�Where�s the car?�
Justin turned at the rude interruption.  He wasn�t used to being disturbed at the lab.  People came and went, and conversations as rowdy as any he�d ever had in the town bars were had in the coffee rooms and canteen.  But in his lab he was left alone to work on whatever improvement they had come up with for the Knight Two Thousand.
�I asked, where�s the car?�

He knew the voice, it grated on his nerves.  �Good morning, Ms Knight.�
�Did you hear me?�
�I heard you just fine, I�m just not sure what you�re talking about.�
�There was a car here until yesterday, the Knight Two Thousand.  Black, sleek, worth about three hundred million dollars, you can�t miss it.�
He grinned.  Someone had taught her sarcasm.  �As far as I can recall, that car�s no longer your property, meaning that even if it had been here, I wouldn�t have to tell you anything about it.�
Jennifer glared at him.  �I could have you fired.�
�You could try.�  With that he returned to his computer, and the email he was composing to Nicholas.  He always reported Jennifer�s little visits, you never knew when the information would come in handy.  All he typed this time was, �She�s on the warpath.  Tell them to be careful for me.�

*

Michael woke to the aroma of fresh coffee and to the warm pressure of a body lying entwined with his own.  Opening his eyes a fraction, he gazed down at his still sleeping partner, carefully moving his hand up to stroke over the soft hair.  Someone had swapped his mug of cold coffee for a hot one, but he didn�t want to move just yet.  There didn�t seem to be anyone around on the ground floor so he assumed they were giving them some privacy.  He vaguely wondered if he could convince Kitt that they should use a bed tonight.

As he was pondering that thought, the android in his arms shifted, opening his eyes to the bright light of the warehouse.
�Morning, Beautiful,� Michael murmured just loud enough for Kitt to pick up.
His partner lifted his head and with a wonderful sleepy expression that Michael determined to commit to memory, he planted a shy but definite kiss on his partner�s lips.  Michael hummed quietly.  �Nice.�  Leaning down, he stole another, this time longer kiss, coaxing Kitt on.

�Have I ever told you how much I love waking up to you?�
Michael watched Kitt blink a couple of times, belatedly realising how much of a tiny detail that was for Swan to have thought of.  �Waking up to me?�
�Curled up with you, your presence in my mind.  Sometimes when we go that deep� it feels so real, so physical.�
�What about now?  Is this better?�  There was a nervousness in Kitt�s tone that Michael recognised easily.
�There�s nothing better than the link, Kitt.  This�.�  He shook his head.  �I won�t deny it�s incredible to hold you, to kiss you, to see you smile.  But it�s not enough, no where near enough, and I know it�s even less for you.�
The reply was a murmur.  �I can touch you.�

Michael bit back whatever words were waiting.  Instead he tried to read the emotions in Kitt�s eyes, bringing up his hand to stroke over his partner�s tousled hair.  By the time he was ready to speak, he could no longer find the right thing to say.  They�d become so used to communicating on a more basic level, on a level where words weren�t needed and everything was passed from one to the other as ideas, feelings and thoughts.  At the start, that had been the problem because human emotions and the emotions felt by an Artificial Intelligence were very, very different.  Transmissions coming from Kitt were completely alien to Michael, and those from Michael were too intense for Kitt to process.  But they�d learnt and they�d grown.  Before they�d been torn apart again, the translation of one another�s transmissions was instinctive.

Movement upstairs brought them both back to the current situation.  �We�d better move,� Michael spoke reluctantly.
�Yes.�  Kitt shifted himself, sitting up.
There seemed to be more that he should say, but Bonnie appeared at the top of the stairs and real life kicked in.  As real as it ever got around here.

*

There was nothing odd about a car moving on its own, without a driver, as far as Nicholas was concerned.  But being that Kitt was sitting in Swan�s android body on the seat at the end of the diagnostic area, it was slightly disconcerting to see the Trans-Am making its way across the floor of the warehouse.  Only Kitt�s eyes moved to follow the movement of the car as he took remote control of the temporary computer on board, able to operate more and more functions as the minutes ticked by.

Nearby, Karr was watching closely in case his younger brother slipped his concentration and lost control.  But so far he hadn�t made a single mistake.  He�d started off with drive and reverse.  The turbo boost was out of the question, although he kept thinking about it, so he�d made do with circling the dark form of the second car, and later with winding in and out of some cones that Nicholas had put out for him with a twinkle in his eyes.

_What are you doing?
_Playing
_Why?
_I need to
_Kitt?
_It�s nothing Karr, don�t worry
_You�re upset
_Tell me
_Don�t worry
_Please talk to me
_It�s not important.  Please, don�t worry

Kitt ended his broadcast.  Karr was still transmitting, but he just stopped receiving.  How could he voice how he felt?  How could he explain to an AI who knew nothing but the environment he was in that suddenly a whole new world was opening up and a growing part of him didn�t want to leave.  That, more than anything else he could think of, was starting to frighten him.

<Karr?>
The AI turned from watching his brother to the place in his CPU where Nicholas was thankfully always connected to him.
<Yes>
<What�s wrong?>
Karr was surprised, he hadn�t realised he had been echoing his feelings over to his driver.  He usually made sure that he didn't swamp Nick with whatever was going through his mind, but this time his concentration had wavered.
<Kitt is unsettled>
<He�s bound to be, Partner>
<There�s more to it than just displacement>
Upstairs in his computer room, Nicholas sat back and rubbed his eyes.  He was busy encrypting the results of his work for his private client for mailing out.  The money was already in his bank account and he was about to complete this business transaction.  He was glad in a way.  Although the effects of this attack weren�t as all-consuming as the aftermath of Jennifer�s original attack on Kitt, in the guise of the tests, he had a feeling that the long-term result would be just as deeply affecting.  Jennifer had changed their lives once, driven them from their home at the Foundation.  Although they still worked for the Foundation, they worked for others too, taking clients known to them through Nicholas - nothing big, but more than they�d originally been doing.  He sincerely hoped he was wrong about her trying again.

Nicholas didn�t know quite what to say to Karr to explain the changes Kitt was experiencing.  But somehow he understood them.  Even though it was strange, even though it wasn�t anything like what he knew and felt safe and comfortable with, Kitt was naturally curious.  He had an innate need to discover and to grow.  This new situation undoubtedly frightened him, but he was already finding ways of dealing with it and the new sensations that this body afforded him.

<He�s enjoying being close to his partner>
Nicholas had watched them over the last twenty-four hours and didn�t need a link to either human or AI to read the signs.
<He is close to his partner in the car, using the implant>
<Physically close>
<How can that be an improvement?>
<I think it�s something they need right now>

Karr puzzled about it for a while, but he was none the wiser.  Nick sighed.  He couldn't explain it to his partner.  This was something that went beyond what he and Karr shared, something he as a human was able to comprehend to a degree, but Karr� it wasn�t that he was too inflexible, he just didn't have the necessary experience.  Nothing like this had ever happened to the two of them, and even if it did, Karr wouldn't react like Kitt.  Their basic construction was the same, their personalities, their lives, their whole character, were vastly different.
 

Michael watched for Kitt playing with their car for two hours before coming downstairs.  He was trying to give his partner some space without knowing why or even if Kitt needed it.  He had a feeling of foreboding, but couldn�t place the emotion or the reason for it.
�Bored?�
He took a seat next to Kitt, watching their car turn in and out of the orange cones without a single mistake.  Kitt slowed the speed.  �No.�
�Want to take her out for real?�
The AI stopped the car and turned to Michael, a smile playing on his lips and in his eyes.  �Can we?�

*

Kitt had been disappointed when Michael had taken the driver�s seat in the warehouse.  �I just have to pop in to the Foundation,� he�d explained, �then she�s all yours.�  Kitt looked happier then.

They pulled up in front of the manor house that served as the Foundation�s Californian headquarters.  Kitt found himself experiencing nerves and excitement at once.  They�d initially planned on avoiding this place.  But a call to Devon had reassured Michael that Jennifer was busy in meetings at the Knight Enterprises building in the city.  He had papers to deliver.  Two minutes and they were gone.

Killing the engine, he turned to Kitt.  �You want to stay here?�
Kitt let his eyes travel over the house in front of him.  �No� no, I�d like to see Devon.�
�Sure?�
�No.�
Michael chuckled.  �Okay.�  They climbed out of the car in sync.
 

