Smoke and Mirrors, Secrets and Lies Chapter 10, a transformers/beast wars fanfic

They had talked for hours. Lennox had answered what questions he could. And Bella had asked a lot of questions. She had also answered his own. About her school life, friends, boyfriends, Sarah. Everything.

Yes, she was at the U in Lincoln. She was studying journalism and media, which was a wide and interesting field.

Yes, she lots of friends, but no, no boyfriend. Boys somehow didn't manage to keep up with her. And she had been dumped three times already, dumping the fourth one herself.

And her Mom was the biggest pain in the butt sometimes. She loved her very much, but Sarah Sheppard was a nag, a mother-hen, someone who wanted to know everything there was about her 'little girl'. Bella knew her mother had had a hard time with her throughout puberty and wasn't happy about her choice of universities or future plans. They had made their peace when Bella had left LA for Lincoln, but it wasn't a complete acceptance.

She finally fell asleep in the wee hours of the next morning and Will regarded her with mixed emotions.

His daughter was back in his life. He had missed out on more than fifteen years of her growing up and he needed time to catch up on that. There was still an awkwardness between them that told the hybrid that he wouldn't slip into the role of a father ever again. A friend maybe. A freaky, rune-covered friend who happened to be her biological father.

Ironhide had kept back, watching, waiting, and always close at hand. Now he opened a door for Will to climb in. Lennox slipped into the darkened cab and leaned back, closing his eyes with a soft sigh. They didn't talk and they didn't really need to. Ironhide could very well read the runes – those not in ancient Cybertronian – and he had been close to this particular human long enough to actually read his body language.

Finally Will opened his eyes, a tiny blue pinprick of light speaking of his still residing agitation.

"She's back, Hide. She's back and she's in my life again."

"But Sarah isn't."

The human smiled a little. "No. She can't. I don't want her that way back in my life anyway. Jealous?"

"Why would I be?"

The holoform coalesced and the bright blue optic-like eyes regarded him out of the black, featureless face. The hardlight form reached out and traced the runes stationary around Will's wrist. Ironhide's name.

Lennox nodded. He turned his hands to clasp the black hand, pulling the solid holoform close. The runes delighted, rushing to the point of contact. Lennox smiled a little.

"I haven't explained that to her yet."

"Me?"

"Yes."

"You have a lot of past to catch up on. I think she can go without knowing about this tidbit for a while."

Will chuckled. "Yeah. At least until she might ask the right questions."

"Would she?"

"I'm just about getting to know her. She is… a lot like Sarah, but not completely."

"She is your daughter, too."

Lennox nodded. "And I've got her back."

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Ratchet tsked softly to himself as he examined his latest patient. Drift was a tense, coiled spring of barely restrained instinct. The Decepticon truly didn't want him poking around and he was making it clear with every move or gesture. The human who had accompanied the Decepticon everywhere was in the medical area as well, glaring at Ratchet the whole time.

"I'm not going to hurt you," the medic repeated once more.

"Yeah, right," Raoul muttered.

Ratchet gave him a scowl. "I'm a medical officer." He looked at Drift. "You should know better than him. We were neutrals, too."

"Now you're an Autobot."

"It was my choice," Ratchet told him, not ashamed. "Medics tried to remain neutral, but the factions needed us and so decisions were made. I lost colleagues to the Decepticons. Sadly, they were turned more into warriors. I haven't met a Decepticon medic who wouldn't sooner kill you than help you if you're an Autobot. Or generally not a Decepticon."

Drift's optics dimmed. "Yeah."

"But I'm not like them," Ratchet repeated. "My first priority is to help. And you need help. You're not in the best of shapes."

"I made do."

"With what?"

Raoul shot him a scathing look and Ratchet was quietly amused. "With me, you pompous lugnut! I helped him. He trusted me to repair what I could. I left my hands off the really intimate bits and I'm no programmer. But he's alive and he's able to kick your asses!"

