With Wesley

Wesley and Lucy were in their apartment, preparing for the evening. Wesley was adjusting his uniform, while Lucy emerged from the bedroom, dressed elegantly.

Lucy smiled and asked, "How are you feeling about tonight? Excited about the award for your work with that family last week?"

Wesley shrugged slightly, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "I'm feeling a mix of things. It's nice to be recognized, and it'll definitely help with the sergeant candidates when I take the exam."

Lucy approached him, smoothing out his collar. "You've earned it. It's a big step forward."

Wesley met her gaze, appreciating the encouragement. "Thanks, Lucy. It means a lot. I'm hoping this will help me make the jump to sergeant sooner rather than later."

Lucy nodded, squeezing his hand. "I'm sure it will. And no matter what, I'm proud of you."

Wesley smiled warmly, his nerves easing. "I'm glad I have you by my side."

With a final check in the mirror and a shared look of anticipation, they headed out together, ready to face the evening's events.

Wesley and Lucy got into KITT, which was in Classic Mode for their drive to the police station. Wesley settled into the driver's seat, and Lucy took her place next to him, smiling at the familiar interior of the classic Mustang.

KITT's voice chimed in, "Michael, Lucy, ready for our destination?"

Wesley started the engine, the deep rumble of the classic car echoing through the night. "Ready, KITT. Let's head to the station."

Lucy looked over at Wesley, her excitement evident. "You know, this never gets old. I love this mode."

Wesley grinned. "I think KITT does, too. Right, buddy?"

KITT responded cheerfully, "Indeed, Michael. Classic Mode is always a pleasure."

As they drove through the city, the lights of Los Angeles reflected off KITT's polished exterior. Wesley navigated through traffic with ease, while Lucy gazed out the window, enjoying the view.

Lucy turned back to Wesley. "So, what's the plan after the award ceremony?"

Wesley glanced at her, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "I was thinking of a quiet dinner, just the two of us. Maybe we can finally check out that new place downtown."

Lucy's eyes lit up. "That sounds perfect. I've been wanting to try it."

KITT's voice interrupted, "Michael, I have calculated the optimal route to the police station. Estimated arrival time is 15 minutes."

Wesley nodded. "Thanks, KITT. Looks like we have plenty of time to enjoy the ride."

Lucy leaned back in her seat, her hand resting on Wesley's. "I'm really looking forward to tonight."

Wesley smiled, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. "Me too. It's going to be a good night."

With KITT smoothly gliding through the streets and the evening stretching ahead, the anticipation of the night's events added a sense of excitement to their journey.

Later

At the station

Lucy and Wesley stood at the gear station as Lucy gathered their equipment and shotguns.

Lucy said, "It's a big deal, you know. The 'Light of the City' award? I'm surprised Tim isn't more supportive. I even planned my emotional day around it."

Wesley replied, "Let me guess, he said I shouldn't be doing it for the medals and plaques."

Lucy nodded. "Exactly. He's all about the work, not the recognition."

Wesley said with a shrug, "Well, he's not wrong. It's not about the accolades, but if it helps me move up the list for sergeant, it's worth it."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "And you're only interested in the recognition?"

Wesley chuckled. "No, I get where he's coming from. But if I can use the award to advance my career, it's a win-win."

Lucy said, "You mentioned that at home, too."

Wesley added, "Jackson's got an entire shelf dedicated to his awards?"

Lucy smiled. "I stopped by his place last night, and he was building a cabinet from scratch for them."

Wesley was surprised. "He can build things like that?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, Nolan's been giving him a hand with it."

Wesley shook his head with a grin. "Well, that's something I didn't know about Jackson."

Later

On patrol

Wesley was driving KITT in Police Mode, with Lucy in the passenger seat. She asked, "So, what are you thinking about for dinner?"

Wesley replied, "Maybe that restaurant you wanted to try. Remember?"

Lucy smiled, "Right, you mentioned it earlier. Sorry, I forgot."

Suddenly, Lucy pointed out, "Oh, hey, at 3:00. There's a skateboarder about to snatch that woman's bag."

Wesley, distracted by Lucy's alert, didn't notice and continued driving. KITT collided with the back of the car in front of them.

Wesley exclaimed, "KITT! Are you okay?"

KITT responded, "Michael, I apologize. I was focused on the skateboarder Lucy mentioned and didn't mean to cause any harm."

Wesley reassured, "It's alright, KITT. We should have been paying better attention. Run a systems check."

KITT began scanning his systems. After a moment, he reported, "All systems are normal, Michael."

Wesley turned to Lucy, "You okay? Is the baby alright?"

