I realized that I won't be able to post the remaining chapters of A Knight's Christmas in time to add the Valentine's Day chapters (which I still have to edit) for Valentine's Day. So I hope you won't mind that Christmas will continue a bit longer and Valentine's Day will be some time in March instead of February.

Disclaimer: Glen A. Larson and Universal own the Knight Rider characters in this story.

A Knight's Christmas

Chapter 11

Instead of enjoying the Christmas season, Bonnie spent the next several days preparing the documents and information they would need for the meeting with the board members. Devon had asked them to make sure there wouldn't be a single discrepancy which could cause the board members' interest. While Devon and Bonnie were busy with their files, Michael had been assigned on a case. Though he would have preferred staying at mansion with Bonnie, he didn't mind not having to work on reports. His case – playing bodyguard for a painting which was about to be sold for a horrendous price- was rather boring and not exciting which let Michael suspect that Devon had chosen it on purpose. The chances of him damaging KITT or them being involved in any wild car chases were slim. The bright side of this case outweighed the boredom. He was only a short drive away from the Foundation mansion and with the painting safely stored in KITT's trunk he was able to see Bonnie occasionally. The painting would have to be delivered to the private gallery, which had acquired it, in the next days and Michael's assistance would then no longer be needed. Though he preferred watching over a painting to playing bodyguard for a high-maintenance person, he knew he wouldn't be sad when this case would be over. He missed the action, the interaction with the people he helped and being able to make a difference. Making sure a painting wasn't stolen or damaged didn't qualify for any of this.

He spent the morning looking over the security measures of the gallery of the new owner. His mind still buzzing from all the information, he decided to stop by the mansion for a break. This would give him a chance to see Bonnie and grab a bite to eat. The painting would be safe with KITT while he could get some rest.

"Keep your scanners peeled, buddy. There's a valuable load in your trunk." He reminded his partner when he jumped out of the cabin and headed to the mansion. He heard KITT retort to his comment but continued walking. His partner knew that Michael trusted him unconditionally and was aware that no one would be able to get to the painting under his watch.

He found Bonnie and RC in Devon's office. Bonnie's eyes were glued to the screen of her computer while RC was busy throwing paper airplanes in the trash.

"I'm standing under a mistletoe." Michael laughed as he walked into the room. "Who wants to kiss me?"

"No one, my dear boy." Devon looked up from his desk, his eyebrows raised. He would never understand why Michael loved this silly tradition so much.

How she would have loved to run over to Michael and kiss him. She wouldn't hesitate if they were alone in the room. With RC and Devon present, she didn't want to risk anything to blow their cover. "I'm busy." She mumbled quickly and looked at the screen again.

"Sorry, Michael. I'm not into you." RC grinned and sent a paper plane in Michael's direction.

"Ouch." Michael said with faked sad tone in his voice. "Are y'all aware that you are hurting my feelings?"

"You'll survive, Michael." Devon stood up from his desk and headed towards the door where Michael was still standing. He raised his arm and quickly removed the mistletoe swig from the frame and handed it to Michael. "I believe this belongs to you. I'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from decorating my office in the future."

Michael watched him leave the office, then turned to Bonnie and RC. "Is it just me or is he in a bad mood today?"

"Just today? He's been cranky ever since he told us that we'd have to change our plans for Christmas. You are lucky because you've been busy with your case. Bonnie and I have to listen to his constant rants and complaints all the time." RC explained to Michael while Michael looked for a new spot to hang his mistletoe swig.

"Is he still upset because the dates for the Christmas dinner were screwed up the dates?" Michael asked RC and Bonnie. Both nodded in unison. "I wonder who's responsible for it. Who's in charge of the Foundation's calendar?"

"It's usually Devon's secretary who enters the dates. Sometimes, Devon does it himself and sometimes, he asks me to do it, usually when it involves KITT." Bonnie explains. "We never talked about the dates of the Christmas party and he didn't ask me to do it. It must have been either him or his secretary. But we all know her. She never makes mistakes."

"Wasn't she away for a while?" Michael vaguely remembered that she hadn't been around for a few weeks in the summer or fall.

"You're right, Michael. She was away for several weeks around August and September. This is usually the time when Devon and Jennifer decide when to hold the Christmas party." Bonnie remembered how much Devon had worked during that time. He had spent several nights at his office before he decided that he needed a temporary replacement. "Devon tried to get around without a secretary first, then realized he needed help."

"You don't think that Devon was so overworked that he made a mistake? "RC took a piece of paper from Devon's desk and began folding it into a plane. "It would explain why he's so upset."

"It would only be human." Bonnie hoped that RC hadn't taken one of Devon's important documents from his desk. "It must have been either Devon himself or the temporary replacement."

The temporary replacement. This was what Bonnie preferred to call her instead of her name. She wasn't hostile towards her but unlike the rest of the team she found it hard to warm up to her.

"You mean April?" RC's face lit up. He and April Curtis had become friends quickly when Devon had asked her to step in as his temporary secretary last summer. He had needed someone who was familiar with their work and who wouldn't need to be trained first. Since April had been his assistant aside from KITT's technician during Bonnie's absence, it was only logical that she was the only one who could step in. April of course had been flattered when Devon called her and had immediately agreed to come back for a while.

"I don't know, Bonnie." Michael stopped admiring his mistletoe and turned to Bonnie. "April wouldn't make a mistake. She's worked here before and she's never made mistakes."

Bonnie sighed. She wasn't surprised that Michael defended April. He was right, she hadn't made any major mistakes while she was in charge for KITT (though Bonnie had detected a few minor ones) and Bonnie was grateful for that. However, she had noticed that April wasn't always as focused on her work as Bonnie herself or Devon's secretary were, especially whenever Michael or RC were around. Therefore, unlike Michael, she wasn't convinced that April never made mistakes.