Swiped Away: Chapter 6
Sideswipe and Casey arrive back at the apartment after a NEST team has swept the apartment and stood guard inside and out. Behind the couple, a NEST four member team unloads. Prime leaves. The sergeant in charge, and another member ride up in the elevator with them. The sergeant briefs them, "I'll have one by your front door, one in the lobby and two near the garage. We are cleaning up your car and bringing it here. Unless you want to be transported another way?"
Sideswipe's fatigued, "No that will be fine." They go over a few more security details, and then the elevator dings. As they step off the elevator, everyone can see Dolce has his own door guards stationed at his own door. Casey bids the sergeant good night. Sideswipe unlocks the door and they enter relieving the interior guard. While Sideswipe secures the front door, Casey immediately pulls her shoes off tossing them under the coffee table of glass and steel. She plops down on the couch, propping her feet up next to his laptop is on the table. She yawns pointing to it, "Do you mind?"
He yawns too, "Why don't you take a shower and hit the sack?"
She shakes her head turning on the computer, "I have to plan this wedding."
"I thought you said it wouldn't be a problem," he teases her while removing his jacket, tie and shirt.
She laughs, "Fine then, do you want to do it?" He huffs and mutters something sounding familiar to the retorts he had with Ironhide in the tunnel. As she is going to turn and give him another smarty pants remark, she has to stop suddenly. Stripped to the waist he is a stunning creature. Now in the dim light, he is looking seductively attractive. Broad strong shoulders with a narrow trim solid hard to the waist. Just when she thought she had a good look at him in the tunnel, she realizes, even that was just a glimpse. He was so close, if she stretched her hand out, she could touch that hard packed stomach. But instead she has no choice but watch him as he pulls the black case from his jacket pocket laying across the couch arm. He opens the box about the size of a 1940's cigarette case. He pops it open and removes a syringe. He looks up when he notices she hasn't responded.
Her gaze locked on his body is miss understood. "I'm sorry. I can do this some where else if it makes you uncomfortable."
"No, it's not that." She tries to look away blushing, but ends up watching him bite the cap off the syringe and then turn his shoulder into position, gripping the back of the chair with his right hand. The tattoo is silver and hard, almost like a steel plate. He jams the syringe into the tattoo with a soft groan. He waits a moment with his eyes tightly closed. She walks over to him. She takes the syringe from his left hand. Then she takes the cap from his mouth. She recaps it and returns it to the case. He knows something has changed between them. She takes his shoulder and looks at it closely. She watches the silver change to black and then recede to a standard human pencil thin tattoo.
He puts a hand over hers, "I'm fine. Are you?"
She won't face him and therefore turns back to the laptop and plunks back down on the couch. "Go. I'm fine."
"Casey…" he sounds concerned. She flicks a hand at him to go away. As soon as she hears the bathroom door close, the silent tears come down her face. Her guts are quivering. She goes through his cabinets. No alcohol. She could really use a stiff drink at this time. She wants to feel numb. Anything but to feel attraction to him. An man, no he's not even that. Funny, supportive, brave, a warrior and so damned attractive and suave. Slamming the cabinet closed, she will have to settle for tea. She sets the kettle fuming at herself for letting him get through her fire wall. Maybe he doesn't know it and she can get out of this and on with her life. When the tea is made she settles back to the computer and the task at hand. A task filled with painful memories and quivering new ones. And no future. Just an assignment. Yeah, that's what this Sideswipe character is: an assignment. Yeah right, God you have an evil sense of humor, you know that?
~~Upstairs, he doesn't have it any easier while trying to wash his own feelings down the drain. He can't feel like this. This must be a side effect of the serum. He will have to tell Ratchet to strain this part out. It has to be what screwed up everyone else. He rests his forehead against the wall letting the hot water sear his neck and back. He would really like to flee right now. He feels the need to escape. Just like he needed to escape Sunstreaker, and the crushing control he had over his life. Now, this femme has taken over his spark. He knows he is getting pulled in too tight. His chest feels like it is being crushed. Primus you are a cruel God at times. Swipe hears his phone ring on the bathroom counter. He sees it is Prime. Leaning out of the shower letting the shower continue to beat his back He grabs the phone, "Hello?"
"How are you doing?" Optimus is honestly concerned.
"I'm feeling the side effect of the serum." He tries to sound stable.
"Side effect?" Optimus is confused.
"My chest feels like it is being crushed, I can't stop thinking about my primary. I want to wrap myself around her and enclose her in my shield and slay that Dolce bastard anytime he sneers or looks at her. I nearly called my blaster from subspace when she asked him to escort her at the wedding. I can't stop thinking about her."
"That's not the serum," Optimus states it as a fact.
"It has to be." Now his voice is starting to waver. "What else could it be?"
