Chapter 11: It's only you and I who understand, There is no plan

The day was just beginning when Knight left the Toretto house. Karr came to life with a rumble as Knight started the Trans-am's engine. "How you feeling?"

"My systems do not seem adversely affected. However with my recent diagnostics issues, we should still report to Bonnie, and get me checked out."

"I called in the semi last night, which is where we're going now," Knight replied, his tone just slightly smug in having got one over Karr.

Karr managed an irritable report. "My we are feeling smug today aren't we. But I suppose it is an achievement to damage one of the most expensive, sophisticated pieces of technology in the world. Which I might add, on your pay check, you couldn't afford to repair."

"You have an overly high opinion of yourself," Knight retorted. Karr heard the tone of his voice and kept quiet.

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As the Trans-am approached, the rear of the black semi's trailer opened, dropping down to form a ramp way. The Trans-am slowed slightly, lining up with it, then glided up smoothly into the back of the trailer, the ramp closing behind it as the car came to a stop inside. Knight squeezing out. "Hey Bonnie."

"What has he done to you?" Bonnie asked with annoyance.

Knight winced. "I didn't do anything to him."

"I was asking Karr," she replied archly.

Knight gave her a boyish shrug. "Michael around?"

"He's in the front of the trailer," Bonnie told him, then turned her attention back to Karr. "What happened?"

"We ran nitrous while using the turbo boost," Karr told her. "It was my suggestion Bonnie."

"Don't cover for him," Bonnie told the car, activating a console on the side wall of the trailer. A mechanical whine sounded as blocks under the cars wheels raised it, stopping with a small gap between the trailer roof and the roof of the Trans-am. Karr's scanner rippled slightly, now at Bonnie's eye level.

"I'm not covering for him. It really was my suggestion."

"Knowing how competitive you are with Kitt, I can believe it," Bonnie muttered as she examined the Trans-am's underside, and cursed slightly. "I was afraid of that when Knight explained what happened last night. You've damaged some of your turbine blades. Probably your exhaust system as well," she said, stepping out from underneath. "Run your engine, let me hear how it sounds."

Karr did as he was told. Bonnie nodded silently, and fiddled with one of the computers, bringing up a wire-frame image of Karr, a circle passing back and forth over it as she scanned the car. "You're lucky. Your exhaust system is fine according to the scans. I'll have to replace the turbine blades though, and then we'll take a look at what other damage you've done."

"Yes Bonnie," Karr replied meekly at her scolding tone.

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"Hello Michael," Knight said as he entered the rear compartment of the semi.

"Welcome back," Michael replied, waving him to a seat. "How's the case going?"

Knight shrugged in response as he sat down. "I think I've been accepted into Toretto's little band. And on the LA circuit."

"And the actual case?"

"We didn't find anything at Toretto's garage," Knight answered. "We're heading to Harry's after Bonnie finishes with Karr. We might find that they've purchased parts there for the Civic's, but not logged it at DT. Personally I don't think it's them though."

Michael frowned slightly. "LAPD, and more importantly the FBI, does. Any reason you don't?"

"Just the fact that we haven't found anything to connect them," Knight shrugged. "And my own instincts. Hunch. Feelings. Whatever you want to call it."

"I did want to ask you something," Michael said. "Two nights ago, Karr asked Kitt for any thing he had from his studies of humans, regarding human emotional responses, particularly adrenaline rush. He didn't say why, but Kitt thinks it was something to do with you. And I'm forced to agree. Care to explain?"

"Police chase," Knight grinned. "It was fun. But I had trouble explaining it to Karr."

"Just remember that you're working a case. I know it's difficult, but you have to keep your distance, don't let your personal feelings interfere. And most importantly keep things in perspective. A police chase might be necessary to maintain cover, but try not to enjoy it."

Knight shot him a dark look. "Wait a minute, I thought I was assigned this case because I knew Brian. How can I not be personally involved?"

"I guess you have a point there," Michael frowned. "What about the girl you had Karr check out, Jade Barrett?"

Knight grinned. "Mixing business with pleasure?"

"That's what I thought," Michael said. "I'm pulling you off the case."

"What?" Knight exploded. "Michael, you can't."

"I can and I have. Tell them whatever you have to, and leave. I'll assign someone else."

"You don't have anyone else to assign," Knight replied. "And last I checked, Mike's busy with a case of his own."

"Then I'll do it."

"Michael you can't, you won't fit into this world, not like I can," Knight said. "I can get the job done, I promise."

Michael frowned, deep in thought before speaking slowly. "You're sure you can do it?"

