Author's Note: Update time! Woohoo! Thank you to everyone who has left me such nice comments about this story. Your reviews are always appreciated. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Disclaimer: He, who hath ears, let him hear this declaration; I hath no claim over Transformers!

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"Sorry..." Revecca wiped at her eyes and took a step back into her room away from the mech's touch. She slowly turned to make her way back to sit on the edge of the bed. "I'm just...a little out of sorts...right now. It's been an eventful day."

Revecca forced herself to look back up into his optics. She had never in her entire life been so happy and so terrified to see someone all at once. She wanted to run and cling to him but at the same time wanted to turn tail and hide. "It's been a while. Its...good to see you. H-how have you been?"

Ironhide slowly rose to his feet, following her inside the room and kneeling back down in front of her. Although most definitely not emotional by nature, he couldn't put aside the feelings seeing the woman stirred in him after being apart from her. He barely restrained the urge to pluck her up off the bed and hold onto her. "I've missed ya."

The words were laced with a much deeper meaning. She could hear everything those words implied in the tone of voice he used. Revecca closed her eyes and nodded slowly. "I've missed you, too." She hoped he could hear all the things she really meant to say in her response as well.

His spark felt like it swelled in its chamber. That he had even crossed her mind while she was away gave him a sense of validation that his hope that she would some day return to him had not been in vain. Despite the victorious thrumming of his spark, his processor still demanded answers. His optics seemed to cloud over as he looked down upon her. "Revecca?"

"Yes?" She opened her eyes and let them drift upward to meet his optics.

"Why?" His voice crackled with static.

"I..." Revecca had known this question would probably surface if they met again. There were so many contributing factors she wasn't sure she could sort them all out herself. She watched him as he waited patiently for her to continue. "I was scared." That was the simplest answer she could give and more or less summed everything up.

Ironhide cycled air through his vents and frowned. "Of me? I would never-"

"No." Revecca shook her head vehemently. "Not you. Of me." She stood and took a couple of steps toward the crouching mech. She lightly placed her hand on top of one of his that rested on the floor. "My leaving had absolutely nothing to do with you. I can honestly say that. It was about me and my issues. I was putting too much stress on things that, looking back, I now realize shouldn't have mattered."

You..." She removed her hand from his and stretched up onto her tiptoes to touch the bottom part of his face. "You are wonderful...I just didn't realize until it was all said and done...and I apologize from the very bottom of my heart for what happened. If I could take it all back I would. I would have never left." Revecca dropped her hand and turned away from him. Tears were threatening again but at least she had gotten to say her piece. Maybe now, if nothing else, she could at least sleep at night.

Ironhide caught her chin with one large finger and turned her to look at him. He knew the way they parted had been painful for him. Looking at the petite human in front of him, he realized she had suffered just as much as he had. He also realized that despite the time that had passed, he still wanted her. "You're here now..."

The woman looked at him with watery eyes. She couldn't believe it. He was sitting in front of her offering her the very thing she wanted; a second chance. As much as she itched to throw herself on the opportunity, she didn't feel worthy. "Ironhide..." She sucked in a deep breath. "I don't deserve it."

The mech leaned in closer. "What are you talkin' about?"

Revecca smiled bitterly. "If you couldn't tell, I am a complete and total fuck up. My whole life is one giant disaster. I should be surrounded by orange cones and caution tape." She hung her head. "I'm a huge let down. Trust me; you don't want me, Ironhide...I'm not worth the effort."

"That's a bunch of slag. I don't know who put that idea in your head but if ya really believe that I'm gonna make it my job to convince ya otherwise..." Ironhide ran one of his fingers lightly over the side of her face. "Ya need to let me be the judge of what I do and do not want."

Rev lifted her chin slightly to look up at him. "'Hide..."

"I love ya. That hasn't changed." Ironhide looked down upon her with sincere optics. "All I'm askin' ya for is a chance to show ya how much...if you'll have me." He extended a hand to her in hopeful invitation.

His words almost broke her heart. Revecca looked from the outstretched hand up into the face of the mech that hovered above her. Pushing herself up off the bed, she approached the waiting hand, studying the smooth, metallic palm. She skimmed her fingers lightly over one of his. She couldn't deny any longer how badly she wanted this. Being apart from him for so long had only reinforced the knowledge that she needed him. How could she refuse? She looked back up at him and nodded her voice barely a whisper. "Yes..."

