I do not own Transformers only my plot and character

New Car~

I sat in my new bedroom trying to figure out what to do with all this junk. I wished more then anything Sideswipe was here. He was always the best company. The only other person I was ever as close to was my best friend Ashley in Oklahoma City. She would have adored Sideswipe. She was a lot like Sideswipe. Nothing ever seemed to bother her unless a friend of hers was hurt. Sideswipe is like that. He is a lot of fun unless someone he cares about is hurt.

Sideswipe was not here right now however. He was out with Sunstreaker and Jolt. He had been gone for a week already with no word of when he would return. That was happening more often now. There was just no getting around Sideswipe and Sunstreaker combined with Jolt made a good team for dealing with the decepticons.

After the security breach the Autobots decided to leave the military base in northern Florida. They chose a base in Ohio. Didn't it snow in Ohio? A lot? I knew it was colder then both Oklahoma and Florida already and it was only November. Even in the dead of winter we did not stay this cold in Oklahoma. I never imagined in my strangest dream I would ever end up in Ohio. I never thought I would end up in Florida either for that matter. I always thought I would live out my life in Oklahoma. Maybe get a small farm. Raise chickens and have a few horses. A nice quiet life.

The future I had planned for myself was not meant to be. Instead of finishing high school in Oklahoma City, going to college before buying a small farm, I was here at a military base in Ohio looking at all my things packed in boxes. How could I accumulate all this stuff while living underground for months?

I made it halfway through 17 and looked forward to turning 18. I had my calendar marked with how many more days until I was an adult. Not that 18 would matter much when your legal guardians were Autobots that took overprotective to the extreme. I doubt Ratchet, Sideswipe or any of the Autobots would treat me any different after I turned 18.

My father had left most of what he had to me. Some money was left to his favorite charities but the bulk of his estate was left to me. The only stipulation was I could not touch any of it until I turned 25. My father had ensured that even if I could talk Optimus Prime into letting me leave I would do so without a penny. Not that I could ever talk them into letting me leave. The one time I threatened to I was informed that I would be escorted to my room where I would be held under lock and key.

Recently Optimus and Prowl had ensured their authority over me by having a judge place me in their protective custody until such a time as they deemed it safe to release me from their custody. They all took my father entrusting his daughter to their care very seriously, even more so after his death. I was annoyed to say the least. I had my little fit about how unfair it was that they would just waltz into some federal judge's office and walk out with signed papers that say they can control every detail of my life even after I turn 18. Sideswipe sat there silently watching me as I yelled and threw things. When I finally sat on the floor to seethe quietly he finally spoke.

"Are you finished now?" His voice was quiet, yet intense.

I was too annoyed to answer so I just looked at him.

"Kari, you know why Optimus and Prowl are so called controlling your life. You also know this is exactly what your father wanted. If he wanted you to be free to go off and do whatever you pleased the second you turned 18 he would not have left everything in the Control of Optimus Prime for another 7 years." Sideswipe reasoned.

Oh I knew he was right and I was not even as mad as my actions seemed to make me out to be. Part of me expected it and was even comforted by it even if I would never admit it. They cared enough to make sure I was safe when they could have just as easily handed me my money and let me go. But on the other hand there was the independent part of me that wanted to go and do whatever I wanted without having to answer to anyone or bot.

"Kari, if you need a reminder why it is necessary shall I remove your shirt so you can see your scars?" I knew by the tone of his voice he would not hesitate a second to do it. Sideswipe was not human so he did not share most human's sense of modesty. None of them did.

I shook my head no. I knew he was right about everything. I knew my father wished it this way. The re writing of his will weeks before his death was proof of that. My father made it very clear that everything was to stay under the control of Optimus Prime or whoever he appointed the job.

XxXxXx

So here I sat just a couple of weeks after that conversation. Even though I had no control of the estate I was rationed out a bit of money every month. I had been saving some of it hoping to talk Optimus into letting me get my own car. I still adored Sideswipe but with him gone a lot now I seemed to be trapped indoors more then I liked. Sure the others would take me if they were free but what a pain it is walking around looking for a ride when I had a perfectly good driver's license. The thought struck me that if I had my own car I could actually talk to myself without a bot thinking I was cracking under the pressure.

