Disclaimer: "I do not own any part of the transformers franchise, or any of their characters. I own only Harper, and any original content that I make her do or say. Everything else is property of the amazing men and women who brought this story to life on the big screen. Thank you."

Chapter 2

Will couldn't help shaking his head with a grin as he listened to his men talking about what they were going to do when they finally got home. After five grueling months in the desert, behind enemy lines, they were all ready for a taste of home. Some, in particular, were hungry for their mother's alligator etouffee, whatever the hell that was.

As Epps and Fig begin going at it again, Fig switching to Spanish while trying to argue in his mother's favor, Will cuts in, "English! God… how many times do we have to… We don't speak Spanish. We told you that. I told you that, more to the point."

It never matters though. Fig always claims that this is his heritage and he has a right to express it. It was times like this when, in spite of how dangerous their time in the desert had been, he would've appreciated Harper's company with them. She actually could speak Spanish. And French. And Irish Gaelic. Will had always thought that last one was a weird one to want to know, but it never ceased to make him smile when he remembered Harper's answer to why she'd wanted to learn it. A shrug of her shoulders, and she'd simply said "It sounds cool. Doesn't it?"

And when she was in the kitchen, distractedly singing one of the Celtic songs she had on her cooking playlist… he had to admit. It sounded like one of the most beautiful languages he'd ever heard.

After Donnelly talks about what a perfect weekend should be like, Fig finally switches back to English, "What about you, Captain? You got a perfect day?"

Yes, he did. Listening to Celtic songs being sung, while a beautiful red-head was cooking her way through an entire fridge in the kitchen.

Before he can say that though, Donnelly grins, "Ah… we all know what the Cap's perfect day is. All he needs is for Harp to be there, and he's right as rain." Epps pulls one of his headphones out, raising an eyebrow. Because, believe it or not, this was the first he was hearing of this.

Apparently for a reason, if Will's glaring eyes were anything to go by. Fig just punches his shoulder, "Ah, lay off, Captain. It's not like we don't all know by now. Your eyes light up the minute she opens the door, inviting us in with that wonderful aroma of cooked food floating out behind her." Will glares again, but then they all turn when Epps shouts, "What?!"

For a moment, no one really knows what his problem is. Then he asks in disbelief, "You have a thing for Harper?" Will rolls his eyes, "And this is why we never bring it up in front of him. He's like her big brother. He can't handle it." Epps raises an eyebrow, and then asks, "For how long?" Will shrugs, but then glares at Donnelly, who answers, "Oh, it started about a year after they first met. Well… probably before that. He fell in love with the girl behind our beautifully written letters first. Then he fell in love with the blue-eyed chef."

While the others are laughing and still picking at Will, Epps stares at him for another moment or two. Then he says, "So, just so I understand. For almost a total of seven years, you've been in love with Harper." Will glares at the other men again, but then sighs at the look Epps is giving him. Apparently, not answering the question, wasn't an option. So he finally throws up his hands, "Yes, alright. I'm in love with her. And… yeah, probably for seven years. I don't know, I haven't been counting."

Donnelly would've commented, except they all turned again when Epps exclaims, "Yeah, well I have. And she's been in love with you, almost since they day yawl first met."

When all of the men look at him in surprise, Epps rolls his eyes, "How am I the only one who doesn't know Will loves her, and I'm also the only one who knows Harper loves him? How did that happen? And you two..." He points at Will accusingly, but is also referring to Harper when he says, "The both of you are absolutely ridiculous. Spending seven years in love with each other, and neither one doing anything about it. What the hell?"

For a moment silence reigns, and then Fig turns to Will and says, "I got dibs on being best man!" Will's eyes widen before he then glares at Donnelly, who starts laughing uproariously. "They haven't even started dating yet man." "Yeah, but…"

Will ignores them, turning his attention back to Epps. And though still slightly annoyed at the whole situation itself, Bobby Epps gentles his features and tone as he says, "I'm not lying, man. She swore me to secrecy about this. Said she wasn't about to lose you as a friend because you make her heart go haywire. Secrecy that I've just broken, by the way. So if she ever asks how you figured this out, do not tell her it was me. Blame one of these other losers."

Finally, Will runs a hand over his face. There was a grin working its way onto his mouth at this point, but he still couldn't help muttering, "Shit. How did I… just… shit." Epps shrugs, "Oh, she's good at hiding it when she wants to be. So… yeah, I'm actually not surprised you never figured it out on your own." Turning to the others, he adds, "But I don't know how the rest of you fools didn't already figure this out. You got to be blind not to see the way she looks at him, or blushes when she thinks he's standing way too close."

Which starts up another argument between all the men, with Fig throwing his Spanish heritage back into the mix. But Will ignores them all for the time being. He can't take the smile off his face. All this time, he'd thought if he was just patient enough, he'd begin to feel that she was starting to love him in return. And in actuality, she was just hiding from him very well, so she wouldn't risk losing his friendship.