Ironhide needed no further encouragement. He gently picked up the woman and lifted her to his chest and cradled her there as he rocked back on his heels to lean against the wall. He let out what sounded like a relieved sigh. "Revecca..."

Revecca snuggled into his chest, amazed at how comfortable it actually was and how familiar it felt. She stretched her arms apart to embrace as much of him as she could. Unable to resist any longer, she pressed her lips to a spot directly over his spark chamber. "I love you, too."

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Jazz pulled his audio away from the door. A huge grin was plastered across his face. "Go, 'Hide. That's what I'm talkin' about. Score one for the Jazzman." The mech made a motion like he was dusting himself off. "My work here is done." Jazz sauntered off toward his own quarters with a little extra bounce in his step.

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The Next Morning

Prowl watched a widely smiling Jazz with a raised optic ridge as he strutted into the rec room and grabbed some energon. His optics narrowed at the mech when he casually plopped down in the seat next to him. "Jazz."

"Mornin', Prowler." Jazz's optics twinkled behind his visor.

Prowl continued to study the mech as he tried to figure out why he was so chipper. "What has you so enthused this morning? What did you get up to last night?"

Jazz shrugged. "Just went to go check in with a friend. Oh, I should probably mention that we have a guest." Jazz checked his internal chronometer. "She had a long night. I may need ta go make sure she's up. She has somewhere important she has ta be in a couple hours." Jazz grinned. "Hopefully 'Hide didn't keep her up too late."

"What?" Prowl looked at the mech in shock. "You didn't."

"Oh, yeah." Jazz nodded proudly. "I did."

"Did what?" Bluestreak looked over from where he was watching cartoons.

Jazz glanced in Blue's direction. "Somethin' that should've been done a long time ago."

Prowl shook his head disapprovingly. "I told you to leave him alone."

"I did leave 'im alone." Jazz crossed his arms.

"You could just be making things worse." Prowl tapped his fingers on the table. "Sometimes its better not to interfere."

"Well, things couldn't keep goin' on the way they were goin'. He was miserable. She didn't look too great either." Jazz shrugged. "I did what needed to be done."

Prowl looked across the table at his friend seriously. "You don't have any idea what that human has been doing while she's been gone. For all you know she could have a mate, or offspring, or Primus knows what else. I want to see my friends happy as much as you do but this could all blow up in your face."

Jazz glared right back. "Y'know what yer problem is, Prowl?"

The mech leaned back and crossed his arms. "I'm sure you're going to tell me..."

The doors to the room slid open and Ironhide ambled in. He glanced around at the assembled mechs before making his way over to grab some energon. "Mornin'"

"Good mornin', 'Hide." Jazz practically beamed at the mech. "So?"

Ironhide slowly made his way over to take a seat. He noted that Jazz seemed to be looking at him expectantly. "What?"

"How's things with you and your friend?" Jazz raised his cube of energon to his mouth and looked at Ironhide over the rim.

Ironhide seemed to consider the question for a moment before sitting his energon aside and looking at the other mech. "Good, I think...really good. We did a lot of talkin'."

Jazz motioned for him to continue. "And?"

"And...We're gonna see what happens." Ironhide's mouth twisted into a lopsided grin. "If everythin' works out, she's gonna plan on stayin'."

"My man!" Jazz slapped Ironhide on the back. "Glad ta see all my hard work wasn't for nothin'. Seriously, man, that's terrific." He shot a victorious glance at Prowl. "See? I told ya!"

"Jazz?" 'Hide looked over at the silver mech. "Thanks."

"Hey," Jazz dismissed his gratitude. "No thanks needed. Its what I do."

"Ahem!" Prowl cleared his vocal processor causing the two mechs to look in his direction. Even he had to admit, the Ironhide sitting in front of him was infinitely better than the brooding one he had been exposed to since making planet fall. "When do we get to meet this human, Ironhide?"

"She should've been in here by now." Ironhide checked the time. "She has to meet with 'er lawyer in an hour." He stood from the table. "Maybe I should go check on 'er." He hadn't taken two steps before the door to the room slid open once again.

Ratchet strode in with a very disgruntled looking young woman perched on one hand. "You're not going to be late, Revecca. I know you're feeling a bit anxious right now, but if you would cooperate we could have already been done."

"Ratchet, I told you...I'm fine." Revecca crossed her arms. "Everything healed up the way it was supposed to. There are perfectly good doctors in Chicago. They took really good care of me..."

The medic huffed in indignation. "Maybe so, but they aren't me." Ratchet brought her up to optic level and fixed her with a look that just dared her to argue with his authority.

