Here's another chapter for my lovely readers. This one's a tad longer than the last and jumps POV a bit, but I hope its satisfactory none-the-less. Thank you to all my reviewers, followers and favourites so far. You really helped motivate me to finish editing this chapter so I can release it out to you all. Enjoy!
~Chapter Two~
Ignorance Is Bliss
For the shortest instance of time William Lennox's thoughts raced to his wife and child at the mention of the word family. His chest tightened as an almost unbearable wave of panic threatening to overwhelm him. It came to a brief screeching halt when he registered the fact that Sarah and Annabelle didn't live in Colorado. That confused revelation held the panic at bay for but a beat... Before he realized who the General was referring to, and his chest tightened all over again.
Will stood stock still in stunned silence, feeling the icy tendrils of dread creep it's way across his skin, centring in his gut which twisted and turned with nausea. After what felt like eternity he managed to shake the stupor off, swallowing thickly before he spoke. He hated how weak his voice sounded. "Thomas and Skylar…" He drifting off, unable to directly ask what he needed to, when all he feared was the worst in return.
General Morshower seemed to understand. His eyes flicked down momentarily before meeting Will's gaze directly. The sympathy in his own eyes already said all that was needed. "I'm sorry, Major Lennox. Your father, Captain Thomas Lennox was found and pronounced dead at the remains of the residence."
Will's heart gave a sickening lurch at the General's revelation. He could already feel the dull ache of sorrow setting itself deep within his chest cavity. He wished he could deny that this conversation was even happening, so he didn't have to face the aftermath of yet another loss. It was so surreal he could almost shelter himself from it if he wanted too... Yet he knew he shouldn't. This was all very real and he'd have to face it all, like it or not.
It made it very difficult to keep that frame of mind when he knew deep down that the pain was going to get a whole lot worse. His father had been a good man, a respectable man, and they had been very close. But even Will realized he would likely lose his father someday. Maybe not this soon, but eventually. A parent should never outlive their child.
The same couldn't be said for siblings, at least not in his eyes.
Skylar was too young. Barely even starting her life. Heck, he was the older brother with one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. She should have been outliving him any day...never the other way around.
She was the only other person in the world he felt as protective of as he did his wife and daughter. He wasn't sure if he could keep himself together when the time came to ask, and the truth answered. It was already up.
"And my sister?..." General Morshower's face relaxed a bit much the Major's surprise and confusion, and that threw his mind for a loop. Why did his expression almost appear lighter?
"Fortunately, your young sister Skylar survived the encounter. She was found unconscious in the wreckage of a collapsed structure on the property."
...What?
Will gaped openly at the screen, shocked and speechless as he tried to comprehend what the General had just said.
He'd been so prepared for the worst. It had never crossed his mind that either one of them would survive, because honestly why would he dare to believe it? They had been defenceless and Decepticons were ruthless killing machines, no pun intended. How was it she was still alive? He had no idea how to respond as he simply stared, completely dumbfounded. Finally his mind was able to settle on one thought.
To hell with it.
He gave an unrestrained hoot of joy as he spun on the spot once, letting a relieved smile grace his face at the happy surprise.
"Where is she?" He asked eagerly, a hopeful gleam in his eyes.
General Morshower's own smile was brief but genuine as he easily answered the Major's inquiry. "The local NEST base took care of it. She's in stable condition and being cared for in a small facility called Aspen Valley Hospital. Last time I checked on her status she was still unconscious."
Will took what comfort he could in the news. At least she was still alive and in no immediate danger, and he was going to get a plane ready to see her right away. Before he could hurriedly try to excuse himself to make his preparations a thought crossed his mind, jolting him back to the main concern.
He needed answers first. The thought that a Con had gotten to one of his family made him boil with barely concealed rage as he straightened his posture and turned a hard gaze back to the General.
"What happened?"
General Morshower's own expression darkened as he immediately got down to business. "We didn't get an alert on any of our early warning systems, but our men found a rather large impact crater on the property, bigger than any we've encountered so far. We cannot confirm whether it was in fact a Decepticon, however based on the brutality of the attack we can safely assume."
"Any trace of an Energon signature in the area?" Will asked, focusing on the matter at hand with a new found determination. He didn't care how big the new arrival was, or who it was. This Con had attacked his family, either inadvertently or on purpose. He dreaded to think what would happen to Sarah and Annabelle if the attack had been purposeful.
That thought nearly drove him insane on the spot. They had to find it. And when they did, he would stop at nothing to destroy it.
"Nothing concrete enough for our Energon detectors to track. Also, any physical traces left behind resulted in a dead end. Whoever the target is, it appears to be very efficient at evasive maneuvers for one of it's size." Will swore internally at the General's report. It always had to be more difficult, didn't it?