Optimus takes a deep sigh. He's seen too many of his subordinate in this circumstance. Hell, he saw himself at this point. But for Sideswipe it is the worst. Optimus knows he has to tread carefully with Sideswipe's trait for vengeance and especially now that Sunstreaker isn't around to keep him in check. Prime knows if this mission goes sour, Sideswipe may never survive. Emotionally or physically. "You know what it is," he finally answers softly. Sideswipe doesn't answer. He hasn't figured it out yet. "Be careful. Stay focused on the mission, not your primary. You can do this, Sideswipe. We are all counting on you to stay level headed."
"Yes sir." Sideswipe resigns himself. But neither one hangs up the phone.
"Optimus, how do you…." Sideswipe lets the other words just linger.
Optimus clears his throat. Clearly it is difficult for him to answer this, "Stay focused. Remember millions of lives are counting on this mission. Including Sunstreaker's."
Sideswipe clearly gets the message. It's alright to feel, but don't get confused on your duty. "Yes sir." The phone disconnects. The water is turning cold any ways. He gets dressed.
Emerging from the bathroom, he sees Casey still at the computer. He picks up a pillow from the bed and the comforter. He comes down to her. She looks beat. He smiles, well she was in a fight today from out of her world. She looks like she has been dragged down a street and exhausted. Casey tries to look up at him and smile. He sets the pillow down and the comforter on the other side of himself.
"Let me see what you have done." He takes the lap top from her.
"I'm going to rest for a moment. Let me know what you think."
"I'm going to sleep here, you go up to bed."
"No, I want to know what you think before I call it a night." She pushes the pillow to the side and lays her head down and curls her feet up between them. He takes her feet and lays them in his lap. Then he tosses the comforter over her and his lap. He sets the laptop on top of that. Then begins scrolling through her notes for the wedding. He couldn't believe she could get this all done in such a short amount of time. He's seen how long it takes for Epps to requisition supplies for NEST…weeks!
Swipe continues to scrolls through. The gazebo in Central Park has been booked and paid. The caterer has been hired and meal planned. The cake has been ordered and delivery time scheduled. Flowers and boutonnieres have been paid, and delivery time confirmed. Rental company has been ordered for extra chairs and tables. She even contacted NEST team members to act as bridesmaids, groomsmen and guests. She also had confirmation from Lennox and Epps about NEST photographer to capture business associates at the wedding. A promise to get a good one of Sideswipe in his dashing human form.
He couldn't help but smile at that email and looks down at her to comment. She's snoring. The bruise on her temple is starting to show. He carefully brushes the hair back from her ear. She lost an earring today. Probably in exchange for the bruise. He tucks the blanket up to her chin. She smiles, "Thanks, Brian." Sideswipe's hand freezes. Brian?
He turns back to the lap top. He does his searches and finds out about her Brian.
Brain Moore. He was a secret service agent at the same time she was. They were on the same team. Quickly he puts the loose ends together from her limited conversations and Epps file on her. Casey had quit the NSA team to take a job with Dolce. That way she could date and marry Brian. It states in the newspaper article that he was killed by a sniper. The sniper missed the congressman but hit his body guard? Interesting, the agent was on the driver's side of the car, while the congressman was still inside the restaurant. Sniper must have been trigger happy. Sideswipe seriously doubts that. Agent Moore leaves behind a fiancé. He was killed two days before the wedding.
Swipe looks back to Casey. She has been the good soldier. She didn't deserve this betrayal from Dolce. Even if he is the enemy, she had served him loyally. She had done everything right. She had taken care of her parents. She loves her sister. She even found a good man who took good care of her. And where was she now? Running for her life? Planning another wedding with an alien who could never give her a normal life. No matter how much he wanted to.
Swipe felt that tightness in his chest again. He closes his eyes. Life isn't fair, no matter what planet you are on.
He doesn't know how long his eyes were closed, but he could hear the knocking on the front door. Slowly he opens his eyes. The sunlight is coming through the glass walled window. He hears the knocking again. "Coming," comes out scratchy from his throat. He starts to get up and sees the laptop still in front of him. Quickly he slides it onto the table and tries to get up again. This time he feels the weight of something else. He lifts the comforter and sees Casey's feet. Carefully he slides out from under them and heads for the door.
Epps is at the door holding a garment bag, "I believe Miss Jones may need this. Unless you have some of her belongings?" He winks. Sideswipe narrows his gaze in warning and takes the bag without a reply. "Bus leaves in thirty minutes," Epps professionally replies. Sideswipe nods and shuts the door. He puts the garment bag on the back of the chair and then comes to Casey's side.
He kneels down and pulls the comforter from her face, "Hey there. We have to leave in thirty minutes. And you still have asphalt in your hair."
She pulls the blanket back over her head, "Five more minutes."
He tries to pull it back again but she is holding on tight. "Why five more minutes?"
"I was having a great dream about a real life after this." She says wishfully.