"Alright, fine." Rev's shoulders slumped in defeat. "I promise, as soon as I'm done with what I have to do, I'll come back and you can examine whatever you want if it'll make you feel better."

Ratchet considered for a moment. "Fine. You are to come straight back here. I want to make sure you haven't suffered any after effects from your ordeal."

"Straight back." Rev nodded. "I promise."

"Ironhide..." Ratchet handed the woman off to the waiting mech. "I trust I don't have to tell you to take care of her." He lightly tapped the mech on the shoulder before throwing another glance at the human. "I'll see you later."

"Yes, Sir." Revecca sighed in relief as she watched the medic disappear back through the doors and sank back into Ironhide's cupped hand. She tilted her head back to look up at him. "Good morning."

Ironhide looked down at her in amusement. "The Hatchet caught ya?"

"He was waiting right outside the door. He snatched me up as soon as I stepped out." Rev laughed a bit nervously. "I was afraid he was going to take me back to the med bay and put me in quarantine or something."

The mech chuckled. "He'd be welcome to try..."

"Ironhide?"

The mech reluctantly pulled his optics off the woman to discover a crowd had gathered. Prowl stood before him with his arms folded across his chest. Bluestreak had migrated over from where he had been watching television and was fixated on the human in his hand. Even Wheeljack had snuck in from somewhere while he had been distracted by and was peering over his shoulder at their guest.

"Oh, uh...right." 'Hide looked down upon her. "Revecca, this is Prowl. Second only to Prime himself." He inclined his head toward the tactician.

"Ma'am." Prowl gave her a nod. "First and foremost, I'd just like to apologize for the unscrupulous means in which you were brought here. I in no way condone or encourage such conduct. Rest assured that Jazz will not be doing anything of the sort again."

Rev blinked at the mech, a bit concerned for her friend. "He isn't in trouble...is he?" She glanced over at the silver mech. "Jazz, I swear I was just joking about that whole felony kidnapping thing..."

"Eh," Jazz spoke up from where he still lounged and gave her a wink. "Don't worry 'bout me, pretty lady. It was worth it."

Ironhide snorted and turned toward the mech hovering over his shoulder. "This is Wheeljack, best engineer this side of the Universe...for the most part. Just stay clear of his lab...please." The mech put extra stress on the 'stay clear' and 'please' part.

"Oh, okay..." Rev nodded, a bit confused.

"You can call me Jack." The mech extended a finger toward the woman, not offended in the least by Ironhide's subtle comment. "Jazz has told us a lot about you. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

Revecca clasped the finger in both of her hands and shook it. He seemed nice enough. "Nice to meet you."

"And this," Ironhide turned back toward the gray bot who seemed to be eagerly awaiting his introduction since learning they had a guest. "Is Bluestreak."

The bots face plates immediately hitched up into a bright smile. "Hi, Revecca." The mech bent over so he could look her in the eyes without her having to crane her head back. "It's really nice to finally meet you. Ratchet and Jazz told us all about how you helped get him back online. That was a really nice thing you did. Especially for people you didn't really know. I'm sorry you got caught up in the whole mess with the Decepticons. Thank Primus you're alright. Are you going to be staying with us? I know Ironhide, for one would be really happy if you did…"

"Blue," Prowl cut the mech off before he could really get on a roll. "Aren't you supposed to be getting ready to go on patrol?"

"Oh, yeah!" The mech chuckled. "I almost forgot." He shot an apologetic look at Revecca. "Maybe we can talk some more later?"

"Sure...that would be...nice." Rev answered, still a bit bewildered by the talkative mech.

"Great!" The bot gave the woman a quick wave before hurrying off.

Revecca chuckled. "He's very…friendly."

Ironhide nudged her with one finger. "I hate to say it but we need to go if you're gonna be on time to meet with your lawyer. You ready?"

Rev's face fell. "Not really, but I guess it's better to get it over with, right?"

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The trip back into town had been a pleasant one for the most part. Revecca had enjoyed watching the sights roll by as she and Ironhide caught up on what had been going on in each other's lives since they had been apart. At some point during the trip, Rev had found her hand tangled with that of Ironhide's holoform. The reassuring feel of the large hand grasping her own comforted her despite her rising anxiety the closer they got to their destination. Revecca had a hard time letting go when they finally pulled up in front of the lawyer's office.

Ironhide picked up on her apprehension easily. "Look," He squeezed her hand. "Everythin' is gonna be fine." He reached with his other hand to brush hair out of her eyes. "You want me to go with you?"