The day finally came where I gathered enough courage to ask about getting a car. I sat in the large chair waiting for Optimus to enter so I could plead my case. My hands were so sweaty I had to wipe them on my jeans several times. Finally, after what felt like an eternity I heard the metallic drumming of his footsteps drawing near. He walked into his office while he scanned a data pad. I had no doubt he knew I was sitting here even though his optics never looked up from his data pad. I waited for him to sit and acknowledge my presents. "Kari, my sensors are picking up an unusual amount of stress, what is troubling you?"

Trying to recapture my courage from earlier this morning when I rehearsed my speech in front of my mirror I finally looked up and barely squeaked out, "I would like to buy a car." That sounded so stupid! Not near as convincing as I had planned this morning. The seconds ticked by as Optimus just sat there, thinking I assumed. My heart was beating so hard I could hear it in my ears.

Optimus looked up at me as he said, "Ratchet would be displeased at the state or your stress and heart rate if he were in here, calm yourself down youngling."

"Sorry," I murmured, "I am just nervous." My hands started to shake so I balled them up into fists in my lap.

"Why do you feel the need for a car? Are you not getting along with Sideswipe?" He started scanning the data pad. I imagined Optimus was looking up files checking for any problems he may have missed.

"Oh Sideswipe and I get along great." I paused trying to collect my thoughts. "You send Sideswipe out with Sunstreaker more often to do whatever it is you all do out there. Then there are times when he is here I can tell he wants to do something alone with Sunstreaker and I want to get off the base and spend some of my allowance. I feel as if he is torn having to decide between me and his brother." I stopped to take a drink of water.

Optimus took that moment to answer, "Those are valid reasons for wanting your own transportation." Optimus seemed to be thinking for some time before he said, "You have made me proud during the time you have been with us."

Encouraged with my seemingly upper hand I continued, "I have the money for a down payment, I can use my monthly allowance to pay my car payment.

Optimus chuckled raising a hand to stop me from continuing. "Your father has left you plenty of money for you to afford a car without having to use your spending money to pay for it. By the way have you discussed this with Sideswipe?"

I shook my head no.

"So you do not know how he feels about you having a mode of transportation apart from him?"

"I wanted to see if you would even allow it before I spoke to him." Now that I was thinking about it I was getting more nervous about Sideswipes reaction.

XxXx

I walked out to where I knew Sideswipe would be. I was shaking even more now thinking of his reaction then I was with Optimus Prime. I never thought I would get this far. I could not believe Optimus prime was letting me get a car. I walked up to Sideswipes mech form and waited for him to finish with the project he was working on. Finally he turned with a smile and said, "What's up?"

"I need to talk to you about something," I managed to get out without my voice cracking.

Sideswipe looked at me for a moment before stating, "You are stressed. Come let's walk for a bit and you can tell me what is stressing you."

We walked in the cool fall air while I tried to gather my courage. He glanced over at me several times as we walked. A half hour had gone by when Sideswipe had enough. His holo form appeared right before me. He placed his hands on my shoulders as he looked directly into my eyes. "Kari, what has you so upset."

Taking a deep breath I blurted out, "I want to get a car of my own. Optimus has already told me I could." I cringed as I waited for the explosion of emotion. I was sure he would think I no longer wished to ride with him.

He remained perfectly calm as he simply said, "Why?"

"So I can still get out while you are away. Do you remember that last time you were gone? It was almost 3 weeks. I was stuck with no way to get to town for 3 weeks."

Sideswipe pondered my words for a moment before answering, "What if something goes wrong? You would be all alone."

"I have this nifty cell phone you gave me for my birthday, look you are on speed dial as well as Skids and Mudflap. I am sure they would love to come to the rescue"

Sideswipe groaned at that. "If you are calling one of them you would be desperate."

Saying their names out loud made me cringe. I had no idea an Autobot could be so annoying. I could not stand either of them. Those two locked me in a tractor trailer style storage building not knowing I was very afraid of the dark after my experience with the decepticons. When it was noticed I was missing they searched for 2 hours. Skids finally confessed to Optimus Prime that he had forgotten about me. When I was found I had been in a full blown panic attack. Thankfully after Ratchet and Sideswipe dealt with those two they avoided me for a couple months. They still pretty much leave me alone but I just know it is a matter of time before they think they can start to annoy me once again. They did come and say they were sorry swearing it was only suppose to be for a little while as a joke. They had simply forgotten about me. My voice was still horse and I was still angry that I had to suffer with Ratchet sticking me with needles at the time so their apology simply made both Sideswipe and myself furious. They only succeeded in making me upset all over again. Ratchet finally chased them out of med bay. I did not get that fortunate. I ended getting locked in the med bay for the rest of the day. It is not fun having Ratchet hover over me while I was terrified every time he came near he would have another needle.