He leans in closer more wishfully, "Was I in it?" She doesn't answer. This time when he pulls the blanket back, she lets him. "Casey…"
A tear escapes from her eye and she whispers, "Leave me to my dreams. It's all I have left." Her chin waivers.
He weaves his fingers through her hair. He can feel a couple big bumps she's got and some more asphalt. He leans in and kisses her tenderly warmly…leading to a future. She doesn't move but does respond to his kiss. Then reluctantly he pulls back. Who needed that more? She opens her eyes to see his optic blue ones watching her tenderly.
"Can't we just play hokey and go to the beach today?" she tries to sound like a kid. He smiles and strokes her cheek. She can see he would like that too. Instead, she groans and sits up. "Please say you have Advil, or Tylenol or Codeine?"
"Codeine?" He looks at her curiously.
"I swear I got hit with the whole block not just one street yesterday." She shoves the blanket aside and picks up the garment bag wincing carefully heads up the stairs to the shower. "Next time I try to take on the Decepticons, I want a bigger gun. Find out what Ironhide has available." She disappears into the bathroom.
He shakes his head. She is just what he needs in his life. Too bad she wasn't about fifteen feet tall, bore an Autobot brand and carried a spark. Swipe looks up, "Could you grant me one more favor Primus?"
~~Casey is ready in less than fifteen minutes. He is just straightening up his tie when she comes down the stairs. "Ready?" he asks.
"Yeah. Lets see what we can blow up today." She tucks her gun into it's holster. He shrugs on his jacket and heads for the door. "Wait," she tells him. He stops and turns to her. "Are you alright?"
Confused he faces her, "What do you mean?" She drops her gaze to the floor.
"I guess I never asked your opinion on this whole thing. Prime, the NEST team and I kind of threw this all at you. I know you are more used to an experienced hit squad."
He smiles and puts a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Look Casey, you are a very smart person. You are very dedicated. You sure can fight. I'm glad to be teamed up with you. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't sure of your abilities. I would have told Prime and Ironhide. We could just blow the whole thing to pieces. But I think you are right about making these alliances. It could benefit both Earth and the Autobots. Yes even the Decepticons. Maybe this is the tool we need to make peace with them. A few times we have come together for the greater good. Few. Very few. But still. I'm fine all with this."
"And the wedding?" She is almost blushing.
He steps very close to her. Close enough to slip an arm around her waist. "If we were back home and you were one of us, certainly I would be looking you up on the grid." She smiles. He leans in even closer, "If this serum doesn't wear off, you will be stuck with me as your husband. Can you handle that?"
She lets her fingers walk up his lapels, "Well, you know… you do make quite an attractive human. I've seen you turn quite a few heads."
His smile is almost gleaming, "Yes, but did I turn the right head?"
She is caught in his gaze. Worse than that, she is caught against his chest with her pulse racing, "From the moment you walked into my life."
He leans over and kisses her again. This time with a little more desire. There is no question this time. There is definitely chemistry between them. Her arms curl around his neck stretching to her toes to deepen the kiss. He finds the taste of her intoxicating, in reply, Casey finds his long fingered hands striding up her back erotically pleasing. A knock at the blasted door again. She reluctantly drops down to her heals. He doesn't release her. Instead he runs a comforting hand up her spine.
"I could kill Dolce right now and get on with the business at hand, if you like," he manages to get out.
"Dolce who?" She smiles back still all tingles and dizzy.
"Come on you two! We have to get going!" Epps is calling through the door.
Sideswipe release her and heads for the door. Before he opens the door she motions for him to see if she looks alright. He smirks, "Don't ask me. I think you looked fine with asphalt in your hair and a torn skirt." She slaps his shoulder. They exit the apartment. She can instantly feel the tension back on as they hit the garage.
The guard nods that the car is clean and hands Sideswipe the keys. They drive over to the office silently. Only once does he reach over and squeeze her hand with a warm smile. It reminded her of their morning conversation and kisses.
The meeting continues and finalizes. Contracts are signed, sealed and agreed upon. Sideswipe make very careful detailed mental notes. When everyone breaks to make phone calls, Swipe text's stuff in the code that Prime and NEST had agreed upon. Even if Dolce hacked their feed, he wouldn't understand. Casey leaves her final cheery parting remarks to see everyone at the wedding. Dolce finishes up with his bodyguards and makes his own final agreements for he part in the wedding.
Then a big surprise, one of the investors takes them all out to a Chinese dinner. Sideswipe and Casey try to back out, but with Dolce's prodding, they had no choice. But Swipe and Casey are very careful not to drink the alcohol.
By the end of the night, Casey and Sideswipe's head's hurt from just trying to keep each other in sight and run security detail for themselves. So many potential assassins in the room. They couldn't get away soon enough. Some how they did.
Chapter 7 coming….
