AN: Never thought I'd get this done. Sorry but I just haven't had time to write much. Computer problems and work really drag on the updates ya know.

A shout out to my beta Byrnstar. What wonderful things beta's are. Especially ones that actually know what their doing when it comes to the more techincal aspects of writing. I believe my dad said it all when he accused me of having the grammar of a fifth grader. Course coming from him I don't really pay much attention. Dad is like...on a whole different level when it comes to grammar and stuff. He's like the prowl of techincal writting.

Any hopefully this will keep the harpies of updating at bay. You know who you are :P

999

-1He was insane.

Utterly and totally insane. No other excuse could explain it. He was a Cybertronian, a Decepticon, evil and cruel, a warrior. It didn't take a lot of imagination to think that an Autobot might feel this way - they were weak-willed and into all that gooey mushy love scrap. It would probably be easy for them to want a relationship with a human.

He, on the other hand, was a Decepticons, a rather vicious and violent one at that. He believed in survival of the fittest. Those too weak to survive did not deserve to survive. He still believed that, even laying in this garage half disassembled. Luck was its own form of strength, after all.

Ok, so he was insane. He could accept that. Had already accepted it, really. After all, it was nothing new to him. He'd been insane before, and at least this time he wasn't trying to slag everything in sight. There was insanity, and then there was just plain stupidity, like when he had attacked Megatron the first time he'd gone mad. The tyrant hadn't even bothered to use his fusion cannon, merely swatting him around like a bug until Bonecrusher had offlined. He'd been lucky he hadn't been killed on the spot.

Yes, he definitely believed luck was its own kind of strength.

Still, the shock of it just…shocked him. Like a mantra, all that he could think about was that he was interested in a little organic. A very tiny little organic. He could step on her and she would go squish. She was so very small that it was ridiculous.

Bonecrusher sighed to himself.

He had turned off the pretender shell so he could get some decent recharge. It wasn't working; his processors refused to start the sub routines that would let him rest. He tried to look at the situation logically, although doing so made his logic protocols fritz and threaten to abandon him entirely. There was absolutely nothing logical about this situation.

Ok, so he wanted the little organic. He wasn't the kind of mech that would lie to himself. He knew what he was and what he wanted. And he wanted Mikaela. Her form appealed to him, strangely enough. He really liked her hands, soft and warm.

Obviously there were complications involved with this, even if he ever did get a 'yes' from Mikaela. The organic could probably touch him into overload, but he wouldn't be able to do the same for her. His hands were too large; one of his fingers was easily as thick as her leg.

And he was pretty sure Mikaela didn't have a hook up he could plug into.

Bonecrusher snorted to himself, amused as he tried to visualize what that might look like if she did.

The next obvious route was to use his pretender shell. He just…well, he had no idea how humans interfaced. He'd been on the planet for years, and yet he'd never really paid attention. He knew fluids were involved, which didn't disgust him as much as he thought it should. He also didn't know if he could even reach overload using his shell.

Bonecrusher could hear Mikaela talking to a customer outside. She had left him almost 3 hours ago to go work. It annoyed him, but at the same time he understood. Without this job she wouldn't have power to sustain him; apparently it was costing her a lot to keep him supplied through his link to the shop outlets. So he allowed it without much complaint.

Really the only other excuse other than insanity he could come up with was that perhaps he was lonely. He hadn't interacted with anyone more than absolutely necessary since his brothers' deaths. He avoided other mechs, sometimes starting fights when they didn't take a hint, and actively scorned those that showed interest in him. He had been hurting too much, for too long to even think about interfacing.

His brothers were probably laughing their afts off at him from the Pit. After so many vorns, when his libido finally did come back it locked its sights onto a little tiny organic femme.

Bonecrusher scoffed to himself, utterly disgusted.

Attracted to a squishy.

And no idea how to seal the deal, so to speak.

He wished he could access the internet. The human database probably had everything and anything he would ever need to learn about the subject. He had learned that the first few days after landing on Earth. At the time he had pointedly ignored the constant references, being more focused on downloading the local language and necessary information to blend in. He wished now that he'd paid more attention.

Mikaela had a computer, even had high-speed access, however…

Stupid human keyboard.

He couldn't read human languages. Those little marks on the keyboard made no sense to him. Before, he hadn't needed to know the human writing system. He didn't read websites in the way humans did.