"Okay. I'm going to order a cargo plane ready ASAP for a flight to Colorado. I'll be taking a few Autobots with me. They might be able to glean something from the area that our men may have missed. The Autobot's Weapons Specialist happens to be a good tracker. I'm also going to send someone to guard Sarah and Anna in the meantime." Will hoped the General would take the hint. There was nothing more that could be done here for now, and he needed to get prepped for a long journey.
"That's a sound plan." The General agreed with a small nod. "I believe that is all the information we have on the situation at the moment." The General paused, appearing to mull something over before he spoke gently.
"My deepest condolences for the loss of your father. However trying this time may be, I believe this event to be more of a coincidence than a targeted attack on your family." That may be true, but they could never be too sure. It didn't change the direness of the situation. "Still if it brings you peace then I approve of your decision to send guard to your home in the event that I am wrong, at least until more information is found. Just be careful. You're dismissed to make your preparations. Good luck, Major Lennox."
"Thank you, General Morshower, sir." The Major responded gratefully. The screen turned black the next second as the call ended. Will stood in the room for a few extra minutes, leaning and gripping the edge of the table till his knuckles were white. He focused on taking deep breaths and gathering his resolve the best he could before he had to go back out there and inform anyone else.
When Will finally exited the room he was met with the sight of Ironhide in bipedal form, towering over Sargent Robert Epps as they conversed at a respectful distance away from the meeting area, just outside the hanger doors. They both looked over as he approached them.
Will prided himself in having a good poker face, but something in his expression must have tipped Epps off. His African American friend jogged over and met him halfway looking highly concerned.
"Hey man, what's going on?"
Will hesitated for a second, trying to wrap his head around how to best summarize what he had just been told. He settled for simply repeating everything the General had just told him, trying to detach himself the best he could from what he was actually saying as he watched Epps eyes grow wider and more horrified by the second.
Will had just finished speaking when both men nearly jumped out of their skin as a menacing growl rang out right beside. They both looked up at Ironhide, meeting ice cold optics that were churning with fury. The mech looked like he was trying extremely hard to not fly into a murderous rage. Usually he'd be going on an angry rant by now, and the fact that he was saying nothing at all scared Will more than any degree of rage filled words the bot could spew. He only barely managed to tear his eyes away as he felt a hand placed on his shoulder.
"I'm so sorry bro." Epps pulled Will into a half-hug, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and squeezing. Smiling slightly, Will mirrored the gesture in thanks before turning back to Ironhide's silently fuming form.
"I need to fly out to Colorado now, and I'm planning on taking a few Autobots with me. One to accompany me with my sister and one to search the house's property for a Decepticon trace. Think you can track him down Hide?"
Ironhide snorted. "That Decepticon punk will be torn limb from limb and melted into slag before he can reach the state border." He snarled out. The mech's optics took on a distant gaze for a moment before focusing back on Will. "I've informed Ratchet on the situation and he has agreed to accompany you while I search the crash site."
Will immediately thought it a little strange that Ironhide went straight to the CMO of the Autobots for help in what would be a simple transport and protection issue, but he decided not to dwell on it for now.
"I also need someone to go over to the house to guard Sarah and Annabelle." Will told them, drifted off in thought of who to assign before Epps stepped back in.
"Don't worry Lennox. I'm all over that. I'll get something arranged ASAP."
"Good." Will clapped his hands together, anxious to get a move on, as there were a few things he needed to sort out as commanding officer on base before leaving. "Now I just need to order a carrier to be prepped, fill out some paperwork for-"
Epps cut him off before he could go on a tangent. "Dude, Optimus and I'll take care of everything over here. The only thing you need to worry about right now is packing a bag."
"But-" Will tried to object.
Epps would have none of it. "It's okay. I got this." The man stared him down stubbornly.
Will sighed but relented. "Thanks, Epps."
"No problem. Meet me on the tarmac when you're ready to go. I'll go get that plane prepped." With that Epps jogged off across the asphalt heading towards the airstrip. Will looked back over at his Guardian to the hissing and clicking of gears as he shifted back down into his alt form with driver's side door ajar, silently offering a ride over to the human barracks. Will jumped in and they headed off to the left side of the island.
"I am sorry for the loss of your creator." Ironhide rumbled softly, breaking the silence. Will glanced down at the dashboard.
"Thank you, Ironhide." He responded gently. Ever since the mech had been instated as protector of the Lennox family he'd proven to have a lot more underneath his gruff exterior then he was lead to believe at first. Now he knew the bot genuinely cared, and he'd meant what he said. Will felt sorry for the mech with the knowledge that his Guardian protocols were likely going haywire with this latest attack.
It was then that Will realized specifically why the bot had gone to Ratchet for aid. He wanted the medic there to insure nothing was wrong with his sister, and that she'd be in the best possible care. Ratchet may be an alien doctor to an advanced metal race, but he had proven to be a miracle worker with both species, incredibly intelligent and true to his position.
