Chapter 1: Beginnings

A/N: Hey guys, this is my first transformers fanfiction so take it easy on me! This takes place between ROTF and DOTM. It's an IronhidexOC since I don't see many of those anymore. I do NOT own transformers. :p Enjoy!

In sun-kissed California a young man by the name of Sam Witwicky shifted his feet, eagerly searching the crowded airport. He had just gotten back from Egypt and received a few calls from Detroit, Michigan. His cousin wanted to know if she could spend a year with him since they both graduated from high school and haven't seen each other since they were eleven. They used to be so close. Sam actually lived in Detroit awhile back and living just a few doors down from each other they were inseparable. Doing everything from making mud pies to playing Barbie dolls. But that was before the shooting.

Sam looked around, frantically searching for his cousin. "Lissa!" He cried. Gunshots could be heard in the distance, and cries coming from the people that were in the line of fire. Sam had gotten separated from her after the shooting started. His parents and aunt and uncle were inside while they played outdoors. Then the first shot was heard, and suddenly his house was bursting with fire. The gang, Crusaders, had bombed three houses on the block. He could hear his mother's screams and his father cry out in agony. The smoke made it hard to see and breathe. Still he crawled around on his hands and knees searching for his cousin, but she was nowhere to be found. "Lissa!" He cried again, coughing as smoke filled his lungs. Suddenly he felt himself being lifted up. Terrified Sam kicked and thrashed out of the person's grip, it was only his mother.

"Come on Sam! We need to run!" Judy grabbed his hand and tugged him forward. Sam stayed planted in his spot.

"I'm not leaving Lissa!" He cried. All the color drained from Judy's face.

"Oh my God. Where's Liss?"

The pair separated and searched around the yard, there was no sign of her. Then a blood curdling scram was heard nearby. They both froze, horrified. They knew that voice, it was Lissa. A man's voice was heard a few moments later, her father.

"Get away from her!" He yelled, anger etched deep into his voice.

It all happened so fast after that. One last gunshot was heard, and Travis fell silent.

"No." Judy murmured.

The police came a short while afterwards. Ron held his brother in his arms. He had sustained a shot to the chest, Travis was dead. Sam and Judy were too numb to do anything after that. Somewhere in the distance they heard that Lissa was taken to the hospital. She had a stab wound to the head. Travis was peeled away from Ron and taken away. Ron stayed there, collapsed on the ground, sobbing his little brother's name.

Sam shook his head to clear the horrible memory. Shortly after the shooting his parents moved them halfway across the country, trying to seek safety and closure in another place. Lissa and her mother stayed in Michigan to mourn Travis's death. Now, after eight years, he was finally going to face her.

Sam heard his name being called out from somewhere in the crowd. There, in a short black tank top and denim shorts was Lissa. She was striding towards him, purpose in her long steps. When she reached him Sam finally took her in. She was about 5'7", with long, tan, legs and a perfect hourglass figure. She had on black boots coming below her knees, mid-thigh shorts, and a shirt that said "Go Tigers" Her platinum, blonde, hair cascaded down to her waist. But what really struck him was her eyes. He could still lose himself in that sea of emerald green. Even if they were dim now, he was happy to find something about her that hadn't changed. Then he did a double take, they had changed. Slashed right across her left eye was an ugly pink scar. So the rumors were true, the man did stab her. Angry tears welled up inside Sam. He didn't have a sister so his brotherly protectiveness always fell on Lissa. He closed his eyes and tried not to picture Lissa tackled to the ground with that horrible excuse of a man on top of her. He was buried so deep in his anger he almost didn't feel Lissa touch his arm.

"Sammy?" She said quietly, concern laced in her voice. "Are you okay?"

Sam opened his eyes and managed a smile. "Yeah Liss I'm fine. I've just missed you so much." He enveloped her in a hug. She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight.

After what seemed like an eternity Lissa finally broke the embrace.

"Let's get out of here. I want to see my auntie."

Sam chuckled and led her through the terminal. The two had called each other frequently over the years so Lissa already knew all about the autobots. Sam was glad he told her about them, it would've been hard to keep up the "normal" charade for a whole year. Finally they reached the parking lot. Ironhide had driven him here today, as he was serving as Sam's temporary guardian while Bumblebee went on a scouting mission. The two climbed into the Topkick and the engine started up. Sam cleared his throat.

"Lissa, this is Ironhide, the weapon's specialist of the autobus team. Ironhide this is my cousin Lissa."

The radio crackled before it came to life. "Punkass." He said, addressing her.

