Character Rants:

"You still forgot me, Authoress!" Barricade

"Don't worry about Barricade, Authoress." Overseer

"Stop scaring the poor girl! She's working." Destroyer.

"Be quiet so she can work and think!" Optimus. "Stay in my office, Noella. All three of them are arguing now. Ironhide, come in here and watch over Noella. I don't want her involved in that fight."

(Do you honestly think I'm going to win a fight with some Mechs? Heck no!) I began typing...

Thank you for the reviews.

Onwards:

Ironhide goes to pick up Dani after lunch only to discover that she isn't where he left her. Where did Dani go?

Chapter Ten

Regular POV

Ron and Judy invited Dani over to their apartment to introduce Mojo, their small chihuahua. Dani let Mojo smell her before crawling into her lap. He licked her all over the face. Dani rubbed his sides and laughed. Another dog ran over to her and sniffed her. Dani couldn't help but be extremely happy around the dogs. "Mojo and Frank." Ron said.

"I like them!" Dani exclaimed. "A lot! I wonder if Sunstreaker will let me have one."

"Knowing that Mech, he wouldn't." Ron said. "If you're feeling lonely, come down to us and we'll be glad to help you feel less lonely."

"Really?" Dani asked.

"Yes."

"Thanks." I said.

-0-

Ironhide walked over to the dining room and engaged his holo-form. Several of the officers noticed him and asked, "Ironhide? What brings you here?"

"I'm looking for Dani. Have you seen her?"

"Oh-no man! I thought she was with you."

"Slag it!" Ironhide cursed. ::Red Alert. Have you got anything on the whereabouts of Danielle Evans?::

::She's with the Witwicky's.::

::What?::

::She went with the Witwicky's to their apartment.::

Ironhide left the dining room and sped out of the building toward the Witwicky's. The Witwicky's guardian sat in the driveway and Sam standing next to him, talking. Sam froze when he saw the black form of Ironhide. "Oh!" He said, when the truck stopped and transformed. "Where is she?"

"Dani?"

"Yes! Where is she?"

"She's playing with Frank."

"Playing with vermin?"

"They're not vermin, Ironhide. Frank and Mojo's a dog."

"Vermin." Ironhide said. "Rodent infestation! Should get rid of all vermin."

Sam looked at Bumblebee for help. Bumblebee shivered.

"Danielle Evans!" Ironhide bellowed.

-0-

Dani's POV

"Danielle Evans!" I heard Ironhide bellow. I froze and dropped the soggy ball I had been playing with with Frank.

"Come on, Ironhide! She's just playing with Frank." Sam protested.

"What's going on?" I heard Judy ask Sam.

"She is to come with me."

"Ah, let her have fun!" Judy said.

I took Frank into my arms and held him as I left to see what all the commotion was all about. Seeing Ironhide and Judy arguing over about having fun was kind of weird. "Ironhide?" I asked, worriedly. "I'm sorry I worried you. This is Frank! He's so cool! I threw him this ball and he slobbered all over it and gave it back to me..."

Ironhide drew in air through his vents and exhaled. "The next time you wander off, tell one of the Autobots." He said softly.

"Okay. I'm sorry." I said. "Can I stay and play with Frank?"

"Yes." Ironhide said.

"Thanks."

I walked back to the yard with Frank in my arms. I threw the slobbered up ball several times. I heard Ironhide's Alt-Form pull out of the driveway. Sam walked over to me and I said to Sam, "He acts like my Dad!" Sam chuckled. "You're lucky! Ironhide has a soft spot for young people like us."

-0-

Pierce

Pierce awoke to find himself in a different room. He remembered that he was in Sideswipe and Sunstreaker's apartment. He had drifted asleep from sheer exhaustion and pain. Pierce struggled to get out of bed and went to the bathroom. He was glad that Barricade didn't suspect a thing yet. When he left the apartment, he saw Destroyer and Overseer waiting for him.

"You know that was not a very nice thing to do, Youngling." Overseer scolded.

Pierce froze in his tracks at his voice. "Oh-um, s..sorry?" Pierce stammered.

"We've been looking all over the place for you!" Destroyer added. "Now, I don't know how you do things outside this city-"

"Take it easy on the boy." Overseer interrupted. "He's been hurt."

"I know he's been hurt." Destroyer said. "Since Barricade's under house arrest, you will come with us."

