Later that day I went to see Ironhide in the repair-bay in my dog-form. He knew who I really was, but Ratchet didn't.

With a big leap I jumped onto the table he lay on.

'How are you? Will you be alright?' I asked him directly in his mind.

(can't really call me a telepath, cause I can control their every circuit, I can make him hear me in his head , cool hm?)

'Don't worry 'bout me, I can be fixed easily,' he replied.

'Dad was angry about me going out there taking a look.'

Ironhide gave me an understanding look in his eyes. 'That don't surprise me one bit. He cares for you, like a father for his daughter.'

'Yeah, I know, he told me that too!'

"Did you feed that dog sausages to make her come over here and look you up like that," Ratchet asked.

"Well, she's here 'cause she ain't just a dog you know, she's my friend." Ironhide gave her a blink.

"Just make sure she not making a mess in my medical bay," Ratchet said while working on Ironhide.

Hot Rod peeked around the corner to see how things were going.

"What did you damage this time?" Ratchet wanted to know as he saw him.

"Nothing! I'm just here to see Ironhide."

"Oh, okay." Ratchet gestured him he could enter.

"Hey, that was one impressive stunt you pulled on Megatron," Ironhide praised him.

"Thanks!" He was so content with that compliment his face radiated with delight. "So you did see me in action. I thought you were knocked out by Megatron's blast."

"My optical sensors were still fine, kid. But do watch your back next time, I thought for sure Megatron was gonna use you as a shield against Prime!"

"Hey, I wouldn't even let him try!"

Ironhide pointed at his eyes. "Optical sensors … working fine … He threw you around like a rag doll!"

"Hmm…. He sure is powerful, I must admit. He won't get a second chance though!"

I rolled my eyes. Such a boaster! Cute one though…

"Say, would you mind if I take Lucky off your hands for a while? I'd like her to help me with my next stunt."

"That depends on what kind of stunt that's gonna be, kid."

"Well, you know how humans say that puppy's work well with the girls? You know, cute guy with cute puppy. Now Lucky isn't a pup anymore, but she's cute alright, 'ey, Lucky?"

I barked in agreement.

"Why would you even bother to try? You and RC are like fire and ice."

"Maybe that just because I hadn't tried before. Don't worry, we'll see what happens. Come on Lucky. Let's see if RC feels like a nice drive with the two of us."

Reluctantly I followed him. "Do I really want to help him to get it on with RC?"

"C'mon, hop in," Hot Rod said as he transformed. I jumped in and we drove off to find RC.

We found her target practising with Springer, Ultra Magnus and Kup.

"'kay, now give her your cutest puppy eyes," Hot Rod urged me. "My charm will do the rest." I got out so he could transform.

He sure had nerve to approach her like that with these three around. Especially Springer. I bet I wasn't the only one who'd noticed she was growing closer to Springer. Maybe he just didn't want to notice that. He was quit stubborn.

"Haven't you guys had enough target practise for one day?" he joked with a juvenile grin.

"We can always do better," RC stated.

"But you're already one of the best shots we have," he complimented her.

"And I'd like to keep it that way."

"How 'bout some racing practise? Let's see if you still can keep up with me?" he dared her.

She put her hands on her hips and gave him a 'oh really' grin. "Oh now you think you're faster than me? I'll beat you any day!"

I barked and wagged my tail.

"Wanna ride in a really fast car?" she asked me. "And let the wind pull at your fur?"

I barked again in agreement.

She transformed and I jumped in. Her engine had a deep and roaring sound and sounded just as powerful as Hot Rod's engine or that of any other Autobot who was able to transform to a sports car.

"Better keep up! I'm not holding back on you!" She took off with a dazzling boost of power that pushed me firmly into the drivers seat.

Quickly Hot Rod transformed and speeded after her.

Springer, Ultra Magnus and Kup looked at each other.

"My bet's on RC," Springer said with a resolute look on his face.

"Don't underestimate Hot Rod," Kup grinned. "He's fast and knows no fear on the road."

Ultra Magnus crossed his arms across his chest. "I'll give them both a good chance."

"What do you mean exactly with that?!" Springer demanded to know.

"A good chance at beating the other of course, that's all."

"Yeah, whatever. He's a nice kid, but that's all he is. He's no match for RC!" he said with a frown. "Any kind of match!"

