Chapter 3: "Being Human"

The sound of rain could be heard through the walls of the large building that Jackie lived in. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Shaking her head Jackie laughed playfully.

"So much for this being desert country."

Jackie's keys jingled as she unlocked the door. She shoved it open carrying groceries in her hand that she HAD been purchasing at the time when she saw Optimus in the busy intersection. She had offered him a place to sleep for the night but was going to be damned if he didn't at least earn his keep while he was here. On that note, he too was cautiously carrying a bag full of groceries as well.

As she opened the door a unique aroma wafted the air as Optimus entered the small apartment behind Jackie. The television was on with a young boy playing video games.

The apartment was small but sufficient.

The immediate room they entered was what Optimus guessed was what humans called a 'living-room'. Farther in through an open doorway was a kitchen in which an older woman was working with her back to him and Jackie. Next to that was a hallway in which Optimus guessed the bedrooms were located, then just off to the right of the living room was a door. To what that room was Optimus couldn't tell.

Sitting on the rug in front of the television set was a very young girl playing will dolls and other small toys.

She stared up blankly at Optimus and stopped playing…as did the boy on the couch.

Jackie moved past Optimus carrying the groceries and entered the kitchen and was immediately greeted by the elderly woman.

"Jacklyn! I was wondering when you were coming home. What happened did you get caught up in traffic again?"

Shrugging and smiling sheepishly, Jackie indiscreetly motioned toward Optimus. "Well, you could say that."

The woman looked over only to meet Optimus gaze. She gasped. "Oh."

Jackie nodded smiling. "Yep."

Slowly, the woman watched Optimus as she grabbed Jackie's arm. "Jackie, may I speak with you privately?"

Jackie nodded and followed the woman into the first room in the hallway.

For a good fifteen minutes Optimus just stood there on the welcome mat in the living room holding a bag of groceries being stared down by two human children. Optimus could feel the pressure but remained silent.

Shortly later Jackie and the woman came out of the room whispering. They then nodded to one another and the woman approached. She stopped by Optimus…looked him over and then slowly slipped past him out the door only to stop half way and then yell through the door. "Goodnight Cole! Goodnight Kira!"

The two children then yelled back together. "Goodnight Mrs. Johnson."

The women then disappeared through the door thus closing it behind her. Jackie watched her leave and then walked over to Optimus taking the bags from him and walking away to the kitchen. She placed the bag on the counter then walked out wiping her hands on her uniform.

"Cole, can you turn off your game and Kira can you put your toys away? I have someone I want you to meet."

The children cautiously rose from where they were and did as they were told. After done they stood by Jackie quietly.

Gently putting her arm around the boy and taking the little girl's hand in hers, she smiled. "Optimus, these are my children, my eight year old son Cole and my four year old daughter Kira."

Smiling gently, Optimus nodded. Looking at her kids Jackie spoke softly. "Guys, this is my friend Optimus. He's going to be staying with us tonight, okay?"

In a sweet high pitched voice which you'd expect from such a young child, the little girl whined. "Mommy, why is he wearing cowboy boots? Don't cowboys wear cowboy boots?"

With a quick glance Optimus stared down at the leather boots that covered his feet. Jackie just laughed softly as she swept the child into her arms. "Well, maybe he is a cowboy and you just don't know it."

Grinning the little girl shook her head defiantly. "NOOOO! Cowboys wear cowboy hats and he isn't wearing one!"

Jackie just nodded giggling. "Oh okay. Well I guess since you're the expert you would know."

Kicking her legs back and forth, Kira's smile just seemed to get bigger. "YEP. I'm smart!"

Laughing Jackie carefully put her on the ground and gently pushed her butt. "I know you are sweetheart. Now go clean up your mess before dinner."

Looking back up at Cole she smiled. "I would like you to go clean up and make sure Kira does too, please."

The boy simply nodded and then passed a quick glance to Optimus before walking out of the room into the hallway and turned into another room.

