reports were copies of the investigations she had done for Patrick Sr. earlier that year. To make sure that they were hers, she looked through some of the other folders and found originals written in her handwriting. She had thought that no one knew about her little investigations except Patrick Sr. It was obvious that someone did a lot of digging or The Foundation for Law and Government was given the files voluntarily. Then her memory brought back the warning Patrick Sr. had given her that morning and she knew he had turned his son into the authorities. Her tears threatened to come to surface; the knowledge of the danger Patrick Sr. was in if his son found out about his betrayal. Somehow, Selena promised she would do her best to stop that from happening.

The thought of Patrick threw her into a small panic. She searched for and pulled out his file. She looked around quickly to make sure that Michael wasn't on his way back before she started reading it. She found out details about Patrick that she had never known. She read that he had been involved in "soldier of fortune" activities and that he almost received a court-marshal for stealing classified information and weapons to sell to the highest bidder. He escaped prosecution because someone "lost" the evidence. He was a very violent man, the report said, and should be handled with extreme caution. Selena could not help but agree with what the report said about him. On several occasions, she had been the vent for his anger. She was about to skim over a few paragraphs about herself and her relationship with Patrick; but Michael exited the gas station. Quickly, she put the folders back together and placed them back on KITT's dashboard.

The guilty feelings that she had been experiencing since meeting Michael rose up again. She tried to push them way while watching him approach the car. She thought about the information he had and felt angry with him for being able to creep into her and her friends' private lives. She wanted to steel herself from putting her sisters in danger and losing everything she had fought for the last four years. These feelings persisted in warring against each other while Michael resumed their trip to her house. Michael couldn't help but notice her lack of attention and the perturbed expression tightening her jaw. At first he didn't want to pry into her thoughts, but it was becoming obvious that she was ready to explode. He asked, "Selena, what is bothering you?"

When she did not answer, Michael told KITT to go into automatic mode. He turned to watch her deal with her problems alone. To get her attention, he gently reached for her hand, accidentally caressing the side of her arm. He complimented, "You know, you are very pretty when you were so deep in thought. Care to share what is wrong?"

Selena reacted as if she had just been burned, jerking away from Michael's touch. In her mind, she had been remembering all the things she read in Michael's report and memories of Patrick lecherous hands invaded her thoughts. She had been wondering how Michael would react to the reports, but especially the ones detailing several incidents she had gotten herself into because of Patrick's little games. Again, she put her guilt down in favor of being appalled that Michael's Foundation had invaded her life. She glared at Michael with the intent of taking out her feelings on him. But her anger was replaced with alarm when she found KITT driving down the road with out Michael's hands on the steering wheel. She ordered anxiously, "Michael, how is KITT...KITT can drive by himself?" She rolled her eyes, "When will the surprises ever end! Why wasn't I told about this before it gave me a heart attack!"

KITT spoke to ease her mind, "You are right, Selena. Michael should have told you that I have automatic driving features."

Michael added, "I let KITT take over so I could get your attention. I didn't mean to scare you. But you looked so angry. What is wrong?"

Selena looked away trying to hide the truth. She replied, "Nothing, just this awful headache and a problem I couldn't fix at work."

Michael offered a plastic bag to her. He said, "I think this will help that."

Inside the bag she found a bottle of pain reliever and some juice.  Selena was touched and shamed by his generosity. She gratefully took advantage of both items in the bag. When she was finished, she asked, not having any trouble sounding excited, "Now! Please tell me more about your friend here so this doesn't happen again. I mean he's wonderful!" While waiting for Michael to begin, her thoughts drifted to the files knowing that she would have to some how steal them from Michael and give them to Patrick. Again a knot of guilt formed in her stomach.

Unaware of her thoughts Michael smiled as KITT remarked, "At least I'm not an 'it' anymore."

Selena didn't know why but she felt like she had to win KITT over to get closer to Michael. She needed to get close to Michael to keep him out of danger. With that conviction, she coaxed, "KITT, I am sorry. Please forgive me?"

KITT replied evasively, "Well..."

Selena pleaded, "Come on! You can tell I am now so fascinated with you that I wish I could learn how to operate you...with you as my instructor, KITT."