"You want me to go back to him? After what he did to Dani's parents?"

"Yes."

"No. I'd rather face my abusive step-father and step-mother than face a murderer."

"Not your choice."

"I can get him for kidnapping me!"

"You went willingly." Destroyer reminded him.

"If I wasn't in pain from several different ribs and bruises, I would've just run away from home."

"With several fractured ribs?" Destroyer shook his head. "You're being foolish!"

Pierce felt himself rethinking his decision and knew he was acting foolish. He couldn't help himself when it came to that. "I just-I don't want to get hurt. He murdered Dani's parents."

"And you think he'll do to the same to you since you've found out." Overseer finished.

Pierce nodded.

"No." Overseer said gently. "He wouldn't dare hurt children."

"Really? Why'd he murder Dani's parents? That hurts!" Pierce said.

"Where on the body does it hurt?" Destroyer asked.

"In the heart. It hurts your heart."

"He means emotionally hurt." Overseer said. "Dani's hurting emotionally not physically like Pierce is."

They were silent for a few minutes before Overseer and Destroyer excused themselves for a moment or two. Pierce walked back into Dani's room and lay down on her bed.

Pierce lay there for a few minutes until a holoform walked into the room. Pierce sat up when he realized who the holoform was. "Barricade!" He gasped.

Barricade crossed his arms and surveyed the look on Pierce's face. Barricade looked angry and his eyes darkened. "What were you thinking?"

Pierce stammered, "T-to g-get a-away from you."

"Why?" Barricade asked.

"B-because I'm scared of you."

"Scared of me? I save you from your stepfather and stepmother." Barricade said. "If not for me, you would've been in that dreadful house with them! You should be grateful."

Pierce felt anger go through him. "I am! More than you know. I'm grateful that you saved me, but you scare me! How do I know you're not going to do the same thing you did with Dani?"

"The issue between Dani and I is between us. It has nothing to do with you."

"It does, too."

"No, it does not. Do not argue, Pierce Antony."

"Or you'll what? You'll hurt me?"

"No. You're not too old to spank."

Pierce faltered. "Y-you w-wouldn't?" He stammered. Fresh memories of that dreaded belt coming from his stepfather brought bad times. His stepfather taunted him if he'd cry. His stepfather would spank him harder with his belt if he shed a tear.

"Yes I would." Barricade said.

Pierce wanted to avoid a spanking and said, "Yes sir. I'll do whatever you want!" Pierce got out of bed and pulled down his pants.

"What are you doing?" Barricade asked in shock.

"You wanted to spank me." Pierce answered. "So let's get it over."

Barricade looked down to see belt marks on his rear. "Absolutely not." Barricade said sharply. "Pull up your jeans! How many secrets are you keeping from me?"

"They don't hurt anymore." Pierce said. "I need a reminder."

Barricade grabbed his hand and caused him to straighten up. Then with one hand, he pulled up the boys' jeans. "You don't need a reminder, Pierce. How many secrets are you keeping from me?"

"I'm not-"

"Yes you are! Tell me how many secrets are you keeping from me, Pierce."

"Just that one!" Pierce protested. "I won't do this again! I promise. I'll stay out of your way!"

Barricade wrapped an arm around Pierce and led him to Destroyer's Alt-Form. Barricade opened the passenger side door and pushed Pierce into the seat. "Take him to my apartment, Destroyer."

Destroyer closed the door and Barricade's holo-form disappeared as he left Sunstreaker's apartment.

Pierce was silent through the short trip. When Overseer and Destroyer pulled into the apartment, Pierce couldn't wait to get out of the car and into his room. Ever since pulling his jeans up, Pierce's butt hurt from those belt welts. He said they didn't hurt anymore, but he lied about them not hurting him anymore. Pierce didn't wait for Barricade, Overseer, or Destroyer to say anything. He went straight to his room and lay on his stomach. He didn't feel like facing them and watched the door.

Pierce heard Overseer and Barricade speaking to each other.

"Barricade. Give him his space. He'll come around sooner or later. He's just scared."

"When is he going to learn how to trust me?"

"When he feels you're not going to hurt him."

"Give him time." Destroyer added. "When he feels scared enough, he'll seek you or us. Just give him time."

Poor Pierce. Please read and review. Reviews spark my creative juices. :) Thanks.