An: My thanks to MoonstarWorld for helping me with the pre/post-op details! I give you lots of hugs!

chapter eight

Michael couldn't say he was too thrilled with the way things were going. The pre-surgery physical had gone okay, which he could have told them that without the doctor poking and prodding at him. The plastic surgery Wilton Knight had given him wasn't going to present a problem – this time they were cutting into the top of his head. Definitely not a pleasant thought. He chose not to entertain it too often.

He knew why he was doing this. Kitt had said it himself – he didn't want to be separated from his partner again. As bad as the idea of brain surgery scared him, as much as he hated the pre-op preparations such as the specialized diet and all of the iron and vitamin supplements he had to take, as tense as he was as the final steps were taken, he wouldn't change his mind. This was what he wanted, and it was what Kitt wanted, and that was truly all that mattered.

Kitt kept an eye on him through the comm. link as he paced the surgery room. They were doing the procedure on FLAG grounds, much to Kitt's relief. There were still so many things that could go wrong. Devon had done his best to keep the neurolink surgery a secret from the rest of the compound, but that didn't mean that word hadn't gotten out about Michael's less-than-best condition. Right now, Kitt wasn't in any condition to help him if something went wrong. At least they still had the comm. link. "I thought the sedative they gave you was supposed to make you calm." he said teasingly.

He sensed it as Michael, already in scrub pants and hospital gown top, finally sat down on the bed. "They haven't given me any yet. They want me to be as calm as possible before they do anything of the like." Michael rolled his eyes even though Kitt couldn't see it. "What they don't seem to understand is I'm hungry, thirsty, and more nervous than I was when I had my wisdom teeth removed. Nothing short of anesthetic is going to get me to calm down."

At that moment the surgeon, an older man named Dr. Jablonski, came in. "How are we feeling?" he asked. Michael shrugged.

"I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get this over with." he said darkly. Jablonski laughed.

"I meant you and Kitt." He smiled. "How's Kitt doing."

"I would like to have a camera set up in the surgery room." Kitt said from Michael's comm. link. "I want to know what's going on even if I can't be there." Michael smiled to himself as he watched the doctor think that one over.

Jablonski looked at him. "Well? What do you think?"

Michael gestured. "If he wants a camera, get him a camera." he said grandly. "Keeps him from hassling me for details."

"Inside, Michael, I'm laughing hysterically." came the snide reply. "Honestly."

"Kitt, have I ever told you sarcasm is most becoming on you?"

"Yes, and I don't believe you meant it as a compliment then, either."

Jablonski couldn't help but chuckle as he gave Michael the shot while Kitt had him distracted. Michael hissed at the slight pain, and he was quick to assure both of them. "This is the sedative. It won't knock you out, but you'll become a bit sluggish. We'll give that a few hours to kick in and then I'll be back with the surgical team." He patted Michael on the shoulder and left the room. Devon had been right about those two. Jablonski had been a bit skeptical about implementing the neurolink, especially under such secretive circumstances, but Devon had explained the situation to them.

Besides, the old man was right. Only good could come from this.

Michael waited until Jablonski was gone before speaking again. "That stings." he muttered.

"The drug should be taking affect in a few minutes." Kitt said quietly.

"How are things on your end?" Michael asked. "Are they sticking you with needles yet?"

He heard his partner's reluctant laugh and smiled to himself. "Honestly, Michael, I can't be stuck with needles. But Bonnie and a few other techs are currently setting up a workspace. When you go under, so will I, so to speak."

There was a silence then, the kind that forms when something needs to be said but no one can find the words. Finally, it was Kitt who broke the silence. "I didn't tell you – when the comm. link died, I choked too."

Michael glanced at his watch. "I figured as much." he said softly. "Kitt, no matter what happens, I still love you."

"Not that anything is going to happen." Kitt said with all confidence. "But I love you too."

Briefly, Michael wondered if anyone had bothered to tell Kitt the risks of any kind of surgery, much less brain surgery. Or that any time a person went under anesthetic, there was always the chance that they wouldn't wake up. He decided not to think about that. Kitt had probably researched the risks himself. Besides, if he hadn't, Michael didn't want to give him a reason to be any more nervous than he already was. Kitt was programmed to protect him after all. There was only so much danger Kitt could let Michael put himself in.

He went to stand up and suddenly found himself on his butt again. "Wow." he murmured. "Now I feel woozy."

"That's the drugs." Kitt said tightly. "It'll be over with soon."

"Now you sound nervous."

"You sound out of it. Besides, Bonnie and the techs are ready to begin. Is Jablonski going to get the camera I asked for?"

Michael laughed, but it sounded slurred, and Kitt couldn't help the spike of fear. "Hey, Kitt, I can tell you at least one good thing that's already come from this." he joked as the surgical team came in.

"What's that?" Kitt asked, tolerant amusement as ever present in his voice.

"At least we got out of the fundraiser."

/----/

An: Okay, this was shorter than I wanted, but I don't have the patience to type everything out. More medical details in the next chapter, as well as part of the actual surgery (in as much detail as I have the capacity to go into), so it will be longer. As always, review please!