Lissa rolled her eyes, she knew his type. "Alien bastard."

A grumbling sound was heard from the radio as the truck drove onto the highway. Ironhide looked the little human over from his rearview mirror. She had a straight posture and a very determined set in her jaw. But he found on very familiar fault, a long, pink scar running through her left eye. Strangely Hide felt a small fleck of empathy towards the female. He knew all too well the looks he got from his own mangled face.

"What happened to your eye?" The gruff question came out before Ironhide thought about what he had just said. But he didn't care, the human's feelings were the least of his concerns.

Sam glared at the truck. If looks could kill, Hide would already be in the grave. Lissa took in a breath. She knew someone would've asked that sooner or later, but it still didn't prepare her for remembering that horrible day. It took a long moment of silence before she could regain her voice.

"Um… a man… stabbed me when I was eleven." She finally mustered.

Ironhide was silent for a minute, thoughtful. "Oh." Was all he replied.

Sam sneaked a peek at his cousin. He could see the anguish and sadness etched in her face from bringing up the ordeal. He was going to have a little chat with Ironhide later.

After fifteen minutes of total silence the trio finally reached the Witwicky household. Lissa quickly grabbed her things and walked briskly into the house. When she was gone Sam thumped the truck's dashboard.

"You just had to ask that didn't you?" He growled.

"If you haven't noticed I don't care about the femme's feelings. I wanted to know what happened so I asked. Get over it fleshling." Ironhide growled right back.

Sam rolled his eyes and exited the truck. "Retarded piece of scrap metal." He muttered under his breath.

Ironhide mulled over his actions towards the femme. He knew he shouldn't have said that, but a part of him truly didn't care. He was a war-hardened mech, something as insignificant as a human female's feelings shouldn't bother him, but it did. He felt a sort of kinship with the girl even though he just met her. The feeling was both startling and exciting for the weapon's specialist. He hadn't felt that way about anyone in a long time. Even if she was a human, Ironhide would truly like to get to know her.

A few hours later Ironhide was just about to go into stasis when he heard a sniffling sound. Curious, he activated his holoform and walked into Sam's backyard. It took him a minute to search the area before he found the source. Lissa was sitting on the wooden bench by the fountain. Hide could tell by her slumped shoulders that she was unhappy. Unsure of what to do, he simply walked over to the girl. Once he was in front of her he realized that she was sobbing. This stumped the robot. It occurred to him that he had no idea how to give comfort to her in any way. So, he just tried to get her attention.

"Lissa." He stated.

Lissa looked up at the man before her, her eyes were swollen from crying. "W-what? Who are you?" She suddenly realized that this man could be a threat, and backed up across the yard.

Ironhide was not amused by her actions. Slowly putting his hands up he walked towards the girl. "It is me Ironhide."

Lissa stopped for a moment and looked him over. He was big, with bulking biceps and abs shown under his wife beater. He looked to be in his early thirties, and had a military style haircut. But what surprised and shocked her was his eye. He had a scar, uglier than hers even, running across his left eye and down the side of his face. Ironhide caught her looked at it and cleared his throat.

"This is a holoform. It represents our true selves but as a human."

Lissa nodded quickly, unsure of what to do now.

"I… came out here to ask why water was leaking out of you eyes?" Ironhide asked.

Lissa bit back a laugh. Even under the circumstances that was pretty funny, but she decided to keep her guard up just in case. "Why do you care?" She asked.

Ironhide thought about this for a moment. Slag. "I don't. It is getting quite loud and I am trying to go into stasis but I cannot with you sniffling over here!" He barked.

Lissa glared at him. She just met the guy! Why was he being such a dick? "Oh poor you. I can see why you need it, you're being a cranky old bitch who needs a PMS pill!" With that she stomped up to the house, but Ironhide grabbed her arm before she could do so.

"What did you just say?" He hissed, neon eyes glaring coldly at her.

Lissa's eyes widened in surprise, she yanked her arm out of his grasp and backed onto the patio. "I… I'm sorry. You… you are such a jerk!" She exploded, and ran inside, slamming the door as she went.

Ironhide almost face palmed, she may be just a human, but that didn't make what he said right. "Slag." He muttered. "Sam is gonna be up my aft about this tomorrow." He glanced up at her window, something was different about that human, and he was going to find out what is was.

Woo first chapter done! Tomorrow he'll try talking to Lissa, but she's not even gonna look at him. XD Plus Sam's not gonna be too happy. Poor Ironhide. :p Ha not! Tell me what you think? Is this a good idea or should I just stop altogether? A review would be nice. J

Thanks.

~Court