Michael laughed, "Selena, do you realize what you are asking? He'd scare you to death just for the fun of it. But if you want, I'll..."

KITT responded on the offense, "I would not, Michael. I would make sure she'd be able to operate me with better care than you do."

An argument ensued as they pulled into Selena's driveway. Selena stopped the argument in midstream, "Sorry to intrude, but I'm going to find Tina. You can join me if you like, Michael, when you are finished thrashing KITT that is." She giggled at her teasing of them.

Michael inquired, "Don't you want to know where we are going this afternoon?"

Selena responded, as KITT opened the door for her, "It would be a nice idea. But then again, I've already found that you are usually just full of surprises. Like this," motioning to the opened door, "hopefully I'll get used to it. Thank you, KITT, you are such a gentleman." She threw Michael her best sarcastic grin.

Seconds later, they were standing in front of Selena's door waiting for her to retrieve her house key from her purse. As she searched for them, Michael simply turned the knob and opened it. "What is this doing unlocked?" wondered Selena, "Jasmine! Tina! I'm home!"

Two young girls bounded down the stairs but froze halfway when they saw the stranger behind their sister. The taller of the two girls was wearing an old, paint-stained, and oversized men's dress shirt over a pink T-shirt and blue jeans. Michael recalled the family portrait and concluded from the green eyes that were studying him that this young girl with auburn hair must be Jasmine.  Tina still resembled Selena but with strawberry blond curls pinned back with gold barrettes and light brown eyes that revealed a shy yet inquisitive nature. Michael braced himself when Jasmine attacked protectively, "I thought you were suppose to be with Patrick this weekend?"

Selena returned Jasmine's question with a look that told her to "Shut-up!" She replied, "Jasmine, what was this door doing unlocked? You know the rules when I am not here."

Jasmine explained, "Chill out, Selena. I knew you'd be here soon, so..."

"So you left it open for me," Selena finished, "Nice idea, Jasmine, but I have a very good reason for keeping this door locked. So please make sure it is until I tell you different."

Jasmine responded, defiance still light in her voice, "God, Selena, I wish you'd get it together and be yourself again."

Remembering Michael behind her, Selena blushed at her sister's comment, "Don't you have an art class to attend?"

Tina had been keeping an eye on Michael during her sisters' battle of wills and now she spoke, "But, Sal, who is He?"

Selena's face turned another shade red, she introduced, "Tina, Jaz, this is Michael." She knew she needed to salvage the situation...from her overreaction to the door being unlocked and from bringing this stranger to meet her girls without telling them first. She explained, "He was kind enough to give your stupid and drenched sister a ride home yesterday."

Jasmine began to grill Michael with questions while Tina helped to escort him into their living room. Michael replayed the rest of the story for them and answered as many of the questions Jasmine asked as he could. He was awed how protective the sisters were of each other. Selena brought up the subject of KITT; knowing Tina loved working with and learning about computers and technology. She left Michael alone to defend himself against a whole new set of questions but from Tina who was quickly overcoming her shyness because of KITT. Selena went into the kitchen to fix everyone a drink.

Michael watched Selena working in the kitchen. She was laughing at him and her sisters. He too was amused by the attention he was getting; enchanted with the way Selena and her sisters interacted with each other. Michael took advantage of a lag in the questions to launch some questions of his own. He got the information he wanted and then asked Tina for a suggestion of something she'd like to do with the rest of the day. While Tina contemplated that, he turned to Jasmine and convinced her to give up her trip to tag along with them. He promised to take her to some of the big galleries in Beverly Hills. That won him over to Jasmine. He quietly gave them a list of things to get for their trip, including some things for Selena. They all looked at Selena conspiratorially and then Michael sent the Kirk sisters upstairs to get ready for their excursion.

Selena returned from the kitchen with a glass of lemonade for Michael. She had overheard him convincing her sisters to join them but not much else. She wondered aloud, "What did you say to them?"

Michael laughed, "Not much...you'll see."

Selena joined his laughter, "Thank you for being so patient with them."

Michael replied, "They're fun!"

Selena smiled, "Wow, if we're gonna get going, I'd better put my things away and get ready." She looked around for her briefcase and cursed, "Damn! Michael, I left my briefcase in KITT. Would you mind if I went out to get it?"

