In this Chapter, Dani gets free from Med-Bay, but has one major issue with Sunstreaker. And Sunstreaker refuses to take her out to town to get something important. Optimus is on a rampage for some odd reason and Dani gets caught with her hand in a storage bin of multi-colored wires. What happens when Optimus catches her?

Chapter Twelve

Dani waited impatiently while Ratchet scanned her to make sure these 'nanites' weren't malfunctioning. "Can I go now?" I asked impatiently.

"How many times do I have to say no?"

I gave him a mischievous grin. "A thousand times." I said.

Ratchet grumbled something that Dani couldn't hear. "How about now?" Her cheerfulness had returned.

"No!" Ratchet grumbled. "When I deem you fit to go, you can go!"

"Aww!" I said. "I thought you'd let me go today."

"I am. But I want to make sure that you aren't going to have another seizure."

"I'm not! I feel perfectly fine!" I said. "Please? I'll come back tonight, tomorrow, and the next day after tomorrow."

Ratchet shook his head. "Dani? You're relentless."
"Thank you."

Ratchet finished his scan and held out his hand. I climbed onto his hand and held onto a thumb digit. Ratchet walked out of the Med-Bay. He pulled me up to his optics and warned me, "Keep away from Optimus. He's on a rampage today for some reason."

"Okay I will." I promised as he bent down and I jumped off his hand.

I walked away from him, looking for Sunstreaker. I couldn't find him, but I ran into Prowl. I clasped my hands, whistling a small tune as I walked by him. I swore I could feel his optics burning a hole in my head as I walked up the hall. I was in a good mood until I had to go to the bathroom. I walked toward Sunstreaker's room and the door opened, revealing Sunstreaker.

"There you are! I was about to come find you." He said.

"Find me?"

"Yes."

"Good." I said, walking into his quarters between his legs.

"Where are you going?"

"To the bathroom." I said, walking toward my room and walking toward the bathroom. When I realized I had started something, I called Sunstreaker. "Um, Sunstreaker?"

"Yes, Dani?"

"Can you take me to town? I need something."

"No."

"I really need to get something today."

"Well, you refused to go to town yesterday. And I'm not taking you today."

"Please?" I asked.

"No."

"Fine! I'll ask Sideswipe since you don't 'feel' like it!"

I went to leave before Sunstreaker growled his disapproval. "Now you listen here..."

I left Sunstreaker's quarters and went to look for Sideswipe. I didn't get far before I was grabbed from behind.

"Now you listen to me. I'm not taking you to town and you don't have my approval to go."

"Then I'll go to Ironhide and tell him you're refusing to take me to town for something I need."

"What do you need so bad?" Sunstreaker said.

"Take a good guess!"

Sunstreaker scanned her body to find something else. "Oh." He finally said. "Go back to your room and wait for me."

"It takes an hour to-"

"No it will not! We have a small store right outside. I'll be back with your needs."

I went back to his quarters, wondering why no one said anything about having a store on base.

When Sunstreaker returned, I thanked him and left to go to the bathroom.

-0-

When Sunstreaker left for his patrol that day, I explored the base, trying to stay out of trouble. You know they have a saying that trouble finds me? Well, trouble did that day and Ratchet's warning wasn't true about Optimus being on a rampage.

I was exploring a room I shouldn't have even stepped in, but being naturally curious, I went ahead and browsed the room. I was curious when I saw all the spare parts in organized bins. It reminded me of putting together that little robot and I yearned to put something together. I walked over to a bin marked, 'Wires'. The bin was taller than me, but just enough for me to climb up while I hung over the edge. I opened the lid and looked inside the bin. Inside was a vast collection of multi-colored wires. I reached into the bin when I heard a loud, but stern voice breaking my thoughts and curiosity.

"Danielle Evans." I heard Optimus' voice and jumped backwards, falling from the bin to the floor. "What are you doing in here?"

"Exploring."

"Exploring a storage closet?"

"Is that what this is? It's awfully big to be a closet." I stood up and looked at him.

"Small to us, big to you."

"Oh." I said.

"Let's go." Optimus said, beckoning me out.

I walked out and waited for him, but he closed the door and I heard an audible click. "Aww! I'm sorry! I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be in there." I said about to leave.

"Dani?" Optimus asked wondering what brought that on. "What's wrong?"

I stopped and said, "I was looking in there because I like storage closets to rummage around for spare parts."

"Why spare parts?"

"To put a robot together."

"Hmm. I think I've got an idea for you."

"You do?" I asked in complete and utter shock. "You mean you're not going to yell at me for being there?"

"I've already vented."

"So you're not in a rampage now?" I said, getting ready to run, but I heard a vented sigh.

"Who told you that I was rampaging down the hall and base?"

I lifted a hand up to rub the back of my neck. "Er, Rat cough chet."

"Ratchet? The wrench throwing medic himself?"
"Didn't hear it from me! My lips are sealed..." I sang in a sing song voice and walking briskly away from Optimus.

"Danielle Evans! Come back here!"

I stopped in the middle of the hall. "My lips are sealed and I've told you where I-"

"Lower your voice and tone." Optimus said.

"Huh?" I asked, wondering why he thought I was speaking to loudly.

"Lower your voice and tone."

"You can't hear me."

"I can hear you when you speak normally. Now, go to your room-"

"Sunstreaker's not here." I interrupted him and then grinned. "May I go to the library, please?" I asked.

"If that is your destination, you may go."

"Thank you!" I said, running up to his foot and hugged him. Then I ran away from his foot toward the Hangar. "Library! Here I come!" I exclaimed, running toward the door. I paused at the door, not really sure of myself. I hesitantly open the door and look out into the bright sunshine. I looked around at first and then stepped out of the Hangar.

"Wow!" I said as if I hadn't seen the sun for days. I waited for my eyes to adjust and then walked away from the open door. I wondered where the library was and wandered for a long time before I found the library. It was a large building with an 'Authorized Personnel Only' sign on the door. I reached out and open the door. I walked into the air conditioned building.

"You're not-Oh! Hi." A man said. "You must be Danielle Evans."

I nodded.

"Shy? I'm Steve." He introduced himself. "Optimus rang to say you were stopping by and so I held off on closing early."

"Thank you." I said.

"I do have some Juvenile books over here," Steve said beckoning toward a section in the library. He led me to bookcases full of juvenile books and children's books.

"So what do you like to read?"

"Everything." I said. "And anything."

"Perfect. A little bit of this and that, eh?"

"Yes." I said, browsing around until I saw a book that caught my eye. I reached out for the book and pulled it off the shelf.

"You want to read that one?" Steve asked.

"Yes."

"All right." he said, taking the book to his desk, but he noticed I wasn't following him. Instead, I pulled out more than one book. I decided to read more than one book. I smiled as I walked up the counter.

"Dad used to tell me to read as much as I can."

"Good."

"I write too." I said.

"Is that so? What do you write?"

"Science fiction and fantasy."

"Interesting. Have you ever thought of getting anything published?"

"Sometimes."

"Whenever you feel ready, you come down the library and I'll see what you wrote and I'll edit it and then we can send it off to one of the publishing houses."

"Really?" I asked.

"Yes, really." Steve said.

"Thanks." I said.

"Those are due in three weeks."

"Okay. Thanks." I said.

"Let me walk out with you and lock up."

"Thanks." I waited at the door for him and looked out to see Ironhide's form. "Uh-oh. Ironhide's here, Steve."

"He's here to pick me up and take me home across the base."

"Oh! I like Ironhide. He's like my Dad and I wonder if he's going to give me a lesson today."

"It's late." Steve said, walking up to the door and holding the door open for me. I stepped outside into the warmth. "Ironhide won't give you lessons until tomorrow."

When I stepped over to Ironhide, he asked, "Dani? What are you doing here?"

"Checking out books." I said. "Optimus said I could."

"All right. Do you know where the Hangar is?"

"I think so." I said sounding very uncertain.

"I'm not taking any chances, Dani. Climb up." He opened his passenger side door. Steve helped me into Ironhide and I sat in the middle of the truck.

"Wow! We're really high up, aren't we?"

"Seatbelts."

"I'm going with you?"

"No. I'm dropping you off before I leave here. If I don't, you'll be in big trouble with Optimus and I want to avoid that."

"Okay." I said.

"But I will spend the day with you tomorrow teaching you."

"Awww! Do I have to?"

"Yes." Ironhide said, stopping inside the Hangar. He opened his driver's door and I jumped out of his form. I held my books in my hands and walked away from him. "Thanks, Ironhide."

"You're welcome. See you tomorrow."

I walked toward Sunstreaker's quarters and found him not back from patrol. I decided to sit down close to the door and began reading.

Nothing ba