Interrupting the argument, he asks Epps, "Why is she afraid to lose me? Even if I didn't feel this way… I mean, none of us would do that to her. She… She's Harper." He says that as though it were explanation enough, and for all of them… well, it's all the reason they need. Harper was a bright light in their dark world out here on the battlefield. They'd all die for her, before they simply let anything bad hurt her.

But Epps sighs at the question. "She… I mean, she's secure in who she is as a person. She won't be changing for anybody. She's just… insecure at times, about how other people view her and respond because of that. She doesn't really see herself as the priceless person that we do. And… well, she kind of holds the opinion that no one else sees her that way either."

When all the men look at him like that idea is crazy, Epps explains, "Her parents always wanted a boy. Alright? So when she came out first, they were a bit disappointed. So there was that already. Then Sam showed up, and she was even further pushed to the side. So… it's kind of amazing that she has any self-confidence at all. And part of that's probably to do with Sam. It never mattered to him that his parents doted on him here and there. They're still kind of crazy, and Harper's always been his place of solace in that house. They're friends, despite how differently their parents treat them."

Back to Will, he says, "But, yeah. She's insecure. She never really had her parents. She doesn't want to lose anyone else that might mean that much to her. Mainly, you."

When they touch down in Qatar, as they're hopping onto the helipad, Fig asks, "So… what you gonna do now Captain?" Will simply replies, "I need to make a call." Donnelly and Fig slap hands behind his back, while Epps asks, "What are you gonna say to her?" "I have no earthly idea. I just…" He still can't stop grinning as he says, "I just need to hear her voice."

And then they all laugh when Epps says, "Yeah, well, if you tell her that I told you about this, I will have her shun you for a month. It might be hard, because she loves you and all. But she promised a long time ago that she'd shun anybody who truly treated me badly while we were away, so I know she'll do it if I ask. And I don't know why you're laughing, Fig. If she refuses to shun Will, I'm gonna have her shun you. Simply for being an annoying pain in my ass."

As the computer screen inside the communications tent flashes to life, Will smiles as Harper's face appears on the screen.

Smiling back at him, she says, "Hey! Where's everyone else?" "Oh, they're all getting cleaned up for now. We just got in." "Oh, Will, you didn't actually have to call as soon as you got there. I could've waited." He just grins, "I couldn't. It's good to hear you." "It's good to hear you too. And see you. I've missed you guys."

He ponders it for a minute, and then answers, "Yeah, we've all missed you too, Harp." He wanted to tell her he loves her. Wanted to so bad, he couldn't believe she wasn't commenting about the huge smile on his face. But over a computer screen… no, that would not be the first time they did this.

Harper leans closer to the camera then, and it makes him laugh when she finally says, "You have a ridiculously huge smile on your face, Will. Does that mean you finally killed all the bad guys and get to stay home for a long time?" Shaking his head at her, he says, "It's just… been a long five months. Can't wait to get back there. Fig keeps talking about alligator etouffee… whatever that is. But I'm just looked forward to some more of your chicken and dumplings." "You always ask for that. Always. Don't you like eating anything else?" "I love eating anything you make. But you are also the only person, ever, who's managed to cook that dish in a way I actually like."

Harper turns her head away a bit, and Will knows she's blushing right now. He can't see it, but he can guess that she is now. She probably always was when she turned away from him. God, how could he have never seen that?

As the connection begins to go funky, Harper turns back to him with a frown. "Is everything alright?" Will glances around him, at everyone in this tent having the same problem. Frowning himself, he says, "Something must be going on outside. We'll probably lose the connection soon." Back to her, he adds, "But we're here, and we'll be home soon. Can't wait to see you Harper. We have some important things to talk about."

Harper raises an eyebrow at that, but as the connection weakens again, she simply leans closer, "Okay. Come home safe, Will. Please." "We will. We'll be there soon."

His ridiculous smile was the last thing she saw before the connection officially died. Well… his smile, and the sound of a large thump that seemed to shake everything around it.

Biting at her bottom lip briefly, Harper wonders if she really wants this to be the favor she asks Glen for. Technically, she could ask him for any favor she wanted. He always promised to have her back, due to all the goodies she continued to send him to taste test by express shipping. But…

Huffing, she hits the other number to call on her screen, and waits for Glen's face to appear. It was almost a guarantee that he was on the computer anyway. While Harper's own expertise was limited to chatrooms and what she could research on google, Glen was a hacker. His life was practically lived out on the digital spectrum of things.

When he appeared, he exclaimed, "Harper! My angel from baking heaven. What's the word?" "Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have a new treat for you to try." "Bummer. But you are still my baking angel, nonetheless. So, what's up?"

At her silence, Glen sits up straighter. It wasn't often that Harper actually asked for favors. Rarer even, did she ask for ones that she thought you'd probably say no to. So this, whatever it was, it was serious.

Braced as he was for that, his eyes widen when she says, "I… need you to keep tabs on an army unit that just got back into Qatar. They're supposed to be coming home soon. But… something was going on right before they hung up with me. And I… I just want to know that everything's okay. It doesn't have to be done right away. So… can you just call me, when you hear something?"

