Author's Note: A few little bombs brought to you by the letter ''F''..
Chapter 14: Just a bit off…
Lennox P.O.V
Most people have like a sixth sense, a gut feeling when something does not seem to be right. My sixth sense had served me well and had, on more than one occasion, saved my life and the life of those in my command. Now, my sixth sense was telling me something was not right with OC. Hadn't been for a few months now, and especially these past two weeks.
As I filed the last report, logged off my computer and grabbed my car keys, I realised I had not seen her around base for nearly a week. /Very unlike her/. Since the moment OC essentially begged to be allowed to come and be a part of N.E.S.T and live and work with the Autobots nearly two years ago, she was a permanent fixture around the hangers and around the Autobots. Especially Prime. Those two just seemed to get along really well.
Arriving in the carpark near the admin building, I unlocked my black SUV and slid inside. The engine roared to life, and I found myself heading the relatively short distance to downtown Diego Garcia. I tapped the steering wheel as I gave a loud and weary sigh. ''Well. If the mountain won't come to Mohammad..''
As much as OC could be a pain in the arse and really pushed my buttons sometimes, we got along well, and she was pretty cool to hang out with. I considered her a good friend and for a few months now I had noticed a change in her. Even Prime, who always gave people and bots the benefit of the doubt, was showing signs of being concerned about her and seemed to be missing her presence. I gave a small snort of laughter as my car turned down OC's street. ''For the Boss Bot to notice and miss her with everything else going on in his life, something's gotta be up.''
I pulled up out the front of her apartment block and was about to step out of the car when I noticed the very person I sought dressed in frayed denim shorts and a white tank top, step out and turn about to lock the door quickly behind her.
''OC!'' I yelled out to her and took some delight in her reaction. ''Just the person I was looking for.''
At the mention of her name, OC had jumped and sworn, raising a hand to her chest and no doubt her heart which had just received a shock. ''Fuck's sake Lennox!'' She growled at me. ''You nearly gave me a friggin' heart attack!'' She muttered under her beath something about ''same as Prime'' as her eyes glared at me.
I laughed out loud. ''So, I can see.'' I lowered my sunglasses as I grinned mischievously towards her. ''Nearly hunh? Sorry, I'll try harder next time.'' I winked at her.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes at me before she slung her handbag over her arm and began to walk briskly down the street, pausing long enough to yell over her shoulder. ''Lennox I'm not in the mood. Sorry.''
/Yep. Something is definitely up with her for her to not bite back/. Turning the engine off, I jumped out the car and took off after her, reaching out to grab her shoulder. ''Hey! OC, slow down. What's the hurry?''
She shrugged my hand off in irritation and frowned at me. ''What's it to you anyway?''
A small wave of anger washed over me at her insolent tone, and I silently counted to three. ''Well perhaps, against my better judgement, I consider you a friend OC…''
She narrowed her eyes again and snorted as she folded her arms across her chest. ''Feeling is mutual, believe me.''
I sighed out loud, ''be that as it may, I haven't seen you around a lot lately. Neither has Prime and the other Autobots and I was kinda worried about you. I guess we all are.''
OC seemed to tense, and her eyes darted away as she took a step back. I noted her reaction with interest and concern. OC simply gave a small laugh and shrugged her shoulders. ''Yeah well, I do kinda have a life outside the Autobots and N.E.S.T Lennox.'' She started to back up and move in the direction she had started to walk. ''As much as I appreciate the concern, there's nothing to worry about I'm fine. Just busy.''
I took a step towards her. ''Yeah, with what OC? What could possibly be so important that you basically abandon your friends?'' I could not help feeling a little hurt, not just for myself but for the Autobots, for Prime, who had also been ignored.
OC's eyes flashed angrily for a moment, and she stopped in her retreat. ''None of your Goddamn business Lennox! And I am NOT abandoning my friends. I just… I have some shit I need to sort out okay.''
I took another step towards her. ''Personal shit OC?'' I came to stand right before her, arms folded across my chest, a questioning look on my face.
She bit her lower lip and looked away for a moment before she nodded her head slowly. ''Something like that.''
