Author's Note: A big thanks to Musical Medli for their ongoing support and to Coyote-holy for the kind review. Welcome aboard! Same goes to my followers and favs. Clicking those buttons or taking the time to write a quick word of thanks, encouragement or constructive criticism is TRULY appreciated. Keep 'em coming!

And now on with the story. Will Orianna leave? Or will someone step in and stop her? Keep reading to find out... ;-)

Chapter 47: Unexpected Inquisition

Orianna P.O.V

Given how often my small apartment appeared to be bursting at the seams with my belongings, I made short work of packing my life up into two suitcases and a carry on. I had put most of my personal effects too bulky or numerous to take with me into storage, or asked Olivia Winters, one of the few woman in N.E.S.T, to mind them for me. Something she only agreed to on the proviso I got my ass back here in a reasonable timeframe to take them back off her hands.

It was late afternoon as I stood back to survey my handiwork. The loungeroom and kitchen looked stark and forlorn, robbed of any character and life now that its occupant of two years was moving on. ''Well,'' I affectionately tapped the doorframe of the front door. ''Perhaps I'll be seeing you again soon. Thanks for the memories, I guess.'' I pulled the door closed on this chapter of my life and headed out to Relda.

Lennox had messaged me mid-morning to say he had managed to secure a seat on an outgoing Globemaster bound for Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was the last flight State Side for a few days, and it fortuitously happened to be on its way to collect some supplies. It also deposited me less than three hours' drive from Sam's place. So, win-win. If I missed it, I would have to wait almost a week before I could hitch another ride, an idea that was less than appealing now that I had made my mind up about leaving.

The warm afternoon breeze whipped my long black and red locks into a frenzy as I drove along with the window down. A wave of sadness and nostalgia washed over me as I drove past Ship's Store and Jake's Place, and a painful knot began to twist in my stomach as the reality of what I was about to do slammed into me.

I was leaving my home.

I was leaving the place that had claimed a significant part of my heart for two years. More importantly, I was leaving my family. Those I cared about and loved the most in life and had in turn, cared for and loved me. I took a steadying breath as I drove past the Brit Club, clenching the steering wheel tightly. /Well, maybe not loved me/. The knot in my stomach clenched acutely as I recalled that fateful night with Lennox and Prime. ''And that is why you are doing this OC. To try and put some time and distance between you and…''

My voice faltered and I drew a sharp breath. As painful as it was to leave my home and my family, both paled in comparison to the real reason I was choosing to leave. I was leaving the other half of my heart behind. /Optimus/. Several hot tears escaped and slid down my cheeks and I wiped furiously at them in a bid to stem the flow.

It was both frustrating and heartbreaking to know the soul that anchored you to a place and gave you cause to stay, was also the soul that made it necessary to leave. The base loomed ahead of me, and I felt a bloom of heat spread across my cheeks as embarrassment once again gripped me. I hadn't even told Optimus what I was about to do. I had thought about sending him a text message numerous times as I was packing, but each time dismissed the idea as a cowardly and pathetic course of action. What I had to say needed, deserved to be said face to face. Problem was – I couldn't. I didn't know how to.

As I turned Relda towards Hanger 1, I tapped the steering wheel nervously, both hoping and fearing I would be greeted by the being I both needed to see and was afraid of doing so. My heart fluttered in my chest as though a million butterflies were winging their way around, desperate to escape when I all of a sudden, I spied Ironhide outside the hanger. I had not spoken to or seen 'Hide since Optimus had kissed me two nights ago. /Had it really only been two nights?/ I shook my head in silent wonder. It honestly felt as though an age had passed.

Though I could not be sure of what exchange took place between Optimus and Ironhide that night as I fled, what I heard and saw of Ironhide's tone of voice and expression gave me reason to believe he was less than impressed by what he may have witnessed between Prime and I. In fact, he was downright pissed off!

I pulled Relda up to a stop outside the hanger, off to the right and out of the way. The massive black Autobot's optics fixed on me, seeming to narrow slightly. As I turned the engine off, his whole frame seemed to stiffen as he regarded my arrival with equal parts avid interest and barely restrained hostility. /Or though it seemed/.

I tucked some hair behind my right ear and exhaled roughly as I pulled the keys free from the ignition. /No time like the present to face the firing squad!/. I opened Relda's door and slid to the ground. Locking the door behind me, I shoved my hands in my pockets and began to walk slowly, yet purposefully towards the weapon's specialist, a timid smile on my lips. ''Hey 'Hide. Have..''

''Why?'' his gravelly voice rolled towards me and almost knocked me over in its ferocity.

I halted and tilted my head at him, a teasing smile spreading slowly across my lips. ''Well. I can see we are dispensing with the formalities today 'Hide.'' He growled and straightened even more at my dismissal of his pointed line of questioning. ''Why what Ironhide?''

