It was around midnight when the sleek Trans Am pulled into the circle
drive. The engine was virtually noiseless as KITT rolled to a stop in front
of the Estate. Turning the engine off, Michael sat there for a few moments.
"What are you thinking about, Michael?" KITT had been monitoring his partner's vital signs ever since after the call from Devon. He had seen the rise in curiosity over Devon's message. There was always some sort of interest in getting a new addition to the Foundation, but the fact that this woman was a police officer sent the message to Michael that a new field operative was in the works.
There was a sharp intake of breath as Michael came back from his thoughts, "Just trying to figure out what Devon is up to, pal." He started shutting down all of KITT's non-essential systems as he spoke. After the last system had been powered down, Knight reached for the handle and opened the door.
"Good night, KITT." he stepped out of the car and grabbed a small duffle bag out of the back seat before gently shutting the door.
"Good night, Michael." The scanner on the front slowed down to a lazy pace, and the headlights sunk under the hood.
Michael slowly made his way up the small path to the Estate. He couldn't help but think that Devon was hiding something from him about this woman. There was more there than what he was told, he could feel it. It had been years since the last field operative came to FLAG. He had been a hot-headed detective that had a knack for getting into trouble. Why the Foundation picked him, Michael didn't know. It was only a matter of months before the man got himself really killed.
Approaching the door, Michael entered a security code on the side panel and quietly opened the door. The main foyer was silent and the room dark. With a heavy sigh, Michael readjusted his grip on the bag and headed up the long staircase to the upper levels. Walking down the hallway towards his room, he heard the familiar beep of a heart monitor coming through a door that stood ajar. Leaning in, he saw the form of a person laying on the bed next to the machine. Opening the door a bit more, he saw that it was Trinity Colte. The moonlight danced across the room, lighting up every part of the bed, except the area near the headboard.
Michael stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him, making his way back down the hall. Once in his room, he gave no further thought to the woman and tossed the bag in a corner. Sitting at the end of the bed, Michael slipped off his boots and socks. After tossing those into the corner, he layed back on the blanket and moments later was fast asleep.
*****
The sun shone brightly through the window as the birds chirped in a nearby tree. A ray of light made its way along the floor and across the bed, eventually shining on Michael's face. Pulled out of a dreamless sleep, he raised an arm to block the light. Still half asleep, he shifted his position and turned away from the window. Just as he was about to go back to sleep, there came a gentle knocking at the door. Michael murmurred something inaudible and folded the pillow over his head. Slowly the door opened and Bonnie peaked her head around the corner.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty!" she called as she opened the door fully and walked across the room, pulling the curtains wide open.
"Mm, I'll rise but I refuse to shine." came the muffled call from beneathe the pillow. Bonnie grinned and tugged at the pillow case, freeing it from Michael's grip. He rolled over and looked at her through squinted eyes. She laughed at the sight of his ruffled hair and sleepy eyes. Patting him on the knee, she headed towards the closet and pulled out some clean clothes and tossed them on the bed.
"Devon wants to meet with you in his office in half an hour." she headed back toward the door. Michael just grumbled something and waved her out of the room. Bonnie smiled and shut the door behind her as she left. Laying back on the covers, Michael let his eyes adjust to the light before getting up to change. About twenty minutes later he was out the door for a quick bite to eat and then off to meet with Devon.
*****
The Foundation's CEO was leaning against the large oak desk reading a file when Michael knocked and entered through the open door. Devon looked up and ushered him in. He hadn't expected him so early and was slightly unprepared. Setting down the papers, he motioned for Michael to take a seat on a nearby couch. Devon followed close behind and sat in the chair opposite.
"Devon, what is this all about?" Michael leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He had made up his mind to come straight out and ask what Devon was up to.
The question threw him off a bit and for a moment or two he stared blankly at Michael. "You are aware of our new patient..." he trailed off as he stood once more and paced behind the chair.
"Yes."
"Well, a few weeks ago she busted a drug ring, and brought in the leader." he turned back towards Knight.
"Maddison. Yeah, you told me." Michael was getting slightly irritated now.
"It turns out that he voiced his intention to seek revenge..." Devon was cut off.
"Devon, lose the cover story. I know all about Maddison and the attempted murder. What is really going on here?" he stood up and took a step forward.
"What do you mean?" he tried to play coy, but knew that it wasn't going to work on Michael.
"You know what I mean. Bringing in this woman to train as a new operative and using the case to cover it up." he had taken a few more steps forward and now his voice slightly elevated.
Devon gave up with a sigh, "I know." he sat back down in the chair, "These past few days have been a whirlwind. Things haven't gone as planned." he leaned back, raising his hand to his forehead. Michael also sat back down, more confused than ever.
He asked again, "Devon, what is going on here?" Michael had calmed down now and was back to leaning on his knees, his eyes fixated on the man across from him.
"A woman by the name of Mary Riften came to see me three days ago. She told me that she had a some information, a secret, that she couldn't keep any longer." Devon rested his hand on the arm of the chair and looked at Michael.
