Walk The Line

'… I'm coming.'

Amanda stopped in mid strike before looking around. "Jazz, you say something?"

:Nah. Why…: There was a pause as if he knew something was up and it itched at Amanda's mind. :…did ya hear somethin`?: He asked carefully.

"Must have been my imagination." She mumbled rubbing the spot on her chest above where his spark and her heart sat. It was aching again. Amanda turned back to her work out.

Glyph sat on the canvas still fiddling with the laptop. His blue optics scanning the screen would occasionally look up following the sounds of something being hit to Amanda. Her hands were bound in black cotton wraps as she worked out with the heavy bag. Her punches fell on the beat of the music playing low. It was still enough to chase the silence from the room.

He watched her movements with a low trill. They were fast. She would duck in strike three or four times then dip back out - away from the invisible arms, out of her opponents reach. He could still see her breathing was even and her eyes focused. Standing the little mech crept a little closer to watch her strike. She would bring one fist forward twisting it out then quickly bring her other forward keeping the bag pushed back.

Quietly he trilled copying her stance. Knees slightly bent. Check. One foot in front of the other. Check. Hands up blocking face. Check. Glyph tried to strikeout like she did but he lost his balance and met the canvas. Growling he got up reset his position and tried again. And again he met the mat.

:Amanda look.:

Shivering from how close Jazz felt she put her hands down. Taking a steady breath Amanda snagged the towel on the ground and wiped at the sweat on her face and body.

"Where?"

:The ring.:

She ruffed the towel over her head drying out some of her hair before turning towards the ring. Glyph was trying to…well she wasn't quite sure as she watched him stand up. He stood setting up a stance that caused her to tip her head in confusion.

"What in piss is that mech doing?" She grumbled going back to toweling off the sweat.

:He's been watching you work out.: Her hands paused. :I think he is trying to imitate you.:

She pulled the fabric over her head one last time before pulling her hair back in a ponytail. Amanda watched the little mech. She could recognize some of her combos when he wasn't stumbling over his own peds. Sighing Amanda slung the towel over her shoulder and headed towards the ring. She was almost upon Glyph when he noticed her. He let out a startled trill and stumbled before looked up at the human. Amanda rolled her eyes at the sound of Jazz laughing.

"Is my computer fixed?" She grouched out. He shook his helm violently and made a quick dash to the laptop. Amanda leaned against the canvas watching Glyph work. She watched him for several minutes before crossing her arms over her chest. "Can you even fix it?" He looked at her optics wide. "Perfect."

She had given him three days to work on it. To fix what he had broken but he couldn't. In that time she had tried to find work; legal work. She came up empty handed.

Amanda wandered into the office. She looked down at the broken edge of the desk. It wasn't like she didn't try to get a legal job again. She had tried and tried and tried but once someone got a look at her record they shot her down. Her hand drifted to the white business card Chris had left her. Turing over in her fingers she tried to decide the best course before leaning over and picking up the phone.

Glyph had watched her enter the office and trilled sadly. He wanted to make her proud, make her see he wasn't just trouble. She had been upset with him about the laptop but she never did anything more than grumble at him after the first day. She didn't yell. She would sigh and look at him with something he wasn't sure what to call it. It seemed that she didn't know what to make of the little bot.

"Glyph!" She called from the other room. He stood quickly making his way towards her voice. Amanda came out of the office to meet him. "We are going to make a run to the library then meet up with Chris, wanna go?" She asked.

He trilled happily and ran to get something.

:I think ya made his day.:

Amanda snorted before she made her way up the stairs to her room and changed clothes. It took only a few minutes before she was back down the steps to see Glyph sitting on the canvas holding a black and red duffle bag. It was the same one she had found him in. She sighed at the sight of it.

"So I'm carrying you in that?" He nodded and she sighed. "Alright hop in." Glyph scrambled for the laptop and held it up. He glanced around the side of it at Amanda. "Sure bring it along but you have to stay quiet, got it!?" She snapped. He nodded and made himself comfortable in the duffle bag. Amanda looped the strap over her head and rested a hand on the bag before making her way towards the door and outside.