Devon looked up at the knock on the door.  �It�s open.�  He smiled warmly when the door swung into the room.  �Michael!  Come in!  It�s so good to see you.�  He came out from around his desk, hand outstretched.  Michael found he could return both the smile and the handshake.  That had taken some considerable time to achieve.

Devon�s eyes fell on the second person to enter.  �Michael, who�s�.�  But he didn�t finish his question.  He stepped around his friend.  �Kitt?�
An expression of pure happiness spread over Kitt�s features.  But Michael�s expression was one of shock.  �How the hell�?�
Devon glanced at him.  �Dear boy!  I was there when Kitt was born.�  He took in the human form, reaching down to take Kitt�s hand in his own.  �Bonnie told me that they�d found a temporary home for you but this�.�
Kitt was only barely listening.  He just couldn�t find the words.  A moment later he pulled his hand from Devon�s and reached up around the older man�s neck in a tight hug that was returned in the next second.

For a long time, they stood like that, holding on to one another in a silent apology that was well overdue.  Michael just watched, amazed.

When Kitt released his hold, backing off almost embarrassed, Devon placed his hands on his shoulders.  �I�m sorry.  For everything that happened, for everything I was responsible for.  And for not saying this earlier.�
Kitt nodded.  �Thank you.�
Turning, Devon smiled.  �What brings you here?�
�I have those papers for you.�  He handed his boss the report he�d compiled.  �We�re just out for a drive.�
�It must be� odd, for the both of you.�
Michael and Kitt glanced at one another, sharing a smile.  �We�re� okay,� Michael told him truthfully.
�Glad to hear it.�  He gave Kitt�s shoulder one last squeeze, finding it only slightly harder than a human shoulder.  �Incredible,� he murmured, almost to himself.  �Thank you for coming over.  I appreciate it, and it is very good to see you.�
For a second, there was more to say.  And then the moment passed.

*

Implicit trust had never been lacking between them.  Rather than anxiety, Michael felt a new exhilaration as Kitt drove them out of town and into the desert without touching the steering wheel.  The car was as smooth as it usually was with Kitt watching over everything from his own CPU.  Like this, the car�s basic functions were under his remote control, and he was looking for a suitable place to test the turbo boost.  They were protected by the MBS anyway.  But Karr had worried because communications, special functions like radar, microwave jamming, the scanners, ABS, All-Terrain Tracking, et cetera, et cetera were all off-line.  If something happened, they weren�t altogether defenceless but they weren�t exactly at their best.

Life was a constant threat.  Somehow Michael knew that coming out with his partner was the right thing to do.  There was a wondrous smile on Kitt�s face as he drove.  He didn�t want to disturb his partner�s concentration and they didn�t need to speak.  Like old times, the long drives, the silence between them was comfortable, familiar.  Michael split his time between watching the scenery and watching his partner.

A million questions had ploughed through his mind since yesterday morning.  The one bothering him now was whether he�d be feeling what he was feeling if the android body Swan had moved Kitt into didn�t look quite as human as it did.  The sandy brown hair cut short into the base of the neck just drew Michael�s fingers like nothing else.  That attraction concerned him.  He�d never been drawn to a man before, not physically.  He considered his attraction to Kitt to run so much deeper than mere gender and personality.  But there was no denying his feelings so he didn�t try to.

His hand was reaching out before he knew it and he pulled it back, smiling as innocently as he could manage when whiskey-coloured eyes met his own.  �Are you trying to distract me?�
�No.  Just� admiring the scenery.�
�Want me to pull over so you can admire it up close?�
These last two days had been an eye-opener for Michael.  Kitt had been keeping a very real, very wonderful side of himself secret somehow.  How, when the link bonded them so intimately that Michael doubted there was a part of himself that Kitt didn�t know, he had no idea.  �Have you always been this� flirty, and I just haven�t been paying attention?�
Kitt considered that.  �Yes.�

For a time, there was no answer to that.  Kitt took the car to the highest point in the area.  He found some seclusion and drew the car to a halt in a sandy, desolate clearing with an incredible view.  �Want to abuse some paintwork?�
�Very funny.  You know you�re a lot worse than you usually are.�
Kitt closed the driver�s door.  �I feel on more equal terms with you like this.�
Michael shifted up onto the hood, pausing to consider Kitt�s statement.  �That worries me,� he said finally, leaning back against the windshield, shoulder to shoulder with Kitt.
�I know.�  The AI thought for a moment.  �I�m not saying I feel� inadequate in the car.  It�s difficult to explain.  The car�s all I�ve known from�.�
�Birth?�
�Not exactly.  I was in the mainframe in Washington for a couple of months.�
Michael felt the shiver go down his spine as he always did when his partner mentioned his beginnings.  He hated the thought of Kitt trapped in a static mainframe, his bright soul pinned down.  Of course he�d known nothing else.  He wasn�t the AI he was now, wasn�t even the AI Wilton Knight�s team of experts, led by Bonnie, had coaxed into existence.  He started when Kitt�s hand covered his own.
�Sorry.  I know you hate me talking about that.�
�No� no, it�s� it�s okay.  Go on.�
�The car�s all I�ve known.  Our relationship�s changed beyond recognition since the start but it�s always been based on car and driver.�
Michael, despite himself, felt hurt.  �Kitt� you can�t possibly believe that.  Okay� maybe before� but not now.�
Kitt looked away, over the desert scenery before them.  It suddenly occurred to him that he hated the mere sight of sand.  �You don�t understand.�
�Make me understand.�
Kitt tapped his finger against the hood of the car.  �Last night,� he said finally, as if it should have been immediately obvious.  �Last night was more than I�d ever dreamt of.  Holding you, being able to feel you� all that�s so� synthesised in the car.  But the nerve endings in the fingers, under the skin, everywhere, all over� it�s so real.  And the way we�re talking� man to man.�
�I always try for man to man with you, Kitt.�  But he was starting to see the problem.  �Look, I know this is� it�s indescribable.  I love being with you like this.  But I miss you so much from my head.  That�s close, Kitt, closer than I�ve ever been or will ever be to anyone.  To have you� knowing me, better than I know myself.  To have you with me constantly, even when it�s just a warm glow at the back of my head. That�s more than I�ve ever dreamt of.�
Kitt seemed to take it all in.  �If the link was working with me in this body, would you want me to stay like this?�

Michael hesitated.  �I won�t lie to you.  I�ve thought about it, how it would be to have this permanently.�  He shook his head.  �I can�t answer your question.  But I love you, Kitt, however, wherever.�
Kitt leaned into his driver and Michael put his arms around him, drawing him closer, closing his eyes.  �I want to stay.�  He barely heard the whisper, but it rung loudly in his ears.  He hugged Kitt tighter, not wanting to think what this meant for them.

Slowly, Kitt pulled out of the embrace slightly, head tilted up so that all Michael had to do was move an inch to kiss him.  He felt the heat of his partner�s mouth, the power of his hands upon him.  This was the addiction, of having someone loving him so gently, so completely.  The input to his processor was controlled as far as this body went, as much as from the car but very different.  Michael�s presence seemed to stimulate that input.

He wondered if his hands on Michael�s body had a similar effect.  He moved his fingers from Michael�s shoulders down over his back, tracing the muscles there, the sensation of Michael moaning into his mouth eliciting a mirror reaction in himself.  One of Michael�s own hands was moving up over Kitt�s hip, under his white cotton shirt to touch the skin at his back.  He felt his partner move against his touch, and his spread his fingers, pressing his palm to the small of Kitt�s back, fingers dipping into the waistband of his jeans.

�You�re as beautiful to me in the car as you are now, Kitt,� Michael told him honestly.
And Kitt smiled.  �You mean that?�
�I don�t think I�ve ever lied to you.  I don�t think I could.�

�Well isn�t that touching.�
The harsh female voice intruded into their privacy.  Michael�s head snapped around, hard stare finding Jennifer watching them, gun in her hand, two goons leaning on the sedan behind her.  A disgusted expression was etched into her features.  �What the hell are you doing?�  The question was aimed at Michael.  He ignored it, glancing around, angry, looking for a way out of the danger.  She stepped forward, gun lying comfortably in her right hand, aimed somewhere between the two of them.  Michael fought his growing rage at her interruption.  He, like his friend�s partner, wanted this woman dead.  It was only his morals and humanity that had stopped him from making that one simple request of Nicholas.