"Mary Riften? She was one of Stevie's friends." his eyes wandered as painful memories came flooding back to him.
"Yes, and what she had to tell was a secret, indeed." as Devon prepared to reveal the information, he was glad that Michael was sitting down. "Do you remember when you and Stefanie first met?" Michael nodded, recalling that day when he graduated from the police academy. Stevie had been at the ceremony for a friend of hers and had literally ran into a then Michael Long at the punch bowl. She had spilt both glasses of punch on her white blouse. Michael apologized, but she had brushed it off as a mistake. They had spent the rest of the night talking and laughing.
Devon saw him slip into a memory and continued on in order to keep his attention, "It seems that she took a little piece of you home when she left." he saw Michael's head come up and the confusion in his eyes.
"Approximately nine months after you met her, Stefanie gave birth to a baby girl." he crossed his arms and watched as a wave of emotions crossed Michael's face. First shock, followed by anger, and then complete remorse.
"A girl?"
"Yes. Stefanie decided that she wasn't ready to be a mother and to a child whose father she hardly knew at the time. After they were released from the hospital, she put the baby up for adoption. A Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Colte took the infant home only days later." at that time there came a knocking at the door. Devon stood up, but Michael stayed seated still paralyzed by the news. Opening the door, Miles saw Bonnie standing there. He motioned for her to enter. Stepping inside she saw the look on Michael's face and knew at once that Devon had told him. Turning to face Devon, she spoke.
"Trinity's vitals have stabalized more. She should be waking up within the hour." after Bonnie had finished what she came to do, she went over and sat down next to Michael. He felt her rest a hand on his shoulder and looked up at her and then at Devon, still dwelling on his last words.
"Trinity?" Devon nodded. Shaking his head, Michael got up and headed for the door.
"Michael, where are you going?" Bonnie stood and followed him to the door of the office.
"I need some time to think this over. You know how to reach me." without another word he was out the door. Moments later he emerged from the Estate pulling on his jacket and walked over to where KITT was parked. Michael activated all the systems as he hopped into the driver's seat and revved the engine.
KITT was cautious at first, able to tell that something was bothering Michael by the way he acted, "I take it you found out what Devon was hiding?" the dashboard came to life and Knight peeled out of the driveway.
"You bet I did. You know what he was told me?" he slowed to a stop at an intersection and waited for the light to turn green.
"I haven't the faintest." came the quick reply.
"I have a daughter." he almost whispered it, but KITT was still able to pick up what was said. Sensing that it was a touchy subject at the time, he kept his tweeters shut. The light turned green and they were off in a haze of burned rubber.
*****
"What are you thinking about, Michael?" KITT had been monitoring his partner's vital signs ever since after the call from Devon. He had seen the rise in curiosity over Devon's message. There was always some sort of interest in getting a new addition to the Foundation, but the fact that this woman was a police officer sent the message to Michael that a new field operative was in the works.
There was a sharp intake of breath as Michael came back from his thoughts, "Just trying to figure out what Devon is up to, pal." He started shutting down all of KITT's non-essential systems as he spoke. After the last system had been powered down, Knight reached for the handle and opened the door.
"Good night, KITT." he stepped out of the car and grabbed a small duffle bag out of the back seat before gently shutting the door.
"Good night, Michael." The scanner on the front slowed down to a lazy pace, and the headlights sunk under the hood.
Michael slowly made his way up the small path to the Estate. He couldn't help but think that Devon was hiding something from him about this woman. There was more there than what he was told, he could feel it. It had been years since the last field operative came to FLAG. He had been a hot-headed detective that had a knack for getting into trouble. Why the Foundation picked him, Michael didn't know. It was only a matter of months before the man got himself really killed.
Approaching the door, Michael entered a security code on the side panel and quietly opened the door. The main foyer was silent and the room dark. With a heavy sigh, Michael readjusted his grip on the bag and headed up the long staircase to the upper levels. Walking down the hallway towards his room, he heard the familiar beep of a heart monitor coming through a door that stood ajar. Leaning in, he saw the form of a person laying on the bed next to the machine. Opening the door a bit more, he saw that it was Trinity Colte. The moonlight danced across the room, lighting up every part of the bed, except the area near the headboard.
Michael stepped out of the room and shut the door behind him, making his way back down the hall. Once in his room, he gave no further thought to the woman and tossed the bag in a corner. Sitting at the end of the bed, Michael slipped off his boots and socks. After tossing those into the corner, he layed back on the blanket and moments later was fast asleep.
*****
The sun shone brightly through the window as the birds chirped in a nearby tree. A ray of light made its way along the floor and across the bed, eventually shining on Michael's face. Pulled out of a dreamless sleep, he raised an arm to block the light. Still half asleep, he shifted his position and turned away from the window. Just as he was about to go back to sleep, there came a gentle knocking at the door. Michael murmurred something inaudible and folded the pillow over his head. Slowly the door opened and Bonnie peaked her head around the corner.
"Rise and shine sleeping beauty!" she called as she opened the door fully and walked across the room, pulling the curtains wide open.
