Hey y'all! This story arc ended up needing a 3rd part to tie it all together. I was feeling pretty crummy when I wrote this, so if it doesn't make sense, post a comment and I'll revise it when, *ahem*, things stay where they should. I just got a MAJOR job offer that will keep me busy (in a good way, I'm doing what I love!) for the whole summer, and it's finals week, then I'm moving into my new place... Goodness, am I busy! But I will try to publish frequently, because I love doing this too. :) Please R&R guys, it makes my day!

Me: KITT... Bring me water...
KITT: Sure thing!
Me: ...and a bucket...
KITT: NOPE, not on my upholstery!


The German Shepherd puppy was resting his chin on the girl's shoulder, keeping watch like a sentinel. The girl held him in a gentle, yet firm embrace. Her hands undulated through the black and tan fur. Her body shook with a heavy sob, so she gave Kitt a squeeze. The puppy licked a salty tear off her face, and her body shook with laughter instead of misery.

The dog lifted his head and made unbroken eye contact with his partner. The deep and intelligent brown of the puppy met the ambitious steel blue of the cop and exchanged words that their mouths didn't have to.

I'm sorry, Michael's said.

Me too, Kitt's replied.

Kitt returned his attention to Kayleigh. He pressed his little wet nose to her ear, causing her to turn around. Unlike the dog, when she saw Michael, her spirits fell. She let go her grip on the K9 and let him pad back to his handler where he sat in perfect obedience. Michael stood still and looked the girl up and down.

When Kayleigh stood, her once-brilliant brunette hair fell into limp, greasy strips punctuated with brush. Streaks of dirt painted her pale porcelain face and her grungy jeans/t-shirt outfit. Tears had scoured her eyes red, but remained just as sharp as her fox-like nose. Eyeing the cop, her mouth hardened into a firm line.

"Well," she shrugged. "You found me."

The last thing Michael wanted to do was escalate the situation. His best move was to play it cool, mimic the girl's attitude.

"Yeah," he sighed. "It kinda had to happen that way."

She shuffled from sneaker to sneaker. "What'd my dad say?" Her head keeled forward in what seemed like defeat. Kitt's sharp eyesight picked up on a few additional saline drops falling onto the bromegrass.

"How about we go back to the station and find out together, eh?" The cop continued to speak in a hushed voice, as though he were handling a skittish stray animal. Kayleigh was backed into a corner. Not really a corner though, since she had the whole clearing behind her, prime for the taking. That's what Michael was afraid of. With a discrete hand gesture, he signaled for Kitt to be at the ready to run after her. The dog slowly raised his haunches and focused on Kayleigh's feet.

Turns out, that wasn't gonna be necessary. Kayleigh extended two fists in front of her. "Go ahead, take me in." When neither the cop nor his dog made a move towards her, she lowered them. "What, you're not gonna cuff me?"

Michael chucked. "No, Kayleigh, I think that'd be a little much." Instead, he waved his arm for her to follow. "Let's get you back in the car and back to your dad, okay?"

Hands in her pockets, Kayleigh stared at her sneakers and sighed. She shook her head, then said, "Yeah. Let's go."

The walk back to the squad car was silent. Michael let Kayleigh walk a little in front of him so he could check her for injuries. Other than being pretty grungy, she appeared unharmed. Her shuffling walk was steady, hands jammed in her pockets. She had a habit of moving her jaw like she was chewing gum, even though there was nothing in her mouth. Kitt trotted alongside her in a human effort to provide comfort.

Michael, keeping one eye on the pair, pulled out his cell phone and typed out a text to Devon and Bonnie.

Found Kitt and Kayleigh, both fine. Taking everybody back to the station. See you in 15.

Eventually, the squad car appeared across the field, parked haphazardly along the curb. Realization finally set into Kayleigh. "Damn, I really screwed the pooch on this one." Kitt's ears perked up and his eyes went wide in horror. "Stupid." She spat. She stopped in her tracks. Tears were welling up in her eyes again.

Empathy grew in Michael's heart and pumped through his veins. "Hey now," he cooed. "I mean, yeah, this probably wasn't the best decision. But… I understand. Crap happens, sometimes we make mistakes. That's part of being human." He paused to consider what he was saying. Am I doing this right? I'm kinda making it up as I go along. "The other part of being human is forgiving people for their mistakes. Your dad loves you. I saw that at the station. All he wants is for you to be safe and happy, that's all anybody wants. We're just here to help."

