Last chapter for this one, I'm working on the next but my laptop died so it might take awhile! Sorry this one took so long...my computer is old and stupid and was giving me fits. Thanks for the reviews!

Chapter Seven

"Eep?"

Wheeljack sighed. "No, she's not coming today. Lee's been in an accident remember?"

"Eeeep..."

"Yeah, I miss her too...but she'll be back soon." The engineer said, more to himself than to his pet. He hadn't realized how quiet his lab was without her there. Her energy and enthusiasm had given the place new life....and now it was so quiet he couldn't think, as strange as that sounded. He mentally slapped himself. What has gotten into you?! You should be happy to finally have some time to yourself! Still, maybe he should check on her... No, she's a big girl, she can take care of herself.

How he wished he believed that...

At the hospital...

Lee grumbled angrily at the bandage on his leg. "Of all the stupid injuries...why? What did I do to deserve this?"

"Drive recklessly most likely." Ari answered for it as she stepped through the door. "How's the leg?"

"'How's the leg?' she asks, not 'How's the driver?' or 'How's my best friend who I've dumped for an overgrown toasteroven?' Nooo.."

She laughed and walked over to ruffle his hair. "Yep, you're okay. You're skull's too thick for something as puny as a concrete wall to take you out of commission." He gave her a half-smile.

"Concrete? I laugh at the thought that mere concrete could do such a thing! Hah!"

"Hah indeed Oh Impervious One. So, I take it Spitfire didn't survive?"

The driver sighed. "Nope, she's in surgery still. It'll take weeks for her to recover from that one."

"'Surgery'? Real cute. I supposed that means this surgeon is needed in the O.R.?"

He nodded, and she gave him a quick hug before heading back out. "Don't worry, she'll pull through. She couldn't survive around you if she weren't tougher than that poor concrete!" She added over her shoulder, hearing his laughter follow after her.

The crew was delighted by her return, and returned to work with a new spirit. The car was in horrible shape, it's entire back end needed replacing, along with the scraped and dented side panels. Miraculously, nothing seemed wrong with the engine or any other internal workings. Ari's time around the Autobots had honed her skills to near perfection, and she found repairing the damaged vehicle almost easy. Even so, it took most of the day before it started to look more or less like a racecar again. By nightfall they had made some real progress, and although her mind wanted to keep working, her body told her otherwise. She managed to hitch a ride with one of the crewmembers, seeing as she had no vehicle of her own. He dropped her off a few blocks from her apartment and she began the short walk home.

Ari ducked her head and walked faster. More likely than not the man behind her was merely heading the same direction she was, but something bugged her about his presence. He was big, big enough to overpower her easily, and she was by no means a weakling. She knew she was probably just being paranoid, and would realize how silly she was acting once she got home. Muggings were rare on this side of town, though not impossible. She turned at the corner. Two more blocks to go.

And still he followed...