He hadn't considered till now that maybe Ironhide's protectiveness extended to anyone closely related to Will by blood or heart, even if he hadn't met them yet. He had a feeling the bot was going to be on edge the entire trip until he finally got to blast that Con bastard with his cannons.
When Ironhide reached the barracks Will darted into his officer's quarters and pulled out a duffel bag, ram-packing it with as many clothes and basic supplies as he could, tossing in a few power bars as an afterthought. He didn't know how long he would be away, but he needed to be prepared. When he had everything he needed he darted back out to Ironhide and they headed over to the airstrip were a small cargo plane was getting warmed up and fuelled with Epps helping out the pilots.
The two men proceeded to strap Ironhide's alt mode securely inside the cargo hold, and no sooner had they finished that the Autobot's Medical Officer Ratchet drove up the ramp in his alt mode, settling in the spot adjacent to Ironhide without a word. They'd just finished strapping the yellow Search and Rescue Hummer in when the pilot walked over and announced the plane was ready to leave.
Epps turned to Will and gave him a brief clap on the shoulder and a 'good luck'. His friend exited the plane with a final salute as the cargo door closed. Will wandered over to one of the benches lining the wall and sat down, belting himself in for the long flight.
"Major?" Ratchet called out. Will looked up from his seat. "I hacked into the patient records at Aspen Valley Hospital. Your sister's condition remains unchanged, still unconscious."
"Thanks Ratchet. Let me know if anything changes." Will leaned his head against the metal fuselage behind him and tried to relax. The plane rose from the tarmac, the change in air pressure causing his ears to ache and pop as they quickly gained altitude and speed.
The two Autobots remained silent over the course of the next several hours, and for that Will was immensely grateful. It gave him time to sort through his thoughts and emotions. All the stuff he'd normally have to worry about was taken care of. The General and the local NEST base had probably already formulated a cover story for the attack. That left him with only his own issues to deal with.
The first thing that came to his mind was his father. He was going to have to plan the funeral for him. Will felt his heart clench in a vice-like grip, grief and sorrow caging it in harder the longer he though about it, but now he had to learn to come to terms with this.
He was never going to see his father again. Would never get the chance to talk to him one last time. He realized only now in hindsight how little he'd actually seen him, and he regretted that dearly. But with the way both their careers and lives were, that's just how it went.
They were always soldiers first. Their duties came before their family, and that was one of the things Will hated most about his job. Don't get him wrong, there were many things he did like about his job. Being a leader, guiding his team through difficult situations and leading them out safely, serving to protect innocent lives were the biggest reasons to him. But he'd always feel the lingering pain of all those missed moments and opportunities that followed him wherever he went, a silent reminder of the cost he had to pay for his duty.
The next thing that came to mind was his sister, and he truthfully didn't know what to expect when he got there. He hadn't seen her in person in about three years, since the day of his and Sarah's wedding. He was pretty sure that she would be traumatized by the events if she had happened to see something during the attack, which he now realized was a very good chance. He didn't know how she was going to handle that knowledge, or their father's death. She might have even witnessed him being killed, which was even worse to think about. The chances of lingering emotional trauma were steadily rising.
Will decided that he'd have to figure it all out as the cards were dealt. He'd start by finding out what she'd known or seen, and then figure out a way to keep her safe and as far away from all this Cybertronian stuff as possible. He didn't want her anywhere near or involved in this war if he could help it.
After several anxious hours Will felt the plane descend as the pilot finally announced their imminent arrival. A bone-jarring jolt marked their touch down as the landing gear settled heavily on the tarmac of a small military base in Colorado, owned by NEST of course. When the plane came to a complete stop the bay doors opened and the pilot came back from the cockpit to help him release the tie-straps from the undercarriage of the Autobots.
"Major, if you would hop in my cabin please." Ratchet's passenger side door popped open. "I will be heading straight to the hospital while Ironhide will split off to head to the impact site." Will nodded and stepped up the side of the yellow hummer before turning back to look at his Guardian.
"Be careful when you get there, alright?" Will warned in concern for his fellow comrade and friend. He was a seasoned veteran, but he could be a bit reckless and trigger happy on his own.
Ironhide scoffed. "Ain't a single Con that's gonna touch me."
Will chuckled as he settled down in Ratchets passenger seat, duffel bag at his feet. Both vehicles sped off down the ramp, through the base gates that had already been opened for them and onto the open road.
It was almost a two hour drive from the base to the hospital by Ratchet's calculation, so Will used the time to marvel out the windows of the Hummer at the beautiful greenery and rolling hills of the countryside. About an hour into the drive he glanced in the review mirror to see Ironhide break off from them, turning down a different road that that would eventually lead to his family's old home, or rather what was left for it. He was curious about the damages, but decided better of it. He'd have to wait till later, as the horrible twisting in his stomach signalled he wasn't ready to see that yet.
