MissShelz: Yeah me too. J
Noella50881: I hope he will. J Yeah? Well that doesn't make you different from anybody else, you are a person like me and I'm happy that you told me about that, it means a lot to see someone talk about their "disabilities" so openly. I put quotes around disabilities because people should treat you the same, if they don't they need to get punched. L Thanks so much for your review.
wolf-shadow666: Lol, yeah. I know I should've thought of that. I guess I'm apart of the 1/3 that thinks otherwise. J I thought it was his left eye because it shows on the movie that it's on his right, so technically it'd be on the left. Thanks for your review. J
Roc2Roll: I'm on it! J
(No Name): Thanks. J
Luna636: Thank you. J I think they are too, hopefully 'Hide doesn't do anything to mess that up!
A/N: I've got nothing to say! You're here to read the story not listen to me! Enjoy!
"Hah I win again!" Lissa cried. She and Sam were having a video game night, complete with popcorn, pop, and comfortable chairs. She'd just beat him for the fifth time at Halo.
Sam threw his controller down. "Whatever." He mumbled. "This game sucks anyways."
"You're just mad 'cause you got beat by a girl." Lissa playfully nudged his shoulder.
Sam couldn't help but smile. This was the Lissa he remembered, taking no nonsense from anyone, but was a happy-go-lucky kind of girl. "What's gotten you in such a good mood?"
Lissa shrugged, "I guess you could day me and 'Hide are friends now."
Sam looked at her in disbelief. "You? Friends? With… Ironhide?"
Lissa laughed at his statement. "Yeah. Honestly, he's just an old softie. You've just gotta crack the outer shell."
Sam couldn't believe it. "How is that possible? You've accomplished something in two days that I couldn't do in two years."
Lissa thought about this for a moment. "I have no idea Sammy. But hey, I'm going to go to bed. I've got a big day tomorrow." She gave him a hug and walked towards the door.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Cleaning Ironhide's cannons." She said casually, and walked out of the room. She snickered at what she saw. Sam's eyes were as big as saucers, and his mouth was wide open. "Close your mouth Sam, you'll catch flies." She laughed and walked to her room. Changing into her pj's she looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had menacing dark circles under them, compliments of the lack of sleep she'd been getting lately. The nightmares were starting again. Ever since the accident she'd had horrible nightmares about her father. His murder played over and over in her mind. Sometimes she saw the face of the man who did it, sometimes it was all just a blur. But it still had the same effect. Lissa would wake up in the middle of the night screaming her lungs out, sometimes calling out for her dad, or yelling no right before the man shot the gun. Sam and his family already knew all about the nightmares, her mother told them before she came, they were still okay with it. Her mom said she couldn't imagine why. She said that sometimes her scrams were so horrible that she had nightmares about them.
Lissa took a deep breath and climbed into bed. She didn't get nightmares last night, but she didn't get much sleep anyways, too terrified to see if they would come. Tonight would be different, she was determined to sleep, even if they did haunt her again.
"LEAVE ME ALONE!" Lissa screamed, still asleep. "DON'T HURT ME!"
Sam, Ron, and Judy ran into the bedroom and turned on the light. Sam shook his cousin who was thrashing about on the bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Lissa, LISSA!" He yelled. Lissa opened her eyes and sat up quickly. She looked around the room, he wasn't here, it was all a dream.
"Oh Sammy." She whimpered, and flung her arms around him, sobbing loudly. Sam wrapped his arms around her and looked at his parents. Judy was trying not to cry, and Ron gave her an almost knowing look. They didn't know it was this bad. "He… he was trying t-to kill m-me." Lissa cried.
Sam nodded at his parents to leave and squeezed Lissa tight. "Shh, he won't hurt you here. I wouldn't let him touch you if he was."
Lissa shook her head. "No! He was here! Right there in the corner! He, he had the gun, he was going to kill me!" She cried again. "I was so scared Sammy, so, so scared."
Sam rocked her in his arms until her sobbing turned to whimpering. Eventually he got her to go back to sleep. Then he made sure to cover her with the blankets and walked downstairs, there was no way he was going back to bed now. He poured himself a cup of coffee and headed outside. Sitting on the steps he thought about what happened. Lissa looked so scared, like the man she dreamed of was actually there. And her screams, they haunted him just by remembering. Suddenly, an engine started and a familiar voice was heard. "Sam, what is wrong with Lissa?" Sam could detect a note of concern in Ironhide's voice. He sighed and shrugged, "Ever since the shooting that got her that scar and killed her father she's had vivid nightmares. We never knew how bad they really were until we heard her scream." He shuddered at the thought.
"Is she… okay?" 'Hide asked cautiously.
Sam looked up at the truck, Ironhide has never asked if anyone was okay, much less a female human. As far as he knew 'Hide was just a gruff, uncaring, and war-hardened robot. But maybe Lissa was right. Sam smirked, he knew just how to mess with him. "Do I hear concern in your voice 'Hide? Do you actually care about a human?"
The radio spluttered, "Of course not!" He replied gruffly, "I wanted to know simply because if you're not in danger, I'm going back into staisis." With that the engine turned off and was silent again.
Sam chuckled, "Whatever you say 'Hide."
The next morning Lissa woke up with fear in her heart. She'd never had a nightmare as bad as the on she had last night. She shivered at the thought. That horrible man was here, in her bedroom, she was so sure of it. Shaking her head she got out of bed and got a pair of old jeans and a ratty T-shirt to wear while she cleaned Ironhide's cannons. Then she put her hair in a quick ponytail and ran downstairs. On the kitchen counter she found a not addressed to her. "Lissa, Sam and I went to the grocery store to pick up a few things, call if you need anything. Judy." Lissa shrugged and walked outside.
Ironhide watched the girl as she made her way to Ron's tool shed. He took note of the way she hung her head close to the ground, her eyes filled with sadness. He wanted to help her, but he had no idea how. He heard a few metallic clinks and a muttered "dammit" before she walked out again and came striding towards him, toolbox in hand. "Hey Ironhide." She muttered and hopped into the truck. The engine roared in response.
Ironhide again watched the human the whole way there. She kept her face turned to the window, watching the world pass by. Suddenly the radio turned on and what sounded like someone clearing their throat emitted from the speakers. "You seem distracted."
Lissa sighed and turned towards the windshield, "I suppose I am."
"Is it because of what happened last night?"
Lissa nodded, "Yeah, that was the scariest nightmare I've ever had in my entire life. It just felt so real." A shiver ran down her spine.
"I heard your screams."
"Oh, they were that bad huh? Well… I- I was so scared Ironhide, I thought he was going to kill me."
Lissa started to cry.
"Lissa, don't cry." 'Hide said gently. "I would never let anyone hurt you."
Lissa sniffed and tried to control her tears. "Promise me?"
"I promise."
She smiled weakly and snuggled deeper in the seat. "Thanks." She whispered.
They rode the rest of the way in companionable silence. Ironhide, still watching the girl, and Lissa, leaning her head against the window, humming a quiet tune.
At noon they reached the meadow. Lissa grabbed the toolbox and got out, giving Ironhide some space to transform. "Okay, go sit down over there, I need to made sure I have everything."
He nodded and did what she asked. After oiling up her rag she strode up to him. "Hand please." 'Hide lowered his massive hand. After being sure she was situated he raised it and put her on his shoulder. She climbed in and got to work getting all the dirt and grime out of the cannons. For the next hour and a half the two didn't say a word to each other. Ironhide knew Lissa had a lot on her mind so he didn't press for conversation.
"All done." Lissa finally said, wiping her hands on her pants. She climbed out of the left cannon and stood on his shoulder, looking at the jagged scar. Cautiously, she walked up to the side of his face and put her hand out to touch it. "Does that hurt?" She murmured, gently running her hand down the line.
"No. It's actually quite pleasurable." He mumbled. As a soldier, it was always said that you cannot show any emotions in war. All you had to do was defeat the enemy. But sitting here with Lissa petting one of the most sensitive parts of his body, he could almost let go of that mask for awhile. Almost. He has been in the war for too long, he even almost forgot he had any emotions. "Thank you Lissa. That was very kind of you."
Lissa removed her hand from his face and looked him in the optics. "You're very welcome."
Ironhide raised his hand so she could climb on. Lissa sat down and crossed her legs under her and 'Hide moved his hand so she was in front of his face. "Does that scar bother you?" He inquired.
Not breaking his gaze she nodded, "A lot of people give me strange looks, and it's way harder to get a boy to like me this way."
"Why do you need a boy to like you?"
"I don't. But I guess it'd be nice to be loved by someone of the male population." She shrugged.
Ironhide chuckled, "You are. Sam loves you very much."
Lissa rolled her eyes, "No, I mean, other than my family."
"Maybe you are…" He mumbled quietly, but Lissa didn't quite hear him.
"What?"
"Oh nothing, nothing." He spluttered and lowered his hand so Lissa could get down.
"C'mon 'Hide, I've got some things I need to do, let's go."
Ironhide transformed into the Topkick and opened the door. Lissa grabbed the tool box and got in.
While they rolled down the highway the radio turned on. "What exactly is it that you need to do?" He asked.
"I have to go to the track. Tryouts for the community team start next week and I'm hoping to be one of their hurdlers."
Lissa is an athlete? "May I accompany you?" Ironhide asked.
Lissa laughed. "Of course! You were going to be my ride there anyways. Let's just stop at Sam's house really quick so I can change."
"Alright."
A/N: Ugh, sory for the wait. :p I had a small case of writers block for the past few days. Hope you enjoyed anyway! Give me some feedback? I'd like to know if there are any ways I can improve this story, and if there's anything you like about it. Thanks!
~Court.
