Chapter 48 – It's Easier this way….

Orianna P.O.V

Two of the Autobots' dermas immediately flew open as the shock they felt registered plainly. One alone drew their dermas together tightly into a thin line of disapproval or disgust. I ignored all of them as a weary sigh escaped my lips. ''That's why I'm here. I'm actually looking for Prime, to tell him as much myself.'' I scrapped my sand-coloured combat boots along the tarmac, fighting back my embarrassment. ''Have you seen him?''

''Oh OC. Look, I know ya been hurt baby girl, an' things might be a lil' tough at tha moment between ya both, but is this really tha way ta go about things?'' Jazz knelt down before me, a hopeful expression on his face. ''Prime'll come around I know..''

''Why haven't you told Prime before now OC?'' Rachet interjected Jazz, his voice held a harsher tone to it than before. ''Despite what happened between you don't you think..''

''I DIDN'T KNOW HOW!'' I screamed at them as something inside me broke. My chest rose and fell as my lips trembled and my eyes began to sting with the promise of fresh tears. They all simply stared at me. No doubt Rachet was running internal diagnostics on me. I gritted my teeth together and swallowed the anger and frustration that was simmering away just below the surface.

Ironhide tilted his helm at me, his expression softening almost imperceptibly. ''OC, I did not have you pegged as one for running away from their problems.''

''Yeah, well! Join the bloody queue!'' I bit back angrily. ''It starts behind me and then Lennox.''

''Lennox knows of your plans?'' Ironhide snapped back, his optical ridges furrowing in annoyance that Lennox had deigned not to tell him of this important development.

Jazz nodded slowly, his visor reflecting the late afternoon sun. ''An' what did he say about it?''

I placed my hands on my hips and shook my head. ''Doesn't matter what he said, or what you say or even what Optimus might say,'' I chuckled almost under my breath as I kicked the ground in frustration. ''Not that I imagine he'll have a problem with it.'' I looked up resolutely at the weapon's specialist and then the others. ''I am going. It's just better this way - for everyone.''

''Better? Or easier?'' Ironhide seemed to be looking right through me. /Millions of years in the company of Prime must have rubbed off/.

I growled in exasperation as I raised a hand to pinch the bridge of my nose as the other rested on my hip as I jut it out. ''Does it fucking matter what it is Ironhide? Now, have any of you seen him or not? My plane leaves in about half an hour.''

Ironhide's brow furrowed as he regarded me, ''Is that all the time you felt was necessary to set aside to tell someone you supposedly love so much that you are leaving them, possibly for good?'' Though Rachet and Jazz refrained from saying anything, I could tell they too shared Ironhide's disappointment in my actions.

I stared up at them, my mouth working silently at Ironhide's rebuke before I narrowed my eyes at him. ''It's not for good. I could never stay away from Optimus for good.'' I looked at Jazz and then Rachet. ''Regardless, it wouldn't matter if it were hours, a day or a week. The outcome would be the same. I'd just be prolonging the inevitable and causing unnecessary discomfort. And yes, before you say it – for me!'' I glowered up at Ironhide as I folded my arms across my midsection. ''Not for Optimus.''

'Hide merely stared down at me, his optics shuttered once as he made some sort of grunt and fell silent. He was no doubt using some sort of internal comm or tracking device to ascertain Prime's whereabouts. The faintest of smirks seemed to tug at the corner of his dermas. ''Well now, isn't this interesting.''

Jazz also sniggered and rose to his pedes again, shooting Rachet a quick sideways glance. ''But not unexpected. Not ta me anyway.''

I rolled my eyes at both Jazz and the menacing looking figure before me as I rubbed my temples. ''Okay 'Hide, Jazz. I'll bite. What's interesting?''

Ironhide merely shuttered his optics before his gravelly voice, tinged with mirth, drifted down to me. ''It would seem Optimus is currently out the front of your previous accommodation OC.''

''Looking for you, it would seem,'' Jazz grinned broadly at me.

My heart momentarily constricted inside my chest as an icy cold wave swept over me and I froze. /Why would he be looking for me? Especially after the message I sent/.

Ironhide's right optical ridge rose in amusement, ''I'd say in a few astroseconds he'll be aware of your intentions OC, and you'll be having the conversation you're seeking.''

I simply nodded as the sound of the C17's engines roaring to life behind me drew my gaze. It was beginning its pre-flight check. /Right. Maybe less than half an hour/.

'Hide lowered himself towards me in a similar fashion to Optimus and I felt myself draw a shaky breath. ''Prime may not reciprocate your feelings of love OC, but I know what I saw that night on the beach between you both. Do not make the mistake in thinking he will not care that you are choosing to leave here, leave him, because of what happened.'' 'Hide rose to his pedes again and backed up from me a step, blinking those sky-blue optics.

I hung my head as the memory washed over me. Wrapping my arms about me, I nodded mutely. Rachet's voice drifted down to me, ''Despite what you may think, he cares a great deal about you Orianna and,'' he flicked his gaze towards the plane and back at me, ''no matter what transpired between you, he should not have had to find out about your choice like this.''

