two chapters in one day? yes.
Ironhide drove into the hangar, gears weary after another day of searching for his comrade. This being the second week of searching, soldiers were becoming less hopeful and the government were becoming less supportive of the mission, much to Ironhide's dismay. Even with forces supporting the mission slowly dwindling Ironhide and the autobots still pressed on, driving to every nook of every lead that they had in hope that they could find the enemy behind Will's capture.
A research division was quickly formed when Ironhide spoke of MECH, the supposed culprits behind the attack on the Lennox household. What was concerning to the old bot was that the division had no previous information on this mysterious organization, making it all the more threatening. Ironhide always liked to know a little bit about his opponent before taking them time though, he was talking about a possible army of people capable of kidnapping one of the autobots most trusted soldiers and somehow avoiding detection for two weeks straight. Ironhide didn't have to look around to see the faces of concerned allies, he could practically sense the tension. When someone as high ranked as Will went missing and his daughter is almost killed, thats when you realize that the enemy is serious.
Transforming, Ironhide sighed as he thought about Will's daughter as he made his way down the hangar bay to the rec room. After he and Ratchet told Annabel about her injury she was at first, surprisingly positive. After three days of being stuck in bed due to Ratchet, Annabel was finally able to get up and move around and did her best to help in every way. Her positive mindset at the time was impressive. As the second week began, that side of Annabel began to deplete. She'd obviously grown tired of using the crutches and according to Ratchet would be stuck with them for at least another week.
Ironhide got closer and closer to the rec room with every stride he took. The bot smiled to himself, clearly aware that this had become a type of ritual. It would start with him getting up in the morning, checking on Annabel then leaving to continue his search for the day. When Optimus finally drags him back to base at the end of the day Ironhide would head to the rec room and meet up with his charge. They'd discuss the days ongoings then Annabel would ask if there was any news on Will. Day after day Ironhide heartbreakingly had to say no. Sometimes there'd be a small sliver of information but none that the child could use to uplift her hope for her fathers survival.
Ironhide reached the rec room and entered, not surprised to find it deserted. It was almost midnight after all. He stepped into the room, a familiar guilt settling in for making Annabel stay up so late every night. Ironhide had repeatedly told the teen that she needn't stay up to wait for him to return but Annabel being Annabel dismissed the request and proceeded with the late night waits.
Normally Ironhide would find Annabel curled up on a couch, watching an episode of adventure time, sometimes a scarce blanket or pillow as her company. Ironhide casually approached the couch, expecting to see her curled up as always. She was curled up, but not with a blanket.
"Annabel?" He growled, whirring his cannon to life as he stared at the strange male curled uncomfortably close to his charge. The male lazily raised his head to find the source of the noise and jumped in shock at the cannon aimed for his face.
"Shit!" Jason yelled, tumbling off the couch in shock, taking Annabel with him. Annabel screeched as she fell to the ground and awkwardly tried to clamber off Jason. They both scampered to their feet, Jason's eyes wide with shock and Annabel's with embarrassment as Ironhide loomed before them, cannons whirring.
"Annabel stay behind me." Jason said, gently pushing her behind him. Annabel looked at him in bewilderment and Jason puffed out his chest and stared down Ironhide's cannon.
"Back off!" Jason yelled, bunching his fists in a defensive stance. Ironhide roared and whirred his cannon even faster, humming it to life with a blue illumination. The color in Jason's face quickly disappeared and he stepped back a bit, bumping into Annabel as he did.
"Annabel, on my signal. Run."
"What!"
"RUN!"
"Wait!" Annabel yelped as Jason threw her over her shoulder and bolted for the door. "Jason what are you doing! Put me down!" Annabel yelled as she bumped and jostled about on his shoulder.
"I'm getting us away from that thing! He could have defected or something!"
Annabel looked up to see Ironhide striding after them, optics fuming and cannons clearly activated. She gave him a pleading look to calm down and Ironhide partially took the hint. He lowered his servos but took one stride over the teens, using his large metal plated foot to block Jason's exit. Jason skidded to a halt and spun around, desperate for an exit. Annabel had stopped struggling by now and reached up and tapped Jason on the shoulder.
"Jason." Annabel said quietly. "Please put me down."
The teen protested. "But, the defective.."
"NOW."
Jason hastily lowered Annabel to the floor and screamed when Ironhide grabbed him in a servo and lifted him up to his eye level.