Within the next hour Aspen Valley Hospital came into view, and Ratchet pulled up around the many concrete curbs to a small parking lot just outside the front entrance. The Hospital was small by city standards, only a few floors total. It still held a professional air, if a bit fancy architecturally speaking. The building was defined by neat reddish bricks and large one-way glass windows dominating each floor and predominately around the entrance way. There was a spectacular view of a small mountain range coated with greenery that towered beyond the far side of the institute.
Will was interrupted from his thorough inspection as a small static burst sounded in the cabin. He flinched and swore in surprise as a figure suddenly appeared in the driver's seat next to him.
"Jesus! A little warning next time?" Will complained, scowling at Ratchet's holoform. It was a human representation of himself that the Autobots recently began using to help blend in better. They'd deemed it more useful for dealing with certain human situations their true forms could not, but Will was still trying to get used to it.
"Sorry." The subtle gleam in Ratchet's neon blue eyes begged to differ. He wasn't sorry in the least.
Will jumped down from the cabin and started strolling up to the hospital entrance. "I'm never gonna get used to that." He mumbled as he opened one of the glass doors and walked inside, Ratchet's holoform following closely behind.
Ratchet didn't even bother with the front desk, just strolled in like he owned the place. He quickly turned left down the hallway, past a slightly baffled receptionist. Will following his lead without question, smirking faintly.
Ratchet slowed his brisk walk as they approached room number seven. The door opened and out walked a middle aged doctor with brownish-grey hair and thin framed glasses. The doctor looked up as Ratchet took a stance by the door, Will coming up next to him.
"Hello. Can I help you two gentlemen with anything?"
"Yes, I'm Major William Lennox. This is my friend and medic Ratchet." The doctor's eyes quickly flashed with recognition at Will's name, shaking both their hands and introducing himself as Doctor Andrew Hilson. "I'm sure your aware I'm here to see Skylar Lennox." He hesitated, crossing his arms nervously. "How is she?"
Doctor Hilson brows furrowing in concentration. "Generally speaking, she's alright. She was very lucky. Our tests show she has a minor concussion from a blunt force blow, and some bruised ribs at worst. But other than that it's just a few minor cuts and lots of bruising. The car that was parked in the broken remains of the barn she was found in actually saved her from worse injury or even death. If the frame hadn't been there to support most of the fallen timbers around her unconscious body things could have been a lot worse."
"So what seems to be the problem?" Ratchet piped in, noticing the doctor's concern.
"Well she still hasn't woken up. We haven't tried any procedures to rouse her up yet, but we'll have to start considering some options soon. " The doctor stated bluntly.
Will was confused. It had been hours since the attack. Why hadn't she been awake at least once so far?. "Is there something wrong with her? You did say she had a concussion..."
"I don't believe that's the cause. Her concussion was far too minor to cause anything other than a headache or some trouble concentrating, and all her vitals are normal. " Doctor Hilson reassured. "There's no physical reason that she is still under. My guess is that she is simply not ready to wake up yet. We've seen these types of things happen before after traumatic accidents."
Will heaved a sigh and dragged a palm over his face. The fact that she was still out was nerve-wracking and he didn't like it, but he supposed maybe the doctor was right. Even though he didn't know the full extent of what happened, the doctor had hit the mark more than he was aware of.
"May I see her?" He asked.
"Of course. Maybe your presence will help." Doctor Hilson nodded curtly and stepped aside. Will reached for the doorknob, hesitating to give Ratchet a backwards glance. The medic just gestured for him to go ahead, probably wanting to talk to the doctor. With that Will turned the knob and entered the room, closing the door quietly behind him.
Turning around Will took a moment to take in the large plain room before focusing on the single bed against the right wall, and the person that lay upon it. He walked slowly to the side of the bed, pulling up a chair so he could sit down and fold his arms against the rails of the bed as he looked over his sister.
Skylar had changed a bit since he'd last seen her. She'd lost the rest of her babyish features, and the sharp defined cheekbones of her face proved it. Her hair was longer now, resting against her body in long golden brown locks thickly waved past her shoulders. Her skin was lightly tanned like his own. Neither of them seemed to tan very much under constant sun, a trait they both seemed to share with their mother.
She'd grown a bit taller as well, a fair height for a woman. She'd probably stand just past his shoulders next to him. Her arms, which lay outside the bed sheets, were well toned and strong. Undoubtedly not just a product of the farm work she'd been doing but the automotive work as well. He knew she loved working in her makeshift workshop daily and it required a certain level of physical strength. However, he realized that there was something slightly off as he continued scanning over her carefully.
She looked worn and a little too thin. The skin of her hands and knuckles was taut. Her cheeks were sunken in just the slightest bit, as well as a slight hollowed darkness residing under her eyes. It wasn't obvious, but if anyone looked close enough they could see it. He hoped it was just a side effect of her current state of circumstance and the temporary method for administering nutrients. There was an IV in her arm, the liquid mixture dripping in at a very slow, lulling rhythm.