I bit my lower lip sharply as I tried to shrink into myself. Rachet's words lacked the usual biting sarcasm or harsh tone that usually permeated his voice when he was angry. To hear the quiet disappointment in his voice upset me more than I thought possible. /I kind of wished he had just yelled at me, tore strips off me for my cowardice. It would have been no less than I deserved/.

I ducked my head as I felt the heat of my shame spread across my cheeks and I fought back what seemed to be a never ending procession of stinging tears. ''I know 'Hide. You're right.'' I forced myself to look up at my friends as I shrugged my shoulders weakly. ''You're all right. Just chalk it up to another one of my many mistakes.'' I wiped at my eyes as I drew in a shaky breath. Drawing myself up to my full height, I levelled a very steady, serious gaze at them all in turn. ''I'm so sorry.''

'Hide's optics softened as his angular face plates shifted into something resembling a small smile. ''It's not us you need to aplogise to Orianna.'' He nodded his helm in the direction of road from downtown Diego Garcia. ''He'll be here in about six minutes.''

''But it usually takes fifteen minutes to drive..''

''I know.'' Ironhide simply stared at me. ''Make of that what you will.'' His dermas moved back into a firm line as he dipped his helm. ''Goodbye OC. Perhaps you might come back this way soon?''

I bit my lower lip firmly, tasting the faintest metallic tang of blood as tears stung my eyes yet again. ''Bye 'Hide. I hope so.'' Turning on his pedes, he disappeared into the bowels of Hanger 1.

''Well, lil' lady, we'll leave ya to it,'' Jazz nodded down to me. ''Don't ya ever be a stranger an' get ya aft back here soon!''

''If only to see you again Jazz,'' I smiled brightly through my tears up at the silver saboteur.

''Good ta see someone has their priorities in order!'' Jazz winked at me as he too turned to head back inside the vast hanger.

Only Rachet remained before me. ''Orianna, I had never thought I would say this but, I'll miss you.''

I instantly turned to water, sniffling and sobbing. ''Wow Rachet. That means a lot coming from you.'' I dabbed at my tears as they fell. ''I ah, I'll miss you too, very much.'' I cast a quick glance over to the maw of the hanger. ''I'll miss all of you.'' I smiled warmly up at him. ''It's like that saying, 'Friends are the family we choose for ourselves.'' I chuckled at the seasoned medic. ''Whether you like it or not, you Autobots, Lennox, Epps, you're my family.''

''Humph.'' Rachet grunted down at me as he seemed to shift awkwardly on his pedes, unaccustomed to such sentimental rubbish, no doubt viewing my declaration as such. His voice was gruff as he spoke once more. ''Well, stay out of trouble OC and don't stay away too long.'' Casting a quick glance out towards the road that led from downtown, a sad smile spread across his dermas. ''For all our sakes.''

''I'll try not to Rachet.'' He briskly nodded his helm at me and turned to disappear with the others. My shoulders rose and fell as I inhaled a deep, steadying breath and kicked at some small pebbles on the tarmac. /All depends on how this next conversation goes I guess/.

Exhaling a final breath, I clapped my hands together as I walked over to Relda and patted her hood. I had left the keys in the glovebox for Lennox to drop her around to Olivia Winter's, place. She was going to look after her for me until I headed back this way. I sighed out loud. ''Behave yourself Reld's. This isn't goodbye okay baby.'' Stooping down, I swiped at a lone tear as I grabbed my suitcases and bag from the boot. A painful lump began to form in my throat as I began to walk across the tarmac towards the awaiting behemoth of a plane and the ramp.

''Hey OC, heard from Lennox you'd be joining us as a last-minute addition,'' the stocky man with cropped mouse-brown hair and a friendly smile greeted me. He was the loadmaster of the Globemaster, and he was checking off the last of the cargo and ensuring I made it aboard. He nodded at my luggage. ''This it?''

''Hey Wortho,'' I replied with an answering smile. ''Yeah, this is me.''

He moved to shoulder my things. ''Well, come on in. Looks like wheels will be up a little early for once.''

/But of course!/. I held on to my small black backpack and shook my head. ''Sorry Wortho. Not yet. I ah,'' I cast a quick glance back towards the inbound road. /Any second now../. ''There's someone I need to say goodbye to first.''

Wortho screwed his face up, clearly perplexed. ''Shouldn't you have said your goodbyes before now? Little late, isn't it?''

I snorted out loud as a flash of blue and red flames glinted in the distance and the sound of a powerful diesel engine under full steam, echoed across the tarmac. ''Better late than never I guess.'' I flashed a small smile at the man whose brow furrowed even further as he realised who it was, I was bidding farewell to.

''Guess so OC.'' He sighed out loud and took a step towards the awaiting ramp of the plane. ''I'm sorry, but I can only give you and Prime ten minutes at most. We gotta go.'' He inclined his head towards me. ''That enough time for ya both?''

I exhaled in a bid to quiet the multitude of butterflies that circled my stomach as I turned to face the large flame decaled semi-truck as it barreled towards me, smoke billowing from its stacks. ''It'll have to be, won't it?'' I sent him a quick smile of thanks and took a step towards the imposing figure, that even now, was transforming as it slid to a halt before me.