Disclaimer: Knight Rider and it's characters are copyrighted by Universal Studios. This story is for the enjoyment of others and I am not making a profit from writing this so please don't sue me because I'm broke.

By: D Anne Paris

"Well?" Michael anxiously asked April as he hovered behind her. She looked at her computer screen, where Candy typed in all the suggestions on how to improve KITT's systems.

April shook her head, "She's right. All of her suggestions were right on the marker. I might as well give her the tools and she'd be able to make the adjustments herself."

Devon, standing beside April spoke up, "Would she be able to dismantle or sabotage KITT?"

April nodded, "Yes, with that proper tool I know without a doubt she would."

"Then it seems we have two problems," Devon said with uneasiness to both Michael and April, "One- trying to keep Garth away from Candy and two- teaching Candy when she should use her vast knowledge of computer programming."

"And," Michael added, "We also have to keep Candy's 'gift' a secret."

"Especially that," Devon agreed, "Lord knows what would happen if a criminal got hold of Candace."

"I don't even want to think about that," April commented as she was looking over the suggestions a second time.

"April," Michael asked, "Have you created that tracking beacon yet?"

"No, I haven't. It's going to take time to make," she explained.

"We don't have much time," Michael told her, "Candy needs to have that beacon as soon as possible."

Sighing, April took off her glasses, "I know. I'll try and have it done by tomorrow."

"Great." Michael said as he headed out of the room. "I'm going to talk to her."

"Oh, Michael." Devon said, stopping Michael in his tracks, "I just got an assignment for you a few minutes ago. You need to leave for Seattle right away."

Annoyed at the timing of the assignment, Michael asked, "Is this assignment that important?"

"I'm afraid it is and you have to leave right away. KITT has all the important information that you'll need." Seeing that Michael didn't really want to leave, Devon added, "April and I will stay behind and meet up with you on Friday when Candy's done with school. She'll be safe with us."

Devon's reassurance still didn't ease Michael's worry, still he nodded, "All right, but before you leave the grounds with her, I want her to be wearing that homing beacon."

"She'll be wearing it." April promised him, "I'll personally put it on her."

"Okay. I'll leave right after I talk to her," Michael told them and then left the room.

**

"But why?" Candy whined as she and Michael sat on her bed. Candy's sadness at the news of Michael having to leave was very obvious on her small face.

Michael sighed. He really wanted to be there with her but he had to go on this mission. Putting his arm around her shoulder he gently told her, "Because I need to go help some people."

"Oh." she said with sadness as she looked at Michael. "When will you come back?"

"I don't know, but Devon promised to bring you along after your tutoring lesson on Friday."

Candy's face lit up, "Really?"

Michael smiled, "Yes. So you won't even get a chance to miss me or KITT."

"I still will." She told him as she hugged him.

Michael couldn't believe how attached he'd grown to her over the two short years that he'd known her. Sometimes it did feel like he was her father. How could Garth just abandon her and Emily like that? Emily, Michael thought. What in the world happened to her? Did she just decide to abandon Candy and let him and Devon raise her? But that wasn't like Emily. Maybe someone abducted her? Whatever happened to Emily, Michael had to put it all in the past. Candace needed him right now and Michael would do anything in his power to help protect and be there when she needed him. Michael just hoped that he would get full custody of Candy. That way, he would be able to protect her to the fullest from Garth and Elizabeth Knight.

"I'll miss you, too." Michael told Candy as he released her, "In the meantime, I want you to promise me something."

Candy looked at him, "What?"

Michael looked at her and tried to show her that he was serious, "I want you to stop using those access codes that you created."

"But why?" Candy whined, "I'm able to go everywhere! If I didn't have them…"

"Candy," Michael stopped her, "There are no compromises. I mean it. Don't use those access codes, all right?"

"Oh!" she whined again. She wouldn't be able to do anything if she wasn't allowed to use those codes. They might as well lock her up in her room for the rest of her life.