Optimus watched them leave and then quietly turned to Jackie. "I was not aware that you had children."

Looking over her shoulder she looked at Optimus mockingly. "Hmmm…I wonder why?"

Shaking his head Optimus could tell, human or not he was being mocked.

Slowly following Jackie into the kitchen Optimus was forced to stop and take in all the different aromas. Smells that as a machine he usually wouldn't pay much attention to. But for some reason they were now starting to have a different effect on his system.

Jackie worked quickly and efficiently as she unwrapped the chicken breasts she had purchased and proceeded to coat with herbs and spices that she had prepared. She unwrapped frozen broccoli and put it in a pan that was filled halfway with water while also measuring out the necessary amount of water and butter for a box of Uncle Ben's Original Wild Rice.

Every smell from ever thing in the room flooded Optimus' nose. Not just the human fuel that now sat cooking on the stove top but also the fruit that sat on the island in the middle of the room, and the lavender and mint plants that were growing in a small pot beside the window. To the fresh parsley and chives that were growing in another pot beside that one. To the onions, garlic and avocados that hung in wire baskets above the sink. So many new smells, every one forcing Prime to analyze something new.

Jackie couldn't help but watch Optimus' actions as he investigated all of these things and more, smelling them and looking them over. "What are you doing? You act like you've never been in a kitchen before."

Whipping around from the window sill Optimus looked away, obviously embarrassed for finding out that he was being watched. This was something that he didn't want to admit but had often thought about after first coming to earth. What would it be like to be human for just a day? What new things would he had been able to experience? Able to do? Able to feel? He never expected it to actually happen though! But now…right now…that one thought…that one thought that he once thought impossible was now happening! He was human. And slowly but surely he was trying to find out what it is like being human.

"Hello, earth to Optimus?"

Looking up Optimus noticed Jackie smiling and laughing. "Did you hear a single word I just said?"

Sheepishly smiling Optimus shook his head 'no'.

Smiling and shrugging Jackie turned away to stir the wild rice. "I just asked if you were enjoying smelling everything in here."

Shrugging Optimus looked around to everything he had previously investigated. "I guess that there is just so many new specimens in here, that I could not help myself."

Laughing softly Jackie again shrugged as she turned off the burner to the food. "Oh, it's okay. I guess I was just curious as to why you're so intrigued."

Turning away from the stove after having turned everything off, Jackie carefully placed three pot holders on the island. She then turned around opening a cupboard and reached in pulling out four plates and placed them too on the island. She then opened a drawer retrieving four forks and three knives placing them on top of the plates.

Separating the forks and knives from the plates, Jackie carefully placed a plate by four of the five seats at the island, then a fork and knife by three of the four places set and then just a fork at one spot.

Turning back around Jackie reached high in a cupboard and pulled down three large glass glasses and one small plastic one. Optimus watched closely as the glass glasses were placed around the plates that had knives. The plastic glass was put by the plate that did not have a knife.

Maneuvering around Optimus, Jackie reached into the fridge pulling out a gallon of milk and placed it on the end of the island. She then grabbed two stray pot holders from the stove and carefully put all three pans of food on the island. And then threw the pot holders on the counter.

"Cole! Kira! Dinner is ready!"

Streaking into the kitchen came the two children that Optimus had been introduced to earlier and took their spots at the table. The boy sat as far away from Optimus as he could get and the little girl sat at the spot with only the fork and the small plastic cup. Carefully placing a small piece of chicken on the young girl's plate, Jackie stood to her right carefully cutting it with her knife into small bite size pieces. After finished she scooped a small mound of rice onto her plate accompanied with a small scoop of broccoli.

As Jackie did this the boy served himself, quietly and efficiently.

"Mommy, can I pwease have some milk?"

"Sure sweetie, you can have some milk."

Optimus watched as Jackie reached over and grabbed the gallon of milk, unscrewed it and proceeded to pour some into the small girl's glass. Jackie then handed the jug to the boy who poured some into his own glass.

