Boys, Meet my Truck

"Meeting the Monster"

The following week…

Paul was nervous.

He'd been waiting for months to summon up the courage, but today…he was going to do it.

When he finally arrived, the Lennox family greeted him in the typical hospitable manner they displayed each time he came. He smiled but cast suspicious glances in the direction of the shed.

Much later in the day, after the evening meal, Annabelle led Paul out to the shed, which he eyed very warily.

"Paul. There's something I need to show you."

He rubbed the back of his neck, "Actually I do too."

"What do you want to show me?" the young woman asked, stopping just short of the door.

Paul licked his lips, fidgeting in his pocket. "I…I want you to…have this."

Shakily, he pulled out a small circlet of silver metal and held it up.

"Paul…" Annabelle's voice was hushed.

"It's just something I made in my metals class."

She stared at it in shock.

"I can't quite afford the real thing yet…and I can wait until we graduate and get more settled…" he fumbled.

Annabelle quickly embraced him, trembling. He hugged her back.

After a moment she pulled away and "I have to show you something…before I accept this." She closed his hand back around the promise ring and then took his arm, "Come on."

Annabelle led Paul into the shed.

"Uh…what were you going to show me?"

Annabelle didn't say anything, merely pulled him inside the shed. There sat the Topkick and Paul watched it. Taking a breath, Annabelle squeezed his hand.

"Ok, Annabelle what's this all about?" Paul asked, clearly confused.

"It's time you knew the family secret." she said very seriously.

Paul opened his mouth to speak but suddenly it just fell open. With a massive grinding and whirring sound, the Topkick broke apart into dozens of separate panels. Silver metal bulged out from under each panel as they spun and twisted. The whole truck reconfigured, rotating and pulling together until it lifted itself toward the shed ceiling. Two massive, splayed feet stomped the shed floor, shaking the building. Then quite suddenly the blue lights…the eyes…flashed down at him from a horned black and silver head. The monster!

Immediately, Paul thrust his arm around Annabelle and put her behind him.

"Stay back!" he shouted, staring down the black metal beast.

"Paul! It's all right! It's just…" Annabelle protested.

But before she could explain Paul turned and picked Annabelle up in a cradle carry, flying out the door.

Shocked, Annabelle struggled, "Paul! Stop! It's all right!"

But Paul was too pumped on adrenaline to process her objections as he ran across the farmyard. Behind them the big shed door banged open.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, BOY!" a thunderous voice shouted.

The sheer volume of the voice was enough to stop Paul in his tracks, but it was also oddly familiar. He turned to see the black metal monster emerging from the shed and striding after them.

"Put Annabelle down, NOW!" he growled, cannons whirring at his sides.

"Stay AWAY from her you monster!" Paul shouted back, pulling Annabelle protectively to his chest.

The mech raised his shoulders impressively, his blue optics flashed.

Annabelle jumped out of Paul's arms, "STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!" She shook Paul's shoulders, "Just listen! Paul… this is Ironhide."

That seemed to snap Paul out of his panic, "Huh? Ironhide?"

"You know him as Uncle Hide."

"What? Uncle…" he sputtered, eyeing Ironhide who was powering down his cannons. "What are you talking about? That thing…"

"He is an autonomous robot organism from another world. Ever since I was a baby he's been my guardian and a member of our family." the blonde explained slowly.

Paul's face was stretched with confusion and disbelief. He looked like he was debating between running for his life and passing out. Annabelle gently laid her hands on his back but he jerked away.

"This WHOLE time?" he gasped, "You were lying to me?"

Annabelle shook her head in horror at the word, "NO! I couldn't tell you! I…"

"You made me think I was going crazy!" Paul gestured with a betrayed grimace on his face, "Why didn't you tell me about this? About that!"

"It wasn't my secret to tell." Annabelle explained, desperation to save the situation choking her voice. "Please believe me!"

Paul shook his head aggressively and threw down his arms, storming toward his car.

"Paul!" Annabelle cried.

But Paul was already slamming the door of his Mustang and driving away. Ironhide was milliseconds from blasting the car with his cannons, but his concern shifted to Annabelle.

"Annabelle?" he tried to say quietly.

She was watching the red lights of Paul's car disappear down the road. A shudder issued from the young woman's lungs as her blue eyes spilled her tears. She covered her face and sobbing, she ran into the house. Ironhide felt his Spark pulse. There was nothing he hated more than to see Annabelle cry…except knowing WHO caused it. He turned very menacingly toward the road and shifted his plating to transform.

"DON'T YOU DARE!" Will shouted from the porch.

Ironhide stopped and turned.

The soldier's eyes went steely, "Don't even THINK about it!"

"Did you see how he treated Annabelle?" Ironhide snarled. "He completely rejected her!"

Will shook his head, "No. He's just in shock."