"Do you promise not to use those codes?" Michael asked her again. This time with more authority in his voice.

"Can I use them again after you come back?" she asked hopefully.

Michael sighed, "We'll talk about it."

Candy didn't exactly like that phrase but it seemed like she didn't have a choice at that point. She looked at Michael, "Okay, I won't use the codes until you get back."

Michael smiled as he put his arm around her shoulder and squeezed her, "Good. Now, why don't you go outside for a while."

"Why? It's boring outside." She replied with a somewhat whiney tone.

"Boring?" Michael said puzzled, "Why is being outside, boring?"

Candy got up from the bed and looked outside through her window. "There's nothing to do. I can't access any records or create new files to make the system run better."

Michael became puzzled, "Why don't you just go outside and play with your dolls?"

Candy looked at him with a shocked look on her face, "My dolls don't talk or walk. They just sit there. I don't understand why playing with something that doesn't do anything is fun."

Michael couldn't believe his ears. Was this really a 7 year old girl? It seemed like one minute he was talking to a 7 year old and the next to a 18 year old. "Candy, little girls use their imagination and pretend that the dolls can walk and talk."

"But why? It's easier if they just made a doll that does all that stuff."

Michael was beginning to understand why Candy thought that way. Practically her whole life she was always in the presence and influence of adults. Not once did she get a chance to socialize with children of her own age group. Michael got up from the bed and lifted Candy into his arms. "Candy," he began as soon as he had her attention, "Have you ever wondered what it's like to travel to another part of the country?"

Candy nodded her head.

"See, you have imagined some things. That's what keeps us adults happy. If we didn't pretend or imagine, then we'd all just be walking zombies."

Candy wrinkled her nose, "Ick!"

Michael smiled. He was finally getting somewhere, "Exactly. That's why it's good if you just go play with your dolls and pretend that they can talk to you."

Candy shook her head, "I'd look stupid talking to a doll."

"Well, if you look stupid talking to a doll then imagine what I look like to other's when I talk to KITT." Michael told her.

"They think you're loony." Candy plainly told him, adding, "Besides KITT talks back, my dolls don't."

Michael opened his mouth and then shut it. She had him there. He looked around the room to try and find something that she could do outside. His glance stopped at a pad of paper and some pencils on Candy's desk. Carrying Candy, he walked over to the desk and put her in the chair. Taking the pad of paper, he gave it to her, "Why don't you go outside and draw something."

Candy thought a moment, "Can I draw KITT?"

Michael sighed, "Why don't you draw the front of the Mansion?"

Candy frowned, "I'd rather draw KITT."

Michael knelt in front of her, "Honey, life doesn't always revolve around technology all the time. There are so many other things out there other then computers."

"I know," Candy replied with a sigh, "but I like computers the best."

"I understand that, but you have to sometimes stop and look around. There are probably other things out there that you'll like you just have to go and look." Michael stopped and kissed her cheek, "Now, I have to go but I want you to remember what I told you, okay?"

Candy nodded her head, "Okay, I'll go outside for a while."

Michael smiled, "Good. You want to walk me to the garage?"

"Yes," with that Candy took the pencil and paper and got out of the chair.

Michael took her hand and they walked out to the garage.

**

"No!" Candy said frustrated as she ripped up another sketch of the front of the mansion and threw it on the lawn. Michael and KITT left over 3 hours ago for Seattle, and since then Candy tried to sketch the mansion but to no avail. First it looked like a moving motor home then it looked like a reflection off of those weird mirrors in a fun house. Candy didn't understand why she couldn't get it just right.

"Candace?" Devon called her from the open window of the second floor.

Candy looked up, "Yes?"

"Pick up all those pieces of papers this instant!" he sternly told her.

Candy looked around. Sure enough there were pieces of paper flying everywhere. Some in the bushes, some in the lawn, and some even fell into the front sculpture. Candy didn't even realize that she was the one who caused the mess. "I'm sorry," she told Devon who was watching her from the window. Putting her paper and pencil down, she began to pick up all the pieces.