The city was still a jumble of confusion and construction. People were talking about what happened or at least what the government said happened; a terrorist attack, another American Tragedy. Amanda snorted and shook her head pressing her back further into the metal wall of the bus. She kept a hand on the duffle worried someone might find the little mech inside.

:Why did ya bring him?: Jazz could feel the nervousness in her; feel her heart thudding against her chest. He could feel the reactions in her but not what way on her mind. Yet he had a good idea.

"I…I…" Amanda really didn't have a good reason besides wanting to keep Glyph close. "I just couldn't leave him home. What if Papa found him?"

:Really?:

"Yes." She answered in a tone that said it was final.

Jazz couldn't exactly see her but it was if her body was his. He could feel her fingers twitching and the nervous buzz of energy that had her on edge every time someone went near the duffle bag; near Glyph. He grinned to himself.

"What?" Amanda asked low as to avoid stares from those around her. She had felt his wave of happiness.

:Nothing.: He answered in a playful tone.

She narrowed her eyes. The urge to throttle the mech was growing in her head but she only sighed. "Whatever." Amanda ground out as the bus jerked to a stop. She fumbled a few steps before righting herself and heading towards the side door. Stepping down on to the street she pulled the duffle closer to her body feeling Glyph move slightly in the bag. The building before her was small and still in pristine condition for a dying form of research.

Several different faded colors of what had once been red siding clashed with the forgotten green railing that wobbled when touched. Several windows were cracked and most were dusty. The building tipped slightly to the right. Perfect condition for something nearly forgotten.

:At least the battle didn't touch it.:

"It might have looked better if it had." She mumbled walking up the chipped stone steps. The brass handle was warm in her hand as the old wooden door gave way. The smell of books and cool air filled her senses as she entered the building. A hook nosed crone behind the counter glared down through her red rimmed glasses at Amanda. The woman was studying her.

:Creepy.:

"And I thought she was ancient when I was a kid."

"Callahan." The woman nodded before averting her attention back to her book.

:They know you by name here?:

"I spent a lot of time here before…" Amanda paused to look around then turned towards the worn out desk and chairs. "…before everything went to shit."

:In a library?:

"I wasn't always a rebellious hot-tempered delinquent, you know." She answered a little disappointed that he couldn't see her in a library. Sitting down at a computer she put the duffle bag by her side and opened the internet browser.

Glyph pulled back the zipper slightly and looked up at the human. She was talking that Jazz again. He could never hear the other person she was talking too but he could sense a second energy when around her. The little mech watched as she typed away at the keyboard. He pulled himself out of the bag.

Amanda lifted her head from the computer screen a few minutes after sitting down. She thought she had heard something. She glanced around checking for any one near her. Turning her attention back to the screen she wrote down the number and went to pick up her duffle. Stopping short she stared at the open flap. Amanda closed her eyes and sighed pinching the bridge of her nose.

"Really, he couldn't sit still for a few minutes." Amanda asked standing up. She shouldered the bag and scanned the area. "Where would he go?" Her fingers twitched as she started to look for the little mech.

:Don't worry kid we'll find him.: Jazz said trying to smooth out her emotions.

"I'm not worried." She snapped peering down an aisle. "I'm gonna kill him." Her twitching fingers had switched to clenched fists. Her mind was a buzz. Why did he wander off? Didn't he know what could happen if someone else found him? They could… An image of medical equipment and Glyph being taken apart flashed through her mind. A chill shot through her.

"Fuck." She snapped before yelling. "Glyph!"

There was a trill and Amanda jerked her head towards the sound. She dropped her duffle and sprinted towards the familiar noise. She round a bookcase to see Glyph running her way holding several books. He stopped the moment she came into view. Grabbing the little mech she lifted him off the floor.