Ultra Magnus and Kup grinned.

"If you're jealous, at least have the guts to ask her out," Ultra Magnus said. "If you don't, someone else will."

"Just let me do this my way, okay," Springer defended himself. "Besides, Hot Rod is hardly any competition."

Ultra Magnus and Kup grinned again.

"What?!" Springer held his hands up an a questioning way but they weren't gonna give him any more hints. He wanted to do it his way, so they'd let him.

The wind pulled my fur wildly and the scenery flashed by. RC sure is fast! I looked back to see where Hot Rod was. She'd left him far behind her but he was closing in on her.

I barked as loud as I could to encourage him to go faster.

He must have put all his energy into his engine cause he approached real fast and raced passed her.

RC tried very hard to regain her pole position but Hot Rod got the better of her. He pulled over to the side of the road at a site - in the mountains - that gave a fantastic view of the valley below and the mountains at the horizon.

The setting sun coloured the sky golden and red.

"Isn't it gorgeous?" he asked as he transformed.

I was sure stunned by the beautiful sky. As soon as I jumped out RC transformed.

"It sure is," she agreed with him.

Hot Rod gently took her hand and pulled her a bit closer. "Wanna sit down and watch the suns set?"

"Sure," she said with a smile.

Oh, great… do I have to witness this?!

Strategically I placed myself between them as they sat down, hoping they would notice me and not crush me in the process. (of sitting down that is) Their legs dangled over the edge. I looked over the edge and looked quit a long way down…

"Your eyes look fantastic in this sunlight, you know," Hot Rod said.

She gave him a smile. "Hot Rod…" There was something she wanted to say, but she decided not to ruin the good atmosphere. "Thank you."

Slowly the sun sunk behind the mountains leaving the valley below in the darkness.

"You were really brave today," she complimented him. Then she gave him a stern look. "And stupid! What were you thinking… jumping Megatron like that! You could have been seriously hurt."

"Oh, come on. So could anybody else," he waved that away.

The first stars twinkled in the darkening deep blue sky above them.

"We have been good friends for a long time, haven't we?" Hot Rod broke the silence.

RC nodded with a smile.

Subtly he pushed me away from between them as he moved a bit closer to her. I let out an annoyed growling sound that actually meant: 'HEY! That's my spot!' I could see he gathered all of his courage to ask her another question.

"How about taking our friendship a step further?" he boldly asked her.

He didn't really surprise her with that, she'd seen it coming. But now he'd actually had the guts to ask her she was a bit shocked.

"… Hot Rod… are you sure this is a good idea?"

"I wouldn't ask you if I wasn't sure."

She turned towards him. "Hot Rod," she started with a sweet smile. "Right now I don't need a serious relationship. I want to be independent. For now I just need my friends and comrades. Do you understand this?"

Hot Rod: Oo "You're kidding me…?"

"No, I'm sorry, but I'm quit serious."

I looked from RC to Hot Rod. Oh my, I hadn't expected that… hoped for it tough. Hey, … got it! Grin.

But when I looked at Hot Rod again I saw the sad and hurt look in his eyes. I even sensed his pain!

"Please don't be sad," she tried to make him feel better.

"Do I seem like such a demanding Autobot to you? Come on, you know me better then that. You'd still be independent." He gave her an innocent look.

"I'd actually rather get away with picking on you, in stead of having an insulted boyfriend on my case."

He grinned. "… if that's really how you want it…"

"That's how I want it." She said self-assured as she looked at the last rays of the sun that peaked from behind the mountains at the horizon.

"If you don't mind I need to get back to Autobot-city. I promised Prime I'd give Teletran a few system-updates today."

She got up and so did he. "If you ever change your mind…"

"This won't effect our friendship in a bad way, will it?"

"Nah… I can handle it…" he gave her a his jolly smile. But when she left he let out a sigh. "Darn…" and sat down again, staring at the vanishing sunlight. He pulled his legs up, rested his arms on his knees and gazed at the stars.

I saw his jolly smile fade fast and he looked so disappointed. I put my head on his foot and looked at him with my cutes eyes. He glanced at he and a faint smile formed on his face.

"You'll stick with me, won't you?"

I barked. 'Of course I'll stick with you! Like glue!'

Lucky couldn't possibly feel him a lot better about this. Maybe Alyx can cheer him up? Read it in the next chapter!