�When I saw the tapes from the R&D lab yesterday, I couldn�t for the life of me work out who it was with you.�  Her eyes were on Kitt, but again her words were to Michael.  She motioned at Kitt with the barrel of the small hand weapon.  �I had to watch those tapes twenty times before I realised what it must be.  And I must say, it�s quite remarkable.  Not that I�d want to touch it,� she made a face, �let alone� kiss it.�

She waited a beat, staring at Michael.  �You aren�t going to ask me, are you?  How I worked it out?"  Her smile was triumphant.  "Not once, not in all the time you were in Turner�s lab, did you say a word to the car.�
Michael didn�t speak.  One hand was still flush with Kitt�s back, the other was flat against the hood of the car, waiting.  Still, he silently congratulated her.
�Fine.  Don�t tell me how clever I am.�
He sighed.  �What do you want, Jennifer?�
�I want this� perversion, this thing you call your partner, dead.�  The statement was chillingly simple.

Michael and Kitt slipped off the hood of the car slowly, Michael planning their escape in his head, wishing for the hundredth time that the link was functioning.  But Kitt stepped up to Jennifer, going closer than Michael liked.
�Why?�
She gazed at him, perhaps seeing him for the first time.  Despite her earlier disgust, she reached up to touch his hair, his face.  Michael bristled but didn�t move.  �You�re upkeep is destroying my inheritance.  I no longer own you but I find myself still footing the bills.  Does that seem fair to you?�
Kitt ignored her question.  �That�s the first time you�ve ever spoken to me.�
She stared.  �What?�
�You almost killed me yet you�ve never said a word to me.  Why is that?�
Michael heard the emotion building in his partner�s tone.  He looked calm but someone who could read the inflections in his voice as easily as he could read the expressions on his face had no difficulty with the hatred there.  �Kitt�.�
�It�s nothing personal,� she told him, both of them ignoring Michael�s warning.  �It�s all about money.  I can�t have you taking what�s rightfully mine.�

Lifting the gun, she used the end of the barrel to sweep his hair back behind his ear.  �I suppose I could make it fast, put a bullet through your main processor.  I�m assuming it�s in your head.  I mean, where else would they put it?�  She drew the weapon down, over his jaw, across his throat.  �Or I could show you what it really means to be human.�
The gun was against the equivalent of his collarbone when Jennifer pulled the trigger.

Michael uselessly yelled Kitt�s name at the same moment as his partner�s scream penetrated the silence left behind by the gunfire a moment before.  Michael dragged Kitt back, pressing his hand to the wound before sense kicked in.  When he moved his hand away, the dark sticky substance on his palm was the right colour and texture.  It might as well have been blood.

The sensory overload to Kitt�s processor was almost impossible to deal with.  Trying to keep control of the body�s functions while his mind exploded with the agony of his shoulder being torn apart wasn�t the easiest of tasks.  The ripple of pain coming from the nerve endings around the seared area of skin was distracting his control from every process running.  Michael was at his side, and he leaned against his partner simply to allow himself to end the sub-routine that kept his balance.

�Kitt?  You okay?�  Jennifer was laughing to herself.  Michael had about two seconds.  He grabbed Kitt�s chin and turned his head so they were face to face.  �Get control of the car.�
Kitt�s eyes widened.  It had been hard enough to access the aural routines.  He couldn�t believe what Michael was asking of him.  How was he supposed to get control of the remote, complex computer in the car when he couldn�t find a way to his voice box?  His head was turned again and through the fire in his mind he saw Jennifer closer to him now, the barrel of the gun pressed into his temple.  At his side, her two goons had Michael�s arms pinned behind him.  They didn�t seem to notice that Kitt was still leaning against his driver, hadn�t noticed or didn�t care.

Kitt fought to stay afloat.  Michael was relying on him, if he didn�t do something he was going to die, and then Michael was going to die too.  Inside his own mind, he screamed, releasing it in a wide-range broadcast that had no particular destination.  And then through the chaos, he reached for the car.

Jennifer tried to think of something to say, couldn�t, and pulled the trigger.  A split second before her finger tightened enough to let the bullet loose, Michael kicked out at one the men holding him and managed to stagger back just far enough.  Kitt fell sideways in a way that might have been comical, but it saved his life.  In the same second the car engine fired into life and with the modicum of control that he had, Kitt sent the Trans-Am careening into Jennifer.

Hearing the car startled her.  One moment she was furiously moving the weapon to fire again, the next she was diving out of the way before the car broke her legs as Karr had done eighteen months earlier.  Michael fought off the two surprised goons with ease, grabbed Kitt and somehow dragged him around to the passenger side of the car, putting the TransAm between them and Jennifer.  Opening the door, he got in, helping his partner drag himself into the passenger seat, moving across into the driver�s seat.  Kitt pulled the door closed and collapsed as Michael took control and spun the Trans-Am around, taking them away from the carnage.

�You okay?�  Michael glanced at his partner, but there was no answer.  �Kitt?�  He caught a nod of the head and reached out to touch the trembling form.  �I�ll get you home.�  He bit down on the apologies, they could wait, it could all wait.

Through the blazing pain soaring in waves through his processor, Kitt tried to access his voice box.  It took time.  He managed to straighten his position in the seat so that his back pressed against the plush material.  Five minutes, and then he said roughly, �The bloody legs have given out again.�
Michael didn�t laugh, but he was relieved.
 

He drove at speed along the harbour.  The journey had taken eleven minutes.  Kitt had spoken once after five but fallen silent after that.  He was concerned.  The colour, bizarrely, had drained from the face.  The sticky substance trickling from the gunshot wound was soaking a substantial area of Kitt�s shirt.

He threw the car through the doors of the warehouse as they opened, screeching the new tyres on the concrete floor, getting the attention of all those in residence.
Michael dived out of the car at about the same time he killed the engine.  �Nick!!!!�
Nicholas was running down the stairs already.
<Karr?>

The AI only responded with a question of his own, frustrated that he couldn�t reach his brother.

Michael yanked open the passenger door, catching Kitt as he fell out.  �God� Kitt�.�  The eyes were open, staring, but there was no response at all, nothing physically obvious.  <Karr, reach him!>
<I�m trying>  The anger in his tone was based on his desperate broadcasting that wasn�t getting a response.

_Kitt, Kitt answer me!

�Kitt!�  Bonnie was with them now, watching as Michael and Nicholas carried the android body to the couches in the rest area downstairs.  �Come on, Kitt�.�  Michael sat at his partner�s feet, leaning over the inert form, stroking the soft brown hair in a gesture he hoped was comforting because it was all he could do.
�Karr�s trying to get through to him,� Nicholas told Michael, �it could just be that the sub-routines are inaccessible to him at the moment.�  He stood upright, as Bonnie looked more carefully at the wound through Kitt�s shoulder, and glanced at his partner.  �Karr, call Swan.�
�Done.�
Of course, Nicholas should have known better.  He stood back when Bonnie pushed passed him, going after some diagnostic equipment and tools.  She wished there was an obvious COM port to link the laptop.  She brought it close and booted it up, hoping that Kitt might be able to access it remotely.

Michael brushed his thumb over Kitt�s forehead, keeping up the rhythmic stroking of his hair.  �Come on, Partner, talk to us.�  But he knew it was useless.  There was nothing.
Nicholas moved to stand beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.  �What happened?�
He looked up.  �Jennifer attacked us.�  Nicholas had to block Karr�s immediate reaction.  �She shot him.�  He looked over his partner�s body.  Bonnie had his shirt torn around the wound, revealing the damage to the surrounding area under the skin.  Still he was unresponsive.  �She wants him dead because the Foundation�s paying out for his upkeep.�  He wanted to kill.  But as before, Kitt�s condition prevented him from rushing out and finding Jennifer�s throat to wrap his hands around.