"Yes."

"And this girl won't distract you?"

"Nope," Knight smirked. "If anything, she makes the job easier. She can introduce me to some of the other suspects. Once I make her acquaintance."

Michael raised an eyebrow slightly, but had to agree with the assessment. "Alright. You stay on the case, but if you give me reason to think you can't do it, I'm pulling you, clear?"

"Crystal," Knight answered, getting up and heading back into the rear, taking a deep breath to regain his composure. "How's he doing?"

"Fine, no thanks to you," Bonnie answered, activating the switch that would lower the car to the trailer floor. "I'm going to be a while. You may as well get some rest while you can."

"Alright," Knight nodded, heading back to the forward section, bemused, pulling the partition across so that he didn't disturb Michael. His head hit the sofa cushion, and he fell asleep.

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Knight's muscles protested as he stretched out, grimacing in discomfort. His watch told him he'd been sleeping for a few hours. He guessed he must have needed it. Given that he wasn't used to staying up most of the night racing and partying anymore, then getting up early to go for a run, he wasn't too surprised that he'd been sleep deprived for a few nights. He gave an amused snort, maybe that was why Brian kept saying he'd changed his habits. In Miami, he'd rarely been up before noon after the night's races. He yawned and stretched again, then headed to the trailer's rear section. Karr looked to be ready, although Bonnie was still hunched over a computer. "All done?"

Bonnie glanced up. "I'm just making sure the system is properly calibrated. It'll be a few more minutes. I've made some adjustments, which should give you a little more power if you need it. Mostly though, I made them so that if you do something stupid like running Turbo Boost and nitrous at the same time, it won't damage Karr's turbines. You know how vital they are. The modifications should prevent that, but even so, I wouldn't recommend you try it again."

"I gotcha," Knight replied. "You ready for business partner?"

"As soon as Bonnie's finished with me," Karr answered.

Bonnie glanced at him. "You're done. Please don't do anything to damage yourself again though."

"I'm not promising that," Karr responded. "Knight, can we cut loose now and leave the others car in my wake?"

Knight laughed. "We won't lose. But we can't show off like that just yet. But I will let you win by a bigger margin."

"Good," Karr stated. "I didn't like losing."

"I know," Knight replied, sliding into the car. "Did you find anything in the diagnostics Bonnie?"

"We're still looking, but the replacements seem to have resolved the problem," Bonnie assured him. Knight smiled. "Bye Bonnie."

"Look after yourself," Bonnie said.

Knight grinned. "Thanks."

"And look after Ian too."

"Got me again didn't you," Knight said accusingly, softening it with a smile and starting Karr's engine. The Trans-am roared to life before quietening to its usual deep bass rumble. The semi's rear doors lowered to form the ramp, and Karr backed down slowly, then pin wheeled around the Trans-am's back end and headed in the opposite direction.

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The Trans-am pulled to a halt outside Harry's, sliding into a space. "Alright Karr, I'll distract Brian while you access the computers ok?"

"I remember the plan," Karr replied coldly.

Knight smirked. "I thought you would," then slid out and headed inside. "How you doing Brian?"

"Not bad man," Brian replied, coming out from behind the counter and bumping fists with Knight. "You were out early this morning."

"Yeah well, after last night," Knight offered.

Kat tapped his shoulder as she came in. "You get your car fixed up?"

"He's ready to run," Knight answered.

Brian gave him a confused look. "You call this one a he? That's a weird thing for a guy to do, man."

"It suits his personality," Knight replied with an 'I know something you don't' smile. Brian gave him a weird look.

Kat laughed. "Leave him alone Brian."

"You're right. Besides he's gonna have enough trouble with Tran's racer girl," Brian said.

Kat raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I heard you right. What was that?"

"Tran's racer girl," Brian grinned, full of mischief. "I think from his expression last night, Knight just found his future ex wife."

"I am here you know," Knight reminded him, his tone annoyed, punching his shoulder to get his point across.

Brian thumped him back, and a playful fight broke out between them, until Kat threw a cup of water over them. "Not in the store. He's into Jewels?"

"Oh yeah, he digs her," Brian said, ducking an irritated punch as they started again, Knight glowering at him. "Yeah, I can see Dom loving that. It's hardly the greatest of love stories."

"And?" Kat asked, giving up on separating the two of them.

Knight glanced at her, ducking a mock punch from Brian. "I haven't figured that out yet."

Brian stopped abruptly. "You don't know what to do? Dude, ask the girl out, you used to be all over that in Miami!"

Knight shrugged. "Things change."

End of Chapter 11…