Michael replied, "Not at all."

Outside, Selena found the briefcase where she purposely left it. She opened it and shoved several of the most damaging and informative files about her company in it. KITT asked, "Selena, what are you doing?"

She lied, "I spilled some of Michael's files on the floor while getting my briefcase. Sorry, KITT, I'll clean it up."

KITT replied, "Please be careful. Those are confidential and very important for the new case Michael has started." Selena closed her briefcase and after making an appropriate excuse, she went back into the house and up the stairs to change.

A little later, everyone was ready to go. Michael introduced KITT and drove on to their first destination. They stopped by the restaurant that Bonnie had suggested and Michael brought out a huge picnic basket full of food, soft drinks, and a bottle of wine. After storing the basket in the trunk, he opened Selena's door and offered, "Would you care to drive, Madame?"

Selena's eyes widened with excitement and surprise, "You are joking, right? I don't think I can do this! Michael!"

"Sure you can. Trust me it is just like driving an everyday car. You can do that?" he taunted.

Jasmine and Tina prodded, "Come on, Selena! You can do it!"

KITT assured, "There is nothing to worry about."

Salina concluded unbelieving, "And you wouldn't dream of playing a practical joke on me by making me use one of those 'special functions', would you?"

Michael grinned mischievously, "Just trust us."

Selena teased, "Trust you!"

Jasmine returned, "You are just chicken, Selena. Can I do it, Michael?"

Selena answered, "You can't even drive a real car yet, Jaz." She realized her mistake and said, "Sorry, KITT." She allowed Michael to help her up and escort her to the driver's side of KITT. She remarked trying to sound confident, "I'll show you who's chicken!"

When Michael was safely seated next to her, he showed her how to start the engine and then let KITT take over the instruction from there. As she drove, Michael showed her how to plot a course for them to travel. Together, they mapped out a course for the beach. As they drove, a Mercedes began following them from far behind.

When he was sure she had mastered KITT's most basic functions, Michael told KITT to take over and demonstrate his more complicated functions. The three women were amazed at how KITT could operate himself while Michael sat in the passenger seat. Michael suggested to Selena that she take back control of KITT and she learned how to change from automatic pursuit to manual and back again. KITT planned the last demonstration when they got to the beach. He warned everyone to hang on as he focused on a small sand dune and jumped over it. Little screams of fear and excitement resounded throughout the car from its passengers as they sailed through the air. The demonstration over, KITT found a space to rest at the edge of a path that led to the beach. Tina squealed, "That was fun! How'd you do that, Selena?"

Selena shrugged, "I don't know. KITT took over and I couldn't stop him."

Michael laughed, "Is everyone OK?"

"Yeah!" the girls chorused.

Selena commented, "I think I'll stay in the passenger seat from now on though."

KITT predicted, "You'll change your mind, Selena. Once I get under your skin, you can't get rid of me."

Michael rolled his eyes and teased, "I can...a...testify to that. KITT's been tagging along with me for a very long time now."

Jasmine asked, "Can we go to the beach now?"

Her suggestion sent everyone scrambling out of KITT and running towards the water. Selena and her sisters stopped by the water's edge and began taking off their canvas slip-ons. Tina frowned, "Michael, how come you didn't tell us to put our bathing suits on?"

Michael answered, "Because I didn't want to give away the surprise."

Tina asked, "Selena, can we still get wet?"

Selena had been whispering something to Jasmine that made her giggle. She answered, "Sure, Tina, our shorts will dry. Just be careful of the sand. I'm sure KITT isn't a self-cleaning model and would not appreciate getting sand into his systems."

Michael replied, "Well, actually he can..." He shut-up when he realized they weren't listening to him. He watched them wade into the water until their ankles sank deep under the water and the cool sand squished between their toes.

While Jasmine and Tina bent down to splash water on their faces, Selena stretched. She felt so relaxed that she too wished she had worn a swimsuit. She settled for her cut-offs and for removing the blouse she had worn over its matching yellow tank top. Michael had just finished rolling up his jeans when she called, "Think fast!" and threw her blouse at him. The blouse softly slapped him on the chin and dropped into his hands. She applauded, "Bravo, Mr. Knight, you can catch too! My Hero!"