"It's all right." Devon reassured her, "When you're done then come in for dinner."

"Okay," Candy told him as she took the pieces of paper and headed to put it in the garbage can by the garage. As she put the paper in the garbage can she overheard two people whispering behind the garage. Quietly, she stopped and listened to what they were saying.

"I'm telling you after tonight, I'm going to buy myself a nice boat and maybe a little vacation house." One man was saying.

"You're stupid. Garth isn't going to pay us in full until he can get that truck running and he needs the girl in order to do it. So we can't screw up." The other man told him.

"Relax, with KITT and Mike gone the girl's a sitting duck. It'll be like taking candy from a baby or in this case actually taking Candy."

The men began to chuckle.

Frightened, Candy slowly and quietly backed away from the garage and discretely headed back to the front door of the mansion. Opening the door she dashed inside and headed to the dining room. There, sitting at the head of the dining room table reading a newspaper, was Devon. Plates were already set for dinner and he was obviously waiting for Candy to come eat. When Candy dashed in, he put the paper down, and was about to reprimand her about running in the mansion, when he saw the frightened look on her face.

"What's the matter?" he asked urgently.

Candy walked up to him and tried to catch her breath. "Men outside, said Garth would pay for taking me." She managed to spill out.

The only words that registered in Devon's mind was 'Garth' and 'taking me'. He placed his hand on her shoulder, "Calm down, Candace. I need to know exactly what happened."

Candy slowly tried to calm her racing heart and then she said, "I was outside, I went by the garage to throw out the paper that I picked up." She paused, took a deep breath and started again, "There were two men on the other side of the garage who were talking about buying houses and boats with money Garth would give them after he builds a truck. But he needs me in order to build the truck and they said that taking me will be easy since Michael and KITT aren't here."

"Did you see what they looked like?"

Candy shook her head, "No, I didn't see them. I just heard them.

"Did they see you?" Devon asked worried.

"I don't think so. I got scared and ran straight here." Candy told him.

Devon got up and took Candy's hand.

"Where we going?" she asked him.

"Up to my office."

When they entered his office Devon closed the door and went to his desk. There he turned on the phone and punched in a number. April answered the phone and Devon automatically summoned her to his office.

Candy looked at Devon, "What are we going to do?"

Devon tried to look calm so that he wouldn't panic her, "We're going to protect you to the fullest extent."

Candy was skeptical, if those men were inside the Foundation, then how would Devon and April be able to protect her? She really wished Michael was there, he always made her feel safe. "I'm still scared," she truthfully told Devon.

Devon smiled to try to hid his concern for her, "I know, but everything's going to be alright."

Seeing that she wasn't a help standing by Devon's desk, Candy went and sat down on one of the couches.

April soon entered the office and Devon filled her in on what Candy heard.

"I want you to check if there were any visitors here today." Devon instructed April.

Candy spoke up, "That doesn't make any sense. Just coming up here and taking me when there is all this security around is not very smart."

April nodded her agreement, "That's right, besides, how would they know that Michael and KITT weren't here unless someone who worked here told them?"

"You both have a point," Devon told them, "All right, April check the Foundation employee lists too. See if there is anyone who would remotely have a motive to commit this crime."

"I have a better idea," Candy told them. "Look at the video logs of who was by the garage."

Devon looked at April, "Check those videos and return here on the double"

**

"Their names are Mitchels and Cornel," April told Devon and Candy as she showed them the video log which didn't show the men actually talking behind the garage but it showed both of them going in that area. First Mitchels walked calmly behind the garage then Cornel. Both acting as if checking to make sure the area around the garage was secure.

"What department are they from," Devon asked her,

"They're both from security," April said with dismay.

"Great." Candy commented, "I'm suppose to be secure and yet security is planning to kidnap me."

"No one is going to kidnap you anywhere," Devon told her reassuringly. "We need a plan to catch them."