Bonecrusher tapped a large finger against the concrete underneath him. The last torture session had given him back some movement. He could move his hands, although he still couldn't lift his arms. He could also turn his neck without pain.

His mind drifted back to Mikaela. He really liked her hands, small graceful. She kept her fingernails short, and plain, not decorated like most females of her species. She had thickened skin on her fingers and palm, no doubt from the work she did, and though he supposed they might be considered rough compared to other human females, they were still soft to him.

Even if they did regularly cause him intense pain, the pleasure was often greater.

Sensors activated at the memory of hands on his wires. They ached as if searching for the source of their simulation. Just like he knew would happen, frustration was setting in.

With an annoyed grunt, Bonecrusher turned the shell back on. At this rate, he wasn't going to be able to recharge anytime soon.

He quickly got dressed, knowing Mikaela would freak out on him again if he went in the skins. He didn't really understand the need for clothing. They weren't that warm, offered little to no protection, and they hindered the reproductive process. At least he thought they did. He might not know exactly how humans interfaced, but he was pretty sure they couldn't do it with clothes on.

After he was dressed Bonecrusher headed toward where he could hear Mikaela cursing to herself. The customer from earlier had apparently already left.

Good.

He found Mikaela on her back underneath a car. "Problems?" he asked, and for once Mikaela didn't scream at him for startling her.

"I don't know what this guy was doing. But he fucked his tyranny up good," she snarled loudly from under the car.

Bonecrusher glanced at the open hood and winced. If the car had been sentient, he would have taken it out of its misery. The engine was filthy, caked in dirt and rusting through in several places, and looked like it hadn't had its belts changed since its creation. The thought of how old and disgusting the oil and transmission fluids inside it must be made his fuel tank want to purge.

Reaching in, he started to tinker.

"Crush?"

"I'm bored, " he said firmly, not wanting to explain his actions.

Mikaela's hands appeared from under the car. Bonecrusher felt both his mech and shell systems speed up. She then pulled, and rolled out from under the car on the small board with wheels she'd been lying on.

"You know anything about cars?"

Crush growled at her. He was a medic. This human technology was so below him it wasn't even funny.

She laughed. The sound was something he wouldn't think he would enjoy…but it made him feel warm inside. He really liked her laugh, he decided. It was much better than that horrible squeaking sound she had made when he had accidentally hurt her.

"Ok ok. I'll admit that's a stupid question."

Bonecrusher grunted and returned to fiddling with the engine.

Back under the car Mikaela called out. "If you could, just make a list of what needs to be done. I'll have to call the ass and find out what he's willing to pay for."

"What doesn't need to be done?" he replied blandly, causing Mikaela to chuckle again.

"True true, but he probably won't pay to fix everything. Cheaper to buy a new car."

"If this vehicle was a mech, I'd deactivate him."

"Ouch. Harsh."

Bonecrusher leaned over the fender, looking at Mikaela…or rather, at the long legs sticking out from under the car. "Why did you leave Megatron's killer?"

There was a loud thunk and a curse as apparently his question startled her. Rolling out from under the car again she gave him a strange look.

"What?" she asked rubbing the slightly red spot on her forehead. She only managed to smear a dark black oil mark onto her skin.

"Are humans not happier when paired off?"

Sitting up, Mikaela leaned back against the car for support. "I guess. But…" She had to resist running her oil stained hand through her hair. "Well…I'm not sure. I mean, I still like Sam. He just…"

Mikaela hesitated, then glanced up at Bonecrusher. "Why are you asking?"

Bonecrusher frowned then shrugged. "Curiosity. That human will have a bright future. Optimus Prime will ensure it."

Mikaela looked away. Bonecrusher wasn't sure he liked the look on her face. She obviously still had feelings for the human boy. How would that affect him? He didn't know anything at this point. What he did from here on out would be new territory.

"Too bright…" she finally said, grunting softly to herself as she stood up. "Sam's future is too bright for me. I'm just a mechanic."

Bonecrusher stared at her in complete and utter shock. He watched, optic wide, as she walked over to her toolbox and started to rummage around.

Just a mechanic?

Did she not realize how talented she was? Did she not see that she was a genius even by Cybertronian standards? Given training, she could become the human equivalent of Ratchet. The Autobot was a legend among medics, rumored to be the best ever sparked. Even the lowliest Decepticons had heard about the fierce medic and his abilities.