<Karr?>
<There�s still nothing!>
_Kitt?  Kitt?!  Come on Kitt answer me!  Kitt please respond

_karr
The emotion, the tremors in the weak broadcast were audible to him.  He recalled how Kitt was after Jennifer�s tests, curled into the corner of his ravaged CPU after his suicide attempt, flailing into the abyss of his nightmares, sobbing wildly.  The AIs transmission now contained that same underlying emotion.
_Kitt!  You�re all right
_no  hurts cant process all data karr help  help me
_Kitt� I can�t
_help me help me help me

<Nick!  Hook me into the android!>
The sudden words in his mind, although so familiar, were a surprise.
<What?>
<He�s losing it, Nick!  He�s in agony, there�s too much data for him to process.  Link us!>
<Karr�.>  But he trusted his partner.  �Karr needs you to link him to the central processor inside the android.�  The Stealth had already driven forward, nose against the couch, hood popped in an unusual display of trust.
_karr please help me cant cope help me
<Nick!  Now!>
�Do it!�
Bonnie hesitated, but she grabbed the linking cables and handed one end to Nicholas, �Connect these to port 20:290.�
Turning Kitt�s head, she peeled back the skin at the base of the neck and connected the other end of the cable.  This was how they�d transferred Kitt in to the android in the first place.

<Karr, you�re linked!>
�kitt?!�
In a leap of faith, Karr jumped from his CPU across the physical link into the mind of the android.  �kitt!�
The world he entered was as alien to him as Nicholas� mind.  The circuit boards, the layout was different to anything he was used to and suddenly his respect for his younger brother leapt.  How was Kitt staying sane in such a place?
�kitt I�m here come to me, kitt�
But there was no sign of the bright spark of Kitt�s being.  Stretching himself further, Karr delved deeper into the mind of the android, careful not to interface with any of the sub-routines accessible to him.  Everything was so strange.  Kitt�s CPU was similar to his own, and so moving around within it had been relatively easy under usual circumstances.  This place was nothing like the CPUs.

He manoeuvred through the labyrinth of neural nets, interfaces, and he began to realise what was so wrong with this system.  There were barely any external connections.  He and Kitt had the links, they had channels, satellite ports, output sockets.  Here there was no visible method of exit except for the way he�d come in.  He shivered, unable to stop the reaction despite knowing the tremor would filter back to his partner.
�kitt!  please��
He saw him!  A dim white glow coming from the centre of a mass of firing neurones.  Kitt was flinching at each spark, crying quietly to himself, something Karr felt rather than saw.  Taking a virtual deep breath, Karr rushed forward.  He grabbed the ball of light that represented Kitt�s presence and pulled him out of the ever-decreasing space, wrapping the fragile AI in his own strength, protecting him from any more hurt.
�ssh, kitt, I have you now�

Winding his way back through the maze, Karr ensured a tendril of his brother remained locked into the android mind, into his own processor, memory and data stacks before coaxing Kitt through to his own CPU.
�it is all right, kitt, you�re safe now�
Wrapped in the other�s presence, Kitt peered out, frightened, shocked by the sudden surges that had overwhelmed him slowly as he�d fought to sort out the input flowing in from the system of nerve endings.
�karr?�
�yes.  you are safe�
�where are we?�
�in my cpu.  just for now, kitt, just until they fix the android�

More relieved than he could express, Kitt sunk into the comfort offered to him.  It felt undeniably good to be with another being after forty-eight hours on his own.  For the last year he�d had two other presences linked closely to him.  Only now he was so tightly entwined with Karr�s essence did he realise just how much he missed that and needed it.
�michael?�
�i can�t, kitt.  but i�ll tell nick, he can tell michael�
�thank you�
�just rest now.  i�m here�

<I have him, Nick>
<How long can you hold him for?>
<Three point two-four hours.  Enough time to repair the android?>
Nicholas squeezed Michael�s shoulder.  �Karr has him in his CPU, he can hold him for a couple of hours.�
Michael looked up at the engine compartment on display before them.  �Thanks, Karr.�
�You are welcome.�

*

They watched as Swan began to repair her android, aware of her anger at every stage.  But Michael had too much anger of his own to take much notice.
�She�d have killed him.  Just like that and there would have been nothing I could have done.�  He stared at the still body lying on the worktop in the diagnostic area across from them.  Moving him had been a delicate job, ensuring Karr and the android remained physically connected.  Breaking that connection would kill Kitt as quickly and as surely as any bullet through his processor would have done.

Michael linked his fingers, unable to tear his eyes from the scene before him as Swan cut deep into the skin of her creation and opened up the synthetic flesh around the damaged area.  Nicholas was sitting beside him, keeping a watchful eye on his own partner.  He�d carefully touched the implant, going towards Karr and just gazing for a few seconds at the beautiful combination of light and dark where the two brothers were entwined, Karr keeping Kitt from the painful procedure being undertaken on his body.

�He told me something, just before Jennifer turned up.�  Michael�s whisper was obviously for Nicholas� ears only.  �He said he wanted to stay.�
It took a few seconds for Michael�s words to make sense.  Nicholas turned, eyes wide.  �In the android?�  He kept his voice to a similar murmur, hoping Karr was too distracted with his precious ward to listen in.
�He says� he can touch me like this.  In the car�.�  Michael lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug.  �I didn�t realise it meant so much to him.�
Nicholas gave him a minute.  �How do you feel about it?�
�Nick�.�  He sighed.  �Sure, it�s great, it�s more than great.  This morning when I woke up with him lying on me it was perfect.  But when we wake up together linked by the implant, I�m completely surrounded by him, almost of a part of him.�  Nicholas was reminded of what Karr had said to him about Michael and Kitt sleeping entwined with one another.  He wondered about trying it himself with Karr one day.
�You want him back in the car.�
�I want him back in my mind.  This,� he indicated the android, �isn�t natural somehow.�
�This isn�t natural?�  Nicholas couldn�t help but smile.  �And having him in the car is?�
Michael rubbed his hand over his face.  �I talk to that car like it�s the most natural thing in the whole world.  I throw comments at him, insults, jokes� banter.  It�s become second nature.  People look at me like I�ve gone nuts and all I can think is how lucky I am.�  At least that was something Nicholas could understand.
 

Wrapped in Karr�s dark presence, Kitt finally stretched his own being out as far as his brother�s constraining embrace would allow.  The CPU was not designed for two AIs.
�karr?�
�i am here, kitt�
The bright soul settled back enjoying, more than he would care to admit, the feeling of security being in a CPU such as this one gave him.  Everything was different, but compared to his place in the android�s mind, it was also familiar.
�i told michael� i wanted to stay in the android�
Karr was confused.
�why?�
�there are� pros and cons, karr�
�name one�
�it�s personal�
Karr understood about personal.  How much of himself had he been reluctant to show Kitt at the beginning?  How much did Kitt still not know?
�you could have been killed�
�i know�
Kitt�s residual fear emanated from his presence, sending a shiver through Karr, encouraging him to wrap a further tendril around his brother, stroking absently.  He was amazed at how easy this was now, to offer such comfort after his reluctance to do so when they�d first discovered their link.
�knight�
�michael�
�your partner could not stand to lose you�
Kitt tilted his virtual head to one side, waiting.
�i could not stand to lose you�
 

Michael let his eyes wonder over the set-up before him.  Somewhere between Karr and Swan�s android hung the life of his beloved partner.  �Do you think Wilton stopped for one moment to think about what he was doing?�
It was an old conversation.  �With us or them?�
�He creates Karr, playing God, hooks you up to him and then� changes his mind.  Do you think he realised what he�d created?  The life he�d made?�
�I don�t think he thought at all.  I mean, he did it again, didn�t he?  New driver, new AI, new car, new start, like he wanted to bury Karr and I in the past.  He was a determined man.  He had a fantasy and he was going to make sure it succeeded him no matter what.�
Michael shook his head.  �You know, sometimes I feel like we�re chasing midnight, following an impossible dream that isn�t even our own.�
�The trick is to make it yours.�
Michael frowned.  �That�s not easy in this life.�
�Maybe.  Unfortunately we tend to make some very dangerous enemies.�
�Not as dangerous as our friends.�  He met Nicholas� dark eyes.  �What do I do about Jennifer?�
�I told you, Michael, if it�s her or Kitt, she pays for this with her life.�
He hesitated.  �Out there, I could have turned that gun on her for simply threatening Kitt.  But to plan it� it�s so cold-blooded, pre-meditated.  It�s murder, Nick.  I can�t condone it.�
�You won�t have to.�  Nicholas smiled, and stood.  �I have a couple of things to do.�  He noted the expression on his friend�s face.  �Don�t worry, it�s contracted work.�

Getting to his feet, Michael approached the Stealth as Nicholas headed upstairs.  �How is he, Karr?�
�I believe the human equivalent is �in shock�.�
As if reaching for his own car, Michael touched the Stealth�s roof.  �Tell him I�m here?�  He felt so helpless, and that must have been echoed in his voice, for when Karr answered he�d never heard the dark AI speak to him so gently.
�He knows, Michael.�

*

An hour or so later Swan finally lifted her head, stood up straight and stretched, popping vertebrae back into place.  She caught Michael�s eyes before announcing, �What a fucking mess you made of my creation.�
He stared at her.  �I wasn�t exactly my finger on the trigger, you know.�  His tone might have suggested that it could be if she carried on speaking to him in that manner regarding his partner.
�I know,� she held up one hand, palm out in apology.  �I know.  I�m sorry.  I�ve repaired the damage and reset the nervous system.  When Kitt comes back in it�ll be like it never happened.�
Michael knew that wasn�t accurate.  With Kitt, nothing never happened.  �He�s got a good memory,� he muttered, more to himself.
�I meant, there�ll be no pain.�  She picked up the half-empty can of Diet Coke from the work-bench and swallowed the remainder of the drink in one.  �You can transfer Kitt back whenever you�re ready.�

Nicholas came to the railing above them, wanting to be present when they did this, just in case.  His partner had managed this for the most part alone, but then, neither of them was ever truly alone.
�Karr?�  Michael waited for an answer.
<Karr?>
�kitt?  are you ready?�
�will there be pain?�
�no.  everything has been repaired and reset.�
�will you still be here?�
�no.  i can�t be�
�i want to go home�
The words in his mind had an underlying tone of exhaustion to them, so different from when they�d communicated before.

�Karr?�  Michael questioned again.
<Karr?  Everything okay?>
�you can go home soon, kitt.  just another day.  you will stay here with us.  you will be safe�
�thank you�
�anytime�
<He is returning>

Nicholas started down the stairs.  �He�s moving back through to the android.�
Michael nodded, not bothering to ask why Karr had told Nicholas silently.  He knew it was as natural as speaking out loud, although it was draining and wasn�t a way to have a long, in-depth conversation.  He moved over to the work-bench, lifting the inert hand into his own, holding it against his chest.  With his other hand, he stroked over the silken hair.  And he waited.

There was no physical sign at first.  Karr watched Kitt leave his CPU and follow his own connection through into the processor in the positronic mind.  When he was sure Kitt was completely gone he sent through the cable,
�kitt, are you all right?�
�yes.  it�s safe to remove the cable�
<It is safe.  Disconnect us>
Nicholas nodded to Bonnie who was nearby.  She stepped in and disconnected the two processors.
Swan looked on.  �It�ll be a few minutes before Kitt activates all the sub-routines.�  She stepped away.  There was nothing more she could do now.

Slowly they all backed off, letting Michael be alone with his partner.
�Kitt?  Come back to me, partner.�
Seven slow minutes passed.  And then without warning, Kitt sat up, straight and suddenly.  Michael almost fell back from where he�d been sitting up on the work-bench but he kept his balance.  �Hey, you all right?�
Once again, Kitt could feel his partner�s hands on his shoulders, stroking down his arms.  He couldn�t find the words for now, but he nodded.  For a while they just sat together, before Kitt found his voice.  �I�m okay.�
Michael nodded, relieved.  �I�m sorry.  You could have been killed, it would have been my fault.�
Kitt reached up, laying a trembling hand against Michael�s front, palm flat against the material of his shirt.  �No.  Don�t, please.�  He leaned forward slightly and was immediately wrapped in a tight embrace.  �It wasn�t your fault, it couldn�t have been.  Jennifer wants us dead.�
Michael moved his head from side to side, chin digging softly into the top of Kitt�s head.  �Not us, Pal, you.  She resents you.�
�I� understand her point, to a degree.  I belong to you now, she�s lost all ownership of me or the car and yet she still pays for my upkeep.�
�The Foundation does.  They brought you into this world, Kitt.  That�s their responsibility.  Mine is to make sure you�re kept healthy and safe and at the moment I�m seriously lacking.�
�She�s the one trying to deactivate me.�
Michael cuddled his partner closer.  �Murder you, Kitt.  She�s trying to murder you.�
�Do you think a court would see it that way?�

Michael closed his eyes.  He didn�t answer Kitt�s question.  He just sat for a long time before releasing his tight hold on his partner.  �If anyone ever took you from me I would make sure they paid.�
There was a very real threat in his words that Kitt found both touching and disturbing at once.  But he had no response.  Because he knew he felt the same way.

*

Nicholas tooled Karr into the driveway of the expensive country house and killed the engine.
�I still don�t like the fact they�re there alone.�
�Karr, you threatened to break every bone in Swan�s body if she touched them.  They�re safe at home.�
They surveyed the house before them.  �I could level it.�
�No.  We�re not going to kill her.�
�What are we going to do?�
�Just remind her that Kitt�s life is worth more than hers is.�

*

Bonnie sealed the final cover and sat back.  The CPU repairs were finally complete.  She looked around to tell them the good news.  And found herself completely alone.  Only the body of the black TransAm, eerily quiet, dead, remained in the warehouse.  Confused, she shrugged and defiantly headed upstairs for an extra large coffee.

*

Nicholas didn�t even try the front door.  He walked around to the back of the house and found Jennifer sitting outside on the patio, laptop open on the white table in front of her, a Margarita within reach.  She was reading whatever was on the screen.
<Find out what she�s looking at>
�Ms Knight.�
She looked up, startled that she hadn�t heard his approach.  �Mr MacKenzie.�  She looked him up and down, trying to determine his reason for being here.  �What a nice surprise.�  For appearances� sake she�d kept up the polite act at the Fundraiser last month, but she didn�t even try to pretend now.  Still, she couldn�t help her anxiety.  After what she�d done that morning, she wasn�t totally sure he wouldn�t try to harm her.  �What brings you here?�
Nicholas leaned against the stone gateway leading on to the patio, arms crossed.  �You know the answer to that one.�
She decided to play it cool.  �Do I?�
Nick raised his eyebrows.  �You can�t be so out of reality that you believe they�d just take it.�
�An experiment,� she shrugged, �it�s an android.  Very convincing, very real, but still an android, an artificial life form.�  She picked up her cocktail.  �One that�s bleeding me dry, Mr MacKenzie.�
�Your father created a life.  Kitt�s his child, as much as you are.�
�Oh, please!  How many times do we have to go through this?!  It�s not a child, not a sentient being.  It�s a computer, an AI in a box.  And you might remind Michael Knight of that.�  A smile crept over her face.  �He was kissing that thing, MacKenzie.�

She�d expected at least a tiny flicker of disgust on the otherwise relaxed features.  But instead she thought she caught a glimpse of a smile.  Her repulsion escalated.  �You knew!  Ugh!�
He tuned that smile up a notch or two.  �You will never understand.  It�s your loss.�  He unfolded his arms and stepped under the archway towards her.  Immediately, she stiffened, ready to run if she had to.  If she could.  �But I will not sit back and watch you kill him.  Once more, Jennifer, and I will make sure you don�t get another chance.  Ever.�
She threw back a smirk.  �What if once more is all I need?�
He smiled, a cold expression.  �It was all I could do to keep Karr from killing you the last time.  I won�t bother again.�  He closed in on her.  �Don�t push your luck,� he murmured when he was up close.  �My �pet monster� doesn�t like you.  He wouldn�t think twice.  And if it saved Kitt from ever having to see you again, neither would I.�

He turned from her, striding back the way he�d come.
�MacKenzie!�  He stopped, somehow he�d known she�d want the last word.  �You don�t scare me.�
Without turning around, Nick let the grin enter his voice.  �Really?�  He left, not looking back.  Not having to.