Lucy nodded, "Yeah, we're fine."

Wesley instructed, "Get the flares out. We need to seal off the street."

He unbuckled his seatbelt, stepped out of KITT, and checked for any damage. Finding none, he approached the woman whose car had been hit.

Wesley said, "Ma'am, are you hurt?"

The woman replied, "No, I'm fine."

Wesley pulled out his radio and said, "Control, 7-Adam-100. Reporting a traffic collision at Melrose and Gardner. Please be advised, that it involves a city vehicle."

Turning back to the woman, Wesley added, "I'm really sorry for the collision. I didn't see you."

The woman responded, "It's alright."

Later

Several officers had arrived on the scene, and Lucy and Wesley were standing to the side.

Lucy remarked, "A lot of cops for a fender-bender."

Wesley responded, "Officer-involved accidents are treated very seriously."

He then noticed a sergeant approaching and muttered, "Looks like someone's getting a day at the beach."

Wesley took out his driver's license and handed it to the sergeant.

Lucy asked, "Day at the beach?"

Wesley explained, "Suspension without pay. It's one of several possible disciplinary actions. I could be demoted from P2 to P1, and you might end up back with Tim as his rookie. No point in taking the sergeant's exam if that happens."

He noticed Grey and added, "And things keep getting better."

Grey and Harper stepped out of their car, with Grey asking, "Are you two alright?"

Wesley nodded, "Yeah, we're fine."

Harper added, "Your car's okay too."

Wesley explained, "KITT has nano-skin that repairs any exterior damage, so he's in good shape."

Grey inquired, "What happened?"

Wesley shook his head, "I lost focus. The car in front of us just stopped suddenly."

Grey asked, "And the other driver?"

Lucy replied, "They were taken to the hospital. Possible whiplash and a concussion."

Grey said, "It might be best for you to sit out the ceremony today."

Wesley nodded, and KITT chimed in, "Michael, you were looking forward to the ceremony."

Wesley sighed, "I know, KITT."

KITT then added, "Couldn't I just take the blame, Sergeant Grey? I mean, I didn't stop the vehicle either, despite having safety protocols designed to protect my occupants. I should have stopped."

Grey looked at KITT and said, "If we were to place the blame on KITT, we'd need to get Knight Industries involved. They'd have to come down to examine KITT's systems to verify if everything's operating correctly. If there are any issues, KITT could be pulled from patrol until those are resolved."

Wesley's expression tightened. "No, that's not going to happen."

Grey raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"

Wesley said firmly, "KITT's systems are fine. I won't let them pull him from patrol over this. It was my mistake, not KITT's. Besides, KITT is crucial for our operations. I need him."

KITT added, "Michael is right. My systems are functioning normally. I don't want to be sidelined due to an error that wasn't my fault."

Grey considered this for a moment and then nodded. "Alright. We'll stick with the current assessment. But understand that if there's a real issue, it'll need to be addressed."

Wesley said, "Understood. Thanks, Grey."

Harper, who had been listening, said, "We'll need to get the incident report filed. I'll make sure everything's documented properly."

Wesley nodded. "Thanks, Harper."

Grey said, "I'll need a collision memo on this by the end of the shift." He started walking towards his car.

Harper called out, "Before you go, Grey, given the liability implications, it's wise for Wesley to head to the hospital. A full work-up would help clear up any questions about his fitness to drive and prove that he wasn't impaired."

Wesley nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll do that. Thanks for the advice, Harper."

Wesley and Lucy got into KITT, and Wesley said, "KITT, take us to the nearest hospital."

KITT responded, "Routing to Shaw Memorial Hospital."

Later

At the hospital

Wesley was waiting for his test results when Jackson approached him. Jackson said, "Hey."

Wesley looked up, sensing something was off. "Hey, Jackson. What's going on?"

Jackson replied, "I've been thinking about this idea—stopping crime before it even happens. It's a mind-blowing concept, and I've been working on a pitch for it—"

Lopez's voice cut in sharply. "Hey!"

Wesley turned to see Lopez walking over. She asked, "What are you doing here?"

Wesley responded, "Just waiting to be tested. I wasn't following Jackson. What's up?"

Lopez said, "Nothing. Just some sci-fi concept Jackson won't stop talking about. Go wait by the elevator."

Jackson headed toward the elevator, and Lopez turned back to Wesley. "Are you okay? What happened?"

Wesley explained, "I rear-ended a civilian."

Lopez asked, "How bad?"

Wesley nodded, "She's in the ER. I don't understand how it happened. KITT has safety protocols designed to prevent collisions, and his primary directive is to protect human life."