How could she call herself 'just a mechanic'? It wasn't modesty either. His brother Scrapper had been modest, never taking credit for anything. Always denying his talents and pushing his brothers forward to be recognized. But even deep down Scapper had known how good he was.

And Mikaela honestly believed what she'd said. He could hear the conviction in her voice. It was a concept that was difficult for him to wrap his processors around.

Just a mechanic?

"What?" Mikaela asked, finally noticing the look on his face. She had several tools in her hands.

He looked down at her hands, identifying the simple tools. Humans were so simple. Their tools, their computers…everything was simple. And yet they had accomplished so much with such simple things.

He wondered what they would do with more advanced technology. He had no doubt they would quickly adopt and learn to use it, shape and change it to suit their needs. After all, that was what they did with Megatron. Turning the greatest and most terrifying warrior of the Cybertronian race into a test subject. But if given higher technology, he wondered…would they be able to improve on it? His kind were always tinkering and inventing. But honestly Bonecrusher, couldn't even remember the last time a major breakthrough had been mad. Surely before the war. Maybe even before he'd been sparked.

But look at the humans. They'd gone from flying on little more than gliders to exploring their solar system in less than a hundred years. It was processor scrambling.

Bonecrusher suddenly realized he couldn't deny the human races' potential. Especially with Mikaela being such a prime example. Humans, despite their soft weak bodies, might actually have more potential than Cybertronians. More so, now that his race was doomed to extinction.

Mikaela had gone from fixing cars to fixing him. With no one to guide her, she'd saved his life.

"Just a mechanic?" he said, allowing some of his incredulous disbelief echo through his human voice, and was rewarded with a puzzled frown.

Bonecrusher turned and sat on the fender of the car, crossing his arms as he'd seen some humans do, and studied Mikaela intently. He could tell it was making her nervous by the way she suddenly couldn't look him in the eye.

"You really don't get it, do you?" he finally asked. Mikaela looked offended, although slightly confused to as if she didn't know what to be offended about. "You fix cars for a living. Until four months ago, you didn't even know my kind existed."

Bonecrusher uncrossed his arms and stood up. In a few long strides he was in front of her looking down. She was so small; even his pretender shell towered over her. "And you went from fixing cars to saving my life."

Her face was still turned away from him. And while he might not know jack about humans, he did know that eye contact was important. He vaguely remembered reading a few scientific articles about it while he'd been sitting bored in the construction lot. He wished she would just look at him. He wanted her to hear him. To truly 'get' what he was saying to her. He wanted her to understand. For some Primus-forsaken reason, he felt she needed to know how good she actually was.

"Do you honestly think any run of the mill human could do what you have done?"

he asked, no hint of any emotion in his voice. He watched as Mikaela shifted slightly, titling her body away from him and face scrunching up in what he was learning was a 'thinking' expression. When she didn't reply after a moment, Bonecrusher found himself reaching for her face. He touched it gently, ignoring how she jumped.

Ah, and there are those pheromones.

His real body cycled air faster, wanting to take in the unique smell. It really was nice. Systems came online and hummed in interest, loud enough they could hear it from out here in the shop.

He gently pulled her chin toward him, forcing her to look at him. Impulsively he wiped his thumb across the black grease spot on her face.

"I don't want to hear that 'just a mechanic' again," he said finally, putting a bit of hostility into his voice. It wasn't really directed at her and she knew it. However it did catch her attention, played with her fight or flight instincts, making her more aware to what he was saying.

He smiled, liking the way the human gesture felt on his shell's face. "I think 'Medic' sounds better, don't you?"

Eyes widened in complete shock, confusion and discomfort completely forgotten as Mikaela simply stared at him.

"Wha…what?" she finally asked. Bonecrusher wiped at the smear with his thumb again, spreading it across her cheek.

He wanted to be closer to her. There were a lot of urges his human shell was having that he had no idea how to interpret. He was also worried of frightening Mikaela. So he did nothing, clueless on how to convey his interest and desires to the organic human female.

"You heard me."

"Medic?"

Bonecrusher nodded as he moved his hand, trailing fingers down her cheek and neck before resting it on her shoulder. He could feel her skin shiver under his touch. He didn't think it was in fear, either, as that nice smell hit a new high.

"I'm not…" She tried to deny it, so Bonecrusher tightened his grip on her shoulder. He was still trying to learn his strength as it pertained to humans. so he might have squeezed a little too hard. She flinched and he instantly released the pressure.

