Hey everyone! Chapter 30! Woot! Thanks again for all the wonderful support and reviews! I love and read every one of them! Hope you all enjoy!
As always, I own nothing!
~Mel

"Bee?"

There was no response.

Alise and Bee were driving back to the Witwicky house after their meeting with Lennox, Epps, and Optimus. After she accepted the job offer of being one of NEST's resident interpreters, she was met with happy responses at her acceptance from the operatives. She was then told that they would be leaving for Diego Garcia on the Wednesday of next week. That meant that in only ten days, she would be leaving South Gate.

Bee didn't speak after they were told this and it was starting to worry her. Was he angry with her? Was he hurt that she was leaving?

"Bee?"

There was still no response.

"Bumblebee!"

This shook Bee of his trance. He was stuck in his own thoughts. When they arrived and Optimus told him that the soldiers were planning on recruiting Alise for a position at the island base, his thoughts immediately turned to the war. He had seen it with his own eyes, its horrors, its turmoil, its nightmares. And when Optimus used the word recruiting, the thoughts of war drowned his mind, only this time they were worse. Because in all those battle scenes, Alise was one of the fighting soldiers, standing on the frontline.

Upon hearing the young bot's horrid and vivid worries, Optimus assured him that this was not the case, that Alise would be staying on the base as an interpreter. Bee immediately felt relief, but he still wanted to hear it from the soldiers themselves. If they had any intention of putting her into battle, he wouldn't let her go. Over his offlined heap of metal. Once again he worries were diminished, but now the fear was taken over by another emotion: sadness.

His Alise would be leaving him in a little more than a week. This gave him only ten more days with her until she would be shipped off and who knows when she would return to him. He wasn't going to lie to himself. If it was up to him, she wouldn't leave his side, not to mention not travel over an ocean without him. But when he saw her excitement at the prospect of working with the soldiers and his comrades, he didn't want to take that away from her for his own sake. He didn't want to dictate her life. That wouldn't make her, her.

"Sor-rry, belle," he responded. "Daz-zed out there."

"Bee," Alise started quietly. "Are you angry at me?"

The seatbelt that was around her already tightened and Bee suddenly hit the brakes of the car. They were a good ways away from anyone else driving in the area, so when Bee started to skid across the road a little before coming to a halt, no one was in their way. Alise let out a small, startled noise and gripped the driver's seat. He stopped in the middle of the deserted road.

"Alise," he said, his voice sounding a little taken back. "You hav-ve done nothing wrong. Why would I ev-ver be angry at you?"

She regained her breath and stayed quiet for a moment.

"Bee... I'm leaving to go off onto an island in the middle of the ocean! I'm leaving Sam and Mikaela and Ron and Judy and... you." She didn't speak for a moment. "I'm gonna miss you."

Bee sighed through the speakers. Hearing those words almost broke his Spark.

"I'm going to mis-ss you t-too, belle," he said softly. Upon hearing this, Alise started to trace the seat with her fingertips. "But-t I would nev-ver be angry ov-ver something you want-ted to do. Why would you t-think that?"

"You just didn't seem to keen on the idea," Alise said quietly.

Another sigh came through the speakers.

"When Op-ptimus-s told me the s-soldiers would be as-sking you to join the bas-se, I thought-t they wanted to s-send you int-to battle," he clarified. "I didn't-t t-take that v-very well."

"Oh, Bee," Alise said softly. "Why would think that? I don't think Lennox and Epps exactly see me as fighting material." She gave a soft laugh and the seatbelt tightened a little more, as if in an embrace.

"I know, but-t it's-s the truth," he said with a gentle chuckle. "I feel-l better knowing you'll be s-staying on bas-se though."

Alise nodded. "Me too, actually."

There was a pause between them for a moment.

"So... ten days."

Bee's engine revved a little in response.

"Looks like we're gonna have to spend more time together," Alise said with a smile.

A laugh came through the speakers of the car and Bee started to drive off.

"'Sounds good to me!'"

Three days after her conversation with Epps and Lennox, Alise was up in her room packing. Using an old suitcase that Mrs. Witwicky had lent her, she started to pack the little clothes she had into it. It was a slow effort, partly because she still had a week left in South Gate and she needed clothes and partly because she wasn't alone very often for the past three days.

Bee and her had been spending every passing minute together, trying to fit as much time together before her departure. It didn't help that Bee was more worried now than previously about her leaving. This was thanks to Mr. Witwicky, who after being told of his new daughter's job, was happy for her, but also started to lecture her about what to do if any of the male soldiers got too close for comfort. To make matters worse, he said this in front of Bee, who upon hearing this, started to chirp wildly and speak in a twisted effort of radio quotes, and Cybertronian. After calming him down, Alise spent the next two hours sitting in his hands as she reassured him that nothing of the sort would be happening on the base, especially with the Autobots and Lennox and Epps on site.