As Michael tossed the blouse to the dry sand, Selena trudged over to her sisters and they huddled together for a second. She winked at Jasmine. Michael entered the water as they picked up Tina and threw her into the water directly in front of him. Tina's fall sent large amounts of water over and around Michael until he was completely soaked to the skin. He reached for Tina, but she scrambled away from him towards Selena and Jasmine. Michael raised a fist at them and warned, "I'll get you three!"

Jasmine taunted, "How?"

Selena finished, "Whatchya gonna do? Without KITT, you're not tough!"

Tina giggled, "Yup! Three helpless girls just turned you into a wet mop!"

"Oh yeah!"

"Yeah!"

"Yeah," Michael returned, "Well, I'm gonna show you just how tough I can be!"  He bent down and with one swoop grabbed Tina and Jasmine by their waists and threw them in the water. He proceeded to go after Selena, but she escaped into deeper water, pushing backwards as she tried to protect herself. Michael lost his footing and fell into the water face first. Selena shook with laughter as she watched Michael and her sisters trying to recover from their dunking. Her laughter turned to hysterics while Jasmine and Tina desperately tried not to laugh. Michael glared at their oldest sister and wanted to get even.

Together Jasmine and Tina shouted, "Get Her! Michael!"

Selena realized she was in trouble when Michael started stalking her. Backing away, she tried to plead with him to stop, but her pleas were ignored. Her sisters surrounded her to prevent her escape and began splashing her unmercifully. To avoid them, she ran towards the sand and the chase was on. The girls watched as they first went up to the sand, then back into the water and then down the beach. One moment, Michael was gaining on Selena and then she turned tables and was chasing him back towards the girls. As they got close to them, Jasmine and Tina splashed at them. Michael used their play to regain his ground in chasing Selena. They ran down the beach and disappeared under the docks. Jasmine rolled her eyes at the thought of what they would be doing under there and knew she and Tina were now on their own for a while. To keep Tina busy, she retrieved a Frisbee from the beach bag and they began to toss it back and forth.

On top of a nearby sand dune, Patrick had watched their horseplay until Michael and Salina disappeared. Something in Selena's attitude that morning made Patrick want to keep close tabs on everything she did with Mr. Knight. After they disappeared from view, he turned his binoculars towards the smooth, charcoal Trans-Am that he had wanted to possess since finding the blueprints for it in his father's files. Movement from under the dock caught his eye. He turned in time to see Michael pull Selena behind one of the wood dock supports and kiss her.

Under the docks, Selena was out of breath when Michael finally caught her. He surprised her with his kiss and she laughingly swatted him away. She liked being kissed by him, but knew she shouldn't let him. Not just because of her sisters but also because of the things he didn't know about her.

Michael held her from getting away from him and demanded, "Do you give up?"

Still trying to catch her breath, Selena teased, "Maybe."

Michael groaned, "OH!" He picked her up and carried her into the water where he dumped her. When she came up out of the water, he teased, "Now, have you changed your opinion of me?"

Pushing her soggy hair out of her eyes, she grinned one of her eyes squinting in the sun as she gazed up at him, "Well...I guess you're all right."

Michael helped her up and they walked back up the beach over to where the girls were still throwing Frisbees. Selena asked, "Your magic car wouldn't happen to be able to produce a couple of towels, would he?"

Michael replied, "Abra-Ka-Da-Bra!" as he left her to go back to KITT. KITT opened his trunk and Michael pulled out the picnic basket, which contained several very large beach towels, and a large beach blanket.

Upon his return to the shoreline, Selena laughed at his preparedness and said incredulously, "You knew we were gonna do this, didn't you?"

Michael replied, "Not at first or I would've worn a pair of shorts too. The restaurant had a gift shop, so I had the sales girl throw these in just in case."

The girls joined them for a light lunch and then returned to the water while Michael and Selena lay lazily on the blanket. Selena relaxed on her stomach, resting her head in her folded arms. Michael lay on his side next to her. He watched as she started to fall asleep in the hot sun. Mischievously, he began digging a whole next to her and dumping the sand over her back. Somewhat annoyed, she rolled over on to her side to face him, resting her head in the palm of her hand. She tried to see his face through squinted eyes as she asked, "What are you doing?"