Having served the young child, Jackie rounded the table to sit next to the boy and carefully fill her plate with food. Looking up she noticed that Optimus continued to stand by the sink…merely watching.

Clearing her throat she gently placed a piece of chicken on her plate. "So are you going to sit down and eat or are you just going to stand there?"

Looking around at the eyes watching him, he wasn't sure what he should do. Laughing softly Jackie stood and grabbed the plate from the spot next to her daughter and filled it with food before setting it down again and then filled the glass with milk before setting that down beside the plate. She then sat and motioned for Optimus to join them.

Not wanting to appear rude, Optimus slowly approached and quietly sat in the empty spot next to the young girl. She stared up at him with her big green and blue eyes, studying him, trying to figure out how such a big man could be such a scaredy-cat.

Looking at the boy Jackie offered him her hand and he took it. The boy then offered his hand to the little girl. Jackie and the little girl then offered their hands to Optimus. Jackie's hand was calm and set and for some odd reason, so was the little girl's.

After hesitating for only a moment Optimus gently took their hands. Jackie then bowed her head and the children instinctively did the same. Not wanting to appear different, Optimus copied but looked up slightly to watch.

Jackie and the children then spoke in unison. "Come Lord Jesus, be our guest. Let these gifts to us be blessed. Amen."

They all then let go of each other's grasp and proceed to feed themselves with the meal that Jackie had prepared, well Jackie and her son anyway. Optimus had realized that Jackie had released her grip on his hand, but the little girl…did not.

She just sat there. Quietly watching him holding her hand. Optimus was dumbfounded. He didn't know whether to pull away or just leave it be. It wasn't like this child was hurting him. In comparison his hand was monstrously large compared to hers. And hers were so soft and warm. His, they were worn out. Bruised. Cut. Callused. Yet she still didn't want to let go. Glancing at what he gathered to be his plate of fuel for only a moment he then looked back at the little girl.

But to his surprise, a small smile crept in on her face and she erupted in giggles.

Both Jacky and the young boy looked up.

The little girl was sitting in a booster seat and was kicking her legs happily. "You're funny!"

Passing a quick glance to Jackie and then back to the little girl, Optimus raised a curious eyebrow. "And why am I funny?"

She just rolled her head back still laughing. "Because you are!"

Optimus was a little dumbstruck. When he was a machine he was looked upon as being fearsome, mighty, and ominous. But now as a human…he was being laughed at?

"Kira, let go of Optimus' hand and eat your dinner."

Obeying her mother's request, Kira gently let go of Optimus and ate quietly. Looking at Optimus, Jackie smiled and did the same.

Looking down at the set up before him, Optimus was clueless as to where to begin. This was human fuel. He was used to just being able to drink a couple barrels of energon and then be sufficient. But this…this was new.

Looking at Jackie and her children, Optimus watched their patterns closely. Stick the silver pronged utensil they call a 'fork' into the food. Scoop it up onto that utensil. Stick it in your mouth. Chew. Swallow. And repeat. It couldn't be that hard, could it?

Slowly Optimus scooped a small amount of rice onto his fork and stared at it. What was it about this stuff that humans liked so much? Slowly and cautiously he stuck the fork in his mouth and froze. Ah. Now he saw why.

Optimus heaped his fork full of rice and shoved it in his mouth chewing and swallowing rhythmically. One after another. Then he tasted the chicken and broccoli and did the same. One forkful after another into him mouth. NOW he knew why humans liked this stuff. Because of the way it tasted! It was amazing! Incredible! Defiantly not like energon, not at all. It had a whole new taste, something completely its own and Optimus loved it. But apparently you should love it only to an extent.

Being three fourths of the way through with what was on his plate; Optimus paused to sample the white liquid humans called 'milk'.

As it ran down his pallet he could feel the cold cream like texture seep down into his new organic tank that the humans called 'stomachs'. And it felt and tasted refreshing. It was after he drank the entire glass and placed it back on the table that he realized that again he was being watched.

Jackie and her children's eyes where wide with curiosity. Swallowing what was left in his mouth Optimus breathed hard. "What?"

Jackie struggled to hide her laughter as she smiled. "Hungry?"

Her children on the other hand did not try to hold it, they both erupted in laughter making Optimus smile and shrug sheepishly.

How was he supposed to know he would have like it?

Jackie just quietly chuckled as she shook her head. "I guess it's a good thing we didn't have Barbeque beef ribs tonight huh?"

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Never in his lifetime had he EVER felt like the way he felt now. His midsection felt like it wanted to burst from everything he had consumed. He would have been fine if Jackie wouldn't had told him that there was dessert, and if he wouldn't have been curious enough to try this 'Dutch apple pie' and 'ice-cream' stuff, then he wouldn't be feeling like this. But on the other hand, he would have tasted the delightful sweet and creamy paradise. Optimus couldn't help but think; 'no wonder humans have a global weight problem! With all these sweet goodies that they can indulge themselves in, it's hard to resist the urge to just over do it.'

Optimus lay motionless on the couch. He didn't want to move. He just wanted to pace himself until his human systems burned off what he had consumed. But the way things were looking…that might take a while.

"Is your name really 'Opmus'?"

Tilting his head back Optimus jumped slightly at the sight of the small human girl watching him. If he remembered right, her name was Kira.

Nodding slowly Optimus sighed. "No. My name is 'Optimus'. Not 'Opmus."

Pouting the little girl jutted out her bottom lip. "That's what I said! Your name is Opmus!"

Chuckling softly Optimus slowly sat up and hunched himself over, looking the small child over. "Op-'TI'-mus. You are forgetting the 'TI' part of my name little one."

Scoffing the girl shook her head defiantly. "My name isn't little one, my name is Kira!"

Tilting his head ever so slightly, Optimus chuckled looking her over. "Well in that case, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Kira remained silent for a stretch of time before looking at Optimus' hands. "Why do your hands look and feel funny?"

Looking at his own hands for a moment before looking back up, Optimus just chuckled. "Because I use my hands a lot."

Tilting her head she sighed. "Why?"

Shrugging Optimus casually brushed his hair back. "Because my job requires it."

"Why?"
"Because, if I do not do what it is I do then there could be dangerous consequences."

"Why?"

Looking the child up and down, Optimus huffed and lowered his gaze to meet that of Kira's. "Do you ever stop asking questions?"

Smiling broadly, Kira swayed back and forth. "Nope. Mommy says grown-ups like it when kids ask them lots of questions."

Raising and eyebrow Optimus couldn't help but let a small laugh escape. "Oh really?"

Simply nodding and giggling Kira suddenly streaked out of the room. Shaking his head Optimus slowly sank back into his initial position on the couch chuckling and yawned. "Children…"

"Optimus?"

Again looking up, Optimus saw Jackie standing in the doorway. "I see you've had an official introduction to Kira."

Nodding Optimus again sat up. "Yes, I certainly did."

Laughing softly, Jackie crossed the room and sat on the couch next to Optimus. "I'm sorry about the whole '20 questions' thing. She's just extremely curious of new people is all."

Chuckling, Optimus shrugged. "So I have noticed."

Smiling sheepishly Jackie sighed. "I guess my only excuse for her behavior is that she IS just a little girl."

Waving a dismissive hand, Optimus sighed. "It is alright Jacklyn. I do not mind her curiosity."

Sighing Jackie rose off the couch. "Oh good. That's a relief."

Slowly Jackie started to turn away when she suddenly stopped. "Although Optimus I have to say, you do have something special about you."

Looking up Optimus tilted his head slightly. "Why for do you think that?"

Turning back around Jackie slowly sat in an easy chair. "Optimus, I don't usually tell people this. Especially people that I met in one day. But seeing as how you are spending the night you might as well know. My kids don't really respond well to strange men being in my apartment."

Sitting forward, Optimus folded his hands before him. "If you do not mind my asking Jacklyn, why is that?"

Getting up and moving toward the window, Jackie sighed. "Let's just say I've never really had a good history with relationships."

Rising off the couch, Optimus slowly crossed the floor and stopped beside her. "I'm afraid I fail to understand…"

Looking at him and then turning away, Jackie waved it off as if it was nothing. "Oh Optimus, it's actually pretty simple to understand. I'm a single mother with two kids; working a full time job; constantly depending on either my mother or my neighbor to watch my kids when I have to work nights. I've been divorced for five years and can't stay in a steady relationships because it seems like all I attract are abusive assholes and perverts. Get it?"

Optimus remained silent. He couldn't help but wonder why she was telling him this.

Huffing Jackie looked away. "I'm sorry Optimus. I was just blowing off steam."

Nodding Optimus merely shrugged. "It is alright. I do not mind. However, I still do not fully understand why you think I am special."

Looking back up, Jackie smiled. "Every time I've brought a man into this apartment, it usually ends up as a disaster. My kids never really liked them or warmed up to them. Especially Kira. Usually she is very shy and doesn't talk to strangers very quickly. I guess that's why you surprised when she was talking to you and even had to hold your hand. Obviously she sees something in you Optimus."

Looking away while smiling sheepishly, Optimus remained silent.

Yawning and stretching Jackie just laughed. "I didn't mean to embarrass you Optimus."

Letting his smile fade, Optimus looked back up. "You did not embarrass me Jacklyn. I was just merely thinking."

At that moment Jackie was about to say something when all of a sudden Kira streaked into the living room wearing a sports jersey…only…it was backwards.

"Mommy look! Mommy Look! I can get dressed all by myself! See?"

Laughing softly, Jackie kneeled and greeted her daughter with a hug. "I see that baby. But how about you let mommy make one quick adjustment?"

Carefully putting Kira's arms back into the shirt, Jackie quickly turned the shirt around so that it was straight and then guided her arms back out. Smiling and rubbing her back, Jackie kissed on the cheek and pushed her along. "Okay, go climb into bed and I'll be there in a second to tuck you in."

Skipping along down the hallway, Kira giggled and called back. "Okay mommy."

Standing up Jackie then yelled down the hallway. "Cole, you better be getting ready for bed!"

From down the hall Optimus could hear the boy's voice call back. "Okay mom!"

Just then, Jackie turned around and opened the door in the living room to reveal a closet full of boxes, blankets, boardgames and much more. Jackie reached in grabbing an old blanket and pillow and tossed them to Optimus.

Catching them and looking them over, Optimus then looked at Jackie.

Jackie just smiled and motioned toward the couch. "You'll be sleeping on the couch tonight."

Slowly Jackie then turned away and shut off the lights to the living room and kitchen, leaving only the light of the city shining through the patio window.

"Goodnight Optimus."

Looking at Jackie's silhouette in the entrance to the hallway, Optimus bowed his head graciously. "Goodnight Jacklyn. And thank you again."

Optimus quietly listened as Jackie talked to Kira and tucked her in and then did the same for Cole before going to bed herself. Within a half an hour the apartment became quiet.

Sinking into the couch again, Optimus carefully looked the pillow and blanket over. Throwing the blanket on the ground Optimus merely yawned and rested his head against the arm of the couch, then placed the pillow behind his head.

Everything that had happened that day seemed so strange.

Why had he become human?

Yawning, Optimus stretched out on the couch and listened to the sounds of the city.

Though the questions of why he became human loomed in his mind, the question of what lay in store for tomorrow burned hotter.

But regardless of he wondered, he knew that sleep was the best thing he needed right now.

And in that knowledge, Optimus soon found himself slowly drifting into a state of powering down…sleep.

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