"What is wrong with you? I said to stay quiet and stay in the duffle." She growled low glaring at him. The bot let out a small series of clicks before pointing at the books. Amanda glanced down to see computer repair books and a few random others. "Glyph, you could have waited or asked. Jazz would have translated for me. You can't just go running off like that." She said bending to pick up the books.

:Not worried, hum?:

"Jazz I swear if there was a way to shut you up I would do it." Was Amanda's answer to Jazz's laughter. She put Glyph down near the duffle. Snapping her fingers she pointed at the bag. "Get in and I'll sign out these books."

Amanda entered the hotel heading towards the bar. She spotted Chris already sitting at the bar. He was dressed differently than the first time. In nice tailored suit he looked like a responsible man; someone that had a home, a wife, kids, a real job. She sighed and walked towards him. "Hey Chris."

"Amanda." He said spinning off his bar stool in a moment to wrap his arms around her. She froze up as he pulled her to a stool. "Relax, babe. I got your back."

Amanda did just that. She relaxed with laugh and a small grin after putting her duffle on the ground. Leaning forward she propped herself up on one elbow looking at her oldest friend. "So what's going down?"

Chris smiled his blue eyes sparkling. "Your first fight will be tomorrow with a 60/40 split for the first three then we switch. I already paid you entrance fee."

"Entrance fee? When did that start?" She asked as a pretty bartender quickly sat down her drink and hurried off.

"We're in the big leagues now." He said letting his hand drift down to her waist. "Got to give a little to get ahead."

"I guess. Tomorrow's a little soon, isn't it?" The duffle bag moved and Amanda put her foot on it keeping it still which caused her to move away from him. Chris looked down at the bag for a moment then back up at her.

"For anyone else I would say yes but you babe…" He ran a hand back up to trace her jaw. "…you're always ready." Amanda nodded and leaned closer. It felt right to be back beside Chris. It was almost like nothing was different.

:Hey, still here!: Jazz piped in and Amanda jerked away. Almost. Chris looked at her confused as a fine blush spread across her face.

"Sorry. I just remembered something important. So where is this taking place?" She asked putting more distance between them.

"You meet me here and I'll take you to the spot."

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "There isn't a permeant spot yet?"

"There is, just at least six different rings in just as many locations. We'll meet here and go."

:Amanda that doesn't sound safe.:

"It'll be fine, Jazz." She said low.

"What?" Chris asked looking at her with interest.

"Nothing." She said with a small smile.

He laughed lightly and leaned in lightly touching her lips. "I'll see you at 9pm tomorrow." Chris added before rising to his feet and heading out the door.

A/N: Hi everybody! I am actually back on time as I said during out last sit down. I want to thank everyone for being so understanding of my laptop failing me but it's fixed! We should be getting chapters out once a week from now on. If you have any questions feel free to ask and I will answer if it doesn't expose too much of the story. Good Reading!

Thanks to the following reviewers; (Again thank you all for the reviews and I think I got everyone.)

redsparrow1060

Jimmy 144

SaahaPayne56

Mars.

SunnySides

Dark Cat Food Lover

Pikahopp

Luna Uchiha666

Bliss123

The Fox Familiar (yeah I am trying to improve my dialogue, Sorry)

Steel autobot

Bee4ever

NixiePixieStix

Shimmer Mane (Yeah I think Jacky got a hold of my laptop. Lol )

.Singer

ZabuzasGirl

KayleeChiara

mezzieb1

Z0mbieMart

Moonbeamluver

amberree69 (there would have been more but the story isn't focused around those events. What happened directly after Mission City and some Sector Seven Classifieds are side projects I'm working on.)

Lil-B-Rebel

riverclanwindclan

Chitsuki-Tokiwa

shaddowdarkcloud

Autobot Princess Arcee (Thanks me too!)

ShiftFrame (working on it)

Bee4ever

Bliss123

Jimmy10.0

Pikahopp

Dark Cat Food Lover

SunstreakersSquishy2.0