Lopez glanced over as Jackson entered the elevator. "I need to go," she said, hurrying after him.

Later

Dr. Grace Sawyer was shining a light in Wesley's eyes. "Everything looks normal," she said.

Wesley let out a sigh of relief. "Good."

Grace smiled as she made notes on her clipboard. "Accidents happen to everyone, even cops."

Wesley nodded, a bit more relaxed. "What do they call it when a doctor has an accident?"

Without looking up, Grace replied, "Malpractice."

Wesley chuckled lightly. "Well, we're both held to a higher standard—for good reason. How's the woman I hit?" he asked, glancing over at the woman lying in the nearby hospital bed.

Grace followed his gaze and sighed. "The CT scan came back negative for internal bleeding. We'll keep her overnight just to be sure, but she's stable. She asked for you when she was first brought in. She doesn't blame you. You should go talk to her."

Wesley nodded. "Thanks, Grace."

As Grace walked away, Wesley stood up, taking a deep breath before heading over to the woman's bedside. "How are you doing?" he asked gently.

The woman smiled faintly. "I'm okay."

The man next to her, clearly upset, interjected, "No, you're not. Do you have any idea how much this is going to cost?"

Wesley met his gaze calmly. "The hospital bills will be covered by the city, and so will the repairs to your vehicle. If, for any reason, they're not, I'll cover them myself."

The man's expression hardened. "You think that makes everything okay?"

The woman turned to him. "Mike, stop."

Wesley raised a hand, his voice steady. "No, it's okay. You have every right to be angry."

Mike leaned forward, his voice sharp. "And I have a right to sue."

The woman reached out, touching Mike's arm. "We're not going to sue. He didn't mean to hit me, did you?"

Wesley shook his head, sincere. "No, ma'am. I promise, I never meant to hurt you. I'm truly sorry. I hope you feel better soon."

Later

Wesley was sitting in the waiting room when Lucy walked in. "Hey," she greeted him softly.

Wesley stood up, sensing something was off. "Hey. Did you check KITT?"

Lucy nodded, her expression serious. "KITT's fine, but there's something else. The car was rigged."

Wesley's brow furrowed. "What?"

Lucy stepped closer, her voice quiet but firm. "The brake lights weren't connected. This accident wasn't your fault."

Wesley shook his head, trying to process. "No wonder KITT and I reacted so slowly. The leads were disconnected on purpose?"

"Yeah," Lucy confirmed, "and there's more. Sarah, the woman you hit, had arson materials stashed in the back of her car. She's not just a victim—looks like she's running a bigger scam."

Wesley's eyes darkened with determination. "Let's go talk to her."

Together, they walked into Sarah's hospital room. Wesley's gaze locked on her, his voice calm but firm. "You rigged your car."

Sarah looked up, feigning confusion. "What? No, I didn't."

Lucy crossed her arms, unfazed. "Dash cam footage tells a different story, and so does the physical inspection of your vehicle."

Sarah's eyes widened, and her tone became defensive. "You searched my car? I didn't give you permission."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Once it's involved in an accident, we don't need your permission."

Wesley took a step forward, his voice low but unwavering. "I don't think you were trying to get rear-ended by a police car—bad luck on your part. But you rigged the brake lights, Sarah."

Sarah's expression hardened, but she still denied it. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Wesley leaned in slightly. "This is serious. Your car is full of evidence that can be used against you in court."

Sarah shook her head quickly. "It's not mine."

Wesley studied her face. "Then whose is it? Mike? The guy who was threatening to sue me earlier?"

"No," Sarah snapped.

Lucy, staying sharp, asked, "What's his name?"

Sarah clamped her mouth shut. "I'm not telling you that."

Wesley picked up her hospital chart, flipping it open. "Emergency contact: Mike Garvey. And here's a phone number."

Lucy pulled out her handcuffs, coolly saying, "Exactly what we need for a background check."

She cuffed Sarah to the bed, the metallic click echoing through the room. "This is just to make sure you don't go anywhere while we're running it."

Sarah glared at them but didn't say another word.

Later

At the station

Wesley and Lucy stood behind the two-way mirror, watching Mike as he fidgeted in the interrogation room.

"I think you should handle this one alone," Wesley said, his tone measured.

Lucy glanced at him, curious. "Why?"

"He knows I'm the one who hit Sarah. He doesn't know you were with me. His guard will be down with you."

Lucy nodded, understanding the strategy, and left the surveillance room. Wesley watched as she entered the interrogation room, her calm, composed demeanor masking her sharpness.

