I ran out of the Med Bay, not once looking back. Way too many emotions were swirling around me and there was no way I'll calm down until I'm with Barricade. Okay, I'll admit...I was a little hard on Lennox. He was really only trying to help. But the whole 'no validated caretaker' thing just brung back so many terrible memories I've been trying to hide. I just...I couldn't take it! There's only a few times when I get emotional like that in my life...when I think about my past...or when someone's threatens the ones I love. And one of those loved ones is being locked up. Away from me. I can't do this without him! I need to find him.
I stopped my aimless running and panted heavily. Boy was that a run. I really wished I had Frenzy with me. I told him to go recharge, he went off somewhere...I began to look around. A shiver ran down my spine at the sound of giant, metal footsteps and my heart probably skipped a beat when black, metal hands wrapped around my waist once again and hoisted me into the air.Sometimes it sucks being this small. There's no way in pit I can fight back...especially not against the walking arsenal.
Ironhide's bright blue optics narrowed, "Explain yourself femme."
I didn't even have the strength to fight and kick, the only thing I could think of was to cry. And it was hard enough trying to wipe and sniffle back the tears once they started running freely.
"Just let me see him," I whimpered, my voice barely above a whisper, "Please...let me see him."
Ironhide raised an optic ridge.
"I need him...I'm hurting, I need his comfort." I tried to explain, but my words were starting to choke in my throat.
~ Lennox's POV~
"...How dare you fragging Autobots try to keep us apart!" She screamed, more tears running down her face.
I was shocked speechless. It really did kill me inside to see this girl hurting...she was only seventeen for crying out loud! She didn't deserve whatever she was going through. And what was that about Cade telling her something? I never got to ask her, because as soon as she screamed those last words to me, she turn around and ran.
I reached out in an effort to grab her, "Brooke! Wait, don't run!"
She was fast, and in a flash, she was gone. I sighed, shaking my head as I massaged my temples.
"Major Lennox, what is the matter? I heard shouting." Ratchet asked, walking up to me.
I sighed deeply, "I don't know...one minute I was trying to wake her up...next moment she's screaming at me about not knowing her and that she needs Barricade right now. I'm not sure...I just want to help her, but I'm not sure if she'll let me in."
Ratchet shook his helm, "Human femmes, always emotional. Especially in their teenage years. She'll get over it."
"No Ratchet, you're wrong," I said defensively, "She didn't explode on me just because she's a hormonal teenager, she...she has really bad problems. It could explain the anxiety attacks...but she's...she really feels that cade is the only one that cares about her, and wants to help her. I really want to help her, but I don't..." I sighed, "She ran off. You think she might be going to see Cade?"
"No, we figured last night she broke into the brigs somehow and found him. We've moved him somewhere else this morning..."
Lennox internally cursed, "Well, then this is not going to be a pleasant morning."
"What do you mean?" Ratchet asked.
"Whatever happened in her past that's got her so worked up...she says Cade's the only thing that calms her. She needs him as much as he needs her." I explained.
Ratchet just vented, "Humans are so complicated."
~ Brooke's POV ~
"Why do you seek decepticon comfort?" He asked, his optics still narrowed at me.
I couldn't stop the grimace that came to my face. The last thing I want to do is explain my problems to this thick-headed tin can of a robot. Can't he just leave me alone?! Instead, I just settled for glaring at him.
"You're not helping your case femme." He grumbled.
"I need him, he's the only one that I care about! I need him more than you'll ever know, you stupid Autobot! I need him!" I yelled at him, before bringing my hands up to my face and wiping away the fresh tears falling from my eyes.
"Are...are you're optics leaking?" He asked quietly, gazing at me with soft curiosity.
I actually laughed at that, a hysterical one though. Once I caught my breath again, I looked up at him and sniffled. "Are you asking if I'm crying?"
Ironhide's optics dimmed for a minute, and I assumed he was looking up what it meant. Barricade did it sometimes. Once his optics brightened and he looked at me, his whole face changed from annoyed to completely confused.
