Author's note: Ok folks, I know it's been awhile that this has been updated, but it has not been forgotten or abandoned. This story has two writers working on it and sometimes it takes us awhile to get together to do this. Especially with summer vacation and everything that comes with it being thrown in the middle. The updates will come as quickly as we can get them ready, I promise you this.

Michelle held her dog close as Ironhide began to walk towards the new robot who had just made his noisy arrival to earth. She was still intimidated by the raw potential for violence that these giant beings had shown just mere moments before.

Ironhide, having been one of the more intimidating ones.

But as he held her against his frame now he seemed, almost gentle. He kept her in the protective curve of his arm and didn't seem too keen on putting her ass back down either. And if she was honest with herself, she didn't really want him to. She felt so safe here and decided she wouldn't say anything.

The ground wasn't the safest place at the moment anyway. The bots were all so caught up with the new arrival that they might not watch where they put their big damn feet. So.. If he wanted to put her down, he could. But she wasn't going to ask.

"Wheeljack!" Ratchet was thundering as he tried to open the pod. Punctuating his words with blows to the crumpled metal heap. "What, in the name, of Primus!? You dundering old fool! What has addled your processor so that you would land in a populated area!"

"This from the mech who crashed down in the middle of a street." Jazz mumbled, rolling his optics in such a human way. He wasn't quiet enough though it seemed as Ratchet nailed him in the head with a wrench hard enough to flip him aft over helm.

"My apologies," said Wheeljack, as he finally stumbled out of the bent and crumpled pod.

Ironhide vented sharply, catching her attention from the crater. As she looked to him questioningly he quickly shielded her view of the new bot with his large metal hand and seemed to ...blush? She looked at him incredulously. Could they do that? And what the hell could cause big, bad and grumpy to get so flustered?

"My landing software seems to have glitched." She heard the new bot say. "I shall run a system's diagnostic immediately." Then he sounded worried when he said, "Please tell me no one was injured!?"

"That's not the only thing about you that's glitched you fool, and no, no one was injured. Thank Primus." Ratchet grumbled.

Michelle was still trying to see around Hide's massive mit to the crash site, and about to start fussing at him when she heard Laura start up first.

"Hey, jackass, I can't see! Damn it Sides! What the hell gives?" She was also struggling to look around her guardian's blocking hand. "Why won't you let me look?"

Michelle was honestly wondering the same thing though she hadn't had a chance to ask, she was eager for an explanation.

"Because...he's only in his protoform..." He told her slowly, as if she were a child and the answer should have been obvious.

Michelle hoped the heifer didn't suddenly have an epiphany or something and figure out what he was saying. Because she wanted to know what that meant and she sure as hell didn't want that silver asshat talking to her like a baby. Thankfully Laura did not disappoint.

"So?"

Sides gave gave the girl a lopsided grin as he straightened into his normal, cocky, stance. He was like a giant metal peacock... Preening. He looked down at Laura in a way that made Michelle blush like Ironhide had. "Well, you fleshies would say he's naked, and I don't think he'd care to have a strange femme seeing him that way you know. Plus you aren't old enough to see that.

Laura immediately bristled at his remark, "I'll have you know I am a grown woman you twat! I've seen my fair share of men thank you! Not that I want to see his bits or anything. But I'm no damn child so you can shove that shit right up your tail pipe!"

Sides voice suddenly dropped and he groaned in pleasure. He spoke in a tone he no doubt thought was seductive as stared down at Laura with lidded optics and Michelle coughed to hide her laugh as Laura leaned back into the silver mech's hand as he leered down at her. "Mmm, baby," he groaned, " You know I like it when you talk dirty to me. If you really want to see a protoform, I'd be more than happy to show you mine..."

Even from here she could make out Laura's face turning red as a tomato in the darkness. "Um, nah. I'm good."

"That. You. Are..." He purred at her, making her blush even more. Sunny just huffed a little at his brother's continued teasing.

"Why do you have to do that?" She asked him. "Is it out of some perverse need to torture me?"

"I like to watch you squirm." He replied still grinning. "And since pranking you is no longer an option, this is the only way I can..."

Michelle just laughed quietly at Laura's discomfort. Sides seemed to know just what to say to her to make her turn the most interesting shades of red.

"Hey, Ironhide! Long time no see. What you got there?" She then heard Wheeljack greet her guardian.

"Nothing that concerns you at the moment." He replied, turning his body to move her further away from him.

"I just want a quick look." And a set of blue eyes came into her view, looking down at her with curiosity. "Oh! You have pets!" He said and a finger came up to reach for her.

Hide's response was quick as he reached out with his other hand, grabbed the curious wrist and flipped the new arrival in the air and slammed him into the ground. "She is not a pet!" He growled down at the once again unseen Wheeljack before turning and stomping away from the landing site.

"Well, someone's attitude hasn't improved much." She heard Wheeljack complain as they moved away.

"That was a little harsh, don't you think?" She asked him as he quietly stomped along.

"No." He replied shortly and she just shook her head.

They traveled for awhile, away from the cluster of buildings that formed the main part of base, with him still carrying her and Sheeva. Michelle was starting to grow a little curious as to where he was taking her. "Where are we going?" She finally asked after a few minutes.

"We need to talk." He answered, still looking forward as he walked. "And there are too many distractions back there right now to do so."

She looked up curiously at him. "Talk about what? ...And you still didn't say where were going."

Again he remained quiet as he walked, that was a bad habit of his. If he didn't feel like answering, he wouldn't. Drove her nuts. But then, this was the most communication she had with him in three weeks now and she didn't push it. So she just settled down in his arm, and waited.

His stride was actually kind of soothing as he walked along and being wrapped as she was still in the secure hold of his arm she let herself relax a little and she leaned against his chestplate, taking in the view from this high up. Everything seemed so different from this height and she was enjoying the new perspective.

Ironhide was lost in thought as he strode along. His irritation from earlier was quickly fading to something else he couldn't quite explain. She felt so soft against him and when she leaned back against his chest he almost stumbled. She was so close to his spark and it's slight throbbing at her proximity took him off guard a moment. Not to mention his cooling system had kicked in again at the feeling of her snuggled against him. What was it about her that made him feel so...strange...

That was really the reason he kept walking, he knew he needed to talk to her and smooth over the last few weeks, but he was trying to get himself under control first. It wasn't working, especially with her so close to him but he couldn't bring himself to put her down. 'Maybe Ratchet is right.' he thought to himself as he looked down at the woman in his arm 'Maybe I am growing soft.'

He really didn't know where he was going until he found himself there. It was a rare spot out here in this dust-bowl of a landscape. An underground spring fed this small valley, resulting in a small oasis of green instead of brown vegetation and the soft sound of water trickling as it went on it's way further down hill in the small ravine it had carved.

Michelle looked around in mild wonder as he gently set her and her pet down. Sheeva went right out to investigate the new surroundings, but stayed close. Michelle smiled as she watched her as she scampered around. "So, what did you want to talk about?" She turned her attention to the large bot, to find him watching her. His blue eyes seeming to bore into her as he stood quietly for a few moments.

Sighing, she watched her dog play as she waited. She would have to wait for him to make the first move she supposed. "This is a pretty spot." She commented finally, the silence making her uncomfortable.

"I'm...glad you like it. I had hoped you would." He told her, almost hesitantly. Then, to her astonishment, he knelt down in font of her as close as he could without kneeling on her. "I...I wish to apologize." When those words came out, she couldn't believe they did and she just looked up at him like he grew another head. "I haven't been treating you the way I should the last three weeks."

Now she knew why he had brought her out here. Something like that must not be easy for him to admit too and she figured he didn't want an audience while he did. She knew however it wasn't entirely his fault. "Hide, listen, if I hadn't went off like I did then you wouldn't have a reason to be upset in the first place. I should be the one apologizing." She finished quietly.

"You already have." He reminded her gently. "I was just to stubborn to accept it."

"Still, it was my fault and if-"

"Will you just accept the fragging apology!" He finally snapped at her, loosing his patience. "It was difficult enough to do without you arguing with me about it!"

She looked up at him with a wry grin as he blustered over her. "Fine, apology accepted."

That seemed to calm him down a bit. "And yours is as well." Again he was quiet a moment as he watched her. "You are so quick to forgive, quicker than I am." He admitted.

"Maybe it's because I feel like the whole thing is my fault. So, does this mean you will hang out with me more?" She asked him as she turned her attention back to her dog. She was secretively hoping he would say yes. He was grumpy, moody, out of sorts a lot...but she finally honestly admitted to herself that she liked him.

"If you wish. I am not the most...sociable bot to be around however. I'm sure the twins are more entertaining."

"Yes, they are." She smiled. "But they are also annoying at times. Might not be a bad idea to have you near to knock that out of them."

"I think that can be arranged." He grinned back at her. "Primus knows they deserve it."

"So, we are good now? You're not going to ignore me anymore?"

"Yes, Michelle." She blinked, as far as she could tell that was the first time he actually used her name. "We 'are good' as you put it."

"Good... I've missed you..." Michelle bit her lip after she said that, that really wasn't supposed to come out.

He didn't respond but instead transformed into his truck mode. As she always did Michelle watched in fascination as he seemed to just fold into the wheeled form. A short moment after he finished his tall, dark haired holoform appeared right in front of her. His blue eyes looked down into her brown ones for a moment. "I didn't think I was the missable type."

"You can have some endearing moments. Like now." The close proximity of his holoform was making her a little nervous and she felt her heartbeat speeding up a little.

"You keep that to yourself, I have a reputation to maintain."

She raised a brow at him and smiled. "What being the big badass? Gets kinda old after awhile."

He snorted. "I've been a badass longer than you could possibly imagine. It's one of the things that keeps the Cons at bay."

"And others as well I'm assuming." Good lord, what was wrong with her? She wiped her sweaty palms on her pant legs.

"Not all of them." He replied softly, his eyes still locked on her and sending a shiver down her spine. "I do let a few get close."

"And am I one of the few?" Now why had she asked that? Good god...

"Maybe." He replied, his eyes still boring into hers.

She had to back up from him, she couldn't handle the feelings he was causing in her. Feelings she wasn't anywhere near ready to face yet. Michelle tried to get her wildly beating heart under control as she moved to sit on a large rock nearby. She was nervous, confused and a little overwhelmed, but oddly enough she wasn't scared. Not of him. The emotion she had been expecting the most seemed to be the one bothering her the least. The last time she had been alone like this with a man she barely knew... she just shuddered at the memory.

"Michelle?" He again moved closer, but kept more distance between them, as if he knew something was bothering her. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"You are a rotten liar." He told her.

"I'm sorry, I just... thought of something is all."

"Something unpleasant from what I can gather." His eyes searched her face, as if trying to find what was bothering her by reading her.

"Hide, please, I don't want to talk about it, can't talk about it. Not that it would do any good anyway." She finished bitterly.

His eyes narrowed a little at that, but he left it alone. "Very well." He said instead before sitting on the rock next to her.

"It's not you, really." She quickly told him, not wanting to ruin everything again between them.

"I know." Was all he said in return. "You will tell me when you are ready."

"What makes you so sure I will?" She couldn't help but ask.

"Because you don't have a choice in the matter. Something is bothering you, and it frightens you. It is my responsibility to keep that from happening."

"Seriously? Is that like some guardian code or something?"

"No." He said as he looked to the clear sky above them. "It's a part of a promise I made to someone."

Now she was curious, very curious. "Who?"

-Hide!- Ratchet came over the comm in the truck just then.

"Frag it all!" He grumbled. -What?- He then replied, more than a little annoyed.

-We need you. Prime wants to send some bots out to go find Wheeljack an alt form, so he's not running around in his protoform. Stop your offroading trip and get your aft back over here.-

-I'm coming.- Was the moody response and he let his holoform fizzle out.

He opened the door for Michelle as she walked closer. Sheeva beat her in, having the decency to shake most of the water off first. Then the dog hopped into the back and Michelle slid in. After closing the door he began the drive back, grumbling to himself over the rotten timing.

"Hide?"

He quit his mumbling to answer. "Yes?"

"Thank you. For the talk I mean..." She told him, honestly grateful that the whole mess had been cleared up between them. He didn't respond but she swore she could feel the seat mold around her, reassuring her that he felt the same way.