Chapter 13

Jason walked back into the room a few minutes after Michaela had left.

Carlee was sitting on the bed, looking rather bored. "When can I get out of the infirmary and back to my own rooms?"

"Just give me a few minutes to get this I.V. out of you, and I'll walk you back to your room." Jason began to fiddle with the machine the I.V. was being pumped through.

"Thank you, Jason." Carlee slid off of the bed, Jason taking her arm to steady her. Leaning into Jason for support for a moment, she felt his arms go around her. She felt no urge to resist, though. In fact, it felt like the most natural thing in the world, to be held in this man's gentle embrace. She turned slightly, so she could rest her cheek against his chest, and wound her own arms around him.

"I was so worried about you." His arms tightened protectively for a moment.

Carlee pulled back, and looked up at Jason. An uncertain smile spread across her face, and she reached up to stroke Jason's cheek. "I know I have feelings for you, but it's been so long. Can you be patient with me?"

Jason nodded, a smile spreading across his face. "Sure," he said, as he took her hand in his and gently pulled her toward the door. "How about we start small? We'll hold hands while I see you to your room."

"That sounds good."

* * *

Jason had kept to his word, holding her hand all the way to her room, where he gave her a hug, then left. He'd given her strict orders to get some real rest.

She found a spare earwig and put it expertly in her ear. Once it was active, she said, "K.I.T.T., can I come down and talk to you?"

"I'm a bit busy at the moment, but Kitt will be up in a minute," was his instant response.

Carlee paced the livingroom of her apartment while she waited. She paused a couple of times to stare at a picture of Michael sitting on Trans Am K.I.T.T.'s hood with a wistful smile on her face.

A polite knock at the door announced Kitt's arrival.

"Come in," she called.

"I'm glad to see you're back to normal," he said, as he walked in. "Jason pretty much ordered me to stay away until he knew you would be okay. I really wanted to be by your side, though."

"It's okay, Kitt. Sometimes Jason gets a little over protective."

"What did you want to see me about?"

"We aren't as young as we used to be, Kitt," Carlee began.

"Speak for yourself," Kitt replied, the smile playing across his features made him look more like Michael.

"I've come to a decision. I think it's time I retired. I'm sure Devon would be glad to have you stay on with the Foundation, but it's time I took up a less dangerous past time."

"I only stayed on with the Foundation because you did, Carlee. I'll never take another driver. If you're retiring, then I am too. We can tour the country together. For all of the miles I've driven, there are a lot of places I've never seen that I would like to see."

"We do have to come back home often, though. Jason and I are expanding our relationship."

Devon was sitting in his office, working on paperwork, when Carlee and Kitt walked in to talk to him.

Jason was sitting in one of the chairs across the desk from Devon, enjoying a cup of tea.

"Devon, K.I.T.T. and I have decided to retire. Michaela and K.A.I.S.Y. are more than capable of filling our shoes."

Carlee seemed ready to go on, as if she were arguing a case in court, when Devon held up his hand.

"You don't have to argue with me. You've always been free to go your own way whenever you wanted, though it didn't surprise me that you stayed as long as you did. You're half the reason Michaela is as stubborn as she is." An exasperated grin spread across his face.

Jason's face bore a bit of a shocked expression, so Carlee hastily added, "Don't worry, we'll be back home often. I'll probably have to help you keep my daughter in line, and I have a budding relationship to nourish."

Devon raised an eyebrow and smiled.