Well, she'll be thrilled about that when she wakes up, he thought sarcastically. She absolutely hated needles, and would surely throw a fit as soon as she woke up and noticed the 'horrifying' instrument imbedded in her right arm.
The last thing that he noted as he took one of her hands in his carefully was the bruising Doctor Hilson had warned him about. They littered her skin in randomly strewn blotches of purple discolouration, which he could see thanks to the short sleeved blue scrubs they'd redressed her in. There was a large bruise that seemed to have spread around her collarbone, and smaller ones around the backs of her arms where stray timbers must have pelted her. They were probably all over her back as well, though he couldn't see for sure. She must have fallen on her front as the debris collapsed around her, which made the massive bruising on her collar that much more interesting. How had she gotten that one then?
"Skylar," Will spoke softly, unsure whether this would do anything but willing to try. She needed to wake up, and he was hoping maybe his just being here would speed things along. "It's your big brother Will." He squeezed her hand gently, watching her face for any sign of acknowledgement. "Don't you think you've napped enough, kiddo?" He scoffed lightly to himself when there was no response. He felt a little bit silly, like he was just talking to himself here.
Will turned his head to the side at the faint sounds of conversation on the opposite side of the door. Ratchet was probably just quizzing the doctor on any and everything they'd done for Skylar so far. His thoughts jumped from that train of thought to Ironhide, and he briefly wondered if he'd arrived at the house yet. Glancing down at his watch, he guessed that Ironhide would be there soon if he wasn't already. The bot was supposed to call him the moment he found anything useful.
When he looked back to his sister his heart jumped. Skylar's eyes were partway open, the vibrant colour of her deep sky blue irises peeking behind thick, rapidly fluttering eyelashes. They remained lazy and disoriented for a few seconds before she squeezed them shut and pained groan.
"Ratchet!" He hissed low, knowing the Autobot medic would hear him as he tried to patiently wait for Skylar to regain coherency.
When I came to I really wish I hadn't. My head throbbed horribly, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. I knew my limbs would be sore even before I tried to shift them. The dull light of the room still managed to strain my half opened eyes as a low groan escaped my mouth before I could catch myself. My eyes opened slower this time, only to be greeted with the sight of overbearingly white walls and a matching ceiling.
Where the hell am I? I thought groggily, but my mind was too slow and stubborn to bother working it out just now. I lay still for a moment, letting my awareness settle back and my senses adjust.
It was about that time I recognized the warm pressure surrounding my left hand as something squeezed it. My body tensed defensively as my head snapped around to face the offender, wincing as another sharp pain laced through it. I froze when my eyes met with the familiar face of the last person I had ever expected to see.
"Will?" I stared wide eyed and stunned as my older brother cracked a wide, playful grin.
"Hey there, kiddo." He spoke softly, his voice heavy with relief. "How are you feeling?" There was definitely a trace of humour and mischief in that seemingly innocent question.
I have a feeling you know full well, I silently accused, glaring at him mildly. "Like absolute hell. I feel like I got battered and beaten with a 2x4 or a crowbar or something." Will gave a strained chuckle at my analogy. "Of course I know that didn't actually happen, that would be silly."
When I tried shifting, the aching in my bones flared up again. I also began to realize breathing was a bit more difficult than normal, and my midsection felt too hot like it was inflamed. Glancing down, I noticed for the first time the light blue hospital attire I had been clothed in which appeared to be doctor's scrubs. Something serious must had happened, but my mind could think up nothing relevant through the thick haze that clouded it.
I looked up at Will in shock. "What happened to me? Where are we?"
Will's eyes became guarded as he watched me carefully. What he was searching for, I didn't know. I staring back expectantly.
"You're at Aspen Valley Hospital." I looked out the window to the right to see rolling green hills and small mountains. Still in Colorado at least. "You were brought here after someone found you in the collapsed remains of your makeshift garage." He paused as I took a moment to process this new information. He must have waited a full minute for some kind of response from me, but when I didn't respond much he grew concerned.
"Don't you remember anything?"
I tried again to dig through my mind for any memory of the events he'd described, but the pain was not helping my cause. "I'm sorry, but honestly I can't remember a thing past this incessant throbbing in my head." I reached up with my right hand to tentatively touch the back of my head where the pain seemed to be originating from when I felt an unpleasant tugging at the skin of my forearm. I looked down in confused annoyance, stopping dead as my eyes widened in pure horror.
"Sky," Will warned slowly. "I know that look. It's just an IV, it's not there to harm you."
This reassurance thing totally wasn't working.