Kayleigh remained silent and drank all of this in. She was a smart girl, really. School was easy, even with all the sports and clubs she was in. She had a few friends, but many more ambitions. Just in general, things had been worse since… since mom. These past two days marked the first time she had decided with her heart and not with her brain. And look where that got me, she thought bitterly. "Thanks," she replied in earnest. The way her words trailed off indicated she was waiting for the cop's name.

"Officer Knight," he provided. "You can call me Michael."

She nodded sharply at the dog. "What's his name?"

"His name is Kitt," Michael said with pride, responding quick enough so the super-dog didn't have a chance. You know, to blow his cover.

"He's a good boy, you know," Kayleigh hummed, making her way towards the car again. The cop made it to the door first and, like a real gentleman, held the door open for her. She settled in and Kitt jumped right into her lap. The two humans laughed.

"He likes you," Michael added as he revved up the car. "I can tell."

She agreed over a giggle. "I've always been pretty good with dogs. Always wanted one, but it never really worked out."

"What breed?" Michael continued the conversation. They were now firmly on their way to the station. Kayleigh was engrossed in petting the dog.

"A German Shepherd like this one, actually." Kitt's ears perked up. He shot a smug look at his driver then turned back to lick at Kayleigh's small hands. She gave him a hearty scratch behind his ear that threatened to melt him into an elated puddle of puppy. Kitt was initially wary of the girl; anybody who willingly chose to act on impulse over logic was to be distrusted. But deep down, saving human life was his primary directive. If there was a single human out there suffering, the little puppy wanted nothing more than to save him or her. Kayleigh was no exception to that.

The ride was silent, but not awkward, until the eccentric group was about 10 minutes away from the station. Now panic was beginning to overtake the teen.

Her strained voice sliced through the solid silence in the car. "What am I supposed to say to my dad?"

The question caught the cop and the puppy off-guard. Neither had any legitimate advice.

Michael grasped for any semblance of advice, pulling random words out of the air. "Well," he began shakily. "I'd, uh, apologize first. Yeah, probably a good idea to say you're sorry. Remind him that you love him. Not gonna lie, kid, this probably won't feel too good. But think about it as a way to get closer to your dad? You both went through something terrible together, maybe this'll strengthen your relationship." He paused and thought painfully of his parents.

The silence returned. Kayleigh heaved a huge and shaky sigh when the car rocked as it turned into the station. Kitt nuzzled against her in an effort to calm the teenager.

Devon and Mr. McMannon were already in the parking lot. The face on that man was unlike anything that Michael Knight had ever seen. He had a look that was a heartbreaking mix of apprehension and relief. His whole stocky body was shaking in anticipation, hands wringing. The fear poxed his skin in the form of giant pink blotches.

His already fluttering heart tripped over itself when the car door popped open. The moment the father saw his daughter's sneaker, he ran towards her. His knees buckled as he ran, sending up sprays of gravel from the lot.

"Kayleigh!" He called out, voice cracking. In a paternal, yet non-masculine display, he blubbered and gasped in spite of himself. Liquid ran from his eyes and his nose, giving him an entire facial sheen.

Kayleigh stumbled away from the car, spluttering incoherently, and allowed herself to be snatched into the vice-like grip of her father's bear arms. The emotion and the force of the embrace forced a breathy exclamation from her lungs. The overjoyed father lifted his daughter several inches off the ground as though she were once again a toddler.

With the family's faces so close together, Michael had a hard time hearing their exchange. Kitt's superior ears heard the entire scene.

"Oh God, Dad, I'm so sorry-"

"Kayleigh, why?"

"Dad, I'm so sorry, I don't know-"

"Shh, it's over, I got you, God, I love you baby girl. I'm never gonna lose you again."

"It's not your fault, Dad, I did something stupid."

"Don't ever do that again, I was so worried!"

"I wasn't thinking! I will never, ever, do this again. I am so incredibly sorry, Dad, I love you so much."

A pause.

"I love you too, Kayleigh."

The law enforcers stood around and watched the whole scene unfold. Devon had to reach into his pocket and produce a handkerchief to dab at tears that were inching from the corners of his eyes. Kitt whimpered slightly. Instinct told him to immediately run to the girl's side and lick the tears away, but something told him that now was not the time. This moment was for Kayleigh and her father.

Of course, after a respectful amount of time, standard operating procedure had to kick in. Devon slowly approached the father and put a hand on his shoulder. "Mr. McMannon, you can identify this girl as your daughter, Kayleigh McMannon?"

He coughed through a sob. "That I can, Lieutenant Miles. This is Kayleigh, all right." He pulled the girl in closer against his body in a protective, fatherly side hug. Kayleigh's face melted in relief.

Devon produced a small notepad and scribbled down a few hastily written words.

Case: KITT001

Status: Closed

Success