"Mm, I'll rise but I refuse to shine." came the muffled call from beneathe the pillow. Bonnie grinned and tugged at the pillow case, freeing it from Michael's grip. He rolled over and looked at her through squinted eyes. She laughed at the sight of his ruffled hair and sleepy eyes. Patting him on the knee, she headed towards the closet and pulled out some clean clothes and tossed them on the bed.
"Devon wants to meet with you in his office in half an hour." she headed back toward the door. Michael just grumbled something and waved her out of the room. Bonnie smiled and shut the door behind her as she left. Laying back on the covers, Michael let his eyes adjust to the light before getting up to change. About twenty minutes later he was out the door for a quick bite to eat and then off to meet with Devon.
*****
The Foundation's CEO was leaning against the large oak desk reading a file when Michael knocked and entered through the open door. Devon looked up and ushered him in. He hadn't expected him so early and was slightly unprepared. Setting down the papers, he motioned for Michael to take a seat on a nearby couch. Devon followed close behind and sat in the chair opposite.
"Devon, what is this all about?" Michael leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He had made up his mind to come straight out and ask what Devon was up to.
The question threw him off a bit and for a moment or two he stared blankly at Michael. "You are aware of our new patient..." he trailed off as he stood once more and paced behind the chair.
"Yes."
"Well, a few weeks ago she busted a drug ring, and brought in the leader." he turned back towards Knight.
"Maddison. Yeah, you told me." Michael was getting slightly irritated now.
"It turns out that he voiced his intention to seek revenge..." Devon was cut off.
"Devon, lose the cover story. I know all about Maddison and the attempted murder. What is really going on here?" he stood up and took a step forward.
"What do you mean?" he tried to play coy, but knew that it wasn't going to work on Michael.
"You know what I mean. Bringing in this woman to train as a new operative and using the case to cover it up." he had taken a few more steps forward and now his voice slightly elevated.
Devon gave up with a sigh, "I know." he sat back down in the chair, "These past few days have been a whirlwind. Things haven't gone as planned." he leaned back, raising his hand to his forehead. Michael also sat back down, more confused than ever.
He asked again, "Devon, what is going on here?" Michael had calmed down now and was back to leaning on his knees, his eyes fixated on the man across from him.
"A woman by the name of Mary Riften came to see me three days ago. She told me that she had a some information, a secret, that she couldn't keep any longer." Devon rested his hand on the arm of the chair and looked at Michael.
"Mary Riften? She was one of Stevie's friends." his eyes wandered as painful memories came flooding back to him.
"Yes, and what she had to tell was a secret, indeed." as Devon prepared to reveal the information, he was glad that Michael was sitting down. "Do you remember when you and Stefanie first met?" Michael nodded, recalling that day when he graduated from the police academy. Stevie had been at the ceremony for a friend of hers and had literally ran into a then Michael Long at the punch bowl. She had spilt both glasses of punch on her white blouse. Michael apologized, but she had brushed it off as a mistake. They had spent the rest of the night talking and laughing.
Devon saw him slip into a memory and continued on in order to keep his attention, "It seems that she took a little piece of you home when she left." he saw Michael's head come up and the confusion in his eyes.
"Approximately nine months after you met her, Stefanie gave birth to a baby girl." he crossed his arms and watched as a wave of emotions crossed Michael's face. First shock, followed by anger, and then complete remorse.
"A girl?"
"Yes. Stefanie decided that she wasn't ready to be a mother and to a child whose father she hardly knew at the time. After they were released from the hospital, she put the baby up for adoption. A Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Colte took the infant home only days later." at that time there came a knocking at the door. Devon stood up, but Michael stayed seated still paralyzed by the news. Opening the door, Miles saw Bonnie standing there. He motioned for her to enter. Stepping inside she saw the look on Michael's face and knew at once that Devon had told him. Turning to face Devon, she spoke.
"Trinity's vitals have stabalized more. She should be waking up within the hour." after Bonnie had finished what she came to do, she went over and sat down next to Michael. He felt her rest a hand on his shoulder and looked up at her and then at Devon, still dwelling on his last words.
"Trinity?" Devon nodded. Shaking his head, Michael got up and headed for the door.
"Michael, where are you going?" Bonnie stood and followed him to the door of the office.
"I need some time to think this over. You know how to reach me." without another word he was out the door. Moments later he emerged from the Estate pulling on his jacket and walked over to where KITT was parked. Michael activated all the systems as he hopped into the driver's seat and revved the engine.
KITT was cautious at first, able to tell that something was bothering Michael by the way he acted, "I take it you found out what Devon was hiding?" the dashboard came to life and Knight peeled out of the driveway.
"You bet I did. You know what he was told me?" he slowed to a stop at an intersection and waited for the light to turn green.
"I haven't the faintest." came the quick reply.
"I have a daughter." he almost whispered it, but KITT was still able to pick up what was said. Sensing that it was a touchy subject at the time, he kept his tweeters shut. The light turned green and they were off in a haze of burned rubber.
*****