"You fixed me," he said, to cover up the apology his mouth wanted to mutter.

"I guess…" she replied uncertainly.

"You are a medic." He leaned forward slightly. He wanted to do something so badly. He just didn't know what. It was so frustrating. Had Mikaela been a femme, all he would have had to do was make a few lewd suggestions and open his interface paneling.

He was thinking so hard he didn't even notice she was leaning forward as well until he felt lips on his.

His eye widened as she wrapped her arms around his neck pressing her lips harder against his.

Ok this is different.

Her eyes were closed as he studied her at this close angle for a moment, before following her example and closing his eye.

Oh, this was nice. Her pheromones were spiking like never before. She was warm against him and her lips…her lips were his new favorite part. He'd thought before that her hands were soft, but they were nothing compared to her lips. They were almost like energon, causing his own human version of lips to tingle pleasantly. He could almost taste her and it was far better than anything he had tried on this planet thus far.

He leaned down a bit further making this strange human custom easier for Mikaela. She was so tiny he wasn't even sure how she had reached his lips to begin with.

He moaned when he felt something brush against his lips. It was her glossa, er - what was the human term for it? It was like a mech glossa but different. He couldn't remember; all he knew was that it made his entire body feel overheated.

Desire flooded his systems in a wave of fire. It made his spark ache and throb painfully in his chest. In the other room, his real body hummed, sensors sparking; it was almost too much for them to try and take in everything and process it all. He felt his internal fans kicking on trying to cool his body.

He wanted her so badly.

He'd never wanted anyone so badly in his life.

He didn't care if it was just repression from not interfacing for so long. He didn't care if it was from the contrast of pain and pleasure she always brought him.

He didn't care that she was a human female.

He knew what he wanted, and at that moment nothing was more important to him than the feel of her lips on his.

She continued to brush her glossa against his lips. Poking at the seam of his closed lips. He took the hint and opened his mouth.

OH!

This was even better. He could taste her for real now. Granted he hadn't tasted a lot of things – Cybertronians weren't built for the sense like organics were - but he couldn't imagine anything tasting better. Her mouth was soft, her glossa warm and wet. The glossa wasn't that different from a mechs' own, although he would have never imagined doing this as a mech. It would be difficult for mechs anyway, with all the different styles and designs out there.

He wrapped his arms around her waist, being extremely mindful of his strength.

The moment seemed to last forever yet not nearly long enough before she broke the strange gesture.

He opened his eye.

Mikaela's face was bright red, her eyes bright and her lips slightly swollen. She was breathing heavier, the pheromone spikes strong. He didn't say anything, waiting for her to speak.

"Crush?" she finally asked softly.

"Hmm?"

"You…" she whispered, raising a slim hand to her lips. "You kissed back." Her voice was soft with a hint of disbelief and wonder.

Bonecrusher tightened his grip on her waist slightly, holding her closer to him. "Is that what you call it? Kiss?"

"Yes. Kissing."

"S'nice."

She looked shocked by his words. Bonecrusher tried to think of what else to say that would further encourage her, but he didn't know what. "I want to…I would like to kiss you again."

Her eyes widened even further. She placed her hands on his chest pushing slightly against him. He leaned back, giving her more room without actually loosening his grip on her.

"We shouldn't…Crush…this is…"

Bonecrusher cursed softly to himself when she looked away from him.

"It's a human thing. I'm sorry - I shouldn't have -"

No no no! Bonecrusher fumed to himself, frustrated. He had finally gotten her to express some interest and now she was backing out. He needed to capture her interest again. She was pushing against his chest. Trying to push away. Bonecrusher sensed if she left now, they would never get any further than that kiss. He loosened his arms enough so that she didn't think he was forcing her but refused to let go.

"I want your attentions," he finally said. Hoping that perhaps being blunt would work. Honestly, subtle wasn't him anyway.

"What?"

Bonecrusher growled in frustration. How could he say this? He didn't think she would understand him saying he wanted to interface with her.

He paused and then leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers. She gasped, but didn't pull away. She also didn't close her eyes.

They stared at each other for several seconds. He had no technique or style, or any idea what he was doing. He was slightly disappointed that his attempt to kiss her wasn't nearly as great as her kissing him. Mikaela didn't shy away from him, which was good - but she didn't seem to be, what did she call it, kissing back?

