Chapter 16 Pierce and Dani Sneak Around

Thank you for reading and reviewing the last chapter. In this chapter:

Dani and Pierce sneak into the Brig. Pierce talks with Barricade while Dani

distracts Ironhide with a crazy question. Then Prowl walks in and things go downhill from there.

Chapter Sixteen

Regular POV

Dani left Prowl's apartment after she had been examined remotely. It felt odd being scanned by Prowl's intense scanners. They were almost like Ratchet's. Ratchet's were worse than Prowl's.

Dani heard several voices and wandered over to them. Peering behind an apartment building, she saw Optimus and three other Mechs. Optimus was saying something and Dani wanted to know. She kept out of their optics and heard, "This isn't about Dani! We've got to do something about the 'Con and Pierce! Or do something about the 'Con!"

Optimus said, "No. The 'Con designated as Barricade is my concern and that of Prowl's."

Dani couldn't believe this! Those three Mechs-were talking about getting rid of Barricade! Dani continued to listen to them until one of the three looked at away from Optimus. Dani moved away and leaned against the wall, holding her breath.

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Dani's POV

I didn't want them to see me and this eavesdropping was about to get me into a heap of trouble. Trouble I didn't want! I looked both ways and suddenly, a metal hand slammed down beside me, making me jump and run away from the building. Another hand slammed down in front of me, where I fell backwards into a metal hand. The hand cradled me and drew me out of my hiding space.

"Danielle Evans!" Optimus scolded. "What did-How much did you hear?"

I couldn't bring to myself to talk. Optimus plucked me from the Mech's hand. He walked away from the others. "How much did you hear?" He asked in a low tone.

"About Barricade."

Optimus pinched the bridge of his nose. "You heard about Barricade?" He asked.

"Yes. Sorry! I'll go back to my room."

"No." Optimus said. "You heard something you should not have. I know you didn't mean to eavesdrop on us. But you need to learn that some matters are not for your ears."

I hung my head. "Sorry."

Optimus vented. "Where were you going?"

"To visit Pierce." I said.

Optimus lowered me to the ground and said, "Go on. Run along to Barricade's apartment." I looked shocked before stepping off his hand. I ran away from the Mechs, toward Barricade's apartment. I opened the door to Barricade's apartment and looked into the room. I saw Destroyer sitting with Pierce. "Psst!" I said. Pierce heard and saw me. He got up and whispered to Destroyer something. Then he got up and walked to me. "What's up?"

"Barricade?"

Pierce pushed me out of the apartment and closed the door. "Shh! Not here." He said, urging me away from the apartment. "I don't know where the brig is!"

"Maybe we can sweet talk someone." I said. "I want to talk to him, too."

"I just want to know what kind of a gift he's giving me."

"He's going to give you a surprise?"

"Yes."

"Oh cool!"

Pierce was slow, but I helped him move to a man who was unloading trucks.

"Do you know where I can find Ironhide?" I asked.

"He's in guard duty. Why?"

"We've got a question to ask him."

The soldier pointed to a building behind him. "Through that door and down the hall to the right."

"Thank you." I said.

We left the soldier and we walked through the door indicated by the soldier. I walked into the room and Pierce slowly made his way toward the cells. I found Ironhide sitting there, polishing his guns. "Hey Ironhide." I said.

"Danielle! What are you doing here?" He asked, putting down his small guns.

"I had a question about something and I thought what better way then to ask you?"

"All right. What's your question?"

"Well. I was wondering if Decepticons and Autobots are housed in the same brig."

Ironhide's optic ridges narrowed and moved closer to me. "What are you really here for?"

"Wouldn't it be odd for Autobots and Decepticons to be housed here?" I asked, not really sure if I was asking the right question.

"Yes." Ironhide conceded. "Both factions aren't housed in the same brig. There's two."

"Oh! What about Barricade?"

"Danielle Evans?" Prowl suddenly asked from the doorway.

"Uh-Oh." I said once I realized that I was in deep trouble. "Hi Prowl."

