What Truly Hurts

KARR and KITT were alone in the garage that night, which was probably a good thing. There was a fight going on in the main mansion, and neither one of them were too keen on getting involved. They listened in in silence for the most part. "I'm surprised Jess and Raven aren't involved in that one." KITT said dryly.

KARR made a snorting sound he must have picked up from Raven. "No – Heather's doing her version of damage control. Jess and Raven are currently causing damage. Just another day in our lives."

They fell silent once again. KITT was brooding – KARR knew that much, and while it wasn't in his programming to care, it was in his nature. KITT had earned his respect and his trust in the past four years, and KARR had come to view him as a little brother. So KARR knew when something was bothering KITT. He thought he knew what it was this time. "Bonnie hurt you." he said bluntly.

KITT didn't deny it. "She did."

"Why? You of all people should know her opinion of me." KARR pointed out reasonably.

"It wasn't that." KITT sighed. There was a moment's pause as he got his thoughts in order. "You and I are a lot alike, more so than we were – what, fourteen years ago?"

"Something like that." KARR acknowledged. The actual number was no longer important to him. What was important was the past four years he had spent in the care of the girls and KITT.

"If she still thinks of you as a monster, what will she think of me when she learns of what we've done?"

Suddenly, KARR understood. "You still value her opinion after all these years?" he wondered. "I thought Bonnie was supposed to be the one to wipe your memory banks once they found you a new driver." KITT didn't respond, and KARR knew he was right. "Or was that one of those things you just don't think about? Those memories scare you."

"Still to this day." KITT admitted. "I trusted her. Now – I don't know. You saw how I reacted. There was a time when she was among the few I would allow near me."

KARR hesitated. "KITT – I believe it is completely normal for the people you trust to change with time." he said. "I'm not sure, but you see how they've changed with me. And you are like me, so why should it be different with you?"

They fell back into silence for a moment, but this time it lacked the strain of before. After a moment, KITT spoke, and KARR could hear the warmth in his voice.

"Thank you."

/---/

Heather opened the door to her room and let Bonnie in. The woman was still a bit leery around the girls, and Heather was about to either confirm her suspicions or earn her respect. So long as she got her point across, she didn't care which.

Bonnie tensed as Heather locked the door. "Privacy?" she asked.

"I don't want my sisters interrupting me." Heather said calmly. "They mean well, but this is my job." At Bonnie's look, she added, "What can I say? I have a big sister complex, especially when it comes to two certain AIs who we both know and hopefully love. So I have a question for you, and I want you to answer me honestly."

"Okay." Bonnie said slowly.

Heather smiled tightly. "What do you plan on doing now that you know KITT is alive?"

Bonnie didn't hesitated. "I'm taking him with me and we're getting out of here. I can't leave him here where FLAG might get a hold of him again."

The younger woman nodded. "I thought so. And what if KITT doesn't want to come with you?"

"He will." Bonnie said, with all the confidence born of an old friend who had no idea how much things had changed.

Heather nodded again. Calmly, blandly, she spoke. "Just to let you know – if he doesn't, back off. The decision is his. If he wants to go with you, I won't stop him. But if he wants to stay, you'd better not do anything that might turn him against us or KARR. Do you understand me?"

"And if I do?" Bonnie challenged, lifting her chin and glaring at Heather.

Heather had to admit, the woman had guts. Not too many were willing to mess with Heather once she issued an ultimatum. Except for Jess and Raven, but they were entitled. "I will take you out. And before you ask – that's not a death threat. I don't have to kill you to get you out of my way. KITT is my friend and my brother, and I won't have you hurting him, or using us against him. Do you understand me?"

Briefly, it almost looked like respect flickered through Bonnie's eyes. "Perfectly." she said. "But to let you know – I spent a long time as KITT's mechanic. He's as much mine as he is yours. I want to be there for him and – well, listen: once Devon died, Michael and I were the only ones KITT trusted."

"I know that." Heather said. "Knight was a good man."

"I need to be that person again." Bonnie whispered. "I've missed KITT so much, and Michael, I can't have him back. I have KITT back. Do you understand?"

Heather sighed. "Yeah, I do." she said reluctantly. "But Bonnie – don't be surprised if KITT doesn't immediately trust you. We had one of FLAG's operatives try and pull a fast one on us. Told us that he was Knight. He hurt KITT bad. So give him time."

Bonnie nodded, her eyes darkening. "I will."

/---/

AN: Next chapter – more action, and a certain little pervert bites the dust! Review, please!