You'll never be alone again

Chapter 7: Close talks

Isabella could see quite clearly that Smokescreen was distracted as he looked down. Once again he putting everything down to being his fault. This war he was fighting in was really taking a toll on him. The red head watched as Smokescreen was trying to listen to Ratchet and Optimus but his mind kept wondering. There was something else on his processor and she knew it. She stretched her mouth out in a yawn from the tiredness that was creeping up on her. Her panic attacks probably took most of her energy out of her and now she was still recovering. Bella wasn't even listening to Ratchet and Optimus either from her position on Smokescreen's shoulder.

She was still dripping wet from the sprinkler system and her skin shivering from how cold she was finding it. The rookie noticed this and was quick in plucking her off his shoulder and placing her down gently on the floor. "This used to a military base, see if you can go find a change of clothes somewhere before you get sick" he pointed down the hallway where he knew that he had seen a human changing room once.

"Thanks, Smoke" she smiled to him before timidly walking down to where he had pointed. Smokescreen watched her until she moved out of his sight into a room. That was when he heard the sounds of the others returning in his audio receptors. Each of their vehicle modes roared down the passage from the secret entrance to the base.

It hadn't been long since the three guardians left to pick up their charges from school and now here they were arriving back. Laughter quickly filling the room to life the spirits of each of the autobots as the children encouraged them to have fun. Smokescreen watched as each of the three teenagers exited their guardian's vehicle form and they swiftly transformed. As soon as Jack, Raf and Miko were out they quickly noticed the completely drenched floor. Their shoes tapping on the puddles that were all around them as they moved.

"What happened here?" the youngest adjusted his glasses that rest on his nose as he glanced all around the base.

The entire floor having been flooded with water. Miko groaned in slight annoyance as her mind automatically went to try and explain things "did you guys try and make an indoor swimming pool without me?" she mostly pointed to her guardian Bulkhead but he didn't know how to answer her.

"It was starscream" Arcee answered the teenage girl for him.

Miko thought for a quick moment "Starscream wanted an indoor pool? Wait! Did I miss a smack down with screamer?"

As much as the autobots were used to Miko's excitement of the fights that the bots got into, it did irritate them to a point when things were deadly serious and she could quite sense the tone. Arcee sighed and was going to say something further but Jack cut in "come on Miko, lets help clean up" the the oldest of the humans lead Raf and Miko over to where they knew there were mops.

"How come we have to clean up this mess? We didn't make it" Miko made sure her voice was well heard even as she was being forced to help clean the base.

Smokescreen leaned against the side of the base, one of his peds bent and placed on the wall as his arms were folded in front of him. He smiled seeing the connection that each of the guardians had with their charges and he grew excited to have that with Bella. His spark humming a little louder at the thought of being close to her.

The three teenage humans soon got to work trying to dry the floor of the water that was skattered everywhere. Ratchet began to help as well wanting his working environment to be pristine. "Looks like I'm joining you guys on guardian duty" Smokescreen thought it best that the others know of his new duty now.

He didn't miss how Arcee rolled her optics at him. He knew she didn't think he was up to the task which made him determined to prove her wrong. "It doesn't sound as easy as you think, Smokescreen" the rookie was preparing himself for her lecture about it all "unexpected things happen fast and you have to deal with that and put their needs before your own"

He didn't like how he was being spoken down to. "I've done that so far. I have done nothing but think of her safety. That's why Optimus trusts me with this"

Jack, Raf and Miko looked to each other as they listened to the conversation. Confusion was evident on their faces. "Wait a minute…" Raf had to interrupt and immediately looked as Miko seemed to be counting her fingers.

The young girl then looked up at the bots and counted them "three humans and three guardians. Why do we need a fourth?"

"For a fourth human maybe" all their gazes looked to where a voice appeared from behind the corner to the corridor. "So can anyone join your science-fiction club, Jackie?"

Jack Darby was shocked but from the embarrassment of his nickname he began rubbing the back of his head. "Bella? What are you doing here?"

The red heads hair had been rubbed down to get rid of the excess water but it was still soaked as it laid on her shoulders "and why are you wet? What happened here?" Raf spoke in confusion. The older woman obviously knowing more than they did at the current moment. She moved to stand right beside Smokescreens peds as she pondered what to tell them.

"Smokescreen saved my life…more than once. That's what I'm doing here and we had a bit of a run in with Starscream which is why it's wet everywhere" Bella only then stopped to inspect the autobot base and noticed that it really was drenched. Those were some powerful sprinklers that they had. "I'm presuming that this is why you have such amazing vehicles and June is alright with it. They're no actually your motorcycle or car".

