Chapter 9

"So you just stir it until it gets to a clearish dark blue coloring" I explained to Ratchet as we sat across each other on my 'loft', a hot plate holding a nifty old sauce pot that I found earlier sat between us. Inside was my 'medicine' cooking nicely as I explained the steps to Ratchet who has been asking me how I made it since he found out about it last week. He was actually quite the attentive student; always asking questions about why and how. And even though I knew he was just trying to distract me from asking what was up with Ironhide—Total dick move by the way— I indulged him, knowing that I'd be able to somehow ask him about it discreetly while I have him distracted with the exhilarating facts of spells and potions.

"Fascinating" he muttered watching the pot with rapt attention. I grimaced at his amusement and handed him the wooden spoon, and looked at him with an expectant expression. He was confused for all of half a second before taking the spoon and stirring the pot happily.

"Alright slow it down there hot stuff, you don't want to over stimulate it" I chastised gently, putting my hand on top of his and showing him the right rhythm. He nodded and continued his ministrations. I waited until he was concentrating mostly on his speed, then I glanced up to see that the rest of the team were either outside otherwise distracted with something else before starting my mini interrogation.

"So, how long have you been with the team?" I asked while playing around with the green bottle that would hold our little concoction once it's done. He didn't even react to the question. Good.

"Well most of us have known each other most of our lives but the team became active about five years ago." He said distractedly, stirring the pot like a good boy... that sounded weird didn't it? mhe who cares.

"And you've always been the medical officer?" I asked moving from playing with the bottle to twirling my hair boredly and flicking my tail back and forth every so often. This part really sucks when you're making potions; it takes forever to stir it right.

"Yes" he said simply, much to my annoyance.

"So you're pretty close with them then." I mused. "Must be nice"

"It is, though they do tend to be quite the hand full when it comes to their check-ups" he said with an annoyed frown.

"Who wouldn't? Bumblebee says that your check-ups are terrifying. And I'm bound to believe him" I laughed at his expression and I earned an annoyed glare from him. At this I stifled my smile and turned my attention back to our task.

"Okay, that's enough stirring." I said taking the spoon from him and setting it down to the side. "Now for the weird part" I murmured as I wiped my hand with a little wash cloth. Then I positioned the wrist in front of my mouth and looked at Ratchets curious eyes.

"Don't freak out on me Ratch" I said then dug my sharp teeth into the soft skin of my wrist until it started to bleed. I quickly put the bleeding appendage over the blue pot and looked up to watch for Ratchets reaction. I wasn't disappointed; his face was contorted between fascination and surprise. So precious.

I waited a little while for the blood to fall into the mix then brought my wrist back up to my lips. Licking the wound clean of blood as my –let's say amazingly gross—saliva sanitized and closed it, leaving no trace of there being torn skin behind. Being satisfied with my work I held the formally bloodied hand towards Ratchet who wasted no time in grabbing my hand and inspecting it. I paid him little mind as I took the wooden spoon from its place and started to stir the concoction once again. Mixing in the blood until it gets that pretty purple hue.

"How do you do that?" Ratchet asked, I glanced at him as he ran him fingers over the flawless palish skin.

"I don't actually know. Demon saliva is known for its healing abilities, but it only heals this way with its bearer. If I were to use it one someone else, it'll take a longer while to work, but it would eventually." I said distractedly as I finished with my 'medicine' and reached for the bottle with my eyes.

"So anyway, what do you think that Ironhide's up to? He's been gone almost all afternoon." I spoke casually, glancing at Ratchet from the corner of my eye. I removed my hand from the good doctor's grip and proceeded to pout the pots insides into the beautiful green bottle.

Ratchet looked at me hesitantly, glancing towards Optimus who was hunched over some paperwork with Will on the conference table. "Ironhide, along with Bumblebee and Jazz are on a special assignment, I do not know when they will be back." he said. I titled my head in confusion then looked up to see that both Jazz's and Bumblebee's cars were gone from the barn. I guess I was too busy with Ratchet to notice that they left. Pursing my lips into a worried frown, I put the now filled bottle and got off the 'loft'.

"Will they be okay?" I asked, waiting for him to get down too. We walked outside together and around to the back of the barn where there was a small shelf on the wall. I don't know what it's there for, but it's a great place to let my potion air out.

"They are highly trained officers Ren, I assure you they will be fine" he assured, but I could tell he was just as worried about the trio.

"They better" I muttered a little aggressively. "Or else I'll have to kick their pretty little asses" I paused. Wait, why do I care? I just met them a week ago. I can't possibly this attached already, that I care about their wellbeing. No way, I only allowed myself to get attached to the Lenox's family, not this little area 51 situation.

Sure, Optimus is nice, and Ratchet always wants to ask me something and he sure seems like he cares. Bumblebee is always up for a game of whatever and Jazz has by far better taste in music than I will ever have. And then there's Ironhide; he has a permanent scowl on his face that only disappears when Annabelle is in the room. He's rude, bossy, amusingly short tempered but he's also kind and amazingly considerate. By definition he's a complete enigma to me.

