Alexis found it all amazing how quickly she became accustomed to her new companion. Perhaps it was because of the rather shattered times she was in, but she felt as if she knew him, and as if they could more than just get along.

Timothy Evans Charles, his name was, a pilot who had managed to escape during the initial Decepticon attack, finding himself the only survivor out of his entire unit. He didn't talk much about that though, and she hadn't pushed him as yet. Alexis knew some secrets were better left untold. He could be talkative, or suddenly remote to the extreme. His personality shifted constantly as if he were two people, or just had a fair amount of stuff on his mind. However, she rather liked him. Despite her initial misgivings, Alexis was glad that she met him.

They had only been traveling about two weeks, but the two were making good progress. Things were actually going more smoothly now that she had someone with her to help forge for food, look for supplies, or the best thing of all, someone to talk to. Her despair and loneliness were banished to the past. Once more, Alexis had a reason, a need, to be close to someone.

"Can't sleep?"

Alexis heard him approaching and when he sat down beside her, she voiced no objection. Timothy had a knack for finding good places to camp for the night and the place they were at that night was no different.

Leaning against a tree, body relaxed, she was gazing out at the small lake, watching the reflection of the moon as it floated along the top of the water. Lights fluttered and twisted above and beneath the watery depths, the liquid moving slowly from the intermittent gusts of wind. They arrived during the dusk, far too late for either of them to make a physical examination of the lake. Alexis so wanted to clean herself, to jump in it and splash around, to make good use of the soap and shampoos she had collected, but it would have to wait until morning.

The temperature at the moment was unbearably hot. Her light, short-sleeve shirt was already sticking, sweat accumulating as she found herself tempted to forget about the threat of what could lie beneath the entrancingly peaceful waters.

"It's too hot," Alexis uttered. Bringing a bottle up, she took a sip of the water, gulping it slowly. Closing her eyes, she savored the rather cool liquid. "I think this heat is going to kill me," she elaborated.

Opening her eyes after several long moments, she found Timothy staring at her, his gaze upon her so intent that she momentarily forgot to breathe. That was one thing she was far from accustomed to, he could be so intense sometimes, the way he could look at her as curious as it was daunting.

"I prefer you alive," he said dryly, a confused frown on his mouth.

Alexis laughed at that. Timothy had such curious humor that she couldn't help but smile.

"Is there something out there?" he asked, turning his attention to the beckoning lake before them.

"Yeah, relief. You don't know how hard it is to not just jump into the water," she let Tim know.

"I wouldn't recommend it." He shook his head, narrowing his eyes. "There could be snakes, snapping turtles or many other various things that could hurt you."

Her mouth twisted into a frown. "I have been staring for over an hour, the only things I have seen are fish wading around."

"Still..."

Alexis interrupted, "And I am so hot. My head hurts, and I bet the water is incredibly cool."

"If it is so important to you, then just do it."

What he said wasn't a dare, wasn't even a go ahead, there was an objection that lined his words despite what he said and yet strangely enough that was all Alexis needed.

Getting up she took one step, then another. Alexis took her shoes off and pulled back her hair. The soft moon illuminating her path, she slowly waded through the water; she was knee deep, waist deep and then the water rose above her shoulders. She quickly plunged in, emerging her body underneath the wet darkness as she kept her eyes open. Dark shadows pushed and pulled with the water, an eeriness arriving as she found herself oddly transfixed.

The water was cool, more than she had believed. Holding her breath, she stayed under as long as she could, until with a fit of need for oxygen, she shot toward the surface. Breathing deep Alexis stood, or tried to, she must have gone further when she was under, for now, she had no other option but to hover, hands moving back and forth beside her body as she stayed afloat above the depths.

Perched on some large rocks before the edge of the water, Timothy watched; his neck craned in her direction, his body relaxing as soon as he spotted Alexis.

"The water is wonderful!" she shouted, accidentally swallowing some liquid. Closing her mouth more tightly she swam. Her shirt pulled across her belly, suddenly heavy and binding, her jean shorts even worse. She wanted to take off some of her clothes. Alexis most certainly would have if she knew Tim wasn't watching, but since she wasn't alone she could only push through the waters, forcing herself to forget about her rather unnecessary clothing as she drifted.

If she was anyone else, she would have invited him in, but even with him standing in visual distance, she enjoyed the solitude and found she didn't want to be interrupted. So she swam slowly, caressed and swallowed up by the liquid Alexis moved along. Eyes shutting, she listened to the sounds of the water moving. Until she had the strong impression that she was no longer alone. Opening her eyes, turning around, Timothy swam up. He grabbed onto her arm, motioning for Alexis to follow. She meant to object, but she was rather stunned by his sudden appearance and dominating attitude that she went along with his prodding, swimming alongside him.

"What is going on?" she asked, looking to the right and left Alexis saw nothing.

"You should at least stay where I can see you," he replied, his tone covered in mild exasperation.

His comment made her see how far from land she was, in fact; she couldn't even see it. The darkness suddenly pushed down on her, the once peaceful waters filled with danger of the unknown. It was a good five minutes before she saw the tree she had been leaning against earlier, a couple of minutes after that when Alexis found she could actually stand. Walking back up the low rocky hill, grabbing a blanket from her backpack, she started to dry herself off.

Timothy gave her a couple of moments before he turned around and charged right up to her. At first, Alexis thought he was going to chastise her further, but instead he just leaned forward, hand brushing across her cheek.

"You have no right to purposely place yourself in danger, as I am given the only option of rescuing you."

Alexis huffed at that. He seemed, internally at least, to be smiling. She could almost sense his amusement. Her affront grew, cheeