Hey everyone, sorry for such a late update! Here's what I blame: school, homework, and lack of wifi at the hotel!
Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 11: Homesick
It's been a month since Becca and I arrived. Jolt, Arcee, Prowl, and Chromia all arrive and I was excited for each of them. But now that the excitement has died down, I've started thinking about my old life, my old home back in D.C., and Becca does too. She's always talking about how she misses her family. But what we mostly miss is doing normal things. Like going out to eat every Thursdays, movies, and shopping.
I sat outside in the courtyard, watching the sun go down. I've been doing this a lot lately. There was a hand on my shoulder and I turned around to see it was Lennox, a soft smile on his face.
"You okay kid?" He asked.
I sighed, "I'm thinking about my family."
I don't know how, but I immediately sensed Lennox knew what I was talking about and where this conversation was going. He sighed, sitting next to me.
"I know exactly what you mean."
I smiled, "Really?"
"Of course," He said, "There's not a day that goes by when I don't think about Sarah and Annabelle."
I raised an eyebrow, but then realization dawned in on me. Of course! Lennox's wife, Sarah had a baby girl named Annabelle. Sympathetic guilt flooded into me, here I was just missing being able to do normal things, while Lennox wasn't able to be with his wife or his infant daughter! I could only imagine the worry and longing he had. I then felt bad for what I was about to ask next….
"Can….can Becca and I go home? Just for a few days, Becca really wants to see her family."
Lennox looked at me, "I don't think that would be the best idea right now."
"Why not?" I asked.
"The government is still a bit suspicious of you. Not to mention the Decepticons either."
"Yeah, but how can the 'Cons find me if they don't know about me?" I said.
"You don't know that. Also, there's the whole alien energy inside you ordeal." Lennox said, running a hand through his short, brown hair.
I looked back the ground, this was going to be harder than I thought. "Lennox, I know you're just looking out for us, but you don't get it. We're not military, we're civilians, and there's only so much we can take of being locked up on a base before we go stir crazy."
"I understand," He said softly, "But there's just too much at stake."
"Please, Lennox." I nearly begged.
"Do you know how hard the process is going to be?" He asks, a serious look on his face.
I nodded, "Yes, but at least try to see it from our point of view. Oh, Please Lennox!"
He sighed in frustration, "Fine. But you're under Autobot protection, Optimus makes the final decision."
I swallowed nervously, but smiled anyways. Hopefully I can talk Optimus into it smoother.
~ 15 Minutes Later ~
"Absolutely not." Optimus said, his voice seemed to sound more projected by how baritone it was.
I groaned, Why was everyone so against the idea?!
"But it's not fair! You can't just keep us here like this!" I argued.
"As William Lennox has said, it is too big of a risk."
"Risk of what? No one knows anything about me but you all and the government! What's everyone so afraid of?"
Optimus just shook his head, "I am sorry Macey, but I will have to decline."
I folded my arms across my chest, ready to go into full whiny-drama queen mode. We've been at this for at least 15 minutes!
"I also agree with the decision of declining." Ratchet says, walking into the hangar.
I was strongly tempted to tell him where he could shove his agreement, but three government officials where there, along with Lennox, Optimus, Prowl, Ironhide, and now…..Ratchet. I rolled my eyes, so far things weren't looking good. None of them have agreed on us leaving yet.
"Your body is still adapting to the energy from the Allspark, and your immune system is still weak." Ratchet adds, as if his point wasn't already made.
"What about our families? How are you going to explain how we've been missing for a month and a week?" I asked.
"New military jobs." Lennox said with ease.
I clenched my jaw, "What if you send my guardian with us? Will that help you all sleep better?"
Ironhide shook his head, "That does not sound like a wise plan."
I sighed, "I mean a guardian for Becca. I'm worried more for her safety than my own."
"You still need to be watched." Lennox said. I turned back to look at him.
"Watched?" I demanded, feeling the rising panic in my body.
"N-no! Not like that, I mean we need someone to monitor you."
I looked back at Optimus, "You say I'm not a prisoner, so why do you keep me here like I am one?"
Optimus sighed, "I fully understand your desire for normalcy. But what you must realize that things are hard enough as it is around here."
Are they trying to say I was a burden? Because I surely felt like one right about now. My eyes dropped to the ground, trying to keep the nagging thoughts away. No! I have to keep fighting for this! No matter how hurt I felt, my mission was to make them all agree and I'm not done yet! For Becca's sake!
"So….are you implying that I'm a burden? Don't lie to me, tell me the truth."
Optimus gave me a startled expression, as if someone had physically slapped him in the face.
"No Macey, I do not think of you as a burden and nor does any of the others."
That's a lie, I said inside my head, glaring at the ground.
"I was brought here against my will," I whispered harshly. I didn't miss the way nearly everyone stiffened. "If I'm not a prisoner, or a soldier, then I should be allowed to leave the base whenever I chose."
"You need to be protected, and-"
"I'll do it." A husky voice rang out, cutting off Optimus.
Everyone turned to see Sunstreaker standing near the doorway, his arms crossed, an unreadable expression on his face. I was completely shocked, Why would Sunstreaker do this? Doesn't he hate humans, and ME personally?
"You will?" I asked, my mouth still agape.
"Yes." He said so lowly it almost sounded like a growl.
"But why?" I asked.
Sunstreaker ignored me and turned to Optimus. "Optimus sir, as her guardian, I think it is most appropriate that I should go."
"Why the sudden change in spark Sunstreaker?" Optimus asked, looking just as confused as I was.
"The femme doesn't deserve to be here, or have any of this crap." He said shrugging his shoulders.
My mouth nearly dropped to the floor. First, he volunteers. Now, he defends me? Um, bi-polar much? Optimus had a thoughtful look on his face.
"I accept, then."He said, nodding his head.
There were lots, and I mean, lots of people talking at once. Some finally agreeing, but majority still disagreeing. Still in a daze about the whole Sunstreaker thing, I silently walked out of the hangar.
~ A few minutes later~
"He did?!" Becca asked, half surprised, half excited.
I gave her a small smile, still thinking about Sunny's words, and the fact that I was a burden to them. Another problem Optimus had to deal with!
"You okay Mace? You don't look too happy." Becca said, a worried look on her face.
I just shrugged it off, "Yeah, it was just a long meeting."
Becca considered my answer, and I guess she bought it because she didn't press on into the matter.
"Anyway, I think we should start packing." Becca said, pulling me over to her dresser.
"Wait," I said as she turned around, a confused expression on her face, "I could only get thyem to agree if Sunny came along with us."
Becca frowned, "Really? Him of all bots? When will Optimus-"
"He volunteered." I said, and she froze in mid-rant.
"What? Why?" She asked.
I shrugged, and for some reason a smile came to my face, "Well, we're about to find out."
~ A few days later~
Becca and I waited, with our suitcases all packed, in the courtyard. Sunstreaker drove up a few minutes later and I put our suitcases in his trunk, then slid into the passenger's seat, Becca in the back.
"Don't get the interior dirty." The radio warned, and all but growled.
"Well," I drawled, "Aren't you just a freakin ray of sunshine?"
The car's engine revved angrily, as the seatbelt strapped us in.
"Stop calling me that!" He snarled, and I rolled my eyes, a small smirk on my face.
Hope you enjoyed it! Please, review!