"What are you doing here? You told me that you were heading to Barricade's apartment."

"Yes. Isn't this Barricade's apartment?" I heard a chuckle from the brig's other door.

"That is not the point!" Prowl exclaimed. "The both of you! Come with me!"

"Wait a second! I still have my questions."

"Well. You can ask your questions in your rooms!"

Pierce looked at me and swallowed. "Out."

We left the brig and Prowl transformed into his Alt-form. The both of us slid into his backseat. His holoform appeared in the driver's seat and rolled out toward Barricade's apartment. Destroyer waited at the front door. Pierce got out of the car without another word and went to Destroyer. Destroyer led him inside.

Prowl drove to his apartment and into the garage. "Now, go to your room." He told me.

I got out of his Alt-Form and watched as he changed into his robot form. I opened my mouth to say something, but he crossed his arms and shook his head, "No ifs, and's, or buts. Go to your room."

I hurried to my apartment and closed the door. I sat on the couch, looking at a picture of Mom and Dad. I looked at them and said, "I miss you! I wish you were still here, Mom and Dad. It's so lonely here without you." Then I turned away and lay my head on the couch.

I stretched and got up off the couch. I walked into my room and took off my shoes. I slipped into bed, feeling something wrong. I wasn't sure what I was feeling. I covered myself up in my sheets and blankets. I tried to take a nap, but I ended up shivering whenever I moved around. I also tried to get out of bed, but couldn't as every movement brought me closer to throwing up. I lay on my back with my eyes closed. I still shivered despite my blanket and sheet. Suddenly, I felt very nauseated and flung the sheets and blankets away. I ran to the bathroom and barely made it to the toilet. My lunch came up. I wished I had my Mom there with me to make me feel better. I rinsed my mouth out and went back to bed. I realized I was in my day clothes still. Urging myself to get into pajamas, I found some nice flannel ones. I slipped those on and then got back into bed. I lay down and close my eyes to go to sleep. That's all I want to do! I want to sleep! I still wished for Mom to be out in the living room at a moments notice. Prowl was somewhere in his apartment, in his office, and said he was too busy. Maybe he wasn't even here now. I felt like throwing up again and immediately rushed from my bed to the bathroom. I made it to the toilet in time and emptied my stomach again. I sat there, sweating in my flannels. I wondered if it was a bad idea to dress them in. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my back and it made me feel secured. I turned my head and saw that it wasn't Prowl. It was Ratchet. He had come! The nanites worked! They let him know I was sick. I sat next to the toilet and then spit and sputtered. "Yuck!" I said hoarsely. I heard water being run in the sink and being given something to rinse my mouth out. I flushed the toilet while I rinsed my mouth out. "Thank you." I said, then I noticed Optimus and Prowl standing in my bedroom. Prowl looked concerned. Optimus flipped over the sheets and blankets. Ratchet looked at my flannels and said, "She's got a fever."

"What is it?"

"A twenty four hour virus." He answered. "Her stomach's uneasy and I'm going to give her something for her fever, but we've got to let this virus run its course."

"And why are her gerbils right next to her head?" Optimus asked.

"Don't." I said.

"You're breathing in the sawdust from them." He moved them across the room to the dresser.

I lay back and saw Ratchet's holoform returning with a needle. He rubbed a spot on my left arm and then stuck me. I let out a hiss and then Ratchet left. Optimus and Prowl didn't leave quickly. "I'd advise you to stay with her for the day." Optimus said.

"But-"

"I am giving you the day off, Prowl. She needs your comfort."

"I am busy with my work. You can stay with her."

"That is not what we agreed..."

"If you will not stay with the child, I will." Ratchet put in. "And this is not the place to argue. She is sick with a virus."

"Fine." Prowl said. "I will stay with her."

"Thank you."

"But I am going to bring in my work in here."

Optimus couldn't bring his second to take a break from work. He looked back toward my room. I had fallen into a light sleep.

"Work, but keep an optic sensor on her."

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