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Black on black, a modified Trans-Am sped down the inky asphalt, the headlights, fog lights, and red scanner the only light emanating from the dark car. It weaved gracefully around the windy, twisty roads. There was ocean mist rolling over the driver's side, flowing over and up the hills to the right. It was quiet and peaceful; the only sounds were coming from the waves crashing on the beach and the whine of the turbines from the speeding car.
Any onlooker wouldn't be able to see inside the cabin. The windows were tinted pitch black to block out any non-existent oncoming light. The driver was sleeping soundly for once, and the AI driving the car wanted to make sure he stayed that way.
It had been a long week. Kitt had watched as his driver and best friend pushed himself past the breaking limit and work himself into exhaustion. They were on a case where two young kids had been kidnapped, held hostage, and threatened, forcing their parents to choose between their kids' lives or a military bomb that could kill thousands of others. Michael did not rest until the kids were safe and sound with their parents and the kidnappers were dealt with.
After dealing with the military and making sure the kidnappers were put away permanently, Michael and Kitt had finally been able to head in the direction of home.
They hadn't even been an hour out of town and Michael's head fell against the tan headrest for good. He had been fighting nodding off and for a while Kitt provided enough entertainment to keep him awake. The AI realized the adrenaline was wearing off and decided to help his exhausted driver find sleep.
Quietly, Kitt turned the heat up a notch, let the purr of his engine flow through the cabin, and slowly darkened the windows until Michael was out. It didn't take long until his driver was deep asleep, rocked by the soothing motion of the car his best friend resided in as they made their way home.
The AI continued to drive for a few hours, keeping to the speed limit as he was in no hurry to go home.
Later in the evening, he got the tell-tale tone from their boss trying to reach them.
Kitt gave a mental sigh as he realized they were probably going to be sent out on another mission. They had already talked to Devon regarding the one they just finished, so there really could be no other reason for the late call.
Deciding to let his tired driver sleep, he answered the call internally, keeping all sound from entering the quiet cabin. "Hello, Devon."
"Hello, Kitt. Where's Michael?" The British accent came through the link.
"Currently deep in REM sleep in the driver's seat." The AI sent back. "Can I help you with something?"
Devon's tone was sharp. "Yes. I need to speak with him urgently. I have a case I need his expertise on immediately."
"What is the case?" Kitt testily replied.
The tone didn't change from the other man. "Just wake him up. I'd rather speak to him about it."
A pause. "No."
"What?" Devon quirked an eyebrow.
"You heard me." Kitt firmly answered. "No."
Devon straightened up and glared through the monitor where he knew Kitt was watching. "Why on Earth not?"
The AI was not going to budge. "Michael has not rested since this entire case began. He has been beat up, shot at, almost ran over, and thrown a distance from a small bomb. Barring a few small injuries, he is physically well, luckily, but he needs to rest and I will not wake him up until he does so on his own."
The silence on the other end of the line proved Devon's shock. "I... I didn't know. Michael sounded fine earlier."
If Kitt could roll his 'eyes', he would. "That is because he does not like to show anyone he is injured. He could fake a gunshot wound around anyone but me."
Devon stayed silent. He didn't know what to say.
"What is the case?" Kitt repeated his earlier question.
The elder man shook himself from his shock and went back to the problem at hand. "There was a robbery. We had three storage containers full of donations for the Widows and Orphans Charity. The robber or robbers broke into the warehouse they were stored at and took them. I need Michael to find out who did this and return the stolen containers."
Kitt scoffed inside his CPU. "Devon, that is menial police work. No. I will not jeopardize my driver's health and wellbeing over something that is not deemed an emergency."
Devon was quick to respond. "Now wait just a minute. This is for the Widows and Orphans Charity next month. We have been collecting for months now. We need those containers returned."
"And I said no. Get the police involved. I am putting my tire down." The AI was not backing down. "Michael has not slept in a week, Devon. I am not letting him continue on like this. Especially since you keep giving him vacation time and then taking it away from him when something happens."
