In the air tonight

By Sarah Trogdon

No matter how many people Michael helped or how many pretty girls he got to look at, at the end of the day, he had to look at himself in the mirror, and he was not always pleased by what he saw staring back at him.

He still blamed himself for the death of his old partner Muntsy, and he did not think he would ever make amends for that no matter how many cases he solved with Kitt.

What a gift he had found in his current partner. Kitt had complete trust and devotion in Michael in a very short amount of time together. Michael did not know what he had done during the course of his life to deserve such a gift, but he was extremely grateful. Kitt was able to protect Michael almost completely, and he asked for very little in return. He had already saved Michael's life several times, Michael could only hope that Kitt would accept his friendship and trust in return.

Kitt could tell that Michael was still suffering from what had happened to him. Michael had a hard time driving at night and would often let Kitt take over for him. Kitt had noticed more than once when Michael winced whenever bright headlights hit his face just right, but he tried to hide it from his observant partner. The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows, no stranger to you and me.

Oftentimes, when Michael would spend the night in a motel room on the road, he would wake up in a cold sweat from another nightmare, and not remember where he was. Another side effect of the weeks he had spent at the Knight Estate with his face covered in bandages, not knowing where he was or why. On these nights, Kitt often invited Michael to spend the evening in his cabin instead so he did not have to wake up to the unwanted feelings of being in a strange, unknown place not sure of his own safety.

Kitt could feel another one of those nights calling in the air tonight. Hold On Michael.

Michael and Kitt may not have been together very long, but Kitt felt as though he had earned his partner's trust, maybe even his friendship. Kitt was very grateful for the gift he had been given in his new partner. He had waited his whole life for this opportunity after all, this is what he was designed for even though his life up to this point had been very short, and uneventful until he had meet Michael that is. Hold On

Michael still felt like the world's biggest fool for trusting Tanya Walker, and when she had shot him in the face she had shown her true colors. When he met Tanya the second time, she had not realized his true identity until it was too late. Once Tanya realized who Michael truly was, he had enough evidence to expose her for the liar she really was. Michael was there when Tanya shot him in the face after all, he had seen it with his own two eyes, so Tanya had nothing to smile about anymore. It's all been a pack of lies.

It was very late into the evening when Michael was able to get something to eat that night. He had been following a lead, and he did not want to miss anything. He was hoping to get this case wrapped up so he could return to his new family before Bonnie's upcoming birthday. He smiled when he thought of the surprise he had in store for her, and he hoped with all his heart that she enjoyed it.

"it's always been you, me, Kitt and Devon against the world. Remember? We work together to help people, we love each other." That is what he had told her, and he meant every word of it. He honestly hoped that Bonnie considered him family also.

"Michael, why don't you and I spend the evening together tonight instead of you getting a room? We can both recharge and get an early start tomorrow. I think we almost got this case all wrapped up, what do you think?" Kitt asked him when he got inside with his food from the local diner.

"Your just as good as gold to me partner, that sounds like a great idea" Michael replied. He did not think very highly anyway of the only motel in the area they had found so far. Kitt's cabin sounded much more comfortable than sleeping in a strange bed that he probably wouldn't get much sleep in anyway.

"Kitt do you think we will be back before Bonnie's Birthday next week?" Michael asked when he was finished eating.

"I think we have plenty of time to finish up this case, and return home probably the day before her birthday Michael" Kitt estimated.

"Excellent! Ok Kitt, wake me up at 7am will you?" Michael asked, reclining the driver's seat all the way back and finding a comfortable position.

"no problem Michael" Kitt replied, watching his driver settle down in the plush seat.

Kitt darkened the windows so as to avoid any headlights from the passing cars in the street waking up his companion. He also made sure the temperature was a bit warmer to help Michael fall asleep. He then shut off some of his higher functions so he could recharge his own systems overnight, while ensuring Michael's safety within his cabin.

Michael awoke to Kitt's gentle wake-up call the next morning at 7am as promised, and he was surprisingly refreshed. Then he realized that he had slept thru the entire night for the first time in quite sometime, without waking up from any nightmares like he normally did, and he was very grateful to Kitt for that as he knew his partner was doing his best to look out for him.

"Good Morning Kitt, hey thanks for the good night's sleep pal, I needed that" Michael greeted him.

"Anytime Michael" Kitt replied.