Rev looked at him wide-eyed. "Would you?"

Holo-Hide looked back at her sincerely and squeezed her hand. "Ya know I would."

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Lawyer's Office

"I want you to understand, Ms. Warren, you do have rights protecting yourself from self-incrimination; however, it does look better if you choose to cooperate. What we need to do is convince the prosecution that the information you have to share is of high enough caliber to warrant granting you immunity. We don't want to help them out and give them ammunition they could use to press charges against you for your involvement later. As I'm sure you're aware, this case has evolved into a federal affair due to matters brought up involving national security and Mr. Cavanaugh's involvement with so-called 'terrorists'. With all the recent focus on homeland security, you could very easily be looking at a maximum time of 15 years in a federal penitentiary if they really wanted to push the matter. The Federal DA is taking this case very seriously."

Revecca blanched as she looked back across the desk at the lawyer. "I'm going to prison…"

Ironhide tightened the arm he had put around her shoulders to comfort her. "You're not goin' to prison." He narrowed his eyes menacingly at the man sitting across from him daring him to argue. "She's not goin' to prison."

"Yes, well…" The lawyer fidgeted a bit. The large, muscular man made him nervous...very nervous. "That's what I'm doing my best to try to prevent, uh..." He tried to refocus on his client and tune out the man's intense gaze. "Now, Ms. Warren, what I need is for you to give me something to bargain with."

Rev cut a nervous glance over to Ironhide and rubbed her sweaty palms against her thighs. "Like what?"

The lawyer looked at her over the rim of his glasses. "When you go home tonight, I want you to sit down and write out your account of everything that has transpired. I want you to start from the first time you laid eyes on Ryan Cavanaugh. I want you to write down every single thing you can remember. I want names, dates, places, all of it. Try to keep it factual. Can you do that for me?"

The woman took a deep breath and blew it out. She nodded slowly. "Yeah...I can do that."

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Meanwhile...Across Town

"What do you mean they've found a witness, you fat fucker? I thought I'd taken care of all that garbage." Ryan Cavanaugh cracked his knuckles as he glared at the man sitting across from him. "Who?"

"Umm..." The nervous man shuffled through his briefcase. "I just came from the courthouse, Mr. Cavanaugh..." He pulled out a stack of papers. "Here it is...They've issued a subpeona for a Ms. Revecca Warren..."

"WHAT?!" Ryan lunged across the desk at the man and grabbed him by the collar. "That bitch is still alive?"

"Apparently so, Mr. Cavanaugh..." The man gulped. "She's been served..."

"That fucking whore." Ryan released his grip on the man and fell back into his chair. "I can't fucking believe this shit..."

The last time Ryan had saw the woman he had been running from a giant metal monster. It had wanted Revecca. He had essentially threw the girl at the thing's feet and took off like a bat out of hell. He had been certain the thing had been intent on killing him. To his utter amazement it completely totaled his beloved car, but it had let him live in the end.

He had hoped Revecca hadn't been as lucky. He had fantasized about her being trampled under the thing's feet like a broken toy. The girl had been nothing but trouble. Oh, she retrieved what he sent her out for like a good little thief, but she had almost single-handedly fucked up the biggest job of his criminal career when she got cold feet. He was lucky the one's that hired him had seemed so desperate. He had never met them face-to-face, but he was under the impression that they were not people you wanted to fuck with.

It was that job that had landed him in this mess...well, that and that damned nightmarish, metal freak. Ryan had been so disturbed by the encounter with the hulking giant that he had, unthinking, gone to the police in near hysteria. That decision would prove to be his downfall. The police had found no sign of the monster he had described and no trace of Revecca. What they did find was a trashed Aston Martin and enough evidence against him to warrant a full-blown investigation.

"I'll be damned if I let that bitch get one over on me." Ryan gripped the armrests of his chair. "I want to know where she is and who she's with...and I want to know now."

End of Chapter 4

I truly apologize for this chapter. I'm sorry, I know some parts are choppy and other parts ramble. I've been (and still am) really ill and was (am) under the influence of Nyquil, decongestants, anti-biotics and other various prescription medications while writing this. I tried to work on it during my more lucid moments, but some of the stuff my doc gave me makes me feel kinda loopy(I've never noticed how truly fascinating a ceiling fan is before)...my room mate thinks its hysterical. I just reread through this and I think it makes sense...then again, I am feeling rather detached from my body at the moment (wheeee!!). Till we meet again!