The Autobot flashed his optics, "That is NO excuse for upsetting Annabelle!"

"Just cool it Hide."

"WHY are you defending him?" Ironhide demanded loudly.

Will pointed at him, "Because he's not to blame for this!"

"What are you talking about?"

"Why don't you sit awhile and THINK about it." Will barked, marching into the house.

His gears grinding harshly, Ironhide spun his cannons and paced back to his shed. He was so outraged he could barely process a coherent thought. Was Will insinuating this was HIS fault? How was it HIS fault? That BOY was the whole reason this mess was happening! Ever since Annabelle first met him he was nothing but trouble. That boy wasn't good enough for Annabelle! He didn't deserve her!

As he stomped back to his shed he heard Annabelle crying. He stopped, turned slowly, and focused his sensors. She was in her room crying into Sara's shoulder.

"Shh. Shh. It's ok. Just let it out." Sara consoled stroking her daughter's back.

Through her sobs Annabelle gasped, "Oh mom! It's all my fault."

"No. No it's not."

The young woman sobbed even more, "I love him mom…I love him. I can't lose him. I can't!"

Ironhide leaned into his shed, optics dim.

It was his fault. He tormented the boy; made him think he was going crazy. He did every subtle trick in the book to chase him away because he believed Paul wasn't worthy of Annabelle. But…that's what HE believed. Annabelle loved this boy…and he wrecked it. No…no he wouldn't let that stand.

With a hurried transformation Ironhide zoomed down the road.

Will stormed onto the porch like he'd been shot from a cannon. "IRONHIDE!" He threw up his hands and ran to the garage to get his car.

Ironhide was going after Paul and Will prayed he wasn't going to kill the boy.

An hour later in one of the town bars…

The Lazy H was only half full. When Paul walked in he was only greeted by leery stares from the dozen or so strangers and a heavy fog of smoke. Not in any hurry he sidled up to the bar next to a loud, drunk group of Hispanics and ordered a shot of bourbon. He downed the bitter drink and ordered another. He was so confused, so hurt, and so overwhelmed; he hoped the liquor could cool his head and numb the pain that ached his heart.

How could Annabelle lie to him like that? He loved her! He was ready to commit to her for life and then she drops THIS in his lap like a hand grenade.

"I mean her damn truck is really her Uncle Hide and he's an auto…auto whatever organism from another planet? How am I supposed to deal with that?" he thought crazily to himself.

"Hey Gringo, find another seat," a harsh accented voice demanded.

Paul glanced at the man out of the corner of his eye. He was a lanky Hispanic man with a thin mustache. His four drunken friends flanked him at the bar. Paul tried to fake being deaf. He really wasn't in the mood to deal with some drunk asshole.

A couple fingers jabbed his shoulder, "Hey! You hear me Gringo? Move!"

"Sorry." Paul muttered unenthusiastically, finishing his drink, and moving over.

The gang laughed, "That's right white boy."

Paul sighed but suddenly another one of the group poked his shoulder, "Move Gringo. That's my seat."

Paul pointed down the bar, "There's plenty of room."

"You getting' smart Gringo?" the one who poked him challenged, puffing out his chest.

"I'm just saying there's…" Paul tried but suddenly the man pushed him off of his bar stool.

Paul rolled onto the floor, the bar stool toppling on top of him. The belligerent group of men laughed raucously. The young man threw the bar stool off of him and got up, eyes pulsing with anger.

One of the group strode out, arms wide, head forward in a challenging swagger, "You wanna go white boy?"

Paul answered with a lightening right hook to the man's jaw, splitting his lip. In an instant the four men pounced. Two grabbed Paul's arms and hauled him toward the door. The youth tried to fight back but he was vastly outnumbered. In one mighty heave the two men pitched Paul out the door, sending him rolling into the parking lot. Before he could get up he felt the metal tip of a cowboy boot dive into his gut. Paul groaned, air stolen from his lungs.

Someone grabbed him by the shirt and stood him up. Paul couldn't breathe as a fist met his cheek, spinning him around. Bloody saliva dripped from the boy's gasping mouth as he tried to regain his breath. Another fist planted into his kidney, dropping him to his knees.

"Not so tough are you Gringo?" one of the men taunted.

At once a boot shoved him face first to the asphalt. Paul's head was spinning when suddenly a blazing light burned his eyes. The assailants yelped in surprise and backed up. Before Paul could react he found himself lying underneath the front end of a very large truck, right between the front tires. The rumbling engine, a foot above, blasted him with heat.

"Oh dear sweet God." Paul thought with horror.

It was him.

"Great…first I get my ass kicked, now I'm going to be pulverized by his girlfriend's giant alien pickup!" he thought dismally.

Waiting for death, Paul cringed when suddenly he heard the truck door open and a black boot dropped down. The new set of boots walked very calmly around to the front of the truck.

