Author's Note: Itty bit of swearing.

Chapter 46: Crossing the Bridge

Lennox P.O.V

''Hey Lennox!'' I turned around surprised to hear that wonderfully familiar voice at this early time of the day, especially for her.

''OC!'' I grinned at her and dropped the paperwork I had been looking over unceremoniously back onto the desk. ''What brings you here and at this ungodly hour of the morning?'' The sun had not long since risen which was why I was shocked to see Orianna approaching me. In the two years I had known OC, she was most definitely not a morning person.

She had her hands in her green cargo pants pockets as she came to a stop a few feet away from me, her sand-coloured combat boots scuffing on the cement floor of the hanger. My initial surprise and happiness at her arrival gave way to concern as I took the sight of her in. Her lips were drawn tightly together within a pallor complexion, and she had dark circles under her eyes. /Maybe it was Relda I heard last night?/. ''I ah, I've got something I need to talk to you about. A favour to ask.''

I felt a knot forming in my stomach as I eyed her suspiciously and leaned against my desk. ''And that would be?''

Her eyes darted nervously around the hanger, taking in the bustling commotion that often accompanied this space. She shuffled on her feet nervously. ''You look busy.'' OC often deflected when she was preparing to do, or ask something, that may not be well received.

I arched a brow at her. ''I am. We are. Always.'' She nodded in agreement. ''Come on OC. Out with it.''

OC sighed as she smiled at me. ''Fair point. You know me too well Lennox.'' Her shoulders rose and fell as she took a deep breath. ''Well, remember months ago,'' she dipped her head in embarrassment as her voice dropped, ''Ya know, back before the shit storm of Optimus and I, and we were in the training hanger, and I was telling Jazz how I felt about Optimus?'' She raised her eyes to look encouragingly at me, as if coaxing me to remember the moment.

I nodded. ''Yeah. I remember. What of it and what does this have to do with a favour?'' My voice was flat.

OC's hands seemed to fossick about in her pockets as she rocked on the balls of her feet. ''Well, remember how you asked me what I would do if it all went to hell in hand basket..''

I nodded as I folded my arms across my chest and braced myself.

OC pulled a hand out of her pocket and raked it through her dark locks, ''and I said I'd cross that bridge when, and if I had to?'' She bit her lower lip in agitation as she eyed me carefully.

I tilted my head as I regarded her, a sinking, cold feeling enveloped me as I replied in an even tone. ''Yes.''

OC removed her other hand from her pocket and began to pace about before me, something she always did when she was nervous and trying to work through something. ''Well, I've decided what I need to do to cross the bridge Lennox.''

''Hunh?'' I felt my eyebrows scrunch up in confusion. ''What the hell are you talking about OC? Crossing bridges?'' I snorted as I pushed off the desk and took a step towards her, shaking my head at her. ''You sound like you are planning on going somewhere.''

OC stiffened before she pulled her shoulders back and stood tall as she looked me in the eye. ''That's because I am. I'm leaving.''

I halted in my tracks, my jaw dropping open as I scowled at her. ''Are you shitting me? You serious? Where? Why?''

OC grunted out loud before she resumed her frantic pacing, ''In answer to your questions Lennox; I'm not shitting you, I'm very serious. Probably back to the US, maybe go see Sam, 'Bee and Mikaela for a bit. And,'' she cast me a scathing glance as she paused momentarily. ''Why do you think?''

I had regained my senses and stepped forward to grab her arm, frowning down at her, a mixture of shock and anger seeping into my tone. ''So, you mean to tell me you are going to leave here altogether, leave all the Autobots, leave me, because of what happened with Prime?''

Her eyes glared at the hand attached to her arm and then tracked up to my face. She raised a brow, silently requesting I remove the offending hand. I did so reluctantly. Orianna sighed out loud. ''Lennox. I hate looking like a quitter, but I had reason to seriously process my situation and options last night, and I really feel like it's the best chance I have of moving forward and getting over Optimus.''