"Stay away from her. You got that punk?" Ironhide snarled, blue optics burning bright. Jason glanced at Annabel then back at the bot and reluctantly nodded. Ironhide smirked and lowered the boy to the ground. Jason tumbled out of Ironhide's grip and clumsily landed on his feet.
"I'm really sorry, Ironhide gets a little protective sometimes." Annabel asked placing a hand on his shoulder. Jason flinched and looked at Annabel, his recent trauma visible in his eyes.
"So he'd not defective?"
Annabel sighed and nodded. "No he isn't. He's just paranoid."
Jason nodded and glanced at his wrist.
"I think I should go."
Annabel shrugged and offered her hand.
"It was nice hanging out with you."
Jason obliged and shook her hand.
"It certainly was.. M'am."
Jason snuck her a quick wink then jogged out of the rec room, leaving Annabel and Ironhide alone.
Annabel stood there arms crossed and a frown etched on her face as Ironhide stood smug, chuckling slightly as he watch Jason increase his pace as he left the room.
"Ironhide was that really necessary?" Annabel scolded, placing her hands on her hips. Ironhide shrugged.
"You should not associate with males your own age."
Annabel rolled her eyes and stormed through the giant gap between the bots legs. Her leg ached badly from when Jason fell on her so her limp was painfully more obvious than usual. She wasn't the only one that noticed.
"You are injured." Ironhide said, watching her as she made her way over to the couch.
"Nope, just my leg." She replied curtly, wincing as her leg ached with every step she took.
"But you are in pain." Ironhide said, concern replacing the previous surge of adrenaline. "Let me help you."
"I think you've done enough." Annabel snapped back, plonking herself onto the couch and shakily propping her leg under a cushion.
Ironhide craned over slightly to get a closer look, optic ridge raising when he saw the cybertronian looking metal wrapped around her leg. Annabel caught his gaze and smiled a little.
"A present from Wheeljack. Don't even need to use crutches anymore."
Ironhide frowned disapprovingly. "Are you sure you are alright?"
Annabel sighed and let her head sink into the plush cushion of the couch.
"Yeah, except for the fact that you practically scared away the only person on this base who actually talked to me."
"I speak to you everyday." Ironhide replied, puzzled.
"You don't count." Annabel said. "I mean a real human friend. Not someone like Epp's, someone my age who I can hang with and not have to worry about impending doom or whatever. Teen stuff." The teen sat up and moved to a sitting position.
"Future reference." She said. Pointing to the direction that Jason had run. "That boy is Jason and he is my friend. He probably will never want to speak to me again but if you see him." Annabel paused, crossing her arms. "Be nice." She finished raising an eyebrow as Ironhide rolled his optics.
"As you wish." He said grumpily.
Annabel tilted her head and smiled a little, humored by the bots co-operation. She hopped off the couch and stumbled a little, causing Ironhide to reach down a servo in attempt to support her.
"I'm fine." She said, holding up a hand. "Still getting used to it."
Ironhide slowly took his hand away and stared at the contraption on her leg.
"Are you sure that thing won't explode." He said as more of a statement than a question..
Annabel shrugged. "I can't guarantee anything but seeing as how Wheeljack made it himself and gave me the ok to wear it, I think we're all goods."
Ironhide nodded, aware that although Wheeljack's experiments had a reputation for blowing up, he'd never put one on a human without making sure it was completely safe.
"Any news?" Annabel said quietly, snapping Ironhide out of thought. He sighed and knelt down by the human.
"Not today sparkling."
Annabel nodded, keeping her head down and avoiding eye contact with the bot. He hated coming back to base and having to tell Annabel that another day has passed and her father is still missing.
"We'll find him." He ended up saying.
Annabel sighed and straightened up and looked at him directly, taking him back a bit.
"You're beginning to sound like a broken record Hide." She said. "I'd rather hear the truth than a softened hope."
Ironhide lowered his hand to her level and allowed her to climb on. Carefully, he brought her to optic level, a straight and serious look set on his face.
"We. Will. Find. Him." He said, his rock set look unfazed by Annabel's heartbreaking stare. "That is the truth."
Annabel nodded minimally and wrapped her arms around one of his digits in a hug.
"I know."
She pulled away and sat back in his hand as Ironhide grinned at her.
"What?" She said, confusion clear on her face.
Ironhide cleared his throat and turned towards the exit of the rec room.
"So," He said. "Tell me about this Jason."
next chapter will come later on this week (: Review for feedback!
