Geez it's been forever since I updated anything these days. With all this family trips and homework, I haven't had enough time to update. Also, I've been reading two very interesting stories. "Where you and I collide" by HeartsOfEternity and "Complex Robotics" by SilverMistLove9898. They're pretty good if ya wanna check one out. Oh, and PIC (Partners In Crime) readers, please forgive me for yet another long absence. I'm really, really, really sorry!

Kay, now to the story! :)

Chapter 10: Vitamins

My next plan of action had to be Optimus, no matter how weak and stupid I felt, I had to get Cade out of there. I just rounded a corner when I ran into the fluorescent yellow medic. I tried to walk around him, ignoring his presence, but he kept blocking me. I had no other choice but to look up at him.

I narrowed my eyes dangerously and folded my arms across my chest, "May I help you?"

"Yes," He said, "I need to do a check up with you."

I shook my head, "Not now. I'll come by later."

"I don't remember saying it was an option." Ratchet said, his optics narrowing as well.

I groaned, "How long will this take?"

Ratchet shrugged, "Depends on how long you'll be stubborn."

Okay, he just made my-extremely-pissed-off-at list.

I grumbled an "okay", and he swooped my off the ground, I was now sitting in his palm as he continued to walk down the corner. We were silent as we walked. I pulled my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them and burying my face inside, still feeling the rising urge to cry and run again. I really needed Barricade.

"So, mind telling me what's going on with you?" Ratchet eventually said, as we rounded another corner.

"Nothing." I said, my voice firm and clipped.

"Oh really?" He asked.

"Yes." I grumbled, sinking further into my knees.

"You do know that I am your doctor, right? Not only caring for your physical health, but emotional as well. I know you hate us, but keeping...whatever is going on with you to yourself, it's just not healthy. I'm sure you'd feel a lot better if you talked it out."

"You wouldn't understand." I said my voice weaker by each word, biting my lip before a whimper came out. I could already feel the tears rimming the edges of my vision. No, Brooke. Wait till you find Optimus, complete the plan. Just hold on for a little more. Agreeing with my mind, I sucked in a breath and lifted my head up out of the darkness.

We arrived at the Med Bay, and Ratchet put me down on a small berth. I stood even though my calves ached from all the running, I didn't want to get comfortable here. Ratchet pulled out a data pad with my name on it, and in another hand was a small cup with orange-yellow liquid in it, as he walked over to me and handed me the cup with the strange liquid. I stared at it for a few seconds, before shooting him a skeptical look.

"It's nothing bad, just my own formula for the right vitamins. You need them, humans are supposed to take them every day anyways."

I shook my head, "No thanks."

Ratchet sighed, "Brooke, you can't possibly fight with me about everything."

"I'm not fighting." I said rolling my eyes.

"No, but you are deliberately dissenting everything I tell you to do." He pointed out.

I shrugged, "I'm seventeen, teens always dissent people. Especially crabby, old adults."

Ratchet rolled his optics, "I have limited patience with you. Drink the vitamins."

I sighed, snatching the cup before staring at it again. The orange-yellow liquid was brighter than average liquids, so I squinted until my eyes re-adjust.

"Ratch, are you sure this is...safe to consume?" I asked, leaning the cup left and right to watch the liquid swish from side to side.

"Would you think I'd give you poison?" He replied sarcastically.

"Of course I would."

"Well, that's false. It's perfectly safe, I have administered it to plenty of humans. Now, drink or I'll have to force it down your throat."

"Is that what you call administering?" I asked, shooting him an annoyed look.

Ratchet smirked for a moment, thinking about it before he picked up a wrench from a nearby table, "Do I have to tell you again or is this wrench going to do the talking?"

I closed my eyes and swallowed the "vitamins" without a second thought, making sure none of the liquid lingered on my taste buds any longer than it needed to be. I coughed, as some accidentally went into my wind pipe and I pressed a fist to my upper chest, coughing until I could breathe properly again. Ratchet just threw the wrench ungracefully back on to the table, grumbling something about "stubborn human femmes" before shuffling through his data pad.

I sat there in awkward silence, the liquid warming up my chest and making me feel lighter. I shifted my weight from one to another, waiting for Ratchet to address me again, but the grumbling seemed endless. I then wondered if I could slip out undetected or not. The human door wasn't that far away...

~ A few hours later ~

Finally, after what seemed like days, Ratchet let me out of the Med Bay, but only because he and I both heard my stomach grumbling. He dropped me off at the doors of the cafeteria and didn't leave me until I went inside, so grudgingly, I did. I entered the cafeteria line, not paying attention to the others even though I can still hear their whispered voices and unblinking stares on me. Just hold on for a little more longer Brooke, all it takes is some convincing...and you're free from this place.

I grabbed a plate of mash potatoes and a piece of chicken before hurriedly walking to a table at the corner of the room. The same table I sat at a while ago. I ate the mash potatoes first, peeling the skin off the chicken before eating that next, and after I was done I got up and threw my trash away. I turned around only to meet a big, burly, form of a man.

He wasn't very tall, but his muscles were freakin' huge. He wore a tight black t-shirt and long dark jeans with black bobcat boots. His black hair buzzed and his bright blue eyes staring at me. He was intimidating...but not scary enough to scare me. I folded my arms across my chest, and glared at the man.

"Can I help you?"

"Optimus wants to talk to you." Came the gruff reply.

I knew that voice.

"Ironhide?" I asked suddenly.

He smirked, "The one and only."

Now that holoform made a lot of sense... I knew about holoforms because on many of our steals, Cade had to use his. His was kind of handsome, but I'd never admit it out loud. And then, I remembered what he said and almost smiled. This is exactly who I needed to talk to for once.

"Oh, really? What does he want from me?" I asked.

Ironhide shrugged, "Frag if I know, just follow me."

And I did. I followed him out of the noisy and staring cafeteria and into the quiet, calmness of the halls. I followed him all the way across base to the Autobot side, where all the robots walked and talked freely. I glanced at their training room to see two robots in there, one was the yellow and black Camaro from the chase, while the other one was a slender, silver robot with wheels for feet. Huh...that's new..

"Keep up, femme." Ironhide grumbled.

I rolled my eyes, but quickened my pace. We finally arrived at a human-sized office, and in it, sat Optimus prime's holoform. Even in holoform form he still looked so damn regal, it made me want to grimace, but instead I kept a straight face as I sat in the chair across from him. It was cold, and hard.

"Hello Brooke Reynolds," Optimus said with a polite smile, "There is many things I want to discuss with you."

Oh, yes, there will be many things to discuss Prime.

Well, I'll leave it right there for now! Hope you liked, please review! Please? :D