I ignored her. ''I knew it! Something happened last night when you met up, didn't it? It was you I heard outside my apartment, wasn't it?'' I glared down at her accusingly. /Why didn't she come to me? Maybe if she had, we wouldn't be having this conversation/. A small part of me was hurt and the look she gave me told me she had picked up on that.

''Look Lennox, I don't want to go into it but yeah, I did pull up outside your apartment for a bit but decided you'd dealt with enough of my crap already and so I left you alone to deal with it on my own.''

I shook my head as I snorted angrily at her. ''And that seems to have turned out well, hasn't it?'' I goaded her, my words dripping in sarcasm.

OC's eyes narrowed slightly, though she did not bite back. ''Lennox, I'm sorry, but I need to make a clean break and start again. Somewhere I am not constantly reminded of him or run the risk of bumping into him.'' Her eyes caught a glimpse of the catwalk, and she bit her lower lip as her whole frame seemed to slump in seeming defeat. ''We're just going to keep hurting each other unintentionally.'' She shrugged her shoulders. ''It's for the best.''

I clenched my teeth together in an effort to bite back a stinging reply.

She began pacing again as I folded my arms and watched her through narrowed eyes. ''Besides, it's not fair to him either, me hanging around and being a constant reminder of my stupid mistake and making him feel guilty about something he can't help.'' Her voice dropped as she seemed to mutter to herself. ''I mean, he survived Elita leaving his life, albeit unwillingly, and he really loved her, he should survive just fine without me.''

I ignored her personal pep talk. ''And what about me OC?'' She halted in her pacing. ''Doesn't seem fair to me. I thought I was your best friend and you're just going to ditch me? After all we've been through.''

''Oh Lennox!'' She rushed forward and enfolded me in a tight embrace. I begrudgingly folded my arms around her. ''You are my best friend, and I am so grateful to you for everything you have done for me. Truly I am. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn'tâ€Ĥ'' Her voice trailed off as she held me imperceptibly tighter before letting me go and stepping back to smirk up at me. ''Anyway, I have kind of been a pain in the arse to you too with my sulky, wet blanket, ''woe is me attitude.'' She smiled encouragingly up at me as she rubbed my arm. ''You need a break from me too!''

I grunted at her as I shifted on my feet.

''Besides, it's not like you'll never see me ever again!'' OC patted my arm. ''Good God man, with the amount of Tech you have at your disposal, you can get in touch with me from basically any point on the planet!''

''I know!'' I groaned out loud in annoyance. ''It's just that,'' I pinched the bridge of my nose to stave off the headache that was rapidly forming, ''I didn't really think this would be an option for you. I kinda thought you'd both just sort it out and things would go back to being well – normal.''

''Lennox,'' her voice was matter of fact as she stared directly at me, ''I not that long ago told a twenty-eight-foot-tall sentient life form from another planet I was in love with them,'' OC snorted derisively. ''I don't think normal was ever going to be on the cards.''

A deflated sigh escaped my lips as I nodded and replied somewhat sullenly, ''Yeah, guess not.''

OC reached out and placed her hands on my arms, trying to reconnect with me. ''I just need some space and some time to get over him.'' She closed her eyes briefly, ''Please, try to understand. While ever I am near him and my heart still wants him, I can never move forward!'' Two brown and gold flecked eyes looked pleadingly up at me.

My heart constricted painfully for a moment at the thought of her not being around. I had grown so fond of OC since she managed to barge her way into our lives. She had become special to me and the idea of her not being here, not being with me, tore at me. The irony of the situation was not lost on me. OC was escaping a broken heart and, in the process, about to break mine.

I sighed out loud and nodded. I had to let her go without telling her how I felt. Now was not the time. Maybe in a few months when her grief was not so raw, she might be in a better place to believe what I wanted to tell her. If I told her now how I had developed feelings for her, she would be just as likely to fob it off as sympathy or even worse, a lie. I smiled down at her softly. ''Sure OC. While I don't like it, I understand. Whatever you need to do. Just remember you'll always have a home here. And I'll always be here for you too.''