But no matter how nice they are to me or how interesting. They aren't part of my pack. I'm ninety-nine percent sure that they're aliens. I'm not sure that I can handle having freaking aliens in my pack. The thing most precious in my life right now. I just cant—

"You should trust us more Ren." Ratchet said, snapping me out of my inner monologue. I looked up at him in surprise at how he knew where my thoughts were. And he just watched me expectantly, waiting for me to talk. But instead of talking about it like a normal person, I sighed and shook it off.

"We'll see about that" I basically growled out and walked away to the main house to get my dinner. But something at the back of my head kept nagging me that they wouldn't be alright. They were in danger and I had to find them to make sure that they were okay.

A few days later found me tangled under a heap of hay. The night before during patrol, I had taken to looking for the three idiots who decided to disappear yesterday. I searched the whole territory and even more than just a few miles out of it. I didn't know why I was looking for the three stooges but not being able to sense them nearby had both me and my beast restless. It was ridiculous how frantic I made myself. Running around like a chicken without a head, so embarrassing. I'm just glad that no one saw me collapse on the ground from exhaustion.

I may not want to admit it to myself yet but I do care about those asshole potential aliens. And disappearing on some random 'mission' is not helping me cope with things. If anything it just frustrates me more because I actually care that they're gone and not here safe and sound where they should be. Dammit, no they shouldn't be here they're not mine. Anyway, eventually, I gave up and headed back to the house. I was too tired to keep up the needless search.

And I woke up in a very bad mood. I've established that I'm not a morning person to you guys right? Well I am, and this morning my mood is being driven by my prior collapse last night—which I don't understand by the way, as a demon I'm not supposed to collapse from exhaustion— my annoyance at myself at not finding the three idiots and the fact that I haven't eaten anything that used to be alive in gods know how many hours.

But I shewed away those negative thoughts and fluttered open my eyes. The only good part of waking up in the morning is stretching out my muscles. Its honestly the best part of my day. I didn't allow myself to lay there for long; I'd just pass out again. And I've made a point of being at breakfast everyday no matter how tired I was.

As I sat up I rubbed my eyes of sleep. When I looked around I noticed two things. One: Bumblebee's and Jazz's cars were sitting in their respective spots. Two: Ironhide's truck was nowhere to be seen. And Three: Optimus was in what looked like a deep conversation with two of the for-mentioned men. Yeah I know that that's three things but I noticed that after. I narrowed my eyes at the trio suspiciously and strained my ears to listen to whatever they were talking about. I know ease-dropping is bad but I don't care. I didn't hear much, just the word Ironhide, Barricade and Decepticons, before they noticed I was up and stopped their conversation.

"Good morning Miss Ren." Optimus said with a nod, there wasn't much emotion on his face. This made me frown since he always smiles in the mornings. I narrowed my eyes at him as I hooped down from my 'loft' and walked to the table. Screw brushing my teeth! This is important.

"What's going on?" I said, taking a seat at the head of the table and entwined my fingers in front of me as I stared him down. Game on, bitch.

"Nothing is going on Ren" he started. But I'm in control today. No more keeping my theories to myself and looking the other way dammit.

"Then where's Ironhide?" I asked. "Why do your cars set out weird ass energy and your eyes fucking glow" I said, anger starting to bubble inside me.

"I'm not some lily headed mortal Optimus. I know somethings up and I'll be dammed if I allow anymore of this secrecy to go on in my territory. Especially if said secrecy is putting people in danger. I hate myself for admitting this but I've gotten attached to you. And for some un-fathomable reason my beast considers you all part of my pack— In spite of my resistance— And as Alpha of this pack I have a right to know things" I said while grounding my teeth and fighting back a blush at my declaration. "So spill"

Optimus sighed and sat down at the other end of the table motioning for the other team members to sit. Ratchet appeared with Will from somewhere and they both sat down next to the others. Judging by Will's expression, some shit is about to go down. So I straightened in my seat and ran my eyes over the tense frowning men.

"Ren, the situation is sensitive." Ratchet piped up, gaining my stony gaze. To which he tensed. "We are bound by law not to share any information with any outside source." He said, as if talking to a child. Damn him. I rolled my eyes as his words and groaned in frustration. "And it could endanger you."

"You do realize that I could help you right? I'm immortal, it's not like I would be permanently killed if I knew what it is you are hiding." I tried to negotiate. Receiving only hesitant looks that made me rage inside.

Pursing my lips in thought I spared a glance at the potential alien cars before a thought came to me. "What if I tell you my theories and you just fill in the blanks?" I asked looking back to them. "You won't technically be telling me anything." They all exchanged looks and I saw then they all spaced out like Ironhide does. At this I scoffed ad leaned back into my seat annoyed and more than a little frustrated.

After a few minutes of them being all spacy and me glaring daggers at Will, mostly from boredom— What can I say? I like to watch him squirm— They came back to life a little later. I waited their answer patiently, or as patiently as I could.

Optimus glanced at Will and received a shrug— Some captain that guy is, geez-, then straightened in his seat to face me like a man.

After we stared each other down for a good five minutes he spoke

"Alright, now tell us your theories Miss Ren" I grinned.