"I don't care if it's an IV." I ground out slowly, voice strained as I attempted to keep my cool and not snap at him inadvertently. "It's a needle, its piercing my skin, and I want it out. Now." I saw Will glance behind him in my peripheral, and I became aware of two unknown men standing by the doorway of the room. The one in the white coat walked briskly around the foot of the bed to stand by my right side.
"I suppose you don't need this anymore, seeing as you'll be able to eat and drink on your own now. Hold still please." The unnamed doctor spoke gently as he touched my arm.
"Not a problem." I grumbled, whining uncomfortably in my throat and cringing as the doctor slowly pulled the lead of the IV out. He took the tape off to reveal a bleeding welt in my skin which he quickly swabbed with a disinfectant and bandaged while I sulked.
"Baby." I heard my brother mumble on my other side. I trained a glare his way, being careful not to whip my head around this time. He stared back with fake innocence, but his wide brown eyes were shining with obvious amusement. I turned around back to the other side, intent on just ignoring him from now on.
"Thank you very much, Doctor…" I trailed off questioningly.
"Andrew Hilson." He supplied with a kind smile. "And you're most welcome, Miss Lennox. Just so you know, you have no major injuries, just a slight concussion and a few bruised ribs. Take it easy and you should be walking around just fine in a day or two. Would you like some pain killers for the soreness?"
"Yes, please. Nothing too strong though." As Doctor Hilson walked over to a medicine cabinet I turned my attention to the other man at the door. He looked to be in about his early fourty's. He was slightly shorter than my brother, with a solid healthy build. He had short tidy hair that was mostly a dark brown with specks of grey strewn throughout. His eyes were a startling shade of blue that almost verged on glowing neon. The unknown man walked up to stand beside Will when he noticed my stare. "Friend of yours?" I asked my brother.
"Yes. He's a medic for my base's unit." The man in question offered his hand to me in a firm but gentle handshake.
"Call me Ratchet." The man said calmly. What an unusual name for someone to have. Maybe it was just a military nickname? "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Lennox, and a relief to see you well and mostly healthy. Major Lennox was very concerned about you."
"How far did you guys have to travel to get here?" I asked them both as Doctor Hilson handed me a capsule and glass of water, promptly slipped quietly out of the room to give us some space. I downed it quickly.
"Several hours. You've been out for nearly half a day. I literally just got here before you woke up." Will answered. He was doing that same odd staring from earlier, like he was still searching for something. I brushed it off as just paranoid concern.
"That's quite a long flight. Where the hell are you stationed?"
"Somewhere in the ocean. It's classified." Will stated swiftly.
"You must have made it up to the big ranks if you can't even give me which ocean." I laughed at his vagueness. I was trying to make conversation and learn a bit more about his current situation, but he wasn't giving me much. It had been a long time since we'd last seen each other, and I hadn't been great at keeping tabs on his current military status. It had been so long that it made me a bit uncomfortable seeing him so unexpectedly, though it still delighted me at the same time.
"Something like that." He smiled slightly. I felt my curiosity perk at the hidden implication in his voice, but my digging would have to wait. As I glanced around the room again I realized there were more important questions that needed to be asked first.
"So why exactly did the barn collapse on me? It's condition wasn't that bad...And where's Dad? Why isn't he here?" Will tensed, that same guarded look from earlier crossing his face. He opened his mouth to say something, but words seemed to fall short. The look in his eyes is what really worried me though. If you looked hard enough you could just barely see it, hiding beneath the surface.
The pain.
Before he had a chance to explain anything his cell went off. He glanced at it with a slight frown before it smoothed out, replaced with realization and unmistakable relief.
"I got to take this call. Ratchet, can you watch over Sky for a few minutes?"
"I don't need babysitting." I mumbled absentmindedly. It was meant to be beyond anyone's hearing, but the medic glanced over at me with a small glimmer of amusement none-the-less.
As the door closed I brought a hand to my face, taking a deep breath. "Why do I get the feeling there's something very important I'm missing?" I said to no one in particular. I caught Ratchet's wary expression, and narrowed my eyes suspiciously at him.
"You're both doing it." I accused him. "You're both walking eggshells around me. Why?"
Ratchet sighed and kneeled next to the bed, staring at me with a degree of sympathy that a part of me hated for some reason.
"Do you not remember anything at all?" He asked gently. I really was trying hard, but the ache in my head was still interfering with my ability to do so, acting as a thick fog obscuring any trace of recent memory I tried to reach for.
"No," I said hesitantly. "I'm having a hard time concentrating on most things except here and now. I can't recall anything from the past day or two I think. Can't you just fill me in on what I'm missing?"
"I'm afraid that's something better left for your brother to explain." I wanted and wished I was just imagining the look of pity on his face, the weary sadness in his deep voice. The way everyone was acting around me was quickly slipping me into a state of anxiety as my heart started to race. Why weren't they answering my questions? I'd thought that they would be simple enough. What was I missing that was so damn important?