He snorted down at me as he shifted on his pedes. ''I should have assumed the question was obvious OC.'' His tone was clipped as the angular plates on his face shifted to form a scowl. He leaned down towards me. ''Why are you in love with Optimus?'' I felt my mouth fall open and a sharp stab of pain and anger shot through me. ''Why would a human woman such as yourself, feel that way about my kind?'' He held my gaze, his sky-blue optics boring into me expectantly.

I felt my fists clench into balls by my sides but before I could answer, a familiar voice came to my rescue. ''Hey man! Thas no way ta speak ta a lady 'Hide.'' I turned about abruptly to see Jazz striding towards us from inside the hanger a look of reproach on his visored face.

I turned to smile up at him thankfully, the smile widening as I watched Rachet follow hot in his pedes. ''Especially one we consider a friend,'' his tone was light enough, though his face held a stony expression, a warning of sorts.

''Hmph!'' Ironhide snorted dismissively at them and folded his arms across his barrel like chest. ''I was merely asking OC a question.'' He glared at them both as they came to a standstill beside us. ''A question I feel we all deserve an answer to given Optimus' status as our Prime and leader.'' He grunted down at me. ''Primus only knows the potential for harm your declaration may have already put in motion OC.''

Beside me, Jazz began to speak but I held up a hand and spoke over him, my own gaze fixed firmly on Ironhide. ''You are right Ironhide. I owe both you and Rachet here,'' I nodded towards the Autobot medic, ''an explanation.'' I flicked a quick smile towards Jazz, who smiled back. ''Jazz here already knows about my feelings towards Optimus.''

''An' I fa one am all cool with it,'' he winked at me. Ironhide glowered at Jazz.

''Actually,'' Rachet spoke up. ''I am too, now that I have had time to process it.'' My mouth flew open, and I blinked rapidly up at the notoriously crotchety medic. What passed as a very faint smile ghosted his dermas. ''While it may seem illogical, I can not deny the positive influence you have had on Optimus.'' His optics seemed to flash brightly down at me, and I could not help smiling fondly up at him. ''I have also seen the negative impact your absence in his life has had.''

I closed my eyes at his words, my smile fading and a heavy weight settling in the pit of my stomach. /Well Rachet, that's not about to improve anytime soon/. Rachet's voice continued. ''Who am I to say what is right and wrong?'' He shrugged his chartreuse shoulders. ''It's a vast universe and I have witnessed many bizarre events.'' His dermas seemed to crinkle in a wry smile as he looked from me to Ironhide. ''Perhaps the least of which will end up being a human woman and a Cybertronian Mech finding love with each other.''

''For slag's sake!'' Ironhide growled at his friends who had seemingly hijacked the conversation. ''OC is yet to explain how this all came to pass in the first place!''

I held my hands up imploringly, looking from one Autobot to the next. ''Look Rachet and Jazz, I appreciate your support, truly I do, but you might be jumping the gun here.'' At their confused expressions I took a deep breath and launched into my explanations. ''Rachet, Jazz, I may well have developed feelings of love towards Optimus, but it's a bloody moot point, no matter who supports it,'' I looked pointedly at Ironhide, ''if the bot in question himself does not reciprocate my feelings!'' I closed my eyes tightly for a moment as that painful acknowledgement sunk into me once more. ''Which Optimus apparently does not.''

Jazz made to speak but was silenced by a stern look from both Rachet and Ironhide. I turned my attention solely to Ironhide. ''Hide. I know you and I got off on the wrong pede but I hope,'' I snorted out loud, ''despite how you obviously feel about me having feelings towards Optimus, you consider me a friend.'' He simply stared at me and shuttered his optics, nodding almost imperceptibly. I took that as approval to continue. ''And as my friend, I hope you believe what I am about to tell you is the truth.''

He nodded again.

''I never intended to develop feelings for Optimus. Far from it!'' I shook my head as I recalled those first days being amongst the Autobots. ''I mean, I had always felt some sort of connection with Prime since the moment I first met him.'' I held back a fond smile as I pushed on. ''There was something about him that drew me in.'' I looked knowingly up at them all. ''In case you didn't know, the bot just has this presence about him.''

Ironhide snorted and rolled his optics and Rachet and Jazz seemed to bite back their own smirks as they cast sidelong glances at Ironhide. ''Anyway, as a human woman I was very much aware that I was interacting with sentient robotic lifeforms from another planet.'' I stared directly at Ironhide. ''I knew our races were both different, in some ways vastly so!'' He nodded in agreement. ''Yet,'' I began to pace about. ''the more time I spent in Prime's company, talking with him, listening to him, the more those differences seemed to fade away, blur into obscurity.''

I felt myself smile as I spoke. ''As time went by, I realised we had more in common than I had thought possible. We both cared deeply for those we loved, we had both experienced painful losses in our lives, we were both seeking acceptance, someone to just be ourselves around.'' I stopped pacing and stared at the ground. ''I came to value and appreciate all the many qualities Optimus possessed; his sense of honour, his compassion, his keen intelligence, his loyalty, his voice, his calming presence, his tenacity,'' I chuckled as I shook my head, ''or his stubbornness, whichever way you prefer to view it.''