"Having a little fun."

"More like being a little pest." Something moved in the distance beyond Michael.  Selena looked for a second to see Patrick still watching them. A shadow clouded her eyes and she became very sad.

Michael caught it before she shook it away to hide it from him. He asked, "What's wrong?"

She sat up, facing away from Michael, looking towards the water. She laughed self-consciously, "Nothing, Michael! I'm having a great afternoon."

Michael refused to let her brush him off, He confronted, "You are not fine, Selena. You were so sad just now, why?"

Selena shrugged, "I was just thinking of Jasmine and Tina. This is the first time in a very long time that we've been able to play together like this. I've had a lot going on away from them and I know they have to be hating me for being so neglectful."

Michael reassured, "No, Selena. Didn't you see how protective they are of you? I have never been that thoroughly interrogated before."

Selena was embarrassed, but grateful. She smiled, "I am sorry, Michael."

Michael laughed, "No, I was glad to do it. They love you very much."

Selena looked away as she agreed, "We seem to go overboard in trying to protect each other. I know I've done a lot of stupid things for just that reason. I would not want to bore you with any those stories. You have been really wonderful to us."

Michael was about to inquire further, but she excused herself and went back into the water to join her sisters. As he watched them throw the Frisbee back and forth, their conversation replayed itself in his head. His instincts told him that something was very wrong with Selena. He had let her worried glances toward the parking lot go unquestioned. But he had clearly seen fear creep into her eyes when she looked over his shoulder. Since the girls were out of earshot, Michael scanned the parking lot and caught sight of the man that had been with Selena the day before in the restaurant watching her with binoculars. Quietly, Michael spoke into his wrist communicator, "KITT, I need you to investigate the Mercedes parked on the other side of the lot from you."

KITT inquired, "Something wrong, Michael?"

Michael answered, "I hope not, Buddy. Check it out for me. Do me a favor let's keep this between us. I don't want Selena to know I asked you to do this for me." Michael joined the Kirk sisters in the water and they continued to play until late in the afternoon.

On the way home, Patrick wanted to test "KITT's" capabilities and tried to knock them off the road. KITT prevented them from crashing and quipped, "Stupid kid! Michael, we should teach him a lesson before he kills someone."

Selena replied, "Not with Jasmine and Tina in here. Please, Michael."

Michael swallowed the urge to ask her what the real reason she did not want him to go after it, but he just agreed to her request and drove them home. Soon, they reached their destination and Selena sent her sisters into the house ahead of her. Michael knew she was going to thank him for the wonderful time he had shown them. He, however as soon as the girls were safe inside, asked, "Are you busy tomorrow?"

Salina replied, "I have to work in the morning again and then I want to take advantage of the school holiday and take the girls shopping."

Michael asked, "Can I tag along?"

Selena scolded, her "mom-voice" coming out, "Don't you have a new case to work on?" The words were out before she could stop them. She swore to herself as she tried to think of a plausible explanation, "I accidentally knocked down the files that were on your dashboard when I got my briefcase this afternoon."

Michael shrugged, though now studied her a little more intensely, "Did you see anything important?"

"Michael, I don't read things that are none of my business," she replied offensively, "Anyway, won't this Devon expect you to begin your investigation tomorrow?"

Michael shook off his duties, "No, I told him I wanted the weekend off and Bonnie promised to cover for me."

Selena brightened, "Does this mean we might have you for the entire weekend?"  She would have no trouble keeping him away from Patrick now.

Michael smiled slyly, "Well maybe just you. I might have a way to take care of your sisters." With that, he allowed Selena to leave KITT. He informed, "I'll meet you here at 12:30." Selena waved him off and watched him drive away before following her sisters into the house.

Inside her home, Selena helped straighten up the house and put away the things they had taken to the beach. The Kirk sisters then made plans for the next day and got ready for bed. As was her custom, Selena entered Tina's room to say good night. She sat on the bed next to her reclining sister and asked, "Did you have a good time today?"

Tina yawned happily, "The beach was great, Sal. I like Michael a lot. He's much more fun than Patrick ever was."