"Who the Hell are you man?" one of the Hispanics slurred.

There was only a grating reply, "Leave the boy alone, punks."

"Fuck you, asshole!" another voice laughed drunkenly.

Paul watched as the black boots smoothly approached the gang's. Like a pack of wolves the men surged forward to attack. But, much to Paul's amazement, the men's boots lifted off the ground and all he could hear were their bodies slamming against the building. Groans of pain and shouts of dismay rang out. Then, turning on heel, the black boots leisurely walked back to the side of the pickup. Paul heard both of the truck's doors pop open.

"Get up and get in." a deep gravely voice commanded from the engine housing above him.

"No frigging way!" Paul shook his head, fingers clenching the gravel.

The engine revved, "Get in or I'll PUT you in."

"Look! If you're going to kill me just get it over with!" Paul begged, "Stop toying with me!"

"I'm not going to kill you boy. Just get in." the voice insisted.

The truck backed up, allowing him to stand. Paul shakily stood, backing up a bit.

"Don't you…"

Paul bolted across the parking lot.

"…run."

He didn't get very far when he bumped into a solid body. Paul reeled but suddenly a hand seized his arm. He looked up and beheld "Uncle Hide.". The dark mustachioed hologram frowned then flickered.

"Don't run. I just want to talk," he explained.

Paul's eyes darted wildly, "You…you're not real!"

The Hide hologram shook its head, "No. This is merely a hologram. Now get in."

Seeing that he had no choice, Paul nodded and the hologram released his arm. As he marched toward the ominous black Topkick he noticed the four men all laying sporadically in the lot; thrashed by "Uncle Hide". He swallowed hard, wondering if he was next. Only…he was sure his demise would be far more horrific. Like he was entering his own hearse, Paul climbed into the truck and sat. The door shut and "Uncle Hide" climbed in. When the Topkick drove out of the lot the windows darkened.

Paul cast nervous glances all around him, unwilling to touch anything or look at the holographic human sitting next to him.

"You…you SWEAR you're not going to kill me? Squish me? Vaporize me?" Paul croaked, his voice threatening to give out.

The hologram's blue eyes slanted over at him, "I swear I'm not going to harm you boy."

No more relieved, Paul merely nodded. The hologram suddenly disappeared and Paul jumped.

"Easy boy. I just prefer to talk to you mech to man. Can you handle that?" the truck inquired.

Paul didn't respond.

"Ok. I'm going to stop and let you out. I'll transform and then we'll sit down and talk. Is that…acceptable?" the deep voice stated very slowly.

The young man released a stressed breath, "Y-Yeah."

The Topkick stopped gently and the door popped open. Paul cautiously glanced outside. He didn't see any lights. They were out in the middle of nowhere. A sickening ball of worms squirmed in the youth's stomach.

"You ARE going to kill me," he insisted with resignation.

An irritated blast of hot air rattled through the air vents, "Ugg. For the LAST time boy, I'm NOT going to kill you! Just hop out and have a seat on that rock."

Paul uneasily complied and before he knew it the truck was rearranging itself into the towering, black and silver monstrosity. The blue optics flashed down at him as did the headlights. Stepping back the huge robot distanced himself from the boy in an attempt to ease his fear. For several long moments the two stared at each other, neither willing to speak.

Ironhide finally spoke, "My name is Ironhide."

"I caught that." Paul mentioned feebly.

"As Annabelle explained, I am her family guardian and I am obviously not of your world," he explained. "My faction; the Autobots, has allied itself with your species in secret to protect you from our rival faction, the Decepticons."

"So what do you want with me?"

Ironhide paced a moment, seeming to choose his words carefully, "Look, boy. You need to go back to Annabelle."

"That's why you came after me?" Paul asked incredulously.

The Autobot nodded with narrow optics, "Yes. She is very upset you left and I don't like to see her upset."

Paul glanced around uncomfortably.

"Well? Don't you love her, boy?" Ironhide demanded.

Indignantly, Paul stood up, "Stop calling me 'boy'! I have a name you know!"

Ironhide ground his gears a moment, "Let's get one thing straight, boy. I haven't liked you from the first moment I laid optics on you."

Paul swallowed hard but gestured strongly, "What did I ever do to you?"

Ironhide eyed him piercingly. "You painted me for one."

"That's it?" Paul's head jerked back in shock, "Well if it's any consolation I'm sorry! Ok?"

"That was only the tip of the asteroid. THEN you started pursuing Annabelle. Given the reputation of her past suitors I knew I couldn't trust you." Ironhide explained, growling his words.

Paul looked around helplessly, "But…but…"

"I did my best to discourage you…without using extreme measures."

Realization dawned on Paul, "That date. That was you."

"Yes."

"And the shed! You flipped over to freak me out!" Paul shouted.

"Yes."

"And Annabelle lied to me," he mentioned bitterly.

