Jolt carried Lena back to her hangar, and placed her in her bed. He'd done it so many times before. He had noticed, in the weeks since his spark case had been broken, a bond was starting to grow.

Once she had realized that he was an autobot, Lena had changed her attitude towards him. Her dislike and discontent seemed to melt away. He reasoned that she didn't want to argue with an alien.

Recently, he noticed he had been seeing her differently. He saw her blue eyes, and her red curls. He saw her moments of weakness. He saw her wear barely nothing to go swimming, and he marveled at her beauty. For being a short female soldier, she had all the courage of any autobot.

Lena awoke the following morning to find herself in her bed. She didn't remember crawling into it. She sat up, realizing that she was still wearing her uniform from the previous day. She took a quick shower, and changed into a clean set of camouflage pants and a green shirt. She swept her red curls into a high ponytail, and wrapped it in a bun.

Jolt's vehicle form was sitting in it's usual spot, his holoform on the hood, resting his eyes. She walked by him into the small kitchen that had been built for her, and pulled a poptart from the cabinet.

She stood at the sink, and ate her light breakfast quietly. She didn't want to disturb Jolt. A set of muscular forearms snaked their way around her midsection. The soft and sudden touch made her jump. "Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." Jolt said, quickly releasing her. "It's alright. It's been a very long time since anyone touched me like that."

"Lena, I wanted to thank you properly for what you have done for me. There is nothing I can really give you that you need, but I am in your debt. I want to repay a kindness, but I'm really not sure how." Jolt said, watching her blue eyes for a reaction.

Lena was backed against the sink. She had no escape. "Jolt I, you don't need to repay me." she said, her voice slightly shaky.

Jolt cupped her cheek. "Yes I do. I do have a ridiculous request, if you will grant it." he said, feeling the warmth of her skin under his hand. "What?" "Would you allow me to, never mind. It's not proper." he said, lowering his hand. "Jolt, what?" she asked him, her eyes staring him down, with no fear.

"Would you, allow me to kiss you?" he breathed, terrified of her answer. "That's it? That's all you want for me saving your life, is a kiss?" she asked him, surprised by his request. "Yes." he said, shying away from her as if he had been scolded.

"Well, if that's all you want. I think I can do that for you." she said with a smile. "You don't have to if you are uncomfortable. I can't believe I asked you that. I'm such an idiot." he said, chastising himself.

"Jolt?" Lena said, wrapping her fingers around his hand. "Yes?"

"Shut up and kiss me." she said, grabbing him by his blue shirt, and pulling him close. Jolt lowered his head to kiss her, but he stopped short. "Are you sure?" he asked her. "Jolt." she said, her blue eyes watching him.

A sweet smell of vanilla and metal filled her nose as the holoform's lips made contact with hers. She was standing on her toes, and Jolt noticed she was struggling due to the foot difference in height. Without breaking his kiss, he picked her up, and seated her her on the edge of the sink.

To Jolt's surprise, Lena guided his arms around her waist, before wrapping her own arms around his neck. As she kissed him, she heard the happy humming of his spark. His body was pressed against hers. His body was unusually warm to her, but the contact was perfect. Jolt's hands slid up her back, under her shirt. Her skin was soft, and smelled of black cherries.

"Lena? I wanted to go over your leave request before we head back to the States..Oh." It was Lennox. Although the two had broken the contact, they were in a compromising position. Jolt was positioned between her legs, with his arms around her waist.

Mortified, Jolt released her, and allowed her to to drop from the edge of the sink. "Will." "Do, you, want me to come back later?" Lennox asked her with a smile. "No. I can explain."

Lennox raised his hand to silence her. "You don't have to. I'm not going to say anything. Except for, it's about time." Lennox said, watching Jolt's holoform.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Lena asked him sheepishly, scratching the hair under her curly bun. "Your leave request. Since it's almost Christmas, your leave was granted. But instead of two weeks, it's only one. You know they don't like you blowing all of it at once." Lennox said.

"But it's roughly 2400 miles from Fort Bliss to Salem. That's like two days of driving." Lena complained. "Fly." Will said. "I hate planes. I'm on them enough. And I wanted to ask you if Jolt could come with me."

Shock emanated from Jolt, as he looked at Lennox. "I can't make that decision. That's up to Optimus. You should ask him, Lena. He might allow it." Lennox said, having her sign some paperwork and leaving them.

Jolt looked at Lena. "Do you want me to go with you?" "No. I need to talk to big man myself." she said with a smile.

Optimus was involved in a chess match with Ratchet. It was rare that Optimus was not doing something to better their chances to win the war, but when he did such things, they usually involved using logic and reason.

"Hi Ratch." Lena yelled from the floor, looking up at the two of them. The sudden noise made both bot jump. "Sorry, guys. Optimus, may I have a minute of your time? I'd like to ask you something, and it's important to me." Lena asked him kindly.

Optimus looked down at her. "Yes, Major?" he asked her. His voice was stern, but his expression was kind. "Well, we are going back to the mainlandfor a few weeks, and a really big holiday is coming. So, I'm going home to be with my family."

"Major, you do not need my permission." he told her. "No, um but Jolt does." she replied. "Jolt?" Optimus asked, slightly surprised at her request. "Well, you assigned him to guard me, right? He would be safe. It's just me and my mom and my two sisters. They won't know he's an autobot. I swear. Well, and my stepdad too. He will be perfectly safe." Lena said, beginning to ramble.

Optimus always had intimidated her, but he was always kind to her when they spoke. "Calm your processors, Major. You do not need to justify why you are asking." he said with a sight smile. "I will grant Jolt permission to accompany you. However, Jolt is very important to us as well. I will be sending one of his friends, to watch his back. You never know where or if trouble will find you. He will make the decision on who goes with him." Optimus told her.

Lena jumped up and hugged his foot. "Thank you so much!"