Beside me Rachet and Jazz chuckled and Ironhide gave the faintest of smiles as he stared down at me. His gaze had softened slightly. ''I also grew to appreciate his weaknesses and foibles too. His doubt in and of himself, the way he assumes responsibility for everything, his ability to appear emotionless, his inability to switch off,'' I chuckled as my lower lip trembled, ''his matter of fact, analytical mind that prevents him from wishing on stars.''

I closed my eyes again and exhaled a shaky breath as memories of that night surfaced again. Around me, no one spoke. After a moment, I opened my eyes and fixed my gaze firmly on Ironhide. He had lowered his arms from across his chest, adopting a more open stance, a strange look upon his features. ''You see, after a while 'Hide, I didn't just see a Cybertronian mech when I looked at Optimus. I saw a very dear friend. A friend I admired and respected greatly, whose company I craved above all others. I fell in love with his soul, 'Hide. His spark. What he looked like, where he was from, didn't really matter.''

Ironhide shifted on his pedes, his optical ridge furrowed in confusion. ''But it should matter..''

''But it doesn't!'' I dared to interject the formidable weapon's specialist. ''Not to me anyway.'' An awkward chuckle escaped my lips as I felt a crimson blush creep across my face, and I swayed on the balls of my feet several times. ''Although, oddly enough 'Hide, I do find his Cybertronian appearance attractive too.'' I sent Rachet a very quick, bashful look as I giggled nervously, ''but his holoform took the attraction to a whole new level.''

Rachet made some sort of grunting noise. ''Understandable. I designed the holoform with the express purpose of being able to perfectly mimic the appearance and function of a healthy human male.''

Jazz chuckled, ''Oh I'd say OC is agreein' with ya Doc and has no complaints.'' Rachet scowled at his shorter friend.

I felt myself trying to disappear until Ironhide's voice interrupted. Its gruff almost aggressive tone no longer present. ''Is that all you have to say on the matter OC?'' he raised an optic ridge towards me.

I bit my lower lip. ''Almost 'Hide.'' I felt a tear slide down my cheek again and I brushed it away quickly. ''I saw in Optimus someone worthy of love.'' I sniffed in a rather undignified manner and dabbed at my eyes with the heel of my palm. ''And I began to hope that he would see in me someone who was also worthy of love. His love.''

Glassy eyes turned to look at all three Autobots in turn. ''But turns out - I wasn't.'' They all averted their optics and shifted uncomfortably on their pedes. I exhaled roughly and shrugged my shoulders as a weak smile formed on my lips. ''So. There you go. I can't explain it any more than that 'Hide. It's just how I felt.''

Ironhide nodded his helm before he tilted it to the side in a familiar manner. ''You said felt just now Orianna. Does that mean you no longer have such an attachment towards Optimus?''

Both Jazz and Rachet seemed to tense in curious and concerned anticipation as they awaited my reply. I snorted derisively. ''Wish I could say 'yes' to that Ironhide, believe me! It would be so much easier for everyone if it were that easy to just switch it off.'' I shook my head as I shoved my hands in my pockets. ''I do not have the same ability as Optimus to bury my emotions, but sadly, I do still feel that way towards him.'' All three of them nodded, Jazz and Rachet smiled.

Ironhide seemed to make the smallest of grunts as he shifted his ample weight, taking a step backwards. ''Thank you for your heartfelt explanation OC. While I still do not entirely acknowledge your feelings towards Prime, I do believe them to be genuine.'' I worried my lower lip and nodded, feeling somewhat more at ease with Ironhide's change in attitude. ''Still, it seems somewhat unnatural.'' He seemed to send the smallest of sneers in my direction.

I bristled. ''Jesus 'Hide! Thank fuck we're friends. Imagine if I was someone you DIDN'T like!''

''You get used to it OC,'' Rachet offered simply.

''Speak fa yaself Hatchet! I'm over four million years in tha company of the slagger an' he still manages ta make me shake ma helm!'' Jazz chuckled as he winked at me.

I ignored the lighthearted attempt at diverting the conversation and shook my head as my voice took on a bitter tone. ''Well, 'Hide. You'll be happy to know then that you don't have to worry about an abomination like me being around your Prime anymore.'' Beside me, Jazz and Rachet made some sort of strangled noise as they shuttered their optics rapidly and looked from each other down to me in an almost dumbfounded manner.

The massive black monolith of a mech froze, his optics blinking once as he processed and dissected my words. ''I never called you that OC and what do you mean by your comment?''

Three sets of optics bore into me. Though my lips quirked downwards into a small, wry smile, the words that tumbled out held a flat, emotionless tone. ''I'm leaving.''