Glen stares at her for a moment, but then thinks on it some more. Nodding, he says, "Alright. It's not like you're asking me to break into the Pentagon or anything. Just spy, briefly, on an army base in Qatar." "Yes." "Alright. It's probably gonna be a while. But I'll let you know what I hear." "Thanks Glen. And I'll be sure to send double of the next batch of goodies I make up." "Aw, there's my angel!"

When Sam came to visit her at her apartment later that night, he walked in, slung his bag and coat towards the coat rack, and raced towards the kitchen. "Harper! You won't believe what dad just agreed to…"

He freezes the second he reaches the room. The fact that the kitchen smelled amazing wasn't surprising. Harper was always cooking in some form of fashion. If her apartment didn't sell like pastries, then it smelled like a kitchen would that had just prepared the Thanksgiving dinner for the whole family. That, in Harper's home, was normal.

But not this. Harper was usually meticulous about the food she prepared. She cooked it, plated it, and then boxed it up or put it away in the fridge or cupboard. Everything she'd just cooked now, would still appear as fresh in the morning or at tomorrow's lunch hour. Whenever it happened to be served.

But today... the kitchen was covered in pans and dishes. Nothing was put away. The room was a disaster. Not just a normal, 'I've been cooking for the past hour', kind of disaster. This was full-on, 'I haven't stopped cooking for days', type of disaster. And Sam had seen her yesterday, so this was definitely a disaster.

And he knew she only cooked like this when she'd learned some truly upsetting news. Like when Bobby's grandma had finally passed away, and Bobby hadn't been able to attend the funeral. But even that hadn't gotten Harper cooking this much.

Stepping in further, Sam grabs some oven mitts, and gently takes the pan of cookies out of Harper's hands. She pauses for a moment, as though confused about why the pan was suddenly gone. But then she just removed her mitts, preparing to return to the table to cook.

Sam catches her flour covered hands in his, "Harper? What's wrong?"

She had the trails of past tears still left on her face as she looked up at him. And there was a sadness still in her eyes that he hadn't ever seen before. She looked, for lack of a better word, heartbroken.

She nearly choked when she first opened her mouth. But finally, she began telling him, "Glen… called me back. It only took him about two hours to hack into the information about Will's unit. And he… he told me…"

Sam waits for her to get it out, and then his eyes widen right along with hers as she says, "They're dead. They're… all dead. No… no survivors. The entire base was wiped out, and they're… they're dead." And as her entire body starts to shake, Harper shrieks, "They're all dead! Will! Bobby! Fig! Donnelly… they're all dead! Oh my God! I… I can't…"

Sam catches her as she begins crumbling to the ground. Pulling her back up, he brings her into the living room, and sits her on the couch. He leaves for just a moment, long enough to make sure everything in the kitchen is turned off, and then to grab her a bottle of water from the fridge. Then he comes back to sit next to her, letting her lean over and rest against him while she weeps.

He knew how much these guys meant to her. And though Sam might not be the most popular guy in school, he had friends all over the place. Harper didn't have many. Wasn't really a social butterfly... never had been and never would be. These guys had been her friends. Well… and him and Glen. There were a few others that she had taste test her food, and they considered her a friend too. But mostly, it was Will, Epps, the other army guys in the unit, and then Sam. That was it.

And now Harper had just lost a huge chunk of the people who mattered to her. He's honestly surprised it's only the kitchen that's covered in food, and not every other surface of the house as well.

It's three in the morning when Harper wakes up. Sam and she had stayed on the couch all night. Rubbing at her face, trying to get the salty remains of tears brushed away, she nudges her little brother to wake him up.

For a moment they just sit there in silence. Then Harper sighs before asking, "So… what did dad agree to do for you?" "Not important." "It is important, Sam. Just because I'm grieving, doesn't mean you can't have something happy and important happen at the same time. Just… means the world has crappy timing sometimes, is all. So… what happened?"

So Sam explains that, if he can ace his genealogy class in two days, dad will help him pay for his first car. Harper smiles a little at that, and then says, "By then, I should be able to function like a normal human being again. And I need a new bike so I can stop paying for a cab to make deliveries. Want me to come with?" "Only if you want, Harper. I know…" "Yes, they're important. But so are you, Sam. So I'll be there."

As she's showing him to the door, she says, "Also, just… be prepared for dad to try and pull some sort of joke at first. If he drives you through a new car lot to try and make you think you're getting a brand new car… yeah, don't fall for that. You're the favored son, we know that. But for your first car… yeah, he's not going to do that." Sam nods, "Expectations managed. Thanks for the heads up. See you Friday?" "Friday."

After he's gone, Harper returns to her kitchen to view the mess she'd made. Sighing, she texts Sam, "Also, if you need help buttering up your professor to get the A, let me know. I have just about anything he could possible want to eat in here at this point."

As she puts everything away, tidying up before returning to bed, she can't help but wonder what she was going to do now. Obviously, she still had the families of these men that she could help comfort. They were extended family to her as well. But… no one was going to be able to replace her lost friends.

No one was going to be able to replace Will.

As a tear runs down her face again, Harper sighs and glances up at the ceiling. Shaking her head, she asks, "What exactly am I supposed to do now?"

Chapter 2, done! Yay!