Lucy sat down across from Mike, who immediately looked irritated. "I need to be at the hospital," he snapped.

"We'll get you out of here as soon as we can," Lucy assured him, keeping her voice level and professional.

Mike scoffed. "I wasn't even in the car. Why do I need to be questioned?"

"It's just standard procedure," Lucy explained, casually flipping open her notebook. "You can imagine the paperwork when an officer's involved in an accident."

Mike's frustration flared. "That cop should be fired."

"That's up to the department," Lucy replied, unfazed. "Do you and Sarah live together?"

Mike narrowed his eyes. "Yeah, so?"

"Do you ever use her car?"

Mike's voice rose. "What difference does that make? She was rear-ended!"

Lucy stayed calm. "Yes, sir. But please, answer the question—do you ever drive her car?"

Mike let out a frustrated sigh. "No."

"Never?"

"Never."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "So, you didn't disconnect the taillights to commit insurance fraud?"

Mike leaned forward, his anger barely contained. "Nope."

Lucy glanced down at her notes. "Interesting, because you've been convicted of fraud before, haven't you? Three arrests, one conviction."

Mike shot up from his chair. "I'm done here. I'm out."

Wesley, who had been watching closely, saw Mike storm out and quickly followed him into the hallway.

As Mike turned the corner, he saw Wesley waiting. Lucy stepped out of the interrogation room and joined them, along with another officer.

"I know what this is," Mike sneered. "You're trying to intimidate me, but it's not gonna work. I'll get a lawyer, come back, and sue you and your entire department."

Wesley, unfazed, smiled coolly. "A little advice: if you can only afford one lawyer, start with a criminal one. You're gonna need that first."

The officer escorted Mike away, his protests fading down the hallway.

Lucy sighed as she turned to Wesley. "Sorry, I didn't get more out of him."

Wesley crossed his arms, a satisfied look on his face. "Don't worry about it, honey. The goal was to get under his skin. First thing he's gonna do is call Sarah and make her panic."

Lucy nodded, catching on. "And we see who breaks first."

"Exactly," Wesley said with a grin.

Later

At the hospital

Wesley and Lucy stepped into Sarah's hospital room, the tension thick between them. Wesley spoke first, his tone firm but with a hint of urgency. "Only one of you is getting a deal, Sarah. You want it to be you."

Sarah swallowed hard, nodding quickly. "I was about to leave him. I went to borrow some suitcases from my sister, I swear. I had no idea he messed with my brake lights."

Lucy leaned forward slightly. "Why were you leaving him?"

Sarah hesitated, her eyes darting to the side as if weighing her next words carefully. "He's lost it. At first, it was small stuff—staged accidents, scamming rich people for quick cash, setting a few fires to pocket insurance money. But now..." Her voice trailed off, and her face grew pale.

Wesley pressed gently, "But now what, Sarah?"

She shook her head, fear flashing across her face. "He agreed to kill some guy's wife for a cut of the life insurance. I didn't sign up for this. He's gone too far."

Wesley's expression hardened. "When is this supposed to happen?"

Sarah let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "Later today."

Later

On a road

Lucy, sporting a blonde wig and playing the part of the woman Mike intended to kill, unlocked the van with a cool air of confidence. 

As she slid into the driver's seat, her eyes caught sight of KITT speeding toward them. Sensing the moment, she quickly hopped out, her posture relaxed as she casually chewed gum, gun drawn and aimed directly at Mike, who was brandishing a firearm of his own.

Within seconds, a second patrol car pulled up, flanking the van alongside KITT. The situation tightened as Mike, realizing he was trapped, raised his hands in surrender. Wesley emerged from KITT, a shotgun gripped firmly in his hands. "Freeze!" he commanded, the sound of the gun being cocked adding weight to his words. "LAPD! Turn around!"

Mike complied, slowly turning to face them, gun still in his hand. Wesley's voice rang out again, more intense this time. "Drop your weapon! Drop it now!" Mike quickly tossed the gun to the ground.

"Hands up! Sidestep to your right!" Wesley instructed, and Mike, nervous but obedient, shuffled sideways.

"Keep going!" Wesley continued, not letting up, his focus sharp.

Once Mike was in position, Wesley ordered, "Get down on the ground! On your stomach! Hands out to the side!"

Mike hesitated for just a moment before hitting the pavement, arms spread wide. "Don't move!" Wesley shouted as a nearby officer rushed in to cuff him.

With Mike secured, Wesley leaned over him and said, "Mike Garvey, you're under arrest for attempted murder."

Standing tall, Wesley turned his attention to Lucy, who was still in her blonde disguise. A smirk tugged at his lips. "Nice wig, Boot. Blonde suits you."