Ironhide hissed in his hydraulics, taking a menacing step toward the youth, "SHE didn't lie to you!"

Paul sat back down, intimidated by the show of size.

"I made her promise to NEVER reveal my existence to anyone unless I gave her explicit permission to do so." He barked, "You should not be angry with Annabelle. She was honoring her promise to me."

The young man blinked his green eyes, trying to soak in the explanation, "So…if you don't like me then why are you telling me this? Isn't this what you wanted?"

Ironhide sighed mechanically, dimming his optics, "Yes."

"Then why?"

"Because…it's not what Annabelle wants." The Autobot turned away proudly, "I've been selfish. I've wanted to get rid of you because I believed you weren't good enough for her."

Paul got that helpless frown on his face again.

"But tonight, you did something I've been waiting to see." Ironhide replied enigmatically.

"What?"

Ironhide faced him again, "You disregarded your own life for the sake of hers. You stood up to me to protect her."

Paul sat up straighter.

"I realize…I was wrong." The mech admitted grudgingly, "Annabelle loves you. You make her happy. And I will not stand in the way of her happiness." Ironhide admitted.

A deep squealing grind sounded deep within the Autobot's chest as he forced the words out of this vocalizer, "And I…I want to…apologize."

Paul seemed to think a moment, and then stood up, "Ok. Um…thanks."

Towering over him Ironhide asked very seriously, "Do you love Annabelle?"

"Of course!"

"You will always protect her and do your best to keep her happy?" he continued.

"Yes."

"And you swear upon your life that this secret Annabelle has shared with you will not be revealed?"

Paul nodded, "I swear I won't tell anyone."

"I'll hold you to that." Ironhide leaned forward eyeing Paul very directly, "Don't disappoint me."

"Yes sir."

Very abruptly, Ironhide transformed and popped open his door, "Well, come on boy. I'll take you back to your car and you can tell her all that yourself."

It was past midnight when Ironhide pulled back into the Lennox's driveway, Paul's Mustang tailing him. Will came storming off the porch, clearly pissed.

"Where the HELL have you been?" the soldier demanded.

Ironhide transformed, "Relax, Will. We just had a little chat."

Paul climbed out of his car and Will noticed his black eye and swollen lip.

"OH you son of bitch!" he cursed at Ironhide.

The black Autobot snorted with offense, "Don't look at me! I didn't do that."

"Then what happened?"

Paul waved dismissively, "Long story. Where's Annabelle?"

Will barred him with his arm, "Upstairs, crying all night."

The young man ran a hand through his dark hair with discomfort, "I know. I know. But...I've just got to see her Mr. Lennox!"

Before Will could respond the screen door banged and there on the front porch stood Annabelle. On a mission, Paul dodged Will's arm and ran up to her. She gave him a cold stare.

"What do you want?"

Bouncing lightly on his heels, Paul tried to find the right words, "Annabelle…I…I'm sorry I freaked out. I didn't mean to hurt you."

"You did Paul," she said flatly.

He lowered his head, "I know…I was wrong —so wrong. You were just keeping a promise and I acted like an idiot."

The young man reached into his pocket and retrieved the Promise Ring, "If…if you can forgive me for being an idiot I want you to have this."

Annabelle bit her lip, her eyes wet. He could tell from her expression she was saying "yes" but the bruise on her heart was still fresh.

She crossed her arms, "Can you handle being a part of my family?"

"If you…if they will have me?" he managed glancing back at Mr. Lennox and Ironhide.

Will's face split with a smile, "I was wondering when you were going to ask. Although I little more "heads up" would've been appreciated."

"Do I have your permission Mr. Lennox?" Paul asked hopefully.

The soldier at last nodded, "As soon as you're both graduated and have steady jobs…yes."

Annabelle gave Ironhide a critical stare, "And do YOU approve?"

The blue glowing optics looked from her to Paul. He grunted, "I suppose he'll do."

The ice melted from Annabelle's face and she stepped down from the porch.

She smiled radiantly, "Yes."

Gently she held out her hand and Paul slipped on the Promise Ring.

A/N: Sorry that took so long to update! I just got so caught up in "Pet Squishy" I kind of threw this on the back burner! I'll have just one short chapter after this and then it shall be done.

OH. And for those of you who voted for Tinman on Audiofanfic a million THANK YOUs! Because of you WONDERFUL, GLORIOUS people Tinman has earned the right to be turned into an audio drama! I'm so stoked I can hardly stand it! It should be produced by January 2009!

I will forewarn my readers than it will be a SEVERELY condensed version of Tinman (I had to knock it down from 75,000 words to 15,000) so some of the subplots and quite a few chapters had to be cut and/or mashed into different sequences. BUT…it should be great. It's entering the early draft stages so I'll let ya'll know how it's going!

Again THANK YOU ALL!