Happy New Year!

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

Chapter 4

Bonnie smiled as she walked into the garage where she currently spent most of her time. Devon's birthday was tomorrow, and she was looking forward to his birthday dinner. She had offered to plan and organize the event which Devon had been very grateful for. All he had to do was send out the invitations.

It wasn't the first time Bonnie was organizing an event for FLAG. Though it wasn't part of her job description, she had gladly volunteered to take over this duty in the past years. She enjoyed planning fundraisers and charity dinners. She smiled as she remembered planning Michael and Stevie's wedding. She had barely slept during that time because there were less than two weeks to plan it as neither Michael nor Stevie wanted to wait much longer. However, the result had been worth her lack of sleep. The location and the decoration had been perfect. It was a beautiful wedding, and the reception could have been fantastic as well. If the married couple and their guests would have had a chance to enjoy the food and the music. Everyone had fled the party once Durant had shown up and had shot at Stevie. The dancefloor had become a crime scene, and no one had wanted to stay there once the police and the ambulance had arrived. Bonnie certainly wouldn't add wedding planner to her resume if she ever had to apply for a new job.

Applying for a new job. This was something Bonnie hoped she would never have to think of again. She loved working for Knight Industries and especially for FLAG. This was her life, her family, her home. She had left once. A mistake which she had deeply regretted. Luckily, her family had asked her to return and she had no intention of ever leaving again. Unless FLAG would be considered useless and closed, neither she and Devon would think of quitting or retiring.

Unfortunately, her fear that FLAG could be phased out wasn't entirely wrong. Currently, they weren't fully operating because they had no driver. This wasn't Devon's or Bonnie's fault. Devon had interviewed several possible former policemen and private eyes. Even Chuck Wallyburton had come back for an interview. No one however was willing to work for them once they had met their future partner: KITT. KITT had refused to go on a test drive with the potential candidates and had been rather rude towards them. This behaviour was not typical of him and had surprised Bonnie and Devon. Complaints about KITT even reached Knight Foundation's Boards of Directors which caused Devon and Bonnie to worry about FLAG's future. If KITT wasn't willing to work with a new partner, chances were that KITT would be reprogrammed or shut down and replaced by a new AI. Bonnie had explained this possibility to KITT but even this didn't convince KITT to cooperate. It seemed like KITT had decided if he couldn't work with Michael, he didn't want to work with anyone. The only people he tolerated in the driver's seat were RC and Bonnie but neither Devon nor the board liked the idea that Bonnie and RC could be trained to be KITT's new partner.

Bonnie understood how KITT was feeling. She missed having Michael around as well. She was happy for him that he was reunited with Stevie. However, him going away meant that their family wasn't complete anymore and no one could fill this void. This was one reason why she stayed in touch with Michael, called him more often than he would have expected. She spent hours talking to KITT and convincing him to contact Michael. There more she tried, the more resistant KITT became. When Devon's birthday approached, she knew that this could be the chance she had been waiting for. Michael couldn't possibly decline the invitation. He would attend because he cared about Devon and loved him like a father. Not even Stevie would come between his loyalty to Devon.

Once Michael would be at the mansion, he would certainly want to see KITT. Bonnie was convinced that he wouldn't leave again without having talked to his former partner. No one would be able to stop him from going to the garage to see KITT. And if he refused out of fear, then she'd just drag him there. Bonnie wouldn't sit back and watch KITT being miserable and not cooperative any longer. She hoped KITT would be willing to listen to Michael and open up to him. If they talked again, maybe KITT would finally accept that Michael didn't leave because he didn't care about KITT but because it was his right to live the life he had missed out on for so long.

Her plan had to work, even though she risked that Devon would be angry with her. He had made her promise that she wouldn't do anything to make Michael even consider regretting his decision to leave. This wasn't her intention. She didn't want him to feel guilty. All she wanted was for the former partners to talk again and for KITT to feel alive again.

It wasn't only her future that was at stake. KITT's future was also in danger and unlike her, she wouldn't be dismantled, reprogrammed or even shut down.

"Good morning, KITT." She gently patted his hood. "Isn't it a beautiful day? Should we go for a joyride?"

"Good morning, Bonnie." KITT replied monotonously. Though he was grateful that Bonnie spent so much time with him, he wasn't in the mood to leave the garage. "It may be a nice day, but I'd prefer to stay here."

"Let me know if you change your mind." She turned on the computer at her workstation. "Are you ready for Devon's birthday dinner tomorrow?"

"Since when has a car been able to sit at a table for dinner?" KITT replied dryly.

Bonnie sighed. She instantly prayed that her plan would be successful and after tomorrow night KITT would be back to his former self. "I'll stop by and bring you some cake. Maybe you want to chat with some of the guests."

"I highly doubt it." KITT explained.

"We'll see." Bonnie mumbled before she started working on her computer. "We'll see."