Two tears fell from her beautiful eyes, and she reached up on tip toes, wrapping her arms about my neck. A moment later I felt her soft, warm lips on my cheek as she kissed me. ''Thanks Lennox! I knew you would understand. Thanks for always being there for me.'' Her hand reached out to brush against my cheek. ''It means a lot to me and don't worry. You can't get rid of me that easily! I will be back here before you know it and you'll likely be sorry you extended the invitation.''

I chuckled as I brought her in for a hug again, pulling her close and absentmindedly smelling her hair as she nestled under my chin. ''More than likely OC, more than likely,'' I whispered to the woman in my arms, hoping she did not hear the genuine sorrow in my voice. We simply stood like that for precious moments as the world carried on around us, blissfully unaware of two hearts, one broken and one breaking.

A loud sniffle, caught my attention as OC, pushed roughly off my chest and backed up in the direction she had materialised from. ''Well Lennox,'' she swiped at her eyes as she sent a tight smile in my direction. ''I better get going and pack. You'll let me know when you have transport organised?''

I nodded. My words were caught somewhere in my throat.

She nodded briskly in reply before a sad smile spread across her face and she resumed her advance towards Relda. ''Well, I guess I'll message you when I land State Side and I promise I'll keep in touch.'' She paused in her retreat, eyeing me threateningly. ''You better do the same when you can. Don't forget about me.''

I scoffed and rolled my eyes at her. ''I'll try OC, on both counts. You know what life can get like around here sometimes.'' My heart hurt but I stood smiling at her. Years of military training were serving me well in this moment.

Her lips curved into a knowing smile as she nodded once more, and her voice dropped to a low, tentative whisper. ''Please, keep an eye on Optimus for me and,'' she looked away towards the tarmac as she searched for the words. I felt myself automatically bristle as she spoke again, ''help him understand, if he needs it Lennox. Please?'' her lower lip trembled as she made her request.

''Aren't you even going to tell him?'' My voice raised slightly in disbelief as I placed my hands on my hips and stared challengingly at her. While a part of me was angry at Prime for his role in all of this, he deserved to know, to hear from Orianna herself what she was about to do and why.

She closed her eyes at the accusatory tone in my voice. ''I kind of did last night but,'' her voice trailed off, ''not exactly I suppose.'' All of a sudden, OC's eyes flew open, a haunted look on her face as she burst out angrily, ''I don't really know how to Lennox!'' Tears began to form a liquid sheen in her eyes.

I wanted to rush over to her, fold my arms around her and hold her tight, stop her from leaving. /But it's not me she wants to hold her/. I stood my ground. ''Well, you better find a way OC, and quickly, cause if you leave Prime without explaining why, or giving him the chance to say goodbye,'' I shook my head, ''you'll cause more damage between you both than you know. Damage you may never repair.''

''Fine! I'll try Lennox,'' she threw her hands in the air in defeat. ''Ya happy?''

I shook my head as I glared at her, a stony expression on my face. /How can she say that?/. ''No OC. I'm not. Not in the least.'' She flinched at my acidic tone, looking away in embarrassment. ''But this isn't about me and what I want.'' I backed up a step towards Hanger 1. ''You do what you gotta do. I gotta get going – make a call to arrange for your transport. But telling Prime is the right thing to do.''

OC looked as though I had just punched her in the gut and a small part of me regretted dumping on her like this, but it was true. I wasn't happy she was leaving me. I wasn't happy she had intended to do so without properly telling Prime. I had thought her to be better than that. I ran a hand through my hair as I cursed under my breath. ''Goodbye OC. Have a safe trip.'' I turned on my heels and stalked back to my desk, waves of anger, pain and frustration rolling off me.

I didn't want to part ways like this. But I also didn't want her to leave. A heavy, oppressive feeling began to crush down upon me as I reached my desk and began to punch the numbers into my cell phone to arrange a very last minute flight for OC.

At the sound of Relda's engine rumbling to life, I closed my eyes and slammed my fist down onto my desk. /Sometimes, life doesn't work out the way you plan or hope – does it?/.