"What?" I asked, annoyed with the look his was giving me.
"Your internet says that when you humans 'cry', it is due to emotional distress...I'm not sure how to deal with this." He admitted.
I rolled my eyes, "What makes you think I want to deal with it either?"
He shrugged, "Then why do you want to see him?"
I bit my lip, "Because...he usually helps me when I'm...'emotionally distressed'."
"Barricade? He...he actually does that?" He asked, his optic ridges rising in surprise.
I narrowed my eyes, "Why is it so hard for you fragging 'bots to believe he really cares about me?"
Ironhide shook his helm, "Trust me femme, I've known him for centuries and centuries. He's a cold, ruthless, killer. Trained and ranked on of the top in the Decepticons, it's hard to picture him dealing with your mess of emotions with his harshness and attitude."
I scoffed, "That was the old Cade."
"Maybe he's not a Con anymore, but he hasn't changed one bit to me. He still steals, and now he's got you doing it." He pointed out.
He had a point there. But it wasn't like I was going to tell him that.
I folded my arms across my chest, averting my gaze from him. "It doesn't matter, I like that stuff. And I'm never changing."
"Oh really? I think a good old-fashion beat down would say otherwise." He replied gruffly.
I glared up at him again, "You're very violent."
A small, smug smirk was on the edges of his faceplate. "I agree with that statement."
"You're also arrogant, and annoying, and impatient." I added.
His smirk vanished, and an irritated scowl took over. I smiled a little.
"My apologies," He said, his other hand transforming into one of the enormous cannons, and aimed it at me, "I don't think I heard you correctly. What did you just verbalize?"
My small smile turned into a smirk, "You're the one with advanced hearing, you heard what I said."
"Seems you have a little smart mouth, femme." He said, the cannons inching closer and closer.
I laughed. A real, genuine laugh. Who knew this fragging brute could be so hilarious? Once I stopped laughing, I sighed. Suddenly, I didn't feel so crappy anymore. It was like all the feelings of hurt and pain melted away when I laughed. When was the last time I even laughed genuinely anyways?
"Why are you laughing? I'm threatening to off line you." Ironhide said, annoyance evident in his voice.
I shook my head, still chuckling, "You're hilarious."
"What?" He said, pulling his cannons back a little.
"You're also short-tempered." I said, finally the laughter died down.
Ironhide just shook his helm, "You're crazy, you know that?"
"Very much." I said, with a sly smile.
After a few minutes, I was surprised when he bent down and placed me back on the ground. I didn't feel the urge to run anymore, which was kind of weird...for me.
"Brooke!" A familiar voice called, and I turned in the direction of the voice.
It was Lennox.
Immediate regret filled inside me, for screaming at him. All he really did was try to help me. I don't need his help, or any of these fragging bot's help. Something inside me thought, and I grimaced.
"Brooke," he said coming closer, but careful enough to stay a few steps back. "Look, I'm sorry for bringing that up. I didn't...I didn't think you'd react like that. I'm sorry if you think I'm bothering you, but you'r just a seventeen year old girl. And as a father, I see you as a child that needs guidance. So please...will you let help you? You can trust me, if not anyone else...can you trust me?"
I was shocked speechless, my eyes widened at him. I really thought this was going to play out a whole other way. I thought about his words, and the sincere look on Lennox's face. Do I really want to let these guys in? What about what Barricade said about not telling them anything? And plus, why would I want some fragging Autobots and Autobot-supporters to know my personal life, and all the slag that's happened to me? I bit my lip.
"Well..." Lennox trailed off.
I sighed, "Sorry Lennox, but that's just not happening. I apologize for going off on you, but that's it. I really don't want anyone's help."
"Are you sure?" Lennox asked softly.
I averted my gaze to the ground, and nodded slowly.
Lennox sighed, "Well, if you ever change your mind...you always have me to talk to Brooke. Just remember, not everyone here is your enemy."
I felt my hands ball into fists. I won't be changing my mind anytime soon.
