A/N: Currently at university a week before everything kicks off, I have nothing to do apart from the important things. Here is part two - short and sweet.

Everyone and the world moved out of the way of the two Lamborghinis speeding their way through the desert.

"Jet judo practice – we're gonna get some more jet judo practice!" Sunstreaker quivered with excitement. Decepticon seekers had been sighted making trouble in the suburbs of Portland, for no other reason than to terrorise the humans it seemed. Well, everyone needed a hobby. Optimus had sent the twins to join Cliffjumper, Brawn, Huffer and Windcharger at the Decepticons' location.

"Heh – we don't need practice – we're the masters!"

"I'd like to agree with you on that one but our last session didn't exactly go according to plan."

"Ah, yeah," Sideswipe remembered. Thundercracker had flown under a low bridge and knocked Sideswipe off, whilst Starscream had flown through some pylon cables, deftly avoiding them but tangling Sunstreaker up over a large body of water. It had taken more than Inferno's ladder to get him down from up there.

They turned into the suburbs and slowed pace, if only to avoid skidding around corners.

"Hey, is that Ironhide up ahead?" Sunstreaker slowed his speed.

"Looks like it is, Sunny! Think we have time to stop by and say 'hello' before we go destroy some seekers?"

"Hmmm… we have a moment. Won't hurt to stop on our way there." And so both sports cars stopped – very suddenly and right in the middle of the road. "Hi granddad." The van said nothing.

"Awww… you're not blanking us are you, Ironhide?" Sideswipe moped.

"…Get out o' here yer li'l slaggers! Ah'm on a stake-out!" The red van hissed.

"Huh. 'Steak-out'?" Sideswipe queried. "Is that like a 'take-out'? Why would you need to eat steak?"

"He means stake – the wooden variety you fool!"

"I don't see any of those either."

"Jus' get out o' here before you blow mah cover!"

"Oh, I think your big red Autobot symbol will do that just fine." Sunstreaker said, eyeing the decals.

"Ah'm gonna-!"

"Bye granddad!" Sideswipe laughed, speeding away again. They rounded the corner and Sideswipe saw something that suddenly made him stop.

Three females in their mid to late teens, scantily dressed and with all the moral hindrances of an accident-compensational-claims lawyer, stood by a sign reading: CAR WASH - $6 FOR BASICKS $12 FOR FULL WERKS. A cynic might say that these three had spent so much time selling their bodies to learn how to spell basically. Sideswipe was too busy looking at what they were currently not selling to care. He had an idea. He transformed, making sure to duck low so that Ironhide would not see him over the houses. "Afternoon ladies!" The teenagers shrieked ear-piercingly high with excitement and ran over to his foot.

"Sideswipe, what are you doing?" Sunstreaker hissed, wanting to get to the seekers before they moved on.

"One moment bro," he answered, grinning charmingly at the females. "I was wondering if you three would like to do an old mech a favour."

"Aw, you don't look that old to me!" One of the females said, adding half a dozen more syllables than necessary to her last word.

"Eheh – I wasn't talking about me – there's an ancient, sluggish, clapped-out, rusty, cob-web-ridden, broken-down, moldy…no wait, that's going a bit too far. Well, there's a red van around the corner. I want you to give him the 'full werks'. He's been a bit moody lately – keeps saying he's 'too ahld fer active duty' and only good for 'maintenance an' stake-outs' and blah blah blah. If he complains, just ignore him – he likes the attention really. Here's twelve dollars. If you do a good job, I'll come back tomorrow and double it." At a loss for words as these three obviously did not know too many to begin with, they shrieked once more and pressed their bodies against his leg in some kind of semblance of a hug. "Inside and out, thanks – front and back."

"Bye bye!" They called, grabbing buckets of soapy water, sponges, a hoover and wax. Sideswipe and Sunstreaker rounded the corner enough to see what they were doing to Ironhide. Covered in soapy suds, the van was getting a full wash down, the bodies of the three teenagers pressing against him with needlessly close proximity. Ironhide was cussing and shaking violently, trying to get rid of the girls.

"Sideswipe! Sunstreaker! Ah know yer listenin'! When ah get mah hands on you two, yer dead mechs!" He roared. The twins broke down into hysterics.

"Need to go!" Sunstreaker sniggered, driving off as his brother transformed. "I hope those mini-bots have left us a piece of the action."

A/N: Ironhide is one of those characters that has snuck up on me from out of the blue. He seems so natural to write and though he is not currently one of my favourites, he certainly is getting his share of the attention (see also: Of Old Mechs and Unexpected Culprits). Love him!