Jack smiled seeing her finally understand everything "I'll explain later" he tried to excuse himself. Bella let out a small giggle at that. She was happy to know that even though it had been years since she babysat the teenager, when he was younger, she was still able to have a little fun with him. "So…when we talked in front of the art store…"

Isabella already knew what he was asking and answered the younger boy before he even finished his sentence "I was completely oblivious then until your very same car started stalking me" she raised her eye brows as she took a glance at the rookie. He smiled at the thought also a little embarrassed by her.

"I was attracted by your voice" he openly admitted.

Jack thought back on the day that Smokescreen technically first met the young woman. When he had been teaching the rookie about blending in and following the traffic laws and somehow the autobot had heard Bella singing from a few blocks away. "So you're still finding it difficult to blend in then?"

Bella smirked a little but tried to hide it as she could see Smokescreen watching her from the corner of her eye "Smoke has his good days and bad days in that department" she wanted to mention the whole attracted to her voice thing but decided that perhaps it was a conversation to be had in private with the autobot than with others around them. Smokescreen clearly looked even more uncomfortable about it now than he did only moments ago.

"So you've had a run in with ol'screamer eh? Did you fight him? Was it awesome?" Miko had a habit of talking really fast that people had trouble processing which question to respond to first

Bella yawned as the whole day's events seemed to begin to catch up with her. Never in her life had she had such an eventful day that she had felt so much adrenaline pumping through her veins. But she could feel the exhaustion taking over now. Bruises on her arms setting in that throbbed when touched and her muscles aching as they stretched. "Didn't really get to see him but I saw plenty of the other decepticons when they kidnapped me and Smokescreen" her emerald eyes reflected the tiredness that overcame her.

"Kidnapped?" all three of the teenagers spoke in unison as they questioned what had really happened that day that they had missed out on.

She made eye contact with Smokescreen; not particularly eager to relive the day just yet. "Could you take me home please? I think I've had enough adventures and surprises for one day"

Without hesitation Smokescreen took a cautious step back before transforming into his alternate mode. His passenger side door swinging open immediately to let Bella in. She willingly jumped in before anyone else could say something that would make her stop and the door closed for her as he began to gently roll forward towards the exit of the base. When they weren't in the confines of the town or around people Smokescreen allowed his wheels to go as fast as he could push it. Bella didn't mind this at all she loved it when he rolled down the windows and the air just blew right by her.

The rookie noticed her silence as she gazed out into the wilderness of the area. She softly breathed the fresh air in and felt the freedom it had flow through her body. "Why do like it when I go fast? Do you not feel the cold upon you?" he had to question her actions in the hope that they do not lead to her falling ill.

Bella let out a small laugh that almost made the rookie swerve out of control at these high speeds. It weakened him to the point that he went even faster than he knew he was able to go. "When I'm like this, I can't feel the cold. The speed and the air make me feel like I'm part of the wind – complete freedom. No rules and no limits. If I were the wind I could go anywhere I wanted without anything to hold me back" his processor took in each detail that she went over which made him feel like he was flying. He loved the way she spoke about these things that she had such passion for. Her words emitting the emotions that she kept under lock and key constantly just so that she could carry out her day to day life.

"If you didn't have your panic attack disorder where would you travel to first?" the question was a bit out of the blue but he wanted to know. There was still such mystery to the red head that intrigued him so much.

Bella considered the question carefully. She stuck her tongue out as she concentrated on her thoughts, something that Smokescreen observed and loved "I'd follow the sun as it set on the horizon and keep going" Bella folded up her arms by the open window and rested her chin on it as she stared off into the dark horizon "nothing could stop me then".

"So…west then" the air filled with her small giggle at the way the young autobot blankly put it.

She sat up and stared at the dashboard. It flickered as he spoke to her "you can't just think of it as a direction, Smoke. You have to look at it as a calling"

It wasn't long before they finally arrived in Jasper and within small moments her home. She waited till Smokescreen opened her door again to leave but she didn't go inside. Instead she stood in front of the Indy 500 now parked on her driveway. "So as my guardian does that mean you have to keep watch of me while I'm home?"

"Unless I get a call from Optimus, I'm not going anywhere" his voice was very reassuring and relaxing.

She took a quickly glance over her shoulder to her empty house and sighed. The time she had spent with the rookie was at times terrifying but she was becoming accustomed to his presence. The idea of returning to her solitude, of being alone wasn't inviting anymore. There was something about Smokescreen that called her to him and it wasn't the fact that he was an alien robot. It was something more than that. "Did you wanna come in for a while?" she was waiting for the rookie to joke that he was too big to fit in her house but he didn't. Instead he activated his holoform behind her by her front door. He opened it swiftly and waited for her to enter first seeing as it was her home. She couldn't help the grin that formed on her lips when she passed him. Her heart almost singing aloud as she did.

"So bit of a weird question: do you want something to eat or drink? I'm presuming your holoform can consume food and drink" she blushed a little feeling as though she should know the answer.