Lucy, always quick with a comeback, grinned and asked, "Would you like me to dye my hair this color? I think I could pull it off."

Wesley chuckled, shaking his head. "No, your hair's perfect just the way it is."

Later

At the food court

Wesley, Tim, and Jackson stood proudly in the bustling food court, holding their plaques as Lucy snapped photos of them. Lopez stood beside her, watching with a smile.

"Get it," Lopez encouraged, as both she and Lucy shared a laugh.

"My boys look gorgeous," Lucy said playfully, admiring them through the camera lens.

Tim raised an eyebrow and quipped, "Don't you mean just Mike?"

Lucy shook her head with a grin. "All three of you are my friends, but Mike—well, he's my best friend and my fiancé."

Tim groaned lightly, "Alright, alright. That's enough of that."

Lucy clicked her tongue and replied, "I told you, I need these pics for the album! I want to show the kids one day, especially our future bundle of joy."

Lopez smirked at Jackson and nudged him. "Come on, Boot. Let's go grab a beer."

As Lopez and Jackson headed off, Tim lingered for a moment, looking between Wesley and Lucy. "You want me to stay or head out, Mike?"

Wesley chuckled. "You can go. Lucy's determined when it comes to these things."

Lucy shot back with a playful protest, "I'm not stubborn! I just want you to keep looking handsome for the photos."

Tim shook his head, grinning as he threw up his hands in surrender. "All right, I'm out of here," he said, walking off and leaving Wesley alone with Lucy.

Wesley sighed but smiled. "You're impossible, you know that?"

Lucy smirked, "And yet, you love me for it."

Lucy snapped a few more photos as Wesley tried to keep a straight face, smiling just for her.

"You look perfect," Lucy said with a teasing grin.

Wesley rolled his eyes playfully. "Oh, don't make this weird."

"Alright, that's the last one," Lucy promised, lowering the camera.

"You better not make that your home screen," Wesley warned, narrowing his eyes at her.

Lucy flashed him a mischievous smile. "Too late. Already did."

Wesley couldn't help but laugh as he pulled her into a warm hug. "You're impossible," he murmured, but there was nothing but affection in his voice.

As Wesley and Lucy embraced, they heard KITT's familiar voice chime in from nearby.

"Michael, I must say, the photo does capture your good side," KITT remarked with a hint of playful sarcasm.

Wesley laughed, shaking his head. "KITT, you're supposed to be focused on patrol, not my impromptu photo shoots."

KITT responded, "Multitasking is within my capabilities, Michael. Besides, I've noticed that Lucy has a knack for bringing out your best. It's good for morale."

Lucy smiled and leaned into Wesley. "See? Even KITT agrees."

Wesley chuckled, glancing over at the sleek car. "Great, now I've got two of you keeping me in check."

KITT added, "A well-balanced support system is crucial, Michael. And I believe you're in excellent hands."

Wesley smiled at KITT's words. "You're absolutely right, KITT. We'll catch up later, buddy," he said, squeezing Lucy's hand. Together, they walked over to join their friends.

As they reached the table, they saw Jackson, Tim, Lopez, and John gathered around. John noticed a beer on the table and picked it up. "Is this for me?" he asked with a grin.

Just then, Grace approached with a wrapped gift in hand. "Did I miss it?" she asked, her eyes twinkling.

John looked at her with curiosity. "Miss what? And what's in the box?"

Grace smiled warmly. "Surprise," she said, holding out the gift.

At that moment, Wesley, Lucy, Tim, Jackson, and Lopez all shouted in unison, "Happy birthday!"

Lucy quickly began recording the moment on her phone.

John, clearly touched, held the gift for a moment before speaking. "You know, a year ago, I never would have believed this would be my life. New beginnings are rare, and rewarding ones are even rarer. But here I am, surrounded by the best people I've ever known. And Lopez."

Jackson chuckled, while Lopez shot John a playful glare.

John quickly added, "Just kidding! To us," he said, raising his beer in a toast.

The group lifted their drinks and echoed, "Cheers!"

Grace nudged John playfully. "Alright, birthday boy," she teased.

John set his beer down and eyed the gift with anticipation. "What did you get me?"

Grace chuckled. "Take a guess."

John shook the box, pretending to be serious. "A steamer," he guessed.

Grace burst out laughing. "Exactly."

Meanwhile, KITT observed the scene from a distance. "Even though Michael acts like he doesn't care about these moments, I know he does. This group of officers—they're the kindest I've seen. They make such wonderful friends," KITT mused, a note of admiration in his voice.

To be continued...