Author's Note: Another update??? I can't freakin' believe it! After I posted chapter 5 yesterday, I had a sudden bout of inspiration and had to pound this out really quick. It isn't what I had in mind for chapter 6 but I had to do it...if only to show what desperate measures Ryan is going through to find Rev. Have I mentioned that I hate him??? Lol! See ya at the bottom!

Disclaimer: Nope. Nuff said.

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Downtown

Eddie Howard pulled his aging Oldsmobile Cutlass into the hotel parking lot next to a red Toyota Camry. He cut the engine and climbed out of his vehicle, slamming the door behind him. He gave the Camry a once over and strolled around to take a glimpse at the license plate. Sure enough, it matched the plate number he had gotten from the place at the airport where Revecca Warren had rented it.

Straightening himself, Eddie strolled toward the office trying to look as professional as possible. His years on the police force, before being kicked off after an investigation by Internal Affairs had revealed his less-than-legal side work, had groomed him for situations like these and he relished the chance to play detective again. Just like in the good old days. Just like before he met Ryan Cavanaugh and became tangled in his web.

The bell over the door dinged when Eddie entered causing the clerk to look up from the crossword puzzle he was doing. "Good morning, sir. Are you looking for a room?"

"No. I'm actually looking for a missing person." Eddie approached the counter and reached to pull a photo out of his pocket. He slid it in front of the clerk and tapped it with one, blunt finger. "I was hoping maybe you could help me out."

"A missing person?" That had gotten the clerk's attention. He looked down at the photo. Recognition flashed across his features and he sat the crossword aside. "What makes you think I can help?"

Eddie hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "See that Toyota out there?"

The clerk nodded.

"That's her's." Eddie cocked his head to the side. "She rented it at the airport a couple days ago. I know she's in the area. I just need to find her."

The clerk looked from the car to the man before him a bit uneasily. "Why did you say you were looking for her?"

Eddie ran a hand through his thinning hair. "Her...brother...hired me to find her. She...isn't well and the family is really worried about her. They just want to find her and bring her home safe before anything happens to her."

"She..." The clerk swallowed. "She seemed okay when I spoke to her."

"You spoke to her?" Eddie perked up. "When was this? Is she still here."

"No." The clerk shrugged. "That was a couple days ago. She tried to rent a room but her card was declined. She got upset and left. I haven't seen her since."

"Her car's still here." Eddie eyed the clerk. "You sure she hasn't been back?"

"Positive. I saw her leave with some guy in a Pontiac. Looked like he was having a hard time convincing her to go with him, though." The clerk seemed to think for a moment. His eyes widened. "You don't think something bad happened to her do you?"

"No." Eddie's eye twitched. "I'm sure she's just fine." For now. Eddie leaned across the counter and looked the clerk square in the eye. "Say, does your parking lot have security cameras?"

The clerk nodded. "Sure does."

Eddie leaned in farther toward the man. "Do you think it would be okay if I took a look at the tapes from the passed couple nights?"

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Autobot Base

Revecca lay in the semi-darkness of Ironhide's quarters. The room was silent except for the occasional creak of metal or soft hiss of hydraulics that came from the enormous mass of black metal beneath her. Ironhide had taken her back to his quarters and they had talked until they had both been exhausted. Apparently, she had fallen asleep, still perched on his chest.

It had been a long night...long, but welcome. After having listened to Revecca's confessions in the Rec Room, Ironhide had divulged some of his own personal demons. Revecca had listened quietly as the mech spoke and had gotten the feeling that many of the things he told her, he hadn't shared with anyone else. She felt a small thrill at the thought that he trusted her with some of his more intimate secrets.

They had talked about happier things also. She had shared what life had been like with her father before he had gotten sick. She told him about her real friends and Tisha back in Chicago. He told her what his planet had been like before the war with the Decepticons destroyed it. He told her about his sparkmate, Chromia, and what their life together had been like. It had been a refreshing conversation for the both of them.

Revecca stretched as much as she could with the slumbering mech's hand still draped over her, preventing her from sliding off his chest. She found herself wishing she could stay like this forever, in this room, safe and protected...loved. She wished there was no Ryan Cavanaugh, no lawyers, no impending court case...just the room she was in and Ironhide. What else was there, really?

Beneath her, Revecca felt the mech shift. A lazy groan emitted from the mech's vocals. The hand covering her tightened its grip slightly as Ironhide unshuttered his optics. His optics slowly brightened to their normal blue color as he looked down at her.

"Mornin'." Ironhide ruffled the woman's hair with one finger before carefully lifting her from where she sat.

Revecca took a deep, cleansing breath as the mech gently sat her down onto her berth. "Good morning."

Ironhide maneuvered himself to where he was sitting on the edge of the berth. "Feelin' better today?"

Rev seemed to contemplate the question for a moment before answering. "Yeah." She smiled up at him. "I do."

"Good." Ironhide nodded. "Me, too."

Truthfully, it was the best morning they had both had in quite a while. Still, as Revecca watched the mech haul himself to his feet, the inkling that all was not well again washed over her. The safe, secure feeling she had began to dissapate. She felt herself growing restless, antsy. She needed to get out for a while.

"Hey, 'Hide?"

"Yeah?" Ironhide turned to look at the woman.

Rev carefully stood up on the berth's surface. "Do you think it would be alright if we went out for a while?"

'Hide seemed to consider. "Where do ya want to go?"

"I don't know." Revecca shrugged. "Just out. I just...I need some fresh air, I think."

Ironhide nodded. "I'll meet ya out front."

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"Yeah, that's right." Eddie was talking on his cell phone as he maneuvered his automobile through the morning traffic. "She left with some guy in a silver Solstice." A pause. "No. I couldn't make out who was driving it. I ran the plates through DMV and there was no match." He pulled his car into a McDonald's parking lot and cut the engine. "Uh huh. I understand. Don't worry Mr. Cavanaugh, I'll find her."

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Cavanaugh's Apartment

"Thanks, Eddie." Ryan hung up his phone and took a long drag off his cigarette before smashing it out in the ashtray. The news that Revecca was indeed in town caused a grin to pull at his mouth. Ryan couldn't wait to get his hands on her...maybe finish what he started the last time they were together. One thing he knew for certain, she would think twice before opening her mouth against him by the time he was done with her.

End of Chapter 6

Alrighty, like I said yesterday, I'm open to suggestions for this story if anyone has any ideas. I have a vague idea of where I want this to go but the plot I started out with has kinda deviated and I'm feelin' kinda lost at the moment, lol. Anyways...let me know what ya think. Happy reading!

Voodoo