<You�re an evil bastard sometimes>
<Thank you, Karr>

*

Michael and Kitt walked side by side along the harbour.  �That was a close one,� Kitt murmured finally.  The first few hundred yards had been in silence, both needing time to think.
�Yeah.�  Hands stuffed in his pockets, Michael nudged his partner playfully.  �But we�re still here.�
Kitt glanced at him.  �How can you make light of this?�
�It�s the only way I survive.�  He caught his partner�s expression and threw a friendly arm around his shoulders.  �How often has it been that close?�
Kitt hesitated.  Reaching up, he linked his own fingers with Michael�s where they dropped over his shoulder.  �Too often.�
The silence fell between them once again.  �What are you thinking about?�  Michael enquired finally.
�Us.  This.  How much I�m going to miss it.�
Michael tightened his fingers, stroking Kitt�s thumb with his own.  �Do you even know what this is?�
His partner frowned, hurt.  �I know what I feel for you.
�Do you?�  There was no accusation in Michael�s tone.  �Kitt, you were willing to accept me telling you how I felt when you were safe in car.  It�s different like this.�
�You think I don�t know that?�  Kitt moved away, stepping in front of his partner, stopping him in his stride, facing him.  �This is so confusing.  I know these feelings yet� there are different ways of dealing with them now.  When you kiss me� there are so many responses this body has, and I know if what I�m experiencing triggers them, but I can�t control them.  This isn�t me!  You�re developing an attraction for this body!�  The distress in his voice was difficult to listen to.
�Why would you think that?  Have you ever known me show any interest in a man before?�
�No!  And that�s another thing!  Why are you� interested in me now?�

Michael sighed, shaking his head.  He indicated a wooden bench not far from them.  �Sit down.�
Out of sheer habit more than anything else, Kitt did as he was told.  Despite the narrow seat he still pulled his legs up to sit with them crossed in front of him.  Michael made a mental note to remind him to ask why he did that.
Sitting down next to his partner, Michael started to rub his hands together, determined to make Kitt understand at the very least.  �I fell in love with you many months ago.  It wasn�t quick, it wasn�t something I expected, it just happened.�  He glanced at Kitt, at those eyes, amber in the sunshine, regarding him with an unreadable expression.  �Believe me, I�ve thought it through.  At first I tried to deny it.  I threw myself into my relationship with Bonnie.�  His voice quieted.  �When we made love, and I had to shut you out� I felt� wrong.�
�I understand that you need your privacy.�
�But I didn�t want it!  I wanted to have you with me.  I felt guilty, afterwards, guilty for shutting you out, guilty for dropping the block so soon.  The number of nights she was there in my bed and I was� with you, curled up with you in my mind.�  He shook his head.  �I know how it sounds.  I think Nick understands how it can be because although he doesn�t feel it, he can imagine it.  But I would hate to have to explain it to anyone else.�

Kitt started to play with his fingers, a gesture he could only have picked up from Michael.  �You�re ashamed of this.�
Michael could only smile as he put his hand between both of Kitt�s.  �I�m not ashamed.  I�m just� frightened, to be perfectly honest.�
�Of what?� his friend asked in a whisper.
�Of what it means.�
Kitt looked at him, long and hard.  �Surely it means� whatever we want it to mean.�
Michael stared, then blinked.  �I guess it does.  So the question becomes, what do we want it to mean?�

For a time they sat in silence, watching the sun set out over the dirty water and derelict warehouses.  When Kitt spoke, it was slowly, his thoughts still conjuring with the ideas that had come from days of pent-up emotion.  �Could it mean� something different now to what it�ll mean later, when I�m home?�
Michael frowned, not sure where Kitt was going with this, but as willing to follow him into the unknown as he was to follow him on familiar ground.  �Sure.  I don�t see why not.�
�Michael�.�  It had been a long time since he had heard his name spoken by that voice with so much nervousness.  �This body has� reactions that I don�t understand.  When you kiss me�.�
It was dawning slowly exactly what Kitt was referring to.  And it took a few minutes to sink in.  Although he couldn't deny that he�d thought about it, he hadn�t been sure that the android body had any sexual organs, never mind reactions.  His eyes locked with his partner�s.  �Kitt� don�t get me wrong, I would love to show you what those reactions could lead to.  But� when you said yesterday, about not doing anything we�d regret�.�
�You think we�d regret it?�
�I don�t think we�d regret it, it�s just whether we�d miss it.�  A glimmer of a smile touched his lips.  �I�m trying to equate you now to the you I know and love.�
Kitt thought he understood, somehow.  �I�d have thought you were used to accepting the impossible without question.  You accepted me at the beginning, and when the implant activated.  Is it so difficult now?�
Michael sighed, shaking his head and reaching for his partner.  Kitt went without hesitation, leaning into the strength of Michael�s body.  �You don�t get it.  I�ll always accept you, however you look, wherever you are.  But I think this is the first time I�ve ever seen you as�.�  He trailed off, unable to express himself.  He thought about what he would have sent down the link had they been connected like that.  The phrases, �man�, �human being�, �equal� and �person� all came into mind, not because he�d ever seen Kitt as anything less, but because he�d always looked upon him as something more; something, someone, very, very special.  And yet there was one word that he knew would tell Kitt everything.
�It�s the first time I�ve considered you as a lover,� he managed finally.

Kitt�s arms came around him as he sat up in Michael�s embrace.  They didn�t say a word.  They didn�t have to.  And just for a moment Michael would have sworn he felt something, a tingle where the implant lay dormant in his mind.  It was a keen reminder of what was missing and he touched his lips to Kitt�s, needing at that moment to be closer.

As their tongues swept leisurely across one other, Kitt pulled his arms back and slipped them under Michael�s coat, pressing one palm flat against his partner�s spine while the other worked bravely to untuck Michael�s shirt from the back of his jeans.  Michael felt the pull on his clothing and then the warm skin touch his own.  He couldn�t suppress his murmur of blossoming arousal at that simple contact.

When they parted, Michael kept Kitt close, sweeping his hand over his partner�s hair, his cheek, caressing his neck.  �Should we go somewhere a little warmer?  Less� out in the open?�
�You have to be sure.  I couldn�t live if you ever regretted this.�
�Kitt, I love you.  I am not going to regret this.�  He knew he was repeating the words spoken yesterday but that was a kiss, this would be so much more.  He dropped a quick kiss to his partner�s mouth.  �Never.�

*

�Michael!  Kitt!�  Bonnie looked up from under the open hood of the TransAm.  �Good news!  The CPU�s ready.�  She smiled at the both of them, while neither looked exactly ecstatic at the news.  When Nicholas and Karr rolled in a few seconds later, they were still just looking at one another.  Kitt smiled first, moving to give Bonnie a hug, wrapping his arms around her neck.  She was surprised, but immediately returned the gesture.
�Thank you,� he murmured to her.
�Every time.�  It was a response that brought a smile to his face.

He released her as Nicholas came to stand with them.  �I take it the CPU repairs are complete?�
She nodded, happily.  �I�m just removing the temporary control computer so that I can return the CPU to the car.  And then, whenever you�re ready, Kitt.�
Michael�s heart sank.  But Kitt was ahead of them.  �Tomorrow morning.�
All three looked at the android.  Michael wanted to shout his joy but he merely allowed a smile to show through.  Nicholas raised his eyebrows, feeling Karr�s question in his mind.  Bonnie frowned.
�We can do it sooner�.�
Kitt touched her arm.  �I know.  But there�s something I want to do first.  It�s important to me.�
She looked from Kitt to Michael, at the smile he was trying to hide, at his expression � a mixture of love and pride.  She nodded slowly.  �Okay.  There�s still some stuff I have to do�.�  She was babbling, she knew.  Kitt glanced at Nicholas.  A small smile passed between them.  Some silent communication.  And then he said,
�Look, Bonnie, you�ve done enough for now.  Why don�t you let me treat you to dinner?�  He moved toward her, took her arm and threaded it through his own.
She looked at him in surprise.  �What?�
�We�ve never talked.�  He led her around and opened the passenger door of the Stealth.
�But what about my clothes!� she protested, despite having realised what Nicholas was trying to do.  �At least let me change!�
�Don�t worry about that.�  Nick at least understood about the power of impulse.  If Michael and Kitt had to wait around for them to clear out, it could kill whatever excitement they�d managed to build up.  He caught Kitt�s eye as he left and winked, a rare grin splitting his face as the AI winked back at him.  And then he dropped into Karr�s driver�s seat and left them to it.

*

Opening the door, Kitt stepped into Michael�s room.  Michael followed, thinking on how this was the only private place that remained for him now.  Although with the implant, nowhere was really private.  He smiled to himself at that thought and closed the door behind him, taking Kitt�s hands as they faced one another.
�I have no idea what to do now, of course,� Kitt admitted, looking down at his partner�s fingers over his own.
Michael regarded him with open affection.  �Let me show you.�

Leaning down, Michael initiated a kiss, just light, tender.  Kitt�s lips parted under his, tongue nipping out quickly to steal over that of his partner.  Slowly, lazily, Michael deepened the contact, bringing their bodies together.  Kitt moaned, actually moaned, and the sound sent Michael�s heart soaring.  It added a spark to the kindling fire between them.

