Autobot Angel

Chapter 11: Tinderbox

Speed grabbed his duffel bag and crawled for the door. Prowl was behind him, in robot form, working to suppress the fire. Speed ignored the hiss of the flames as the fire-retardant struck. The CSI reached up and gripped the doorknob, turning it and shoving with his shoulder. The accelerant meant the smoke was already thick above his head. Tim crawled for the stairs, praying Delko had gotten out.

Delko stared up at the burning building. He'd done as Speed told him and escaped, pulling the fire alarm as he went. But where in the world was Speed? Sirens told him help was close but not close enough for him.

"Speed!" Delko started forward but a hand on his shoulder stopped him. He turned and stared. The man behind him was semi-transparent. He was about Speed's height with very light blond hair. His shirt was white, with red and green markings. A necklace peeked out, sporting a pendant with a red robotic face. His jeans were a very light gray, almost white, even under the streetlight. Dark brown boots completed the picture.

"You'll only get hurt going in there. I'll help your friend."

"Who are you?" Delko demanded.

"The name's Wheeljack."

Before Delko could sputter a reply, the semi-transparent figure was running toward the burning building.

Speed coughed and struggled to peer through the smoke. He'd almost made it down but he'd heard a cry. It was close, he knew that. The CSI crawled forward, ignoring the heat and his own hacking. There! A little girl was sobbing right in front of him.

"Hey."

The girl looked at him. "Who are you?"

"Call me Speed."

The girl sniffed. "I'm not supposed to talk to strangers."

"That's good advice but I think your mom will make an exception for this."

"Really?"

"Really. Come on, let's get out of here. Stay close."

The little girl nodded and crawled to Speed. Speed turned carefully, trying to keep an eye on the girl as he crawled for the stairs. They'd just reached the stairs when Speed started coughing and couldn't stop. Hands gripped him, hefting him. Vaguely he saw someone else pull the girl up. He heard footsteps pounding near him, heard Delko yell his name, and heard a little girl crying for her mother. Blackness beckoned and he gratefully slid into it.

Delko paced back and forth, eyes worried. He'd called the team and they were coming. One thing the CSI knew for sure. Speedle had been right about the ghost. Delko remembered seeing two robots emerge from the building. One, black and white with doorwings, had Speedle over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. The other, white with green and red accents, had a little girl in his arms. Delko had taken Speed from the first robot and the second one had set the little girl down. The CSI had started as the robots transformed into semi-transparent humans. The little girl had looked up at Delko and asked if he knew where her mommy was. The crying had started just as the firefighters finally arrived.

Delko sighed, dropping into a chair. How many times would Speed's life be threatened by this creep? It was obvious who the arsonist was. Delko bowed his head, praying for his best friend.

"He'll make it," Prowl remarked from behind.

"Forgive me if I wait for the doctor to tell me that."

The other Autobot shifted. "I did a scan right before we reverted back to our current forms. No sign of permanent damage."

Before Delko could reply, the rest of the team arrived. "H!"

"How is he?"

Delko sagged a bit. "Haven't heard anything yet."

Alexx looked over and her eyes narrowed.

"Alexx, this is Wheeljack," Prowl introduced.

Delko looked over at Alexx, sorry he'd ever doubted her and Speed. "H, there's something else."

Horatio's eyebrows rose. "You can see Prowl."

"Yeah. And H?"

"Yes?"

"There's another one. Wheeljack."

Calleigh's eyes widened. "Two?"

Alexx nodded. "I can see him too, Horatio. My guess? Timmy will be able to see Wheeljack too."

Wheeljack turned to Prowl. "They can't see us?"

"That's what happens when you're a ghost Wheeljack. Could be worse."

"How?"

"This morning, Speed was the only one who could see me. Now Alexx and Delko can see both of us." The tactician shifted. "I'll bring you up to date later."

"Hope that little girl's alright."

"Me too."

Delko ran a hand through his hair. He glanced at the two Autobots with an 'Are you done?' look. Prowl gave a nod. "H, it was arson. I was grabbing some of Speed's stuff when I heard glass breaking. Next thing I know, smoke is filling the room and Speed's yelling at me to get out." Eric buried his face in his hands. "I should have gone after him…"

"What you did was right. The firefighters would not have arrived so quickly without your help," Prowl remarked.

Calleigh walked forward. "He'll make it. He's tough like that."

Before anything else could be said, a young family walked up to them. Delko eyed the little girl, then grinned, recognizing her. The girl smiled back.

The mother looked at Delko. "Are you the one who helped my Jessica?"

"No, ma'am. That would be my friend, Tim Speedle. The doctors are still with him."

The mother gasped and looked down at her daughter. "Do you mind if we wait with you?"

Horatio smiled. "Not at all, Mrs…"

"Walker. I'm April and this is my husband Don."

The CSIs introduced themselves and Alexx knelt down to Jessica's level. "So Timmy helped you out?"

"Timmy?" Jessica asked. "He said his name was Speed." Jessica wrinkled her nose. "I thought it was a funny name but Mommy says it's rude to say that to people."

Alexx nodded solemnly. "I'm sure she's right." She smiled at the little girl. "Well, his name is really Tim but I suppose we all have a nickname for him."

Jessica laughed. "Okay. What's your name?"

"Alexx. These are my friends Eric, Calleigh, and Horatio."

"Are you friends with Speed?"

Horatio looked down at Jessica. "Yes we are, Jessica."

"Cute kid," Wheeljack remarked.

"Wonder how Speed will handle having a fan."

As Alexx chatted with Jessica, her parents talked with Horatio and Delko, just as nervous as the CSIs about Speedle. Delko's relief was clear when a doctor arrived.

"You're here for Detective Speedle?"

"Yeah."

"He's been moved to a room for overnight observation. But everything looks good so far. Aside from smoke-inhalation, he's just fine."

Horatio gave a nod. "Thank you doctor."

"Room 230," the doctor added as he moved away.

The CSIs exchanged looks. Jessica and her family waited. Horatio turned to them. "Give us a minute?"

"Of course."

Delko was the first into the room. Speed looked up and gave his friend a weary thumbs-up. Delko grinned and walked over to the bed. "Glad you're okay, Speed."

The other CSIs crowded in. Speed's eyes widened when he saw Wheeljack. Prowl smirked. "I'll tell you later."

Speed gave a nod then looked around. "Where's Alexx?"

"Alright, Jessica, here's the room," Alexx remarked from just outside the door. Speed craned his neck to see the new arrivals.

A familiar little girl appeared, followed by her parents and Alexx. "Speedy!" the little girl cried, running to Speed's bedside. "Why are you in bed? Did you get hurt?"

Speed looked down at the little girl, hiding his dismay. The new ghost started laughing.

Prowl kept a straight face. "Welcome to the joys of fan girls Speed."

A/N: And Prowl would know, wouldn't he. :-) Well? Enter the mad scientist. We'll be lucky if the lab doesn't blow up. --smirks-- Please Read and Review