It was about 4 o'clock and Alise was the only one in the house. Mr. and Mrs. Witwicky had gone out to dinner and Sam and Bee had been gone all day and wouldn't be home until a little later. Sam and Mikaela wanted to go to car show down in San Diego and Bee, even though he wouldn't admit it, wanted to go along for the ride. Bee didn't want to leave Alise and they asked her if she wanted to go, but she politely declined and said she would stay back at the house and let them get out for awhile. She didn't mention she wanted to get some packing done.

The house was eerily quiet, but Alise knew she just used to it being full of activity. However, that didn't make it any more comfortable to be in. Suddenly, as if on cue, there was a noise in the room and she jumped. Then she looked over to see that it was only her new cell phone ringing on her dresser. Walking across the room, she picked it up and looked at the caller ID. It read W. Lennox. Smiling, she answered.

"Hello?"

"Hey Lise, how's it going?" Lennox asked. Then there was another voice on the line.

"Hey girl!" Epps said next. "Hope you don't mind you're on speaker." Alise laughed.

"No problem," she answered. "Everything's good over here. Bee and Sam are out of town for the day and I'm home alone. What's up?"

"We're heading down your way again," Lennox said. "Before we can officially sign you on as the base's interpreter, we need copies of your college documents. We believe you and all, but they need proof higher up on the chain of command."

"Yeah, just to make sure you're not scamming us or anything," Epps said with a laugh. "They're very sensitive with that stuff. We even commandeered Ironhide for the trip."

"Commandeered," a gruff voice scoffed. It was Ironhide. "You didn't commandeer anything. I volunteered." The two soldiers broke out in laughter over the phone line.

"Whatever, 'Hide," Epps said. "We're driving, aren't we?"

There was a growl followed by more laughter. However, on the opposite side of the line, there was still no response from Alise. Because on the other line, Alise's heart had stopped.

"Lise?" Lennox asked, noticing her silence. "Lise is everything alright?"

"Will..." she quietly responded. "All my papers... they're in Arizona."

No one spoke. There were a few moments of pure silence.

"Lise..." Lennox started to say, his voice slightly worried, but mostly sympathetic. "Damn, I don't know-"

"Then why don't we go get them?" Epps interjected. His voice was determined, wanting to accept the challenge. He spoke as if it was the simplest solution in the world. Lennox paused.

"Epps, that may not be the best idea..."

"And why not?" Ironhide said roughly. "I do not care what the little ball of flesh said to her! It is her home! It cannot just decide that she is no longer welcome there!"

"I'm with Hide on this one, Will," Epps agreed. "I say we go."

Lennox was silent on the line for a moment, contemplating the words of his comrades. But as he began to take in their words, he realized they were right. There was nothing the young man could legally do to keep her away from her own home without a cause or did he have any right to.

"Yeah," he said. "You're right. We should go." There was a silence. "Lise? What do you think?"

She was quiet for a moment. Go back to Arizona? It'd give her the chance to pick up some of her stuff, some clothes and pictures she'd been missing. She could also pick up some other important items like her passport and her certificates. But there was also the chance of them running into someone from town or even worse, Sal. And yet, she wasn't very afraid of that idea. She would be with Lennox, Epps, and Ironhide. A small troop of train fighters wouldn't be able to get to her, much less Sal of all people.

"It's almost a six hour drive, guys," Alise said.

"Well, none of us are expected back until late tomorrow," Epps said, and Alise knew there was a smirk on his face.

It was too opportune. Everything was in the right place, she realized. So she was quiet for a moment before answering.

"Okay," she said. "Let's do it."

There was a chorus of applause on the other line.

"Great," Epps said happily. "We're five minutes away. We'll honk when we're outside."

Ironhide's loud, rough voice filled the phone. "I will do no such thin-!" Before he finished the phone line was cut off.

Alise spared herself one nervous laugh before springing into action. Quickly snapping the phone closed and sliding the phone in her pocket, she ran downstairs and grabbed her new purse, checking inside to make certain there was some money inside. Seeing so, quickly grabbed a pen and paper and wrote the older Witwickys a note saying she wouldn't be home until late, just in case they got home before Bee and Sam. She was going to call the two, but not until they had put a few miles between them and South Gate. She knew Bee would never approve of her going within a hundred miles of her home town. Lastly taking a key to the house and her coat, she locked the door and closed it behind her, racing into the night air.

The Topkick was just pulling up as she was closing the door. She quickened her pace out to the massive vehicle and the door opened to her before she reached it. Inside was revealed to be Epps sitting in the driver's seat and Lennox sitting in the back. Epps smiled and leaned across the seat towards her, offering her his hand.

"Need a lift?" he asked her, smiling. She laughed as she grabbed his hand and was grateful when he helped heave her up in the cabin, knowing she'd have much difficulty on her own. She landed on the seat with a thud.

"Watch the upholstery," a voice sounded through the speakers. She rolled her eyes and laughed.

"Nice to see you too, 'Hide," she replied. Then came a grunt. Lennox and Epps laughed.

"You sure you want to do this, Lise?" Lennox asked from behind.

She nodded her head.

"I'm positive."

"Lise. You've been staring at that phone for the last ten minutes. Call him, or I will for you."

Alise let out a sigh. They had been on the road for about fifteen minutes now, Ironhide driving way over the speed limit and much too recklessly for Alise's liking, but she wasn't in much of a position to complain. They were at least seven miles out of the city and she had been putting off calling Bee and Sam for a bit, even though she knew they wouldn't be due back home for an hour or two. As childish as it sounded, she wanted a good head start. She knew Bee was fully capable and willing to catch up with them and take her back if he wanted too. But she needed to do this.

She knew that they still wouldn't be close to home yet and that was the only thing keeping her from waiting a bit longer.

"I just don't want him to worry," she said to Lennox.

"He is going to worry regardless of the time in which you place the call," Ironhide said. "Tell him sooner rather than later."

"'Hide, he's going to be angry with me," Alise said, her tone a mixture of nervousness and regret.

"No, he won't," he answered her. "If anything he'll be angry with me for taking you here. But he won't be angry with you. He cares for you too much."

Alise felt a slight blush enter her face and she smiled lightly. 'Hide's words soothed her worries a little.

"I don't him to be mad at you either."

Ironhide chuckled. "I can handle him. He'll get over it when we bring you back in one piece."

Alise took in a breath of air. "Okay." She then started to dial Sam's number and then hit the call button. After three rings, a voice picked up.

"Hello?" it answered. It was Sam.

"Hey, Sam," Alise said timidly.

"Hey, Lise!" he responded. She heard another, softer 'Hey, Lise!' in the background from who she assumed was Mikaela. She also heard an elated chirp from Bee. She bit her lip. "What's up?"

"Umm," she started, and she paused for a moment. "I'm not going to be home when you guys get back."

"Oh, okay," Sam replied, not seeming to notice her hesitation. "Where're you heading?"

"Well, I'm with Lennox, Epps, and Ironhide..." She didn't continue, not knowing how.

"...Oh?" Sam sounded confused now. "What're they doing there?" Alise heard another chirp in the background, and this time it sounded tense.

"Well... we're going on a little road trip..."

"A road trip..."

"Yep."

"Really."

"Absolutely."

"To where exactly?"

Alise paused.

"Alise. To where exactly?"

She swallowed before answering, and then spoke, he voice sounding more like a question than an answer.

"Arizona?"

Sam didn't speak at first. Then, he suddenly erupted.

"ARIZONA?" he yelled. "Alise! Do you have a death wish? Are you cra-"

Sam was cut off, and another voice entered the phone line, making Alise jump.

"Alise! What in the pit are you doing!" it yelled, a twinge of panic present in it. Alise was stunned for a moment at the startling appearance, but then she realized whose voice it was.

"Bee?" she responded, shocked. "Are you on the phone?" She shook her head as if trying to process this. "And why does your voice sound different?" That was true. He wasn't speaking with any difficulty and nothing was scratchy.

"I'm tapping into the phone's frequencies," he explained quickly. "I'm transmitting, not talking. But that doesn't matter. Alise. What are you doing?" His voice was hard and tense. He was angry.

"Bee," she said softly, trying to get him to calm down. "We need to go and get my college papers. If we don't, I can't get into NEST."

"Then you should have waited for me!" he yelled. "I can't protect you if you're four hundred miles away! And if they see you, they will hurt you. Or worse!" His voice raised an octave and it made Alise cringe. She could tell how worried he was.

"Bee, I will be fine. I'm with Ironhide, Lennox, and Epps. Any one with half a brain wouldn't dare come after me while I'm being accompanied by two military personnel and a freakin' scary ass robot!"

There was a gruff chuckle that surrounded the occupants of the vehicle.

"Thanks," Ironhide said smugly.

Alise glared at him in the rearview mirror.

Bee didn't continue, but she could almost feel the fumes coming off of him.

"We're not looking for trouble, Bee," she said softly.

"But it always seems to find you, anyway," he said, frustrated.

"Bee, please. We need to do this. By the time we get there, it will be dark out and no one will see us. We'll slip in, grab what we need, and get out. Nothing's going to happen."

Bee growled. "I don't like this, Alise. Not at all."

"Bee, if there was any other way we wouldn't be doing this."

He made a deep sigh. "If anything, anything at all happens-"

"Don't worry, Bee," she said again gently. "I'll be okay."

"Stay safe."

"I will. I'll call when we get there."

"Okay."

"Bye, Bee."

He sighed. "Goodbye, belle."

She gently snapped the phone close. She hated to make him worry so much, but she knew they needed to go. She turned towards Epps next to her.

"We all good?" he asked her.

"Yeah, I think we're good," she said. "I thought it would be wors-"

She was cut off by a deep grunt. It took her a moment to realize it was from Ironhide. It wasn't the normal noise he made, though. This one was a combination of annoyance and pain.

"'Hide what's wrong?" Alise asked him. She then noticed a little blue light on the stereo system on. She believed she knew what this meant. It was the comm-link. She had a feeling she knew who was talking with him.

"Ugh," he sounded before answering. "Your little boyfriend is chewing me out for taking you." He sighed roughly. "I should probably be expecting this for the next few hours. He's already giving me a headache."

Lennox and Epps started to laugh at the bot's expense and Alise gave a gentle smile.

"Oh, Bee."