He broke the kiss.

"I don't know what to do," he finally admitted. Primus, he HATED admitting that.

"I'm human."

"So?"

"That doesn't…like…gross you out?"

He chuckled. The look on her face was priceless. Bonecrusher decided then he liked how expressive human faces were. You could see everything in the way they contorted their muscles.

"One would think so. But no."

He tightened his arms again, bringing her closer. He felt a shiver of excitement shoot up his human spine when she didn't pull away and instead laid her head on his chest.

"…this is so weird."

Bonecrusher couldn't argue with her there. It was strange - everything about the situation was strange. He'd never lusted after anyone outside his species before, especially not an organic. He reached up to run a hand though her hair. It was soft, just like the rest of her. So soft, none of the hardness of metal he was use to. He felt her moving as she shyly wrapped her arms around his waist, and fans kicked on in reaction to heating circuitry. He might have been able to prevent his shell from reacting, but not his real body.

"What's that noise?" she asked, not letting go.

"Me," he answered simply.

"You?"

He smirked at her confused look.

"What? I told you I liked the kiss."

"Oh…OH." Her face flushing an even brighter red. "Oh my god." She was looking back and forth between his shell and the room where his real body was stored. "You mean I'm like…"

Bonecrusher nodded and finished her sentence when she trailed off. "Exciting me? Yes."

"Oh god oh god." She pulled back, shaking her head. Bonecrusher reluctantly released her.

"Crush - this is - this is nuts." She turned her back to him throwing up her arms.

"I'm human, you're a giant alien robot. This can't work - I can't even imagine how it would begin to work."

Bonecrusher titled his head as he let her rant.

"I mean, you're really handsome. Really really good looking…"

She stopped, hands wringing together, and whispered softly, "and not just that shell…I mean, you're interesting to look at…Oh god, I think I'm going insane."

"Sanity is overrated," he shot back, feeling a strange elation at her admitting she wasn't just attracted to this human form. It was unexpected.

Slowly she turned back to face him. He tried to read her expressions, but they had simply become too complex for him. Maybe if he had studied humans a bit more he would know, because there were some very strong emotions there, but he didn't know what they were.

"You think?"

He nodded.

She softly bit her lip, eyes troubled.

"Crush…I don't think…"

She was cut off by the sound of someone delicately clearing their throat. Mikaela startled violently, nearly leaping over Crush's head to get some distance between them.

"MRS. Jenkins!"

The elderly woman smiled knowingly then tapped a small wristwatch on her wrist.

"Did you forget our lunch date, sweetie?"

Mikaela blinked then smacked her forehead.

"Yes. Damnit. I'm so sorry. Give me a moment, I'll grab my purse."

Bonecrusher frowned harshly as Mikaela fairly ran out of the shop. He let the human shells shoulders sag as he resigned himself to another night of frustration. The woman, Mrs. Jenkins, walked up and patted him on one oversized arm.

He made a displeased sound at her. If she hadn't interrupted…

"I stayed quiet when you were kissing."

Bonecrusher blinked, looking down at the small woman. He didn't care that she caught them doing the human kissing thing. He was more concerned about what they had been talking about before that. Just how much of the conversation did she hear?

"You might not know it now, young man, but I did you a favor. Mikaela was going to say something she and you would regret. Give her a few days. She'll come around."

Mrs. Jenkins winked at him as she turned around and walked out of the shop.

What in the Pit?

He wasn't really sure what to make of that woman. He shook his head; it didn't matter, as apparently she hadn't heard anything compromising. If she had, he seriously doubted she would be this calm. The humans he'd seen, even Mikaela, all freaked out when the proof of aliens were first shown to them.

"Crush, could you watch the shop?"

He nodded, watching her wistfully as Mikaela took this opportunity to run away from the situation.

"Slag it," he muttered to himself as he allowed the shell to disappear, not even caring as his clothes tumbled to the ground in a heap. He set his working scanners to warn him if any humans came by, and slowly allowed his mind to drift

Today had been interesting, and productive. He hadn't gotten what he wanted, but it felt like he was closer. Mikaela knew of his interest now. Maybe giving her time, like the female Jenkins had suggested, was exactly what was needed.

He hummed softly as he finally slipped into recharge.

Yes, he could wait. He wanted Mikaela, and he wanted her to want him. The glaring issues going against them would need to be dealt with and would take some time.

He would wait.