I reached out to her and gently placed my hands on her shoulders in a show of support. She flinched, which concerned me again. ''OC. If there is something going on in your life that is troubling you, if you are having some sort of financial issues or if someone is hurting you..'' I felt a flare of anger burn inside me at the thought of someone possibly intimidating or hurting her.
She stepped back out of my reach and gave a small laugh. ''Lennox, I appreciate your support, really, I do. But I do not have any financial issues, I am not being molested by anyone,'' she sent a lopsided grin at me, ''apart from present company that is. I just need a bit of time to work through something.''
I titled my head and crossed my arms over my chest. ''Ahh. I get it. Boy trouble.'' I leant down towards her, a huge teasing grin on my face. ''So, tell me. Who's the lucky man?''
I was not prepared for her reply.
Two hands were firmly shoved into my chest nearly knocking me off my feet as OC launched herself at me, exploding in rage. Her face was contorted in almost blind anger and pain. ''FUCK OFF LENNOX! YOU DON'T KNOW A FUCKING THING! I TOLD YOU TO LEAVE ME ALONE..''
She was screaming at me, and I backed up under her tirade, holding my hands up. ''Woah! OC, take it easy, I was just stirring.'' Some off duty soldiers walking down the other side of the street had stopped, watching our interaction carefully, preparing to intervene. /Clearly thinking I was harassing the woman before me/.
''I TOLD YOU TO GIVE ME SOME SPACE, NOTHING IS WRONG,'' she shoved me one more time, her voice quivering with emotion. ''And there is no man lucky or otherwise so you can stop that fucking shit right now!''
I kept my hands in the air and kept my distance from her. I had indeed pushed one button too much but if anything, this only confirmed my suspicions that something was wrong with her. My voice was low and as calm as possible when I addressed her shaking form. ''OC. I'm sorry okay, alright. I didn't mean to make you so upset. Truly I didn't.'' She backed up away from me and nodded her head slightly, her way of acknowledging my apology. Her bottom lip was quivering but she didn't cry.
I exhaled slowly as I lowered my hands. I noticed the off-duty soldiers begin to move on, clearly feeling there was no longer a need to intervene. I returned my attention to the woman before me. ''It's just, for someone who practically lived on base and in Hanger 1, Autobot quarters and the Med Bay for a year and half, you are conspicuously absent of late. It's been noticed - and not just by me.''
OC stiffened at my words and looked away, a cold edge to her voice. ''Well, things change I guess Lennox. As I said. I have some stuff to work through and I just need space to do that.'' She turned back to fix me with a very serious and pleading stare. ''I would really appreciate it if you and everyone else could just give me a chance to do that.''
She sighed out loud, a crooked smile on her lips. ''I'll be okay, and I'll be back around you before you know it.'' She snorted. ''So, enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts.''
I nodded my head. ''Fair deal OC. I can give you some space for a while. Can't speak for everyone else, but I understand. Just don't cut us all out. We just want to help, and we all care about you.''
OC dipped her head, her eyes seeming to mist up, but she just nodded briskly and shot me a quick smile as she turned on her heel and continued her path, calling over her shoulder. ''Thanks Lennox. I'll see you round like a rissole.''
I shook my head at the annoyingly, irritating form of a woman who disappeared from my sight. After a moment, I turned around and walked back towards my car. ''Well, that went well!'' I muttered to myself as I slid back behind the steering wheel. ''Note to self, don't push OC when she asks for space.''
As I swung the car about to head to my own lodgings, I decided I would keep an eye on her. I would not interfere, not yet. I would honour her request but after that interesting and uncharacteristic display just now, there was no denying something was upsetting her. If she didn't sort it out soon, I would have to try and talk to her again. I snorted out loud. ''That is if Prime doesn't beat me to it!'' Then again maybe I should let him be the one to have a chat with her. /Afterall, it'd be hard to shove a twenty-eight foot robot around!/.
I sighed out loud in frustrated acceptance. /Whatever she's dealing with can't be THAT big a deal? Can it?/.