Smokescreen quickly made himself comfortable on her sofa. The cushions sinking down to help relax him "my coding for the holoform is the original so it can consume human food and drink and turn that into the energon I need". And Bella thought that he couldn't do anything more to surprise her. His tech was already outstanding but now it blew her mind. She remained silent in astonishment but raised an eye as she still awaited an answer to her question. "Oh er…I'm good at the moment thanks" he began to rub the back of his head as he leaned back into the sofa.

She promptly excused herself and disappeared upstairs to change into something she felt more comfortable to slouch around in.

While she was doing that Smokescreen allowed himself unwind. The day's events having taken a toll on him too. Cybertronians didn't need as much rest as humans did but they did need to power down and enter stasis every now and then. He didn't particularly like being in his holoform that much but he did like some things that he could experience over being in his true form. For instance he loved being inside Bella's home. He could smell the scent of lavender and mint chocolate in the house which is what Bella often smelled like. It was sweet and alluring. The place was warm and inviting, almost made him feel at home. Then there was the painting in the centre of the living room of him in both his forms. It was a real ego booster for him. He had the knowledge that Bella loved to paint places she wanted to travel to, locations that she could only dream of seeing. And here she was painting him instead of another marvellous landscape. It boggled his mind a little, but there was one thing that made him not mind using his holoform and that was Isabella herself. He wouldn't have been able to interact with her as much as he could now. He liked being able to touch her more closely, being able to hug her and offer comfort in a way that his bi-pedal form could not.

The rookie hadn't failed to notice that the more time he spent with the red head the more he felt a connection with her. It was more than a guardian-charge bond. He felt quite close to her and yet there was still so much he wanted to learn about her. But with time that wouldn't be an issue he hoped. His processor pondered if he could give Bella the one thing that she desired. With Ratchets permission he could use the ground bridge to let Bella see all the places she wants to on the planet. As her guardian he would have to accompany which meant that she wouldn't have to worry about having a panic attack while being all alone. The dangers wouldn't matter so long as he was around to protect her. That was a vow he made even before Optimus officially assigned him to her.

"I gather that my life is never going to be the same again but you know I don't think I'd have it any other way" Isabella's voice cut Smokescreen out of his thoughts as he paid attention to the red headed woman. She re-entered the room wearing a pair of light grey tracksuit bottoms and a purple strappy top. He watched her collapse next to his on the sofa and instantly noticed the light bruises on her arms. Guilt flooded him that he couldn't completely protect her which only urged him to try even harder for the future. "Thank you for saving my life, Smoke" Isabella's voice moved down to a whisper as she leant back, her head resting of the soft headrest of the furniture. Her eyes becoming heavy.

The rookie would happily admit he liked the sound of his nickname rolling off of her tongue. The both of them were really susceptible to sleep at the current moment. "Can I ask you something?" Bella wanted to rest properly but there was still something on her mind that she wanted to settle now that they were alone.

"You can talk to me about anything" Bella didn't miss the softness in the rookie's voice as the two of them made and maintained eye contact.

She smiled as she considered the wording that she would use. There was also the issue that it was mainly on Smokescreens part to talk and not hers on this topic "what did you mean earlier when you said you were attracted by my voice?"

Smokescreen awaken slightly, his blue eyes widening at the discussion that was beginning to take place. However, he was thankful that the two of them were alone. Bella's emerald gaze watched as his cheeks flushed red. "Oh, that…"

"We don't have to talk about it if you don't want to" the woman looked down feeling a little disappointed when she felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She looked back up to see how soft his facial expression was.

"I want to" the young autobot allowed Bella to sit back again as she waited for what he had to say "when we unofficially met Jack was teaching me about human traffic laws. We were quite a distance away from you when I heard you singing and I can't exactly describe it but…" he looked into her soul and saw how innocence she possessed. He didn't want to seem creepy in front of her but he didn't want to have to lie to her either. "But I felt the need to follow your voice. Took quite a few turns down the streets but I felt some sort of relief and infatuation when I found you. Your singing was none other than perfect; it had ring to it that felt like it was putting me in a trance. Like I was under your spell."

Just as he finished speaking his audio receptors picked up on her small chuckle and then warmth. He looked down to see her hand on top of his "I promise you I'm not a witch and I can't cast spells but I do appreciate the compliment. I don't often sing in public like that. I am surprised you could hear me from that far away though"

"Jack thought I was going mad at the time. I don't know why but I had to find you" he actually felt ashamed to admit it aloud to her and Bella could easily see this. In turn it made her feel bad that Smokescreen felt like he couldn't discuss this with her.