Ratchet's amusement rose. He noted how Drift shot his human friend a warning look.

"What?" Raoul demanded, apparently well able to read such looks. "It's the truth! I'm a mechanic. You taught me what to do. You're still around!"

Drift managed a smile.

"I didn't mean to imply that your work was bad," Ratchet told the human.

"No, you just said it sucked. And since Drift's the enemy, you don't mind it sucking."

Ratchet huffed in annoyance. "I won't get into an argument with you about my ethics. Suffice to say I never turned away from a mech in need, whatever his faction." He frowned at Raoul. "Optimus gave you his word that nothing will happen to your friend."

"I trust the Prime," Drift agreed.

Ratchet nodded. "Good. Now that that's cleared, can we continue?"

"You mean before Drifter's falling apart?" Raoul mumbled rebelliously.

"Raoul," Drift chided. "I'm fine and Ratchet can appreciate what you did to help me."

Ratchet shot the Decepticon a surprised look, but he didn't comment. He simply kept scanning, poking and prodding, then drew up his work plan. There was a lot to do. It didn't help that the human didn't budge from Drift's side, but Ratchet had worked with hovering friends before. He could do so again.

Bella had woken up alone and the clock on the night stand of the guest quarters told her it was only 4 a.m. Still, she felt wide awake. She showered, dressed, then ventured outside. The base was terrifyingly big and she was glad the human area was marked in color codes. A helpful soldier accompanied her to the mess where she got an early breakfast.

Of her father there was no sign.

At least until she had her third cup of coffee. He joined her with a smile, looking as nervous as she felt.

She was still amazed that he hadn't aged. He looked like the man in the baby pictures of her. Well, aside from the runes, and those she found… really cool.

He got himself a coffee and stirred it slowly. "Slept well?"

"Yes. I just couldn't sleep any longer. I think my inner clock is screwed."

He smiled. Bella had no idea whether to call him 'dad' or 'father' or something else. They hadn't touched that topic last night. But they had talked about so much other things.

"This is so weird," she finally said. "What do I call you?"

He smiled slightly. "Your choice. Eric is your step-dad."

"I call him Eric."

"I never was your Dad, Bella."

"You were. For six years. But wouldn't it be weird? I mean, you're… young!"

He laughed. "Yeah. Curse of the changes."

And there were so many. Bella knew he hadn't told her everything. There would be more to understand, more to see.

"So I call you… Dad?"

"If you like. And if you can work it into your life. Bella, all of this is a secret. Me especially. If you slip when talking to your mother…"

She sighed. "Yeah. It's just strange to call you Will."

He shrugged. "Might be the best compromise."

"Unless we find something else."

Will hesitated, then shook his head.

"Okay. Will it is." She finished her coffee, debated whether to drink a fourth cup, then decided against it. She would be jittery for the rest of the day. Bella studied the man opposite her. "So, what else is different about you?"

Will smiled. "A lot."

"Shock me."

He chuckled. "How much?"

"Everything. Will, I want to know. I missed out on you and now you're here, alive, and I want to know what happened. More than the accident and the runes. You can do more, right? I mean, I see how some treat you. You're not their commander, but then again you are."

He nodded, gazing into his empty cup. "A lot changed. More than just a skin problem."

She looked at the runes again, endlessly fascinated by them. They had talked about this extensively yesterday and her mind was still reeling from it. She knew what had happened in Mission City, what had occurred afterwards, what had happened to her father.

"Let's go somewhere more private," he said and rose. "Everyone here knows, but I'm not an exhibitionist."

She raised her eyebrows, but she followed him.

An hour later she understood.

An hour later she was drawn between horror, fascination and disbelief as she looked at the dark bronze and burned golden skin color; the Allspark skin.

An hour later she knew that this was just the tip of a fathomless iceberg.

And she knew she wouldn't be able to turn away from it. Ever.

tbc...