Suddenly Ratchet was looking towards the door with an irritated scowl. He stool up fluidly from his crouch, and walked toward the door. "Stay put, I'll be back in a few minutes." He called over his shoulder, shutting the door behind me and leaving me effectively alone in the room again and befuddled at his sudden departure.
Where would I go?, I though sarcastically, sinking back heavily into the soft mattress of the hospital bed and trying my best to calm my racing heart.
Ironhide continually grumbled to himself as he travelled quickly down the quiet country road. Rocks and gravel pinged annoyingly off his thick black armour, wedging themselves into places in his undercarriage they really shouldn't be. Normally trivial things wouldn't usually annoy him this much, but the way this day was going was serving to accelerate his already wire thin temper.
He couldn't believe he had let this happen. They should have detected that Decepticon's signal, but because they didn't someone important to his charge had been killed, another put in danger's way. He felt like he'd failed his duty as a Guardian.
Sometimes he cursed his role as a Guardian for making him act what would be considered highly overprotective, but he couldn't help the part of his programming that wished he could move the rest of the Lennox's somewhere he could keep a better optic on them all. The island seemed like a very good idea at the moment, but the Major would never go for it.
It didn't escape his notice that this could have easily happened to Sarah and Annabelle. He'd heard all about the Major's family through normal conversations. Though they didn't really see each other much, he could tell that Will cared for his mech creator and sibling very much. He may have seemed relatively calm when he came out of that meeting room, but his high heart rate gave him away.
He really hoped the sister would be alright. It was too late for the creator, but he could make himself feel better by ripping that Con's spark out, blasting it with his cannons while the Con watched helplessly, then blasting his helm off for safe measure.
The coordinates for his destination pinged on his HUD, and Ironhide saw the proof with his own optics. The whole front of the area was taped off, but he easily drove through the yellow plastic and slowed down to a crawl on the property. To the left was a half charred heap of burned organic materials and plastics that looked to be what was left of the main housing unit. A few ruptured metal tanks sat to the right of the pile, tops blown clean off, curled and blackened. Ironhide's sensors picked of traces of a flammable fluid around it that was likely the cause of the blaze. Propane, if his understanding of the different oils humans used for heating was correct.
Another heap sat further to the right, this one a lot more recognizable as it had escaped the wrath of the blaze. Large wooden boards had been sifted and dug aside from the main pile, where an old vehicle was barely peeking out of the mess. It was in a sorry state. Crushed and twisted metal, some of which looked distinctly like claw gouges, shattered glass, dents and holes throughout different areas of it's chassis from front to bumper. As far as Ironhide was concerned it was nothing but scrap metal now, destined for the junkyard.
Ironhide moved on, continuing slowly past the large heap towards the impact crater in the middle of the field and immediately picking up the faint traces of the Energon trail. The Con had headed towards the house almost immediately upon arrival, indicated by the weaker trail and physical tracks, then circled around to travel further into the fields of the properly where the trail was distinctly fresher. Ironhide took off after it, following the signature and visible tracks closely. His tires easily held traction as his alt bounded over dirt hills driving further and further in.
He became concerned as the signature grew weaker, foggy and confused like it was being diluted by something. The ground held more moisture here than the land farther back, and the pede tracks were no longer visible. His form started to have traction issues as the ground got muddier, tires spinning for purchase. Right before he started thinking it might be a good idea to transform and follow in bipedal mode his black form burst through a patch of thick tall brush. The second he caught sight of what was hidden on the other side he screeched to an abrupt halt.
I'm not following that. He let loose a growl of frustration in this desolate place as he looked over the reason for his need to stop. The grey stormy clouds overhead only proved that what he had come out here for was a lost cause. Ironhide send a call to the Major's secure cell phone. After 15 seconds of fuming impatiently the other end finally answered.
"What did you find, buddy?" Lennox spoke clearly but quietly. He was in a hospital, right, so he didn't want their conversation to be overheard.
"I don't think we are going to be finding that slaggin' Con anytime soon." Ironhide admitted reluctantly. Oh, how he hated admitting defeat. Especially with a vendetta like this.
"What? Why?" Lennox's voice rose in outrage and confusion.
"Apparently this Con isn't as adverse to water as the rest of us are." He mused dryly as he continued to stare at the loathsome body of water and cursing it internally to the Pits.
"Why should that be a problem?" Lennox asked slowly, less angry but still confused. Ironhide's explanation was going to be some new to him, and it was something he probably should have notified NEST of sooner.
"I've run across a rather large body of water you humans refer to as a lake. The Con jumped into this lake and waded to the other side. Normally I would scour the entire perimeter to find out where the Con surfaced, but I can't read Energon signatures through water. It dilutes and disperses it, weakening the trace significantly." He gave a loathsome growl. "On top of that the trail is receding quickly, and it appears a heavy rain passed through this area recently. It's diluting the Decepticon signature even more and his pede tracks have already disappeared through the saturated ground at the banks."
