Chapter 6
"Why didn't you tell me this doctor had been wanting to get his hands on K.I.T.T.?" Carlee demanded of Devon. It came out a hiss. She would have been yelling, ranting, and raving, if it weren't for the sleeping child on her lap and the frightened A.I. parked a few feet away in the mansion garage.
Carlee sat on a leather sofa in the office area she maintained in the garage so she could be close to K.I.T.T.
Devon stood a few feet away, his hands clenched in front of him.
"We thought he'd give up, once he knew K.I.T.T. wasn't Knight Industries' property to hand over," Devon explained.
"Well, that obviously didn't stop him!" Carlee snarled.
"I know! I'm sorry! I should have told you," Devon admitted.
"Carlee? Are you there?" K.I.T.T. asked, needing reassurance. He had not let Carlee out of his scanner range since they'd gotten back, and he was constantly asking if she was there.
"Yes, K.I.T.T., I'm here," Carlee replied patiently.
It had been two days since those terrible events. Two long and heart wrenching days.
Bonnie hadn't even attempted to hook K.I.T.T. up to the computers, afraid he'd panic. Whenever she or Carlee had tried to ask him about what had happened, K.I.T.T. would begin keening.
"That man is still out there, Devon! What's to keep him from trying this again?"
By the time the authorities had arrived at the garage, Dr. Stalov had fled. He'd even taken Thing One and Thing Two with him.
"His passport has been flagged. We'll know if he tries to leave the country. We'll catch him," the admonition felt weak even to his own ears. Devon looked helplessly at K.I.T.T. Turning back to Carlee he said, "Here, let me take her in to bed."
Carlee allowed Devon to lift the little girl in his arms and take her in. She stood and stretched, feeling tight muscles loosen every so slightly, but not nearly enough. Carlee moved to K.I.T.T.'s driver side door. Sensing her approach, K.I.T.T. opened the door for her.
K.I.T.T. sighed as Carlee sank into the driver's seat.
When they'd gotten back to the F.L.A.G. mansion and into the garage, K.I.T.T. very nearly hadn't let Carlee out. Carlee'd had to list the many things a person needed to do that just couldn't be done in the cabin of a car. K.I.T.T. had reluctantly relented.
"Bonnie's planning to hook you up to the computers tomorrow. Do you think you're up to it?" Carlee wanted to let K.I.T.T. know what was going on, so he wouldn't panic. She wasn't sure the knowledge would stop him from panicking, but she thought it only fair that he know.
"I... I don't know. I'll try," K.I.T.T. replied, his voice trembling. Carlee knew he was still very much afraid.
"I'll stay with you, the whole time. Nobody else will be here, just Bonnie and me. You trust me, right pal?"
"I've always trusted you, Carlee." K.I.T.T.'s reply was sure.
"And you trust Bonnie?" Carlee continued.
"Of course!" K.I.T.T. attested.
Carlee tried to smother a large yawn. "K.I.T.T., I've got to go in and get some sleep. I'll leave the comlink on, so you can reach me, and I'll still be in scanner range."
"Okay," K.I.T.T. said uncertainly.
"You're safe here, K.I.T.T.!" Carlee said, stroking the dash board comfortingly.
* * *
Carlee's first stop was Michaela's room, across the hall from her own suite of rooms. She picked Teddy up from where he had fallen to the floor from the bed. Tucking Teddy back under the covers with Michaela, Carlee kissed Michaela and went to her own rooms.
She looked around the living room. Glancing at the photos on the walls, Carlee stifled a sob. Her hand going to her mouth.
"Oh, Michael!" she said to one of the photos. "I almost lost him!" Then, thinking, Too hell with it! She let the sobs come. She hadn't cried like this since Michaela was born.
After finally regaining control of herself, Carlee had stumbled into the bedroom. She crawled into bed, fully clothed, and felt sleep claim her.