Selena forced herself to smile, "You think so?"

Tina nodded enthusiastically, "Oh, Yes. He's so nice and KITT is so excellent. He tells me the best jokes ever. He can even play chess!  Will we get to see him again so I can challenge him to a game?"

Selena answered, "It just so happens that I invited Michael to go shopping with us tomorrow.  I'm sure he would let you have a game with KITT."

Tina smiled, "I'm glad. But what about Patrick? Won't he be mad when he finds out about Michael?"

Selena was unprepared for that question and had to think before answering, "Patrick won't be mad, Tina. As a matter of fact, Patrick met Michael this morning and gave me his best wishes." Selena averted her eyes from Tina's, hating having to lie to her sister again. She was a hypocrite. She drilled into both of her sister's heads that honesty is one of the most important things in a person's character. Now she had done it and had been doing it for too long thinking she was doing it for all the right reasons. Seeing things from Tina's point of view, the thought that she was wrong dug itself into her soul.

Tina laid her hand on Selena's and asked, her voice very serious and worried, "Are you sure? Maybe he was pretending and now he's gonna hurt you again."

Selena swallowed her urge to cry. She had not realized how much Tina knew about her relationship with Patrick. She denied, "Tina, Patrick's never hurt me. Where would you get an idea like that?"

"I've seen him. A few weeks ago and then last weekend, You were arguing with him in the middle of the night and then he...well he hit you," insisted Tina.

Jasmine had come through the hallway and now stood in Tina's doorway waiting for Selena's explanation. She too had heard the arguments and had let Tina crawl into bed with her after Tina had come down the hall from the stairs crying over what she had witnessed. Salina held Tina's hand and replied softly, "I'm sorry you saw that, Dolly. Patrick did not mean to hit me. Sometimes our arguments have gotten out of hand and his temper got away from him. But I can guarantee Patrick will never do that to me again."

Tina replied with determination in her voice, "I believe you, Selena, Michael will never give him the chance."

Selena changed the subject, "Are you gonna be all right to go to sleep now, My Dolly?"

Tina hugged her sister very tight and said, "Now that I know we're safe, I will."

Selena smiled, "That I can guarantee, Dolly. Remember I'm the one who always protects you." Gently pushing Tina to lie down on her pillow, they prayed together, then Selena covered her sister with the blankets and said, "Sweet dreams, Dolly."

Tina smiled, her worries satisfied for the night, "Don't call me 'DOLLY'. I'm too old for that nickname."

Selena laughed, "Oh, Tina, you became my Dolly when Momma put you in my arms when you were a Baby, and you'll be my Dolly forever! Now good night."

Tina sighed in frustration, but replied, "Good Night."

After Selena kissed her forehead, she went into the hall to find Jasmine still waiting for her to come out. Jasmine followed her down the hall. She probed, "Selena, are you sure Patrick's not going to give you any trouble?"

Selena escorted Jasmine inside her bedroom and answered, "What's wrong, Jaz?"

Jasmine challenged, "Nothing, Selena. It's just that, well, I'm not ten and you can't fool me with the 'he only hit me once' bit."

Selena was about to deny Jasmine's accusation, but knew the girl had seen different. She remarked, "I know, Jaz. But believe me when I tell you that Patrick will leave us alone as long as I am going out with Michael."

Jasmine suggested, "Maybe you should tell Michael about Patrick. He'd make sure Patrick couldn't hurt you again...like Tina said!"

All too quickly, Selena retorted, "No. And don't you go and say anything behind my back."

Jasmine countered, "But what if Patrick tries something?"

Weary of the conversation, Selena begged, "Just let me handle this, Jaz! Please trust me." She pulled Jasmine into her embrace and added, "And no matter what happens, please remember that I love you both and would do anything for you."

Jasmine gave up. She knew Selena would not confide in her and she could not change Selena's mind. She offered, "You've gotten us through tougher things than this, Selena."

Selena breathed easier and replied, "Good night, Jaz."

As Selena left Jasmine's bedroom she heard her voice comment, "You know, Selena, I agree with Tina. Michael is a lot more fun than Patrick and a lot cuter too."

The two sisters grinned at each other and then Selena walked down the hall to her room to go to bed.