Chapter 37

Primus, it felt like things were spinning out of control.

Demona idled in the hangar, folded down into her alternate form. She waited for her human family to come out. Gears had stolen Sundance away from her when she wasn't looking, the fragging woman...But it did make her smile. She knew the woman truly loved her sparkling.

She sensed movement nearby and cast hidden optics on Jolt as he approached. Her gaze softened as foreign emotions pooled through her, processor turning back to the concern he'd shown over her old wounds and scars. He was an odd one, she had to say, but he was...

Jazz walked by, interrupting her thoughts. He sent them a grin and said, "You kids be good now, you hear?"

Jolt inclined his head towards him before shifting forms. The last plate of his blue armor fell into place the moment the James family and friends walked in. Pockets was actually up on his feet and was walking, although a little stiffly, between his creator and that girl, Jo. He was even carrying Sundance, who was deep in recharge.

Demona eased down on her wheels, feeling the heat on Jolt's form when he rolled forward so that they were waiting side by side. She smiled to herself when Gears sent the mech a warm look before reaching them. Gears patted Demona's hood in greeting, "Hey, Dem."

"Good morning," Demona said. Gears tapped on Jolt's hood as well, making him jump. Gears pulled back with an amused look, "Easy, babe. I don't bite."

"She will if you piss her off..." Rex muttered from the back.

"We're not all going to try to fit in one, right?" Jo asked, sending them an uneasy look. She still doesn't trust us.

Rex scooted his way around and started to head towards Demona, but froze when Gears brought a hand down on his shoulder. She sent him a sharp look, "We're going to pull the church rule. Boys with boys, girls with girls."

"I wasn't going to do anything!"

"Yeah right," Critter said, giggling. He started towards Jolt, "you're always trying things, Rex."

Gears pushed the boy towards the mech and then took Sundance from Pockets. She spared a hand to ruffle his hair before facing Demona again.

Jolt opened his doors first. He was a little tense, and Demona found herself realizing that this might be the first time he'd ever had a human sit inside his alternate. She opened a link with him, and assured, 'Don't worry, Jolt...it isn't painful...'

'It's...strange,' he sent back when Critter crawled up inside.

'You'll get used to it.'

"Alright, let's go," Gears said. Demona slid the seat belts over them, making Jo jump in the back. The woman grinned back at her, "it made me freak out when she pulled that on me for the first time, too."

"I need to keep my family safe," Demona said softly through the speakers, making the girl jump again.

They pulled out of the hangar, Demona taking the lead as they made their way down to the docks. The humans chattered, using the link Demona and Jolt had opened to talk back and forth. Both, Demona and Jolt, fell quiet until they were on the boat and on their way back home.

"Rex, when did the pink come out of your hair?"

"It didn't, I had to dye it blonde..."

"That's what you get for hooking up with those two," Gears cut in, "and really? You had to pick on Ironhide and Ratchet?"

Pockets threw in, "Dude, do you have a death wish?"

"I says why you gotta be hating on me?" Rex snapped.

Demona settled, sinking down beside Jolt. The mech was still sort of tense, completely new to carrying humans. It was amusing really, how awkward he was with it all. He seemed uncertain and careful about everything, even more so when she was nearby.

Again, she thought back to that moment in the hangar, when Sunstreaker and Sideswipe had come strutting in. She had sensed anger from Jolt at the sight of them, a fierce, almost protective rage, like he was ready to guard her. But, at the same time, there had been a streak of fear in him, as if he had never stood up against them before. He knew they were strong, but he hadn't left her side.

Her spark warmed, humming softly as she thought it through. A mech that stamped down his fears, small or large, for her. He hardly knew her, it was still a wonder to her just how he had developed such feelings so quickly.

He knew nothing about her history outside of what stories she had shared with him. He was clueless on her parenting-how would he see her when he realized that she was Megatron's creation?

She shuttered her hidden optics and sunk deeper into herself in attempt to hide from the pain that curled through her spark at the thought. What the slag is wrong with me? I don't understand...I know no more about him than he does of me...why does the thought of rejection...why does it hurt?

Small organic fingers spread out over her dash. She tensed slightly, forcing herself to focus. She realized that they were already at the new docks, and Jolt was waiting for her to head out first. She started a little too sharply. Gears sent her a worried look while Jolt tensed beside her. Before he could even get a word in, she rolled off the boat with, 'I'm fine.'

He vented sharply in reply, far from convinced, and followed.

Primus, help me.

Not too happy with this one...sorta had a brain-fart half way through...bad brain. Trying to toss a little conflict in there as Demona starts to develop feelings for him, too...sorry if it's crappy. Like I said. Bad brain.

I'm going to try to get a third update in today...after a nice long nap...yeah.

Love you all!

Demona and her family, Jo, and the story belongs to me. Transformers does not.