Sideswipe shook my shoulder slightly breaking me out of my thoughts. "Sideswipe to Kari, can you hear me now?"

"Sorry, I got sidetracked." I murmured.

"How far do you intend to drive your own personal vehicle?" Sideswipe asked after a short chuckle.

"Oh not far, there is a nice shopping center with plenty of things to do just 5 minutes off the base. I only want it for when I am going stir crazy and I need to get out for a bit."

Sideswipe thought on that for a moment before he smiled and answered. "I don't suppose you would let me pick the car?"

With a sigh of relief I wrapped my arms around Sideswipes holo form. "You are so awesome! I should have known better then to worry about what your reaction would be."

"Remember Hound can track you anywhere so do not think of going on a long trip," Sideswipe laughed while he hugged me back.

I almost asked him if that was a challenge but I decided I had better not since I did not have my car yet.

XxXxXx

Even though it was ten at night I sat behind the wheel of my brand new car watching Wheeljack work on a piece of machinery in the massive garage that was the Autobot hanger. I must have looked like a kid in a candy store sitting in my new car. Hound and Wheeljack kept glancing at me with grins on their faces like I was the funniest human they had ever seen. I guess they had never seen a teenager behind the wheel of her new car before. I turned the stereo on which started to thump much louder then I had intended. I squeaked in surprise as I turned the volume down. I looked up in time to see Hound shaking his head, laughing as he spoke to Wheeljack before his attention returned to the computer screen he was looking at. Hound seemed to enjoy the rock song that was playing at the time though. There is nothing like a mech audience when a teenager is playing with the car stereo. I spent quite some time flipping through stations and turning up some songs while quickly turning the station with other songs I hated. I came across a polka song that actually sounded pretty good. The bass of the song had a catchy beat. I glance up and saw Hound staring at me with the look that clearly said turn that song off now. So obviously Hound does not like Polka. I turned off the polka song and inserted my favorite rock CD. The song started and I got an approving look from the Autobot who was known for being the finest tracker in the Autobot ranks.

Finally getting board just sitting there I could not help myself I just had to push a little. I was careful not to make eye contact with either Autobot so I could not be told to stop with point of their finger or a single look both Autobots were famous for. I lifted my hand to the ignition and started the car. I carefully pushed in the button on the gear shift between the two front seats, pressed the brakes as I clicked it into reverse. I let up off the brake, looked behind me and …"Don't you dare do it Youngling!" Came Ratchets firm command.

Hanging my head in defeat I pushed the lever back into park, turned the car off and got out. "Where did you come from?" I asked trying to sound defeated but really I was holding in a laugh. "Honest Ratchet, I was just going to take it out to the road and come right back."

Watching Ratchet scowl at me I could no longer contain my amusement and started to laugh. I tried to stop laughing since getting on Ratchets bad side is not advised.

Sometimes I could not help but laugh when Ratchet was scowling at me. I was shocked when it dawned on me how I was the exact same way with my dad. That did not bother me like it should have. Instead I found it comforting. With more frequency I found myself walking over to med bay when I was upset or scared. Ratchet was a stable rock I could lean against. On the nights where monsters in my memories kept me from sleeping I would walk into med bay with a wet face from crying. Ratchets holo form would always activate so he could lead me to a quite room he had set aside from the hospital part of his med bay. It had nothing more then a plain normal bed and a small lamp on a bedside table. He would allow me to curl up next to him so I could sleep while he chased my nightmares away with his presence.

So there I stood unable to stop my amusement at Ratchets scowl which only made Ratchet's scowl deepen. Having had enough of my giggles Ratchet grabbed my arm as started to walk me towards my room while he muttered that he was going to have Wheeljack disable my car.

"For a youngling that can never be serious you have no business going anywhere unattended." He ranted. I thought about locking my car to keep it safe from certain Autobot scientists and mechanics but really what was the point. There was no doubt they could get in my car without any trouble even if I locked it tight and set the alarm.

Ratchet continued his rant, "I am going to have to haul Prime into med bay and find the glitch in his processor that made him believe letting you have a vehicle of your own could possibly be a good idea. How he could give permission for a trouble prone youngling who giggles at everything is beyond my comprehension."

I finally was able to get my laughing to stop but I could not get rid of my smile that threatened to turn back into helpless giggles again as Ratchet pulled me along ranting.