"I have an idea," Candy told them adding, "But I'm going to need some help setting it up."

Devon and April looked at each other.

Finally April said, "All right, so what's your plan?"

Candy smiled, now she started to feel like she was controlling her life.

**

Candy stood by Devon's desk as he talked to Michael over the phone, explaining what was happening and the plan that Candy created. They would have Candy's roomed hooked up so that when Mitchels and Cornel entered her room, the doors would lock and trap them.

"I don't know, Devon," Michael told him, "It's a good plan but I'd feel a lot better if Candy was in a safer location."

Candy interceded, "But if Devon moves me then they'll probably follow us."

"We need to catch them, Michael." Devon told him, "That's the only way Candace will be safe."

Frustrated, Michael shook his head, "There's got to be another way…"

"There isn't." Candy told him.

Michael sighed, "Devon, I want you to hide Candy some place safe within the Foundation. I'm turning around and heading back. We should be back at…"

"1:45 am, "KITT finished.

"By then, they might find me." Candy said worried.

"They won't." Michael told her, "You're a very smart girl and you'll outsmart them. Do what ever you have to do to protect yourself." He then added, "Including using those codes that you created."

Candy swallowed. He sounded so serious, it made her even more scared then she already was, but she calmly told him, "Okay."

"Good. Now stay safe and I'll see you soon," Michael told her.

"Okay," Candy repeated and the video screen went black.

"Let's get you someplace safe," Devon told her.

Candy nodded her head. She just had to protect herself until 1:45. Looking at the clock she saw that it was 9:05. Almost 5 hours until Michael and KITT would come back. It would be a very long night.

**

Candy tried to stay awake as she sat in the couch in the guest bedroom. April was with her and she was sitting by the desk, working on the homing beacon earrings for Candy.

"Go to sleep, Candy." April tried to coax her into sleeping, "With all the new security mechanisms we just installed, this room is more secure then the White House."

Candy shook her head, "Not until Michael and KITT come home,"

Smiling, April got up and sat next to her, "You really love Michael don't you?"

Candy nodded, adding. "And KITT."

April got up and took a quilt off of the bed and gently wrapped it around her. "Do you know what they'd say if they were here?"

Candy was so tired she couldn't even think, "No," she said half asleep.

"They'd tell you to get some sleep." Before April could say another word, Candy was instantly asleep.

April gently placed her on the couch and returned to the desk to finish the beacon. She was so engrossed with her work that she didn't notice the sleeping gas that seeped into the room until she began coughing uncontrollably. Before she could ring Devon up, she passed out.

**

Michael pulled up to the front of the Foundation and saw all the lights inside were lit. Fear filled his heart as he jumped out of KITT and ran up the stairs two at a time. Entering Devon's office, he saw Devon hovering over April who had a mug filled with something hot.

"Michael!" Devon said as Michael walked in.

"What happened? Where's Candy?" He asked.

Devon sighed, "They got her. Mitchels and Cornel took Candy around midnight."

"Took her!" Michael yelled, "Why didn't you stop them?"

April spoke up, "They put some sort of sleeping gas through the ventilation system. We were all unconscious for about a half an hour."

"There was nothing we could have done." Devon told him solemnly, "Everyone in the building was fast asleep within one minute."

Michael paced around the room like an animal locked in a cage. He had to find Candy, he just had to. He wouldn't let her disappear like Emily, not when he was so close to having her as a daughter. And not when he finally realized how much Candy completed his life. He turned to Devon, "Were there any clues left behind?"

Devon shook his head, "We searched the room but turned up with nothing. Maybe with KITT's help, you'll find something."

"Where was she, when they took her?" Michael asked, ready to start investigating.

"The guest bedroom on the 2^nd floor in the east wing." Devon told him.

Michael ran down the hall before Devon could say anything else. He turned a corner and went into the guest bedroom. Looking around, he saw a quilt laying on the couch and a bunch of electronic components on the desk. He lifted his watch to talk to KITT.