When they parted, Michael moved one arm from around his partner to begin unfastening the buttons down the front of his shirt.  Nervous, Kitt watched.  �How can you find me attractive?�  He stopped himself from adding, �after all those women�.
Michael brushed his lips over Kitt�s, hushing him as he did so.  �If I can accept, so can you,� he murmured softly.
Opening the white shirt, revealing his partner�s body this time in arousal rather then any medical need, Michael ran the tips of his fingers over the smooth skin.  This was a first for him.  First time with a man.  But this was Kitt, and that was what he had to get over.  His partner was so very special to him, he was terrified of doing something that would cross whatever invisible lines existed here.

But Kitt learned quickly.  His fingers were making light work of the buttons on Michael�s shirt.  He touched his fingers to the fine hairs on his partner�s chest, so very different to that of his own body.  Drawing from vague ideas and fleeting thoughts that had leaked through to him when Michael had been with Bonnie, Kitt put his hand flat onto Michael�s chest and drew it slowly down, teasing the skin, until his fingertips were against the waistband of his partner�s jeans.  Then he glanced up to catch Michael release the breath he�d been holding.

�Tell me if I do something wrong?� Kitt asked quietly.
�You�re doing just fine.�  There was a heated, rough quality to Michael�s voice that Kitt found he could appreciate even if he couldn�t relate to it.  But something was happening.  Human physiology was something he knew a lot about.  In order to ensure Michael�s health he�d read everything he could find on the human body, its various states and afflictions.  He knew what an erection was, in technical terms.  He�d just never experienced one before.  As Michael continued to touch him, circling and ever-so gently pinching his nipples, stroking over his skin in long, luxurious caresses, Kitt�s arousal grew to the point of becoming overwhelming.  He clutched at Michael�s arms, feeling his control of non-critical sub-routines diminish.

�I� I need to sit down,� he managed finally, when he was close to being unable to stop his legs collapsing from under him.  Michael led him back to the double bed and eased him down.  Very carefully, he coaxed Kitt into lying and joined him, wrapping his leg over his partner�s, leaning up over the slim body before him.

�You are beautiful,� Michael murmured, gaze roaming Kitt�s face and neck, hand stroking his chest and stomach.  Kitt couldn�t find a response.  He had very little experience of pleasure, gleaning his favourite moments from times he and Michael had linked deep into one another�s minds.  What he was experiencing now was overloading his neural nets just as surely as a power surge would.  His erection was uncomfortable, starting to become painful.  It ached, trapped in his jeans, and no amount of shifting around was relieving the pressure, in fact every brush against the material of his jeans made things worse.

Michael read the expression on his partner�s face and recognised it instantly.  �Want me to do something about that?� he teased gently.
Kitt glanced at his partner, his lover, with the questions filling his eyes.  Michael didn�t need a verbal answer.  Kitt�s look was enough.  He moved his hand down, around over the left hip and over the stomach, pressing carefully against the hard bulge in the unforgiving denim.  Kitt yelled out something nonsensical, hips thrusting up against the sudden pressure.  Despite making things hellishly worse, he found it worth the moment of release when Michael�s palm had been against him.
�Please�� was all he managed to say.

Michael smiled, and reaching down between Kitt�s thighs, he squeezed his partner again, this time slightly harder, watching his every response.  There was no surprised yell this time, just a long, deep moan of need and desire.  Michael�s own response to that was becoming just as painful as Kitt�s obviously was.  But he didn�t want to take this too fast.  Kitt had given them all evening, all night.  This was his partner�s first time and he was going to make it as memorable as he could.

�I�m going to make sure that it just takes the memories of this arouse you,� he murmured, holding Kitt�s heated gaze.
Kitt parted his lips to say something but when no words came, Michael captured them under his own, stroking his tongue over his lover�s, amazed once again at how human Kitt tasted.

He was still pushing helplessly into Michael�s hand, almost ready to beg.  Then it was gone, and Kitt looked down to watch skilled fingers push the buttons of his jeans through their holes one by one.
�I always hated button jeans,� Michael muttered, smiling.  Kitt choked on his laugh when Michael�s fingers eased down inside those jeans, skin to skin.  Michael�s face opened into a grin.  �Kitt!  Commando?�
But his partner was too far gone to even hear him.  The sandy brown hair fell against the pillow as Kitt tipped his head back, something akin to a growl escaping his throat.  Michael had never been with someone so responsive.  He watched, fascinated, as every touch to the still-trapped genitals brought about another sound, another frustrated movement from his lover.
�Is that good?� he asked roughly.  Kitt�s fingers found his arm and bit hard into his flesh.  �I�ll take that as a �yes�.�

Dark eyes opened and Kitt nailed his lover with a heated stare that only added fuel to the flames.  �I think I love you more at this moment than I ever have,� Michael murmured, trying somehow to express how he felt.
Kitt was lost for words.  He hoped he was expressing himself clearly enough when he wove his fingers into Michael�s hair and pulled him down into a deep, ravaging kiss.

Making his escape, Michael sat up, hands still on his lover�s body, and started to slowly remove Kitt�s shoes and socks.  He massaged the bare feet, one at a time, pushing his thumbs into the souls, watching as Kitt�s back arched in pleasure.

Deciding he�d tortured his lover enough for now, Michael reached up and hooked his fingers into the waistband of Kitt�s jeans, slowly working them off over his hips and down his legs.  When he saw Kitt naked, he couldn�t help but stare.  It wasn�t the first time he�d seen another naked man; he�d spent long enough in the army where privacy was a rare commodity.  But this naked man was his lover, if only for tonight, and he couldn�t help but marvel.

�You�re staring,� Kitt accused some seconds later.
Michael met his eyes, smiling.  �Found your voice?�
�I�m sorry, it�s� difficult.�
Instead of dismissing the apology, Michael strove to make it more difficult.  He shrugged his shoulders back, letting his open shirt drop away from him.  Still kneeling at Kitt�s feet, he unfastened his own jeans and pushed them off in a smooth, practised move.  It was Kitt�s turn to stare.  He�d never seen his partner completely naked, never seen anyone naked for that matter.

Aware of the scrutiny, Michael moved up over Kitt�s body on his hands and knees, without touching.  He stopped first at the knees, dropping a kiss to each one.  Then at the thighs, sweeping his tongue along the fold of Kitt�s right, then left leg, where they met his torso.  He avoided his partner�s straining erection to dip the tip of his tongue into the belly-button, loving Kitt�s joyous laugh.  When he stopped next to suck on each nipple in turn, the laugh turned to a throaty moan.  He could only do what he liked and hoped Kitt would either enjoy it too, or ask him to stop.  He read his lover�s every sound, mindful of any note of pain or discomfort that should break in.

But Kitt�s hands on Michael�s body were nothing but encouraging.  The overwhelming sensations coming from the android body were filling his processor, overriding his ability to run the processes that controlled his physical actions.  Every touch of Michael�s hands to his body, every tactile sensation being relayed through his own skin, he couldn�t deal with them all at once and that was leading to an overload.

He pulled himself together enough to take Michael�s head in his hands and lift the teasing mouth from his chest.  �I can�t hold it together,� he told his partner in desperation.  �It�s too much.�
�Just� let it go.  Don�t try to process it, just let it happen.�  He frowned at himself.  �Can you do that?�
Kitt nodded, almost reluctantly.  He was being asked to do something totally against his usual operations.  Yet� this was an usual circumstance.  �I�ll try.�
Michael broke out from Kitt�s hold and dropped a long kiss to his lips.  �I love you,� he told his partner heatedly.  And then he moved again, this time lying down next to Kitt, one leg moving down between his partner�s.

