Holy crow, thank you all for the reviews! Anyway yes, chapter one, I hope it lives up to your standards. This isn't as long as the prologue, but here she goes...

Many thanks to FireRose for helping me polish this

K

Chapter 1- Hide and seek

(WPOV)

Will walked into the hangar the Auto-bots had been hiding in. Furious.

His wife, his daughter.

He was supposed to be with them. Now.

Instead, he was stuck here.

Debrief. Fine. Briefing. Fine. Let him go home.

He froze.

Ratchet and Optimus were sitting side by side against the wall.

He hadn't expected that.

But at the same point, they were making sure that he didn't get to see his wife.

He wanted to see his baby girl for christ sake. Hold her for the first time.

Ratchet looked at him with a frown.

"What?" Ratchet growled at him.

"What?" Lennox demanded.

"Will Captain you are staring at me in a way that I sense you mean to be anger," Ratchet stated flatly. "Therefore I ask, what."

Will would have kept his mouth shut. He really would have.

He just couldn't. It just didn't work.

"I. Am stuck here. In limbo. With a bunch of aliens instead of being with my wife and daughter!" Will snarled.

"There is nothing wrong with your body, and you are not adhered to anything in this compound." Ratchet informed him.

"And no way to get home," Will growled.

"Do you require flight?" Optimus rumbled.

"Wha..." Lennox stated

"More's the point, you have a young one?" Ironhide broke in.

"No I don't require flight, yes, I have a child, a baby girl, whom I have not had the chance to hold yet." Will growled out.

"Let's go." Ironhide stated flatly. He transformed and drove toward Will.

"What?" Lennox demanded incredulously.

"Get in. We go." Ironhide rumbled. Very slowly.

"I heard you the first time, let's try why," Will stated flatly, crossing his arms.

"You have not met your child, and being involved with the mess our arrival has created has kept you further away from your progeny. Ironhide will escort you to your home, and ensure that any possible remaining Decepticons do not cause you, your mate or your progeny harm." Optimus rumbled calmly.

"Oh, lemme get my things," Will squeaked.

"Good, finally, get your things, let's go," Ironhide rumbled, idling toward him.

Will nodded and hightailed it out of the hangar.

Ironhide followed him.

"For Primus sake Will Captain less legwork, more rolling!" the bot shouted at him.

Brilliant idea. Will jumped onto Ironhide's cab and the bot took off, screeching to a halt in front of Will's temporary quarters.

Will didn't need a second glance, he ran. Grab duffle, stuff what's not packed in. Bolt.

He jumped into the cab again and Ironhide roared off.

"Co-ordinates!" Ironhide barked.

He reeled them off and heard the bot snort.

"Run that in an orn," the bot snorted quietly.

"A what?" Will asked curiously.

"An orn, you know..." Ironhide rumbled, he trailed off. "An orn."

Will just sat, feeling blank. Orn?

"Okay?" Will stated softly.

"You still don't get it," Ironhide rumbled. He sounded like he was frowning. "Solar cycle?"

"It wouldn't take me a year to run it," Will snorted.

"Year?" Ironhide rumbled curiously.

"You know, the point when the earth reaches the same place it was one cycle ago, solar cycle. Year." Will shrugged.

"The sun comes up, sun goes down. One year?" Ironhide rumbled curiously.

"No, sun up, sun down, one day," Will stated calmly. He leaned forward slightly, this was actually kind of fun. "Planet around the sun, one year, three hundred and sixty five days."

"One orn, one day. Sort of..." Ironhide rumbled, he trailed off.

"Sort of?"

"Well, one orn, fourteen days," Ironhide stated calmly.

Holy. Crap.

(MPOV)

I woke up and felt drugged, dazed, numb, my clothes were folded beside my bed. Ugh. A bed. No wonder my muscles were aching. I took stock of my surroundings automatically, there was an IV in my arm. I pulled that out quickly, keeping it under the tape, but out of my vein, snatching my hand away as the door opened.

"You're awake!" a nurse smiled at me. Military uniform. "Good! We were wondering when you'd come round!"

"How long?" I rasped. She handed me a glass of water.

"Two days," she murmured consolingly.

"What did they give me?" I demanded after taking a sip of water.

"The medic on site gave you a mild sedative and painkiller," the nurse stated worriedly. "We contacted your father, he said that under no circumstances were we to give you anything without your explicit approval."

I nodded.

"Good. Please, don't give me any painkillers or sedatives, I don't react well with them," I stated immediately. "I'm not hurting enough to warrant it besides."

"Your back is in ribbons," the woman stated worriedly.

"It's healing," I grunted, making a point of struggling as I sat up, automatically making sure they thought I wouldn't get far if I went anywhere. "Please tell me you didn't try to x-ray or MRI me?"