He paused for a moment, his computer mind quickly thinking about the consequences of what he was about to do. "In fact, we are taking that vacation time right now. I am shutting down all communications and turning off the homing device. We will be back in a week. Goodbye, Devon."
"Kitt! Wait-!" The elder man started before Kitt shut down the link. He adjusted course towards the coast. Come morning they would arrive in a small town on the coast of Northern California.
He knew he was going to get in trouble for doing this... but he couldn't let this slight go on any longer. His best friend needed a break, and he was determined to make sure he had one.
After all, it was his primary function to protect Michael Knight. He definitely considered this protecting his driver's wellbeing.
...:::*:::...
Michael woke slowly in the front seat of Kitt, slightly swaying back and forth with the motion of the car. It was still black in the cabin when he opened his eyes, the only lights coming from the dash.
He stretched his arms through the cabin of the car, trying to wake himself up. "Kitt? Buddy, what time is it?" His voice was raspy from lack of use.
"Nine twenty-seven am. Good morning, Michael." Kitt responded instantly.
The driver shot forward in shock. "What?! I slept that long? What happened?!" He stared at the voice modulator in front of him.
"Yes, you slept that long. You needed it." Kitt's voice was firm. There was a probability that Michael could be upset with him as well, but he was not going to back down from him either.
Michael sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose with this thumb and forefinger. "That's okay, Kitt. I appreciate it. I really did need it." He looked up again at the dash realizing it was still dark. "Lighten it up in here, would ya, Pal?"
The AI did as requested, slowly removing the blacked-out tint from his windows to show the shoreline to the left of the car.
"Kitt... where are we?" Michael asked, bewildered.
"We are in the United States of America." Kitt's voice definitely had a smirk in it.
The dark-haired man fondly rolled his eyes. "Har har. You know what I mean."
Kitt smiled in his CPU. It didn't seem like Michael was mad... yet... "We are one point four hours from Crescent City, California."
Michael sighed, already dreading having to spend another week investigating. "Another case? What is it this time..."
"Vacation." The AI said simply.
Michael's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Vacation? I don't understand."
Here is where Kitt was a little worried Michael would get upset. Afterall, the man was dedicated to his work. "I am kidnapping you. Devon called yesterday evening and wanted to speak with you regarding another menial case. I told him no, I was not going to wake you up when you had just fallen into a deep sleep." He paused. "I told him I am taking you on a vacation."
The driver's silence worried the AI.
"Michael, you need sleep and to rest. You are exhausted. Don't think I did not see you swaying while we were talking to the officers last night." Kitt desperately tried to convince his best friend.
"Kitt..." Michael started to smile a little. "You really told Devon off?"
"Yes, I did, Michael." Kitt said softly, still fearing his driver would get upset.
Michael gave a full smile at this. "Thank you, Buddy. I truly appreciate that."
Kitt's processors froze for just a moment, so sure that Michael would demand they go back to Los Angeles. "Really? Even though I defied orders?"
"Definitely, Pal. You know I have a hard time saying no to Devon." He patted the dashboard affectionately. "So how long are you kidnapping me for? And what's our destination?" He questioned while looking out the window at the coastline.
Kitt smiled in his CPU, relieved his driver wasn't upset. "A week. Seven days of uninterrupted time to do whatever you would like. As for the location, anywhere you want. I know you like the ocean and I wanted to get us as far away from the Foundation as we could."
Michael's eyes shot to the voice box. "Whatever WE would like to do. You're a part of this partnership as well. It's OUR vacation, Bud."
"We. I can do that." Kitt's voice had a softness to it only Michael could recognize.
"As for location? Let's go until we don't feel like going anymore. I got everything I need right here." Michael grinned and put his hands on the wheel. "Let's get lost, Partner."
There was definitely a grin in the AI's voice. "Let's."
The black as night Trans Am shot down the road with the roar of its engine, the driver laughing they flew by.
Fin