Bella couldn't control her next actions and she didn't want to knowing exactly what she was going to do. It brought a slight skip to her heart rate. Turning a bit more so that she faced his holoform Bella leaned forward and pressed her small plump lips to his cheek. She felt the warmth in his artificial skin and didn't want to back away but did anyway as she clutched on to his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze "I'm glad you did" she smiled as she felt Smokescreen interlace his fingers with hers and return the reassuring squeeze. "You know you can talk to me about anything as well, right?"

"Of course" Bella could hear how tired Smokescreen was as well. It seemed to creepy up on the both of them and before she could say anything else she saw Smokescreens eyes were closed and his breathing had softened. The side of her mouth twinged up a little at the peaceful sight before her. She would have thought that he would have shut off the hologram of himself to rest but he didn't. Instead he remained with her so that she wouldn't be alone even as the two of them chose to rest.

Reaching behind her Bella grasped on to the soft material of a blanket that she kept hanging on the back. She used what energy she had left to shake it out and then lay it over both herself and Smokescreen. She felt a sudden warmth engulf her frame as she let it soak into her. Her eyes drifting shut and a calming breath being released as her mind suddenly drifted away into a welcomed slumber.

-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-dream-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

Isabella giggled as she dipped her feet in the fresh water of the river, the cold temperature of the liquid not bothering her one bit as her focus was elsewhere. The forest surrounding the small cleared area that she was in rustling and swaying in the wind as it blew without a care in the world. Bella didn't feel the chill of it though, the sun's rays warmed her skin completely that the wind and cooling water was refreshing. The greenery around her blossomed in the absence of human activities. And as she closed her eyes all she could hear was pure silence; there was no traffic, no car alarms or angered people just the peaceful sound of the natural world around her.

The native birds singing to each other in the tree tops and the flow of the water trying to push past her and down the stream, the whole area was a lush green that made her sigh out in content. Bella was completely in the middle of nowhere. Here there was no disturbance, here Bella would gladly live a peaceful life where she knew she would be happy. Where no humans would ruin it all with their modern lifestyle and technology.

It did sadden her that very few people saw the world as she did and envisioned people living the way they should though many would call it a 'primitive' way of life. As Bella was going to the bank of the river to sit and allow her feet to soak in the clean water she heard a loud splash behind her but before she could glance that way a shower of river water rained down covering her completely so that she was drenched-not that she minded. Her eyes searched for the culprit and soon found him.

Somehow she wasn't surprised to see the holoform of the young autobot standing with her in the water, a cheeky grin plastered all over his face as his hands where dripping from where he had pushed the water at her to soak her. She reacted quickly bending down and swiping her arms up to splash back at him, he tried to shield himself but there was no doing that as his entire form got wet. Both of them laughed aloud filling the air. He then tried to return fire but she didn't let him as Bella ran and jumped at him. Seeing this Smokescreens arms opened up to catch her but the impact made them both fall back into the river, the river flow washing over them as they continued to laugh in the fun they were having together.

The water flow now trying to force its way passed them. This only soaked their forms even more as Bella lay atop Smokescreen laughing down at him while he laughed up at her. His arms wrapped around her waist and back to hold her closer to him as if he feared she may leave him. The fun the two of them were having was just another in a long line of memories of things they had done together and would come to do together in the future.

As they were calming down, Smokescreen released his hold on Bella to allow her stand up. When she had done so she stretched her hand out to help him up which he gracefully took. In the hope of not disturbing the environment too much the two of them swiftly climbed out of the river and moved towards where Smokescreens true form sat as an Indy 500. Their fingers laced together as their hands swung forward and back while they walked as though it was an everyday occurrence for them.

Bella couldn't quite express the amount of happiness that she felt. Her heart beating so hard that it felt normal. As soon as the two of them reached the sports car Bella let out a squeak as she was carefully pushed against the bonnet of the vehicle with a weight pushing down on her front. She giggled seeing the smug face of her favourite rookie above her. The gap between them slowly closing in and she didn't try to stop it. This was something that she desired dearly and gladly gave into.

Closing her emerald green eyes she felt the intense heat of Smokescreens lips upon her own. The passion she felt in that moment was overwhelming as she pushed her lips firmly to hers as much as she could. The feeling of Smokes hand on her waist and gliding upwards taking her top with it made her moan into his mouth at the pleasure she was currently experiencing. Her own hands reaching up and grasping tightly onto his hair which made him moan into her as well. She could tell where this was going and she wanted it. The heat was driving her crazy making her lust for him grow.

Eventually they both broke the kiss that they shared, knowing that breathing was an important part of staying alive. They stared loving into each other's eyes as the two of them could feel the others breathe upon their face. Breathing each other in as if life absolutely depended on it. "Smokescreen" Bella's voice was soft and quiet showing her seductive side.

"Bells" the nickname he called her by wasn't one she was used to but she loved it when he said it. Her heart practically jumping within her chest because of it.

"Smoke, I….I lo"