Me: I bought an Optimus Prime T-shirt today. Just thought I should let you all know.

Ashley: I really didnt care.

Me: No one cares about you! GO AWAY!

Sideswipe: I care...

Me and Ashley: SHUT UP TIN CAN!

Sideswipe: o.o

The Little Orphan That Could

Chapter Ten: An Extra Special Birthday Surprise

"I'm just saying those two human femmes were cute!"

"I'm just saying shut your face before I shut it for you!"

Sideswipe and Ashley were at it again. Only this time it was on the way back to the base. The two were bickering about the two girls that were talking to him earlier ever since they saw them in the parking lot back at the mall, and her sleeves were now cuffed up ready to get a good punch in on the flirtatious bot.

"I don't have any-"

The sudden stop of his sentence got to her. There was this thick silence and she knew it all too well. "Sideswipe?" she whispered, but there was no answer. Just the seatbelt tightening around her and the leather seats molding to her shape in a form of comfort.

"Sideswipe?"

"..."

"Sides?"

"Stay calm, Ash."

His tone was serious, and the expression on his Holoform was the same. She followed his gaze and saw the same police mustang that she encountered when she ran away from the orphanage. The one she found out was a Decepticon. Barricade...

"I've already alerted the others..." he whispered.

"Will they get here in time?"

"We'll just have to make time."

She looked over at his Holoform again, who gave her a reassuring smile. Sideswipe sped up, zooming past the mustang from hell and immediately it was like a high speed chase. "Ashley I'm going to need you to listen to me." he whispered, causing her to turn her attention from the road ahead back to him. It was strange seeing how much more mature he got in the midst of battle. Or maybe it was just that he had someone to protect.

"I'm going to leave you ahead, and I want you to take cover." he whispered.

Her emerald eyes widened in fear for him, but she nodded. He gave her a comforting squeeze of her hand, and then sped up even more. Once he felt they were far enough, the doors opened, her seatbelt snapped off, and she jumped out. He then waisted no time transforming. He towered above her, his blue optics glancing down at her.

"Your bags are in my chest plate." he said.

She smiled. Leave it to Sideswipe to try and crack a joke when they were basically facing death. Suddenly her insides churned at the whirling of gears turning and snapping into place. Her gaze drifted up just in time to see Barricade tackle down Sideswipe. She should have listened to him and taken cover because apparently there had been some glass shattered on impact that shot at her like bullets. There was this stinging sensation as it pierced her skin, but it was nothing like having your torso crushed.

The shards of glass were nothing compared to the scrap of metal she did not have the time to dodge, which she tried to protect herself from with her hands. The only result was the metal creating a gash in her left palm, making it rather hard to move. Not to mention it burned like hell.

Ashley managed to make her way over to an alley, and glanced over at the battle. She felt useless, but what could she do without her guns and one injured hand.

Clank!

Her eyes widened in shock as she heard Sideswipe groan out in immense pain. The damn Decepticon had gotten a hold of his arm, and though he didn't rip it off it sounded like the equivalent of a bone snapped out of it's socket. Just metal...and...bigger..

The Decepticon took this time to seek out the small human. Why he wanted her? She wasn't sure. But she was sure as hell he wasn't going to get her. Sideswipe seemed to have the same idea because he punched the evil thing right on his back, causing him to fall head first. When he came in contact with the ground, it sent an earthquake that rattled Ashley's inside.

"Ashley are you alright?" Sideswipe announced, his blue optics darting over to her location.

She froze, now noticing the red optics glaring at her from the ground. "You idiot.." she whispered, giving a gulp, and mentally cursing Sideswipe for giving her away. The girl slowly rose to her feet, and without thinking she took off in an impulse. There was no way her ribs were getting bruised by some red-eyed evil bot. Not again at least.

Run run run run run run run run...

That was all the girl could comprehend at the moment. That, and don't get squished. At some point she had closed her eyes, which was pretty foolish considering how quickly she ran into something. Though it was warm...and strong.

Her green eyes snapped open and she spotted the smooth chocolate skin known as Epps. "You looked pretty banged up." He said with a smirk. She punched him in the arm with her good hand and returned the smirk.

"Still look better than you baldie!" she joked, and he whisked her off her feet, his arms placed under her legs and on her back. She winced slightly as he some of the glass in her arm got shoved in deeper due to the movement, but it all passed. "I liked my feet on the ground."

"Figured you were tired of running." he paused then smirked. "Away from the big bad Decepticon."

This got him a smack on the head.

Ashley: That was SO short!

Me: I know I know! i'm so sorry!

Sideswipe: YOU GAVE ME A DENT IN MY PAINTJOB!

Me: You had your arm ripped out of its 'socket' and you're worried about your paintjob? -.-

Sideswipe: THIS IS A CUSTOM PAINTJOB!

Me: God, you're as bad as sunstreaker -.-

Sideswipe: Duh, we're twins.

Me: Sigh, Ironhide...could you finish us off please?

Ironhide: -nods then puts up canons- Review...or else...