He started his stroking again, moving up one slim thigh and down the other.  The tip of his thumb brushed over the base of Kitt�s erection and the reaction was immediate.  He thrust upwards, a murmur of pleading coming from his lips.
�How�?� he managed, finding Michael�s gaze.
�How what?�
�How do you deal with this� need?�
Michael smiled, lifting himself onto one elbow, kissing his lover�s neck.  �You just go with it.�  He stroked his palm over Kitt�s erection, squeezing lightly.  Kitt�s eyes widened almost comically, then closed as a low, long moan escaped from between his lips.  Michael moved his hand lower, carefully taking his lover�s testicles into his palm.  They felt perfect, a little heavy, warm.  This time the sound was closer to a whimper, and Kitt�s own hand moved down between them, stopping just above Michael�s cock.  He met Kitt�s eyes when they opened.
�Can I?� he asked quietly.
Michael chuckled.  �You don�t have to ask permission.  I�m yours.�
�Mine?�
�You know I am.�

Another moment�s hesitation, and then Kitt touched him with more intimacy than he could ever remember anyone doing.  He shivered, jerked in his lover's hand.  �God, Kitt�.�
�Is that okay?�
In reply, Michael mirrored the touch to Kitt�s own shaft, smiling as he reacted as Michael himself had done.  �That answer your question?�  The familiar banter came easily, even if their voices were rougher, and the heat was building between them.  �Come closer.�

Kitt turned, wrapping one leg over Michael�s, feeling less vulnerable in this position, less on display.  He trusted his partner implicitly, but this was still too new.  Hand on Kitt�s hip, Michael moved in closer, rubbing their erections together, eliciting a sudden, surprised cry from his lover.
�Is that good?�
Kitt nodded, hand opening out on Michael�s shoulder, moving down over the muscular frame to rest on the side of his thigh in a silent plea for more.  In answer to the request, Michael started to move, thrusting slowly against Kitt, leaning in to catch another kiss.  And then his hands were everywhere.  From the silky hair to the smooth curve of Kitt�s ass, Michael touched him, getting to know this body that he had so little time with.

All Kitt could do was let the sensations and emotions wash over him.  Processing it all had become impossible.  The pleasure assaulting him was more than he�d ever known, taking him deeper into the physical connection with his partner.  He tried to push his partner�s name forward, needing Michael to know how good this was.  But he was finding even accessing his voice modulator difficult and he hoped his movements and expressions were enough.

Michael was bathing him in kisses, murmuring to him phrases that meant nothing yet would be forever remembered by the AI.  Never had Kitt felt so loved.  Never had he imagined he could be so desired.  He followed Michael�s lead, caressing his lover, letting his mouth wander over the smooth neck and shoulders while his hands traced circled down over the taut chest and stomach.  When he stroked carefully up along the length of Michael�s erection, he was rewarded with a stunning, bright expletive.

Kitt did it again, feeling Michael�s nails caress his back in a gently vicious touch.  It was wonderful, and in order to get a repeat performance he wrapped his hand around both their erections and stroked up and down once.  He won his prize, moaning, his head going back as he tried to push into his own touch and Michael�s at the same time.
�Kitt�.�
�Don�t stop!�  He was amazed as he managed to force the words out, at the strength of his own need.
�I won�t, God, I won�t�.  Just keep doing that.�

Michael pushed his other arm under Kitt�s moving body and added his other hand to the first as he again scraped his nails over his lover�s back, stimulating the millions of tiny sensors, the equivalent of nerve endings, loving the sounds from his partner as they became more desperate.  His own world was starting to narrow to a single point, to where Kitt�s incredible hands were now wrapped around them both, bringing them to an awesome climax.

He felt it coming but when it hit him it took him by surprise.  Michael came hard, warm wetness covering Kitt�s hand, repeating his lover�s name over and over, clinging to him like a lifeline.  Michael�s orgasm drove Kitt over the same edge.  Aware of nothing but himself, Kitt spiralled into the explosions in his mind, the pleasure more than he could cope with.  Michael gave a second cry of ecstasy as his partner�s ejaculate mixed with his own, warm on his softening cock.  Kitt overloaded, barely feeling Michael hug him closer, burying him in his own body, murmuring to him words of love and need.  That they�d brought each other to such a high stunned them both, stunned and delighted them.

When he came down, Kitt blinked several times, pulling his head back to look into his lover�s eyes.  �Wow.�
Michael smiled, stroking his hand over Kitt�s hair, coaxing him back into the tight embrace.  �Yeah, wow.�
 

Michael closed his eyes for a moment, and was asleep ten seconds later.  He was exhausted anyway, and the hard release had drained his system.  Kitt remained still, letting his processor clear itself of the overload of input.  Every so often, shivers would gently shake his body, small releases of energy from his own system.  It was a calming, wonderful feeling of peace.  He watched his partner as sleep took him, wondering if either of them truly understood what they�d done here.  What had started off as a strained relationship, Michael doing more taking than giving, had become something beautiful, something Kitt could never have dreamt of.  And yet, in the back of Kitt�s processor was the indisputable fact that he was a computer, an AI, created to serve, perhaps to compliment but never to share an experience as intimate, as personal as what they�d just done, with another human being.

He didn�t belong here.  He was on borrowed time and he knew it.  When the morning came it would all be over, like a fantasy he hadn�t been able to grasp tightly enough to stop it from slipping through his fingers.  He could never regret this.  As a machine, he was designed to be curious, to learn and develop with his surroundings.  As Kitt, he was feeling emotions that were difficult to understand, let alone come to terms with.  He�d felt them before, of course, as echoes of Michael�s presence through the link.  He�d been able to comprehend love, affection, caring.  But what he�d felt tonight, the intense needs and desires he�d experienced when Michael had kissed him and touched him, were alien to him.  Were they just reactions of this body?  Or would he still feel them when he was home?  For a moment, he was suddenly cold.  Would it matter?  Would Michael regret it when he looked at the car tomorrow morning and realise exactly what he�d done?

That was when the photographs caught his eye.  There were forty-nine of them, stuck to the plaster in place of a window.  Friends they�d made over the years, a great many taken of the two of them by Bonnie.

And there was one by the bedside.  It surprised him to see it there.  Looking at it for a moment, he found he remembered the afternoon perfectly.  Michael had come out in a sulk.  He�d had a row with Bonnie over something or other.  Sitting down on the bottom step outside the front door, chin rested on his hand, he�d looked so forlorn that Kitt had actually felt sorry for his partner.  He�d fired up the engine and moved from his parking spot to bring the prow of the car up against Michael�s shoulder.  Smiling, Michael had leaned into him, stretched one arm out in front, along the bumper, his hand coming to rest against the scanner track.  Back then, without the link, their actions had been a clear indication of their affections.  That one moment in time had been beautiful.  His memory had captured it just as clearly as Devon�s camera had.

Reaching back, Kitt picked up the photo from against the alarm clock.  �Us,� he murmured to himself and glanced at Michael lying close to his side.  Another, this time warmer shiver drove through him.  He smiled and looked back at the photo, at the car.  At himself.  He�d told Michael that he wanted to stay in this body, and at this moment he wanted to more than ever.  But when Jennifer had attacked them earlier he could have been killed and that might have led to Michael�s death.  He was vulnerable like this.  He couldn�t fulfil his core programming like this.  He couldn�t protect Michael�s life.

A sadness stole over him and he replaced the photograph, turning back to snuggle closer to his partner.  As he did when it was their minds sleeping side by side, Michael automatically wrapped his arms tighter, pulling Kitt closer to him.  Smiling to himself, the AI settled, allowing himself, just for tonight, to pretend it would always be like this.

*

The warehouse doors closing behind Karr woke Michael.  He watched Kitt for a time, just enjoying watching him �sleep�.  He got up, grabbed his robe and headed out to check that it was Karr.  He could hear Nicholas� voice and Bonnie�s laugh.  Smiling to himself, he went back to his room and locked the door behind him.  Dropping his robe to the floor, he crawled back into bed with his partner.

Kitt�s arms came around him, brown eyes meeting his own.
�Hey,� Michael pulled the duvet over them both, bringing Kitt to him.  He found himself amazed that the android body fitted so well.  Kitt had always fitted beautifully to him, but he was designed that way.  Yet even in this strange body they seemed to have been made for one another.  �I thought you were asleep.�
�I don�t sleep, you know that.�
�Okay, I thought you were offline.�  Michael stole a kiss.  �You okay?�
Kitt nodded.  �You?�
�Never been better.  I told you, this isn�t something I�m ever going to regret doing.�
�Even though we�ll know what we�re missing?�

Michael sighed softly, fingering a lock of hair back from Kitt�s forehead.  �We can do this with the implant,� he reassured, �we can be closer than we ever can be like this.�  Again, the AI nodded, but it didn�t take a genius to see the uncertainty in his expression.  �I can�t prove it to you now, but as soon as you�re home I�ll show you, I promise.�
Kitt brushed his fingertips over Michael�s throat.  �Are you� sleepy?�
Michael�s lips turned up in a smile.  �You horny devil!�  But the kiss they shared gave Kitt his answer.