chapter ten

Kitt froze in shock. It couldn't be. That man – the same man who had tried to kill Michael before and take Kitt away from his driver – that man was still here? Why wasn't he in jail, or better yet, dead? It was a horrible thought, but Kitt wasn't exactly concerned with it. After all, he could sense the same thoughts and emotions racing through Michael. The man was tense and angry, and even Kitt shuddered at the amount of pure hatred running through him.

Michael could feel Kitt's confusion, but there really was no time to explain. Maybe later, when they were safe and there was no longer a threat, but not here and now. He slowly straightened, clenching his shaking hands into fists. He didn't need a doctor to tell him his fever was rising. By the time they got out of this one, Kitt would have to drive them home. Michael would be unconscious.

"Why?" he demanded, taking a step forward. Kitt's fear shot forward, but Michael sent back encouragement. He had a plan, after all. "Why all this trouble just to get to us?"

"The idea was to keep you busy looking for the girl." Cameron said easily. "I never thought Devon Miles would place his technology above the life of an innocent. Maybe he's a businessman after all."

"I hate to burst your bubble," Michael sneered, taking another step forward, "but Devon had nothing to do with this. Devon could have told me to keep searching for the girl, and I still would have come for Kitt. You know that, though, don't you?"

"I'll admit I've been watching you for quite some time." Cameron said calmly. "First through John, and then through my source at the Foundation. Lauren also proved quite helpful, although I don't think she quite believed me about the supercar until she saw it for herself. It is magnificent, though." He seemed to sigh at that. "You'll have to show me how you control it."

/Arrogant little schmuck, isn't he?/ Michael muttered to Kitt. Aloud, he added, "I don't control Kitt. And he's not an it."

Cameron gave him an odd look. "So John was right about that one too." he murmured. "I thought he was exaggerating a little when he told me about your obsession with the car. Then again, I guess Zerek was right as well."

Once again, Michael felt himself go cold. "What about Zerek?" he asked quietly, taking another step forward. He was so close now. One more step, and he'd be within range. If he could keep Cameron talking long enough, then they had it made. "Did you hire him as well?"

"Actually, Zerek was an old friend of mine." Cameron explained, gesturing with the gun. "He told me that he and Coltrane had been hired by John. Obviously, John never knew. If he did, he might have been more careful about his alliances."

He was so very confident, Michael realized with disgust. There was something wrong with this situation. /Kitt, where are his guards?/ he asked.

/There are two behind you in an office taking aim./ Kitt said tightly, and Michael felt his fear. /There is a third one to the left behind Cameron, right outside of your line of vision./

/Think you can do something to distract them?/

/Anything in particular in mind?/

/No./

/Not a problem then./ Kitt replied easily, some of his fear starting to fade. He was catching on to what Michael had in mind. /On your mark./

Michael didn't wait for Cameron to begin speaking again. As soon as his mouth opened, he struck, grabbing Cameron's gun and slamming his knee into the man's gut. Cameron gasped in pain, but like last time, he was quick to recover. Michael kept up his assault, pounding the man with knees and elbows thrown to every part of Cameron's body that he could reach without letting go of the gun. If he had to pound Cameron within an inch of his life, so be it. He would do it gladly.

Behind him, Kitt fired up the engine and activated the Passive Laser Restraint system. It wasn't much good with all the damage he had sustained, but it was worth something. "Hold on." he told Mandy. She nodded tightly, her eyes wide in shock and horror. Kitt spun out, tearing through the chains that held him down as he raced towards the two guards in the back. Executing a quick right hand turn, he tore through the wall like wet tissue paper, bringing the ceiling down on the two inside. He could hear their screams as he shot away, but at least they were still alive. Trapped and effectively neutralized, but alive. That was worth something.

Kitt hated killing.

Suddenly Cameron gained the upper hand, flipping Michael over his shoulder and slamming the injured man into the ground. Michael cried out in pain, and for a moment, Kitt faltered. Cameron twisted his hand free and stood over Michael, gun aimed directly at the man's chest. Abandoning his assault on the guards – the one in the corner had already dropped his weapon and fled anyway – Kitt spun around again and charged towards Cameron.

The man raised his gun, preparing to fire at Kitt. Terror and horror shot through Michael and he took advantage of Cameron's distraction, flipped himself back on his feet and decked Cameron in the face. He could feel the satisfying snap of cartilage as he broke Cameron's nose, making blood pour down his face.

Just as Cameron fired off three shots, all over Michael's shoulder. The first grazed his skin, not that he really noticed. The other two were right on the mark, and Michael almost dropped as he felt Kitt's pain shoot through him. Something was wrong with the MBS – Kitt had been shot before, and never had it hurt.

As Cameron staggered back, Michael grabbed the gun, twisted it from Cameron's hands, and clubbed him over the head with it. Cameron dropped to the ground, unconscious.

"Michael!" Kitt called out, skidding to a halt just beside his driver. He was only dimly aware that his voice was shaking. "Michael, are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Kitt." Michael said. His voice sounded distant to him. He reached down and grabbed Cameron, flipping him onto his stomach. Wishing briefly he had a rope, or handcuffs, he pulled off Cameron's jacket and tied it around the man's wrists. It wasn't very effective, he knew. Given enough time and determination, Cameron would wiggle his way free. But Michael wasn't planning on giving him that time. "Call the cops, Kitt. Tell them where to find this scumbag."

"Certainly." The driver's door popped open, and Michael gratefully sank inside. Kitt closed the door, and an overwhelming sense of safety enveloped him. Michael smiled as he weakly pressed his hand against the dash.

/Love you, Kitt./

/Love you too, Mi./

In the passenger's seat, Mandy watched the unconscious man. "Will he be all right, Kitt?" she asked anxiously.

Kitt chuckled tiredly as he started the engine and pulled out of the hangar. "He'll be just fine, Mandy." he assured her. "Did you tell your sister you're coming home?"

"Yep!" she said with a grin. "Ashley and Momma will be waiting for us at the flag."

Kitt couldn't help but laugh at that. It was a laugh of relief as much as one of amusement. Things were going to be okay again, at least for a while.

/---/

AN: Wow, this story is almost at an end. One more chapter, where I will answer some questions that will inevitably rise from this chapter, and this story will reach a close. There are plans for a sequel, but not for a while yet. I need to finish my other stories first. Review, and I'll pop the next chapter out that much faster!