"No... the... medic on scene stated that you had no cranial or skeletal damage," the nurse stated carefully. "There are men here to see you."

I nodded warily and the nurse left. A moment later, two suits strode in.

Carrying.

And I was weaponless.

Fuck.

"How may I help you, gentlemen?" I asked calmly.

"Miss Banes," the leader stated calmly. "I'm afraid that you've missed quite a bit in the last two days. However, civilian or not, you are hereby under orders to return to your previous life. The aliens are not to be spoken of, and any act as such-"

"Will be considered treason, and I'll be put in jail," I stated flatly. "I got it. Anything else?"

The man glared at me for a moment before shaking his head.

"The story for Mission City is a bombing, combined with an hallucinogenic toxin released by the bombs." the second man stated quietly. I nodded. "Get well soon," he murmured gently before the men turned and left me alone.

It was silent. I swung out of bed and checked the door. No one there.

That was a false sense of security, when there was one suit, there were always more.

In moments I'd gathered my clothes and checked the door again, slipping nonchalantly into the hallway. It was a matter of minutes and I was outside taking stock of my surroundings.

I began walking until I was well under cover and began running, never once looking up or toward the ATM's.

First stop was the thrift store. It was a simple matter to grab a few items of clothing from the racks hanging outside. I got dressed quickly and walked the streets for a few minutes. Picking the occasional pocket.

Enough cash, I got to the bus station and bought a ticket.

Miami. I needed to get to the safe house.

(OPOV)

"Prime!" Will Captain called out, the man was in much better spirits now that he had seen his child. Optimus transformed to look at the human properly. "You wanted to know when she's awake." the man stated calmly. Optimus nodded quickly and transformed.

"Hop in," he rumbled softly, opening his door. The captain nodded and got into the passenger's seat. Sitting quietly.

"Right, I don't think we can fit you in the hospital." The captain joked quietly, "I'm going to go in, tell her that you want to talk with her, and bring her out to the garden there, alright?"

"Alright," Optimus rumbled quietly. He went and parked beside the garden.

He waited.

And waited.

Impatient, he scanned the hospital.

People were running around.

Finally the Captain ran toward him.

"She's gone!" the man shouted. "Disappeared into thin air! We can't even find her on the cameras! The nurse swears that she can't have got far."

Optimus shook his head irritably.

"Where would she go?" he demanded.

"Home, hopefully? Maybe to her dad..." the Captain stated. He shook his head. "We're going to be looking."

"Whom are you looking for?" A man in a suit demanded, running up to Lennox.

"Mikaela Banes." Lennox growled.

"Room two-oh-five-" the man started.

"Oh, news bulletin, she's gone." Lennox shouted.

The man went pale and grabbed his cell-phone.

"Sir? She's gone!" the man stated immediately, running off.

Lennox frowned.

"That's weird." he grumbled, getting into Optimus' cab.

"What is?" Optimus rumbled irritably.

"That a man in a suit would say that about a teenager," Lennox growled, he did another one of those heavy vents. "But then again, she's still got a record, maybe her parole officer is trying to find her or something. She'll turn up." Lennox shrugged.

"I hope so," Optimus growled. He remained silent for the rest of the drive.

(MPOV)

I got off the bus in the middle of nowhere, looking as tired as the other passengers. The driver bid me a good evening and closed the doors, driving on.

Still alert, I shoved my hands into my pockets and began walking. My back ached and stung, but I was close now. I reached up and pulled my hair across my shoulder, covering my face. I wondered how Bumblebee was doing, the dear, brave little scout had crossed me as a brilliant, trustworthy companion.

But I couldn't let myself think about that for the moment. I needed to get to the bayou house. To safety.

It was dark out by now. I prayed that Barry wasn't looking for me, I prayed that I was still in his good books. He was the only unknown.

An engine, diesel, sounded behind me. Turning onto the road a quarter mile back. I felt rule forty come into effect and quietly stepped off the road, ensconcing myself into the mangroves.

On a seventy road, it was doing maybe thirty. I froze in place, invisible as spotlights raked the mangroves in front of me. I squinted against the light and observed the men in the vehicle. They were glaring around themselves, the eyes of men I couldn't trust.

It moved on quickly. But the road was no longer safe.

With a sigh, I began making my way through the mangroves; moving from limb to limb. A final mile I made it to my canoe.

Another two hours and I'd be safe.

Paddling silently through the waters I allowed myself to finally think. I thought of school, I thought of my next move. I thought of the soldiers but most of all, I thought of the brilliant, burning blue optics of Optimus Prime. I thought of the kindness in those eyes.

I felt a longing pang as I thought of those eyes, I wanted to see them again. I'd never left the chance to see him again. But when a suit showed up, I needed to run. I inwardly cursed that duty and sighed as the house came into view. Completely dark but for the moonlight shining dimly through the branches of the mangroves.

I scouted around for half an hour, watching for even the most remote sign of human life in the area.

All clear I finally tied my canoe to the pier and stepped into my sanctuary.

Automatic setup, I purged the water lines then sat down and took a deep breath, finally allowing myself to feel the pain.

Two months. I would give myself two months to think, heal and plan.

(OPOV)

Two weeks, Optimus had waited two weeks of the human's time. An Orn. Impatient, he strode to communications central.

"Will Captain," he stated as calmly as he could manage.

The man turned to look at him warily.

"Is there any news on Miss Banes?" he rumbled flatly.

"No... Prime she's gone off the grid," Will stated quietly. "None of us even know where to start looking for her..."

That was not what Optimus wanted to hear.

"Um..." Epps Sargent piped up quietly.

"Epps?" Will Captain asked curiously. Optimus turned to look at the man.

"Well... I contacted an old friend... the uh... the cops aren't even trying to find her..." the man stated quietly.

"Why do they not search!" Optimus demanded angrily. "She saved your world, and she was injured!"

"The world doesn't know that she saved it," Epps stated flatly, crossing his arms and looking up at Optimus. "The cops aren't looking because she's from a... different kind of family, car thieves."

"And so they decide that because of her family her life is no longer precious!?" Optimus demanded furiously.

"It's more than that," Epps stated quietly, shying away from him. Tired of looking down, Optimus knelt and offered his hand to the man.

"I apologize, I do not mean to threaten you," he rumbled quietly.

Epps looked at him for a long moment then nodded.

"S'okay, to be honest I'm gettin' worried about her too, I've been calling old friends, the cops aren't looking, so I called a contact at the CIA. They stonewalled him." Epps reported quietly, stepping into his hand and allowing himself to be lifted to the catwalk.

"Stonewalling?" Optimus rumbled curiously.

"It means they ain't saying a damn thing," Epps glowered, crossing his arms.

Will Captain stared at Epps.

"Over her!?" he demanded.

"Yeah, and that's why I'm a fuck load more worried," Epps growled, narrowing his eyes. "Seventeen year old girl that the CIA refuses to talk about? That don't jive."

"Well then now what do we do?" Optimus rumbled intently.

Epps looked up at him cautiously.

"Well..." he started. "First off I gotta tell you that it's gonna be one hell of a longshot."

"Taking a shot, no matter the distance, has a far better chance of reaching it's target than the shot that was never fired," Optimus rumbled darkly.

"Right, I've got a friend of a friend who apparently knows one of the more..." he trailed off with a frown.

"Epps?" Will Captain asked curiously.

"Well, apparently knows Hetty." Epps stated with a grimace.

"Hetty? Come on, she's an urban legend," one of the techs snorted.

"I know, longshot," Epps grumbled. "But come on, there's a little bit of truth behind legends isn't there?"

"Might be a computer..." the man stated musingly.

"Well try," Optimus commanded quietly.

The man nodded and pulled out a phone, scrolling through it before dialling a number. He sat and held the phone to his ear.

"Hey, Jack?" he asked calmly.

"Epps?"

"Yeah, I kinda need to ask a favour," Epps stated apologetically.

"Can it clear off the steak I owe you?"

"We'll see," Epps snorted.

"Fair enough, what do you need?"

"You remember that friend you said knows a special friend?"

"What, Sam?" Jack on the phone asked curiously.

"Yeah, I've got a situation, and if she actually exists I need to talk to her," Epps stated flatly, looking at Optimus.

"Fuck, that's got to be some situation, here, here's his number, got a pen?"

"Yeah," Epps stated, quickly snatching a pen and paper.

"357-555-8946."

"Thanks Jack,"

"Steak dinner?"

"I may wind up owing you one if this pans out," Epps stated flatly.

"Done, later dude."

"Keep it real man," Epps nodded before hanging up the phone. He dialled the new number. It rang.

"This is Sam." A man's voice stated flatly.

"Uh, hey, Sam? Listen this is Sargent Epps, a friend of Jack's, I need to ask you something completely bizarre and probably owe you one hell of a favour." Epps stated calmly into the phone.

"What?" Sam asked with what sounded like a frown.

"If Hetty exists, I really really need to talk to her," Epps reported with a frown.

Silence.

"I'll ask her," Sam stated flatly, there was the sounds of walking.

"Hetty, got a man on my cellphone who apparently needs to talk to you," Sam's voice stated with a frown.

"Very well..." A woman's voice stated. "Hello?"

"Hello," Epps stated politely. "I apologize for disturbing you."

"Manners, that's a point in your favour," the woman stated calmly.

"Hopefully it's enough of a point," Epps stated with a small smile. "I need to ask you something, we have a... situation..."

"Say it," the woman stated calmly.

"We need to find a girl, a teenager, the police aren't even trying to find her, she was injured in a..."

"Messy affair?" the woman supplied calmly.

"You could say that," Epps groaned.

"What is her name?" the woman asked calmly.

"Mikaela Banes."

"WHAT!?" the woman's voice screamed. Epps jumped about a foot in the air, wide eyed and looking shocked.

"Uh..." he started.

"Enough!" the woman commanded. "We need a secure line, you need to give me every last one of the details you know and we need a video conference NOW!"

"Yes Ma'am!" Epps snapped out automatically. He held the phone away from his face. "Captain, Hetty wants a video conference," he stated in a shocked tone.

"Put me on with your tech," Hetty's voice snapped out on the phone just as Epps handed it over to the tech.

"This is Tech Lieutenant Jerry Madson," the man stated quickly.

"Oh good, this is Nell, I need your number." Another voice called out quickly.

The conversation began talking numbers, and the codes the humans used for their communications. Optimus struggled not to fidget impatiently.

Finally, the small screen on the catwalk came to life.

A frankly tiny, older, stern woman appeared on the screen.

"The line is secure," 'Nell's voice called out calmly.

"You need to tell me everything that you know about her and you need to tell me now," Hetty stated firmly. "You're calling from NEST operations, how, and why is Mikaela Banes tied up with you?"

"She was first contact," Will Captain reported quickly.

"Why her, why her!" Hetty stated worriedly, beginning to pace.

"Because-" Optimus started.

"No, I already know why," the woman stated irritably. "Because that girl is too bloody brave for her own damned good and safety! I need to know precisely what happened to her!"

"That is why-" Optimus started angrily.

"Not why she's gone! I need to know what happened before she disappeared!" the woman snapped back at him.

For a tiny creature she had definite fire and authority Optimus thought approvingly.

"Mikaela Banes was with the boy we were originally trying to contact," Optimus began quickly. "She remained, to help and did so quite effectively. She took damage in Mission City and was taken to the Military hospital, where she then disappeared-"

"Which one?" the woman snapped.

"That'd be the LosAngeles-" Will Captain started.

"She was here!?" Hetty shouted. She began looking around. "Nell I need the security footage from- when was she there?" Hetty demanded.

"Two weeks ago, room 205," Will Captain snapped out.

"I need the security footage from two weeks ago," Hetty snapped out.

The young woman in the foreground began typing hurriedly, appearing to be rapidly searching.

"Got it!" she called out. The woman leaned over with a frown, apparently watching the footage.

"There, her, keep an eye on her," Hetty stated firmly.

A few minutes.

"Unconscious for two days," Nell murmured.

"Surprising she isn't dead yet," the woman muttered. "Who were the agents who went to speak to her?"

"Facial recognition says they're Agents Callahan and Morrison," 'Nell' replied, she looked worried.

"Agents come out," Hetty muttered. "Look around, zoom on the window."

The two of them watched intently.

"That's her!" Nell stated wide eyed.

"Looking out the window," Hetty muttered, "the five minutes it takes for her door to become guarded."

"She doesn't even look at the camera," Nell stated in a shocked tone.

"No, she won't," Hetty muttered. "She's running."

The woman watched the screen for another moment before looking up.

"It would seem that you missed her by precisely thirty-two seconds," she reported calmly. "Which means that Miss Banes has hidden herself away and does not wish to be found."

"But you can find her, can't you?" Will asked desperately.

"You would have to give me a very good reason for that," the woman stated flatly.

"She was injured, and came into extreme contact with a relic from our world," Optimus rumbled angrily. "I need to speak with her, make sure she is safe, whole."

"And how am I going to be sure that you are not in fact trying to hunt her down, using your pretty excuses simply to find her?" the woman demanded.

"Because I owe her my life," Optimus snarled.

The woman's eyes sharpened. She seemed to think for a long time.

"I will find her, understand that if she is running from you you will never find her," the woman stated calmly.

Optimus synced his processors, he did not think Mikaela would run from him. It was a thread, but he would accept it.

"Thank you," he rumbled patiently. At least someone was looking for the femme.

The woman nodded.

"I will call you shortly," she stated firmly. "However I warn you, if she does not wish to be found, forget about her, as far as you are concerned, she never existed."

The screen blinked out, and Optimus turned, sending a silent prayer to Primus that the tiny femme was okay.

A final note, I called Lennox Will Captain for a reason, think about it, Optimus Prime, Prime is his title.