"KITT, scan the room for anything out of the ordinary." Michael commanded.

"Right away, Michael."

Michael walked around to the couch and picked up the quilt.

"She was sleeping there,"

Michael turned around and saw April standing in the doorway. Sighing, he picked up the quilt, seeing Candy's image all the while.

"I'm sorry, Michael." April told him.

Michael didn't look at her, "There was nothing you could have done. You said so yourself."

April detected his anger, "Michael, you wouldn't have been able to stop them either."

Fuming, Michael turned and looked at her, "I would have stopped them!" he said with such anger that April stepped back. "I would have done everything and I would have stopped them."

Two beeps stopped Michael from continuing on, "What is it!" he yelled at his watch.

"I found something." KITT calmly replied, hearing Michael’s angry tone, "There are soil particles in the carpet that do not match the soil found on the foundation grounds or surrounding area."

"Where do you think it's from?" Michael asked.

"It seems to be from an area that has more pollution, particularly sulfur." KITT told him.

"Sulfur," Michael tried to think where there could be the most sulfur content. "KITT, what area could have the most sulfur?"

"Areas that contain coal mines or electrical plants that burn coal."

Taking the quilt with, Michael moved past April, "KITT pinpoint the closest coal mines and coal electric plants," Michael ran out of the mansion and got into KITT.

"The nearest coal mine is 25 miles away and the nearest coal burning electric plant is 32 miles away." KITT informed him.

Michael placed the quilt in the passenger seat. "KITT run a scan on this quilt and see if you can find anything."

KITT's monitor became activated and a picture of the quilt was seen. Soon the compound Sulfur popped up on the screen. "It seems that sulfur is the key clue." KITT reported.

Michael thought a moment, "I guess that Mitchels and Cornel first went to get their down payment before getting the job done." He started the engine, "All right KITT, let's first look up the coal mine and see if anyone was there quite recently."

Michael turned KITT around and hit the gas, causing KITT to spin and have smoke form under KITT's wheels.

**

Candy slowly opened her eyes. She remembered falling asleep on the couch in the guest bedroom but when she opened her eyes she found herself in a small run down room. She began to panic but slowly calmed herself down. Sitting up she realized she was laying on a cot and there was only one window in the far corner and a door in the other corner. "Where am I?" she asked herself as she walked to the window. It seemed like she was in one of the rooms of a factory. There was a huge chimney on the other side and the area around the building looked deserted. Turning to the door, she tried to open it but found it to be locked. Frustrated, Candy started to kick the door by flinging her foot at it. After a few kicks her foot began to hurt and the door still didn't open. Candy stopped and sat back down on the cot, scared and very frightened. She didn't know where she was or who took her and she didn't know what would happen to her. Tears began to form in her eyes. She wanted Michael to be there so much. He would know what to do. He always knew what to do.

The opening of the door cut off her thoughts. Candy stood up and stared at the figure in the door.

"Michael!" she said with joy as she ran up and hugged him.

But the man didn't hug her back and that struck Candy as very odd. Releasing him, she took another look at him. It was Michael but he'd grown a beard and mustache. Candy didn't understand why he wasn't happy to see her, until she looked into his eyes. His eyes were the same color as Michael's but this man's eyes carried something dark and evil. Confused, Candy stepped back from him. Cautiously she asked, "Why aren't you happy to see me, Michael?"

Michael's alter ego grinned wickedly and picked Candy up, "Oh, but I am happy to see you. Aren't you happy to see Garth, your real father?"

Candy froze. Garth? This was Garth? How could it be? Why did he look exactly like Michael? Why was he looking at her so evilly?

Garth grinned again, "That's right, sweetie, I'm Garth Knight your real father. Michael is not going to find you again, ever. You are my daughter, not his and we're going to prove that to both Michael and Devon Miles." He laughed a long wicked laugh and Candy felt her skin crawl at the sound.

'Michael, help me!' Candy screamed in her mind as she stared at Garth. What was he going to do to her?