Enchanted

Chapter Fourteen

Steve watched as Trinity walked up and down the freighter, making sure that everyone was truly all right and making plans with Optimus once they reached the ground. The man out of time man can see how passionate and concern for the people that she worked alongside with, letting him know that she was a leader that cared for their well-being and not just an instrument to be used and discarded and replaced within a whim. He truly felt bad for what had happened, despite that it wasn't his fault, but he still felt guilty as it somewhat was his fault as it had to do with him.

He then watched as Trinity finally sat down to relax across from him and a bit down some, leaning her head on Stone's shoulder with exhaustion. Steve swallowed, watching the other man wrap an arm around her shoulders, his hand slipping down her arm some. Reigning in his emotions, Steve tilted his head back and stared up at the ceiling, trying very hard to think of other things than his feelings. He felt someone shift from his right and turned to see Phil sitting down next to him, staring at his niece and Stone.

"I had always assumed that they will get together, they've been flirting since Stone joined NEST eight years ago–and I know for a fact that Rini did a lot of first with him." Steve was frowning at the man, who was the glue of their little family, wondering why he was telling him this. "But I think she's starting to see that she will only be friends with him, and I fear that Stone is starting to see that too, despite that he has strong feelings for her."

Steve felt a bit of hope rise but kept his guard up as he continued to frown at Phil. "After eight years, why would she suddenly change her feelings for him?"

Phil chuckles, shaking his head as he looked at his friend and idol. "You really can't see it, can you?"

Phil merely grins secretly, patting Steve's leg before looking towards an agent making his way quickly down the ramp and towards Trinity. Both he and Steve frowned, listening when he tells her that she was needed on the coms. The woman jumped up from her seat and rushed after the agent, a concerned frown on her face as she, and everyone else that heard wondered who it was that needed to speak with her and what was happening. Phil looked at Steve, who gave him a nod in return, and they both stood, making their way up the stairs and to the small communications area. On the screen they saw a concern Will, who was looking around the area as though something was going to attack him soon–which, as Steve thinks about it now, could possibly happen.

"What did you guys find?"

Will frown, looking back at the screen. "Do you remember how we heard rumors of a few Decepticons disappearing all of a sudden about a year or so ago?" Trinity frowns, nodding in confusion. "Well, apparently those rumors are true. Wheelie barely escaped whatever mission he was on from some top secret agency that is taking these Decepticons' down. We don't know who they are or even know where they're taking them or even why yet."

"I don't know why we're just standing here!"

"Yeah, we're sitting ducks here!"

Trinity sighs as she could hear the Twins in the background, making Will bow his head in irritation and pinching the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb. "Sorry Will, with the attack and healing Ironhide, I hadn't had time to talk with them."

Will frown, shaking his head. "I don't care, I'm just glad you're safe. Has anyone contacted Mongo's mother?"

Trinity shakes her head, holding back tears. "I'm going to wait on that until we get to the new base operations. Did Morshower contact you guys on the new location?"

Will nods, "Yeah, he did. As much as we would love to go and meet up with you again, we have to follow up on these rumors of where they can possibly be taking them."

"Where are you going?" Trinity asked, dread taking hold of her heart.

"Chicago," Will said suddenly, a little unsure of himself of the situation. "But both the Black Widow and Hawkeye had gone into confirm the location, as well as get a bit closer to see if they can get any more information from the Decepticons that we encountered out here. Don't worry Captain, Epps and Topspin went with them as backups."

Trinity shakes her head, "No, we'll send another team and Autobots to hit Chicago, send us coordinates of where you think these disappearing Decepticons' are being taken to."

Will nods, looking over his shoulder to see Epps, Natasha, and Clint running towards them, Topspin on top of the sandy hill, looking back and shooting at something. "Shit!"

"Will, get to safety now! Contact me when you're all safe and Stateside!"

"Promise!" Will yells at her, already running to whatever transportation they had in hand, "Shi-!"

The camera went dead, Trinity leaning forward and covering her face with her hands and screamed. Sighing, the woman shoved a hand through her hair as she stood up from the chair, thanking the agent that had gotten her before walking a bit ways with Steve and Phil. Her uncle was waiting patiently for her to explain to them further from what it was that they just heard, while Steve merely waited to hear more about what was going on and prayed that his two family members return safely.

"We've heard rumors." Trinity started tiredly, "That Decepticons have been going missing, even a few Autobots that had just come to Earth. But with the war between the Decepticons since Megatron's death, we haven't been making it a priority in following up on those rumors. Only a few private missions have been set out, like Wheelie going on a mission overseas." she shook her head, her eyes going hard with emotion, "One thing for sure, whoever is taking them is going to get a rude awakening once we find them."

"Agent Hart, we're about to land in ten minutes." an agent tells her before returning to the cockpit.

Nodding, Trinity looked back to Phil and Steve, "Best return to our seats." Steve let her go by first, making her smile before both men followed after her, "Everyone strap in, we're about to land in ten."

As the men and women moved around to get a seat, Steve returned to his own seat he had previously and was surprised when the woman had sat down next to him. Trinity merely smiled before strapping herself in and making herself comfortable, as though it was nothing for her to sit next to him. Smiling softly to himself and shaking his head, Steve quickly strapped himself in too and leaned back, getting ready for the plane to land, wondering where they were and the new location for NEST.

As promised, ten minutes later found the group stepping out into the hot air and several large hangers with nothing but fields in sight. Trinity moved towards the large hangers, directing orders to both humans and Autobots in making sure to set up perimeter and sensors. As she came closer, she saw that half of the computers were being set up already and that comms were up and running. Trinity looked around her for a specific person as she needed to get a hold of Mongo's mom when she saw a familiar person.

"Chaplin!" she yelled once she saw the technician stop in his track towards the tall walkways that still need to be set up and held out her arms in confusion before her hands started to move quickly and wildly. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Hey Spades!" Chaplin yelled back, jogging towards her way, grinning at her. "Didn't you know? I've been out here with a small team, sending out missions and whatnot."

"Why the hell wasn't I informed?" Trinity asked, hugging the older man.

"Need to know," he tells her before pulling back to give her a look that said he couldn't tell her why and nodded to the group behind her. "I heard that you had an uncle that worked with the Avengers and brought them on board, but I thought it was just a joke."

Trinity laughs, shaking her head, "Guys, this is Nick 'Chaplin' Bickle, best technician in the agency." she then sighs, getting serious, "I'll introduce you guys later, right now I need you to set up a private comms and have me communicate with Mongo's mother."

Chaplin stopped grinning, all laughter void from his person, "I can do that."

Trinity nods her thanks, "I'll call Morshower to see if he can send in a couple of agents to pick her and his brother up to do a video conference. I don't want to do this over the phone."

"I got it, I'll let you know once we're up and running."

"Thanks," Trinity tells him as she takes out her phone. "Uncle Phil, you guys can look around if you want, help out if you like. I'm going to be a bit busy for a while."

Phil nods, "No worries, sweetheart. We'll catch up with you later."

Trinity smiles her thanks before looking at Stone, "Stone, I need you to gather with the Autobots and start to try and find Will and the others. I need to make sure that everyone got on a plane safely and are coming back this way."

Stone frowns but nods as she started to walk backward, "Well do, and I'll let you know if I find something out."

"Oh, and Spades," Trinity looks back at Chaplin with a raised eyebrow, the older man grinning at her, "It's good to have you back."

Trinity merely smiles and walks away, immediately getting into contact with Morshower. The other agent was about to walk away when he raises an eyebrow at the older man, Phil looking down at him with some confusion. Having heard about the older man from the many rumors throughout the agency–many which were wildly speculated–Chaplin can see that he looked nothing like Trinity. However, there was a certain air that the other man held that was exactly like the woman, which was the only telltale sign that they were related.

"Why do you call my niece Spades?"

Chaplin chuckles softly, "Have you ever heard that the Spade on a poker card symbolizes good luck or death?"

"Yeah, but those are just myths, stories," Phil said nonchalantly.

"So was a Norse god of Thunder," Chaplin states before chuckling. "Well, the Lt. Colonel nicknamed her Spades because not only did she bring good luck for herself and those around her, but she also brought on death as she was a damn good shot with any weapon." he sighs, looking after the younger woman that he had major respect for, despite being a hell of lot younger than everyone in NEST, "But since the death of her father, she doesn't like the nickname all that much. It's a habit for some of us, just like we all use nicknames for everyone else but I have a feeling that she probably thinks that she's jinxed due to Mongo's death and few of the other agents back in Washington."

Steve frowned at his words, "But she's not jinxed!"

Chaplin looks at Steve grimly, "She won't believe you if you tell her otherwise, the Decepticons have been after her ever since she got that damn All Spark inside her."

With that said, he walked away to do what Trinity asked of him. Phil sighs as he turned to Steve, who was looking after his niece, "Come on, Cap, there's a lot to get done. It'll help not to think about anything right now."

454545

Stone watched as the woman he has come to care so much tried to hold it together as she told Mongo's mother and brother of his death. Morshower was able to send a few agents to her house and help her get through this tragedy. His mom being the sweet woman that she knows how much the death of her oldest son was hurting the younger woman that she was trying to console her instead. Having the small group being there from the beginning, they've all met each other's families that the small tight-knit group became even larger. Even Optimus had said a few words–as did some of the other Autobots–and Mongo's mother had greatly appreciated their support, even when she still couldn't see them.

Mongo's brother, however, was a different story. He was angry for what had happened to his older brother, who was a role model for him, and yelled at Trinity and at the agents before stormed away. Mongo's mother started to apologize but Trinity stopped her as she told her that she felt the same. Steve had then walked forward–as a lot of them had stopped what they were doing and stood at attention behind Trinity–and explained what had happened. Mongo's mother told him that she didn't fault him for something someone in his agency had done and that there was nothing to apologize for. Trinity had let her know that the agency would help with any cost to the funeral and to let her know when she wanted it so that those who wanted to–and could–attend.

Mongo's mother thanked her again before the connection had ended. Physically, Trinity looked exhausted and no doubt that she was also mentally after having gone through that. She had thanked the other agents and dismissed them before walking towards the front of the of the hanger where the Autobots were waiting for her. Optimus keeled and held out his forefinger at her, Trinity taking hold of it and leaning her forehead against his metal finger, closing her eyes for just a moment. Although she tried to be discreetly in wiping her tears, Stone knew that if he was able to see her himself, so did the others.

As they both pulled back, Trinity looked at the group of both humans and Autobots waiting for what was the next move. "I need a small team go to Chicago and find out about the possible connection of missing Decepticons and the few Autobots. Lennox should be sending the address of the possible rumors once he and the team are up in the air." she looked over the group before her eyes settled on Ghost and Pyro, "You two and Taggart, get a small team–I want you to reckon inside the place and find out what the hell is going on!"

Brian 'Taggart' Call gives the woman a nod of acknowledgment, not the slightest surprised. Taggart is a part of Epps team and is a tall, muscular man with dark skin and the lightest gray eyes any person can have. He's a chameleon that can go in and out of any type of situation and find what is needed. Which, in this case, is what they need and was all too grateful that he was left behind. Trinity figured that neither Will nor Robert thought that she would have noticed him stay behind but she did know he was there just didn't say anything.

"As for the rest of us, all we can do is train until Lennox and the others get back and hear what's going on."

"And you need rest," Stone tells her.

Trinity went to argue but Steve spoke up, "No, he's right. You've exhausted yourself and now you need to get some rest after all you've done after the attack in Washington."

"Listen to them, sweetheart," Phil said quietly, walking up to her and bringing up a hand to touch her pale cheek. "Get some rest before you overwork yourself."

"Listen to them, Rini," Optimus tells her softly, Trinity looking up at the large alien robot that had captured her and her cousin's heart to help. "Get some rest and we'll come get you once everything is set."

Sighing–a defeated sigh–nods and walks away, holding up a hand in goodbye. The men and Autobots stared after the woman until she disappeared further between the NEST agents still working about here and there to get their new base up and running again. Phil sighs himself and rubs his face before walking away to do something to keep him occupied and not worry about his niece like the mother-hen that he was! The others seemed to think the same as they all started to walk in different directions without so much as looking back in the direction of the young agent.

A/N: I'm sorry for the VERY late and short update, here are two chapters. Aside from writer's block, I haven't really been inspired to write again and I also had gotten promoted to Store Manager, so I haven't really had time to write. Well, please review and let me know what you think!