As the afternoon rolled around lunch was put out for the base's guests. Ironhide rolled to the mess hall. Kimber was still asleep in his back. His holoform's shirt was covered in now dried tears as his charge's head rested on his shoulder. When he parked he looked at her "Kim" He gently shook her "Kim wake up"

The teen groaned, shifting "What?"

"It's lunch time"

"What is it?"

He raised an eyebrow "HUman food"

She groaned, not really moving "DO I have to?"

"Do you want Ratchet to force feed you?"

She got up, opening the door "Bye"

Ironhide chuckled as his charge ran into the hall, grabbing her food.

When Kimber ran in to get her food Sam and Kayla were already eating. Over the past few days the two had gotten increasingly friendly with one another. She could see where this would be headed, but it didn't matter. She was ready to go home. She just wanted to be back in her bed with her dad and Cooper. She missed him. 'I wonder if he misses me too'

She knew Cooper didn't have a lot of time. He was an old dog and Rottie's don't live as long as humans do, no dogs do. She only hoped that he could hold out until she got home. As she started to eat she noticed someone sat beside her, looking over she smiled at Phillips "Hay"

He smiled "Hay. How was your sleep? I haven't seen you all day"

"Oh. I didn't have such a good night. I pretty much slept all morning in Ironhide"

"How does that work?"

"Well he's a truck...remember? So I just sleep in the back seat"

"But what if he transformes?"

"He won't. He knows I'm in there. I don't know what he'll do if there's danger and I'm fast asleep"

"Scary isnt it?" He took a bite of his military issued food as she her turkey sandwich

"Now that I think about it, yeah" She shuddered at the mental image of her getting stuck in his gears "Remind me never to think about that again"

"Done" He sipped from his gatorade bottle "So, where are you from?"

"I could ask you the same thing"

His freckles scrunched together as he smiled "Well, I'm from Utah, West Valley to be specific"

"South Beach, California"

"That's cool. Do you surf?"

"Na. This time of year there's a lot of sharks, but next month the beaches will open"

"That must be scary"

"Yeah a little. Some kid lost a foot, hence the late opening"

He nodded in silence "The only dangers we have are run away exotic pets, cougars, and sometimes mountain goats" Kimber giggled "What? They're scary when they're running after you"

"Ah man. Okay what pets have escaped"

"Looks like we have an animal lover on our hands"

"I might have dabbled in civilian care of injured animals" He raised an eyebrow "I healed and raised injured animals…"

"Ooooh! What did you 'heal'"

"A kitten, a few puppies, and a pigeon fledgling"

"Did you keep him, the pigeon?"

"I was since I pretty much raised him…"

"What happened?"

"My mom left the window open and a cat got him" Jared was quiet as he continued to eat his lunch. Kimber finished her sandwich and lied her head in her hands, rubbing her face "Can I tell you something?"

"Yeah?"

"I hate my mom…" The pair were quiet again. Jared rubbed her back as she shook from anger and sadness "She just- she ruins everything. She never listens! Sure I'm pretty much a mirror image of her but I'm not HER! I'm my own person! WHo the hell would force their child to be who they didn't want to be! I didn't want her dresses. I wasn't clean like her! I like to get dirty, I like to play with trucks, I love animals-a-and she ruined it all! Every patient either died or were taken to the shelter! When I left for school she would throw out toy cars I found. For my birthday she got me a dress after I begged for a ride around truck! I mean who wouldn't want that?"

Jared looked into her red eyes that leaked tears. He pulled her into a hug as she wailed. Kayla and Sam looked over at their friend as did the rest of Jared's squad.

As Jared did his best to calm Kim, Ironhide's holoform ran in the mess hall and over to the pair. He knelt beside the young humans "What happened?"

Jared sighed "The past...memories"

Ironhide patted his back "Come on. Let's get her out of here" Jared let go. Kimber rubbed her eyes as Ironhide leaned down, lifting her like a tot. Her legs wrapped around his chest as her arms wrapped around his neck. Her head rested against his neck as she choked out more tears. Ironhide rubbed her back as he and Jared walked out of the mess hall. Ironhide carried Kimber to his alt mode, setting her in the back seat.

Jared tried to climb in with her but Ironhide scowled at him "Go back to your troop. Will wouldn't like you lacking off with the civilian" The young soldier nodded shyly, turning and walking back to the mess hall to take care of his food. Ironhide's holoform fades and Ironhide's alt mode rolls down the dirt road.

Outside Optimus watched in silence from the hanger. 'Ironhide and Kimber are getting close'

Ratchet responded 'Yes I know'

'How will this affect them in the long run'

'Optimus if you cannot predict that then I cannot. All we can do is guide Ironhide'

'What about Kimber?'

'Kimber is her own person. She is a mere moment in our lives Optimus. In less than 100 years she will be gone. It is only best that we don't ruin what friendship the two are forming'

Optimus nodded 'Yes, but what if this friendship becomes more?"

Ratchet sighed 'Then we only hope Ironhide will be gentle'

'And if he isn't?'

'Then we hope Kimber can take the pain'