There was a long silence on the other end that was eventually interrupted by Lennox's cursing. "Okay Ironhide, return to the hospital. We'll just have to keep a sharp eye for any sightings and wait for that bastard to show himself again. A Con that big shouldn't be too hard to miss."
Ironhide chose to withhold his comment that a Decepticon that size could still manage to be very obscure if he wanted to. He'd also somewhat deciphered the signature to figure out exactly who it was, and if he was right this would be far more difficult than they anticipated. No need to aggravate the Major further when he had enough to deal with already.
"How is Skylar?" Ironhide asked in a gentler, curious tone.
"She's awake now. She's going to be sore for a while, but considering the circumstances that's a blessing. She doesn't remember what happened though. Not sure if it's temporary or not."
"In that cause, are you going to tell her?" No response. It didn't take much for him to correctly interpret the reason for his charge's silence. "You have to tell her sometime soon."
"Yeah I know, I know." Lennox agreed begrudgingly. "It's just so hard. I never thought I'd have to be the one to break news like this to her. It's even worse seeing the confusion in her eyes and knowing it's only going to get a whole lot worse." On the other side of the line he picked up the distinct sound of a door closing and Ratchet, unsurprisingly, scolding the Major.
"You need to tell her, and you need to do it immediately. Her heart rate is increasing, and she's starting to edge into a state of anxiety because of our evasion. It's better for her both physically and mentally if we get it out of the way here and now."
"Okay, I'll do it. But please... This is going to be hard enough as it stands." Lennox pleaded, static raising over the comm. link as he sighed.
Ironhide felt something was wrong the moment an unnatural silence fell over the line, as if intakes were being held. The silence was broke a beat later by Ratchet's urgent tone. "Lennox!" He heard Lennox swear loudly as quick footsteps drifted away to the sound of a door swinging open harshly.
"I need to go, I'll talk to you later." Lennox said hurriedly before the call was disconnected, leaving Ironhide wondering what the frag had just happened.
Resting back against the bed I sighed with a small degree of relief, feeling the haze of the head injury gradually lifting as well as the pain of my other injuries. Doctor Hilson's and my version of 'nothing too strong' must differ slightly for the medication to have taken effect so quickly.
I was still shocked that Will was actually here. He had to miss special occasions, birthdays, and holidays with us as well as back home with Sarah and his baby daughter. It was all in the name of his military career, which demanded he be away for months and sometimes years at a time. So why, after all this time, would he put in such effort to see me now? I'd explicitly told him not to. Even though I'd apparently been caught in what could have been a potentially fatal accident, which I still had yet to remember, it couldn't have been that bad. I was obviously alive and barely even injured enough for anyone to be so concerned.
Okay, maybe family was just like that by default. I still couldn't get over the awful sensation that there was something huge that I was missing. Something important I should never be overlooking.
I closed my eyes gently and focused on breathing in evenly. If I could just relax maybe it would come to me naturally. As I dug deeper into my mind small fragments came back to me. I remembered a normal day working at Jesse's farm, then getting into my car and driving home later than usual. Another fragment of memory came to me where I was tinkering with a random engine part, not unusual of me. But what had happened past that point?...
It hit me with the brutal force of a freight train. Flashes of fire and impossible things danced behind my eyelids in a dizzying array of colour and chaos. There was fear... despair... and then a bloodcurdling scream as my world was painted in red.
My eyes flashed open as an intense wave of nausea hit. I vaulted out of bed in a blur, stumbling with clumsy urgency to the bathroom. I collapsed against the toilet, retching what little my stomach contained in a frenzied and dishevelled mess. My heart hammered inside my chest a million miles a minute as if it were trying to crash its way through my ribcage.
It wasn't until I felt hands on me and the muted sounds of alarmed voices I couldn't decipher that I realized I was trembling, sobbing and wailing uncontrollably. I couldn't have cared less.
I had no idea where the phrase 'ignorance is bliss' came from, but for this instant in time whoever had said it… had been one thousand times too right.
Okay, so this chapter was a little longer than I would have liked, but I'm glad from my reviews that someone thinks they are about an appropriate size. I know it might be a bit slow right now, but this is just the beginning. As a note, the start of the story is going to focus on a Hurt/Comfort theme for a while, but you'll find it will cover a lot of different genre categories as time goes on. Also, the chapters won't bounce POV as much at about the fifth or sixth chapter, they'll focus more on the main OC.
Updates won't always be as fast as this one was (after all I am writing massive chapters, still unsure about whether or not that's a good thing yet) so I wouldn't expect any more chapters out for at least another week. I'll try to push chapter three out for next Friday.
As always, any constructive criticism is welcome. Review and let me know your thoughts so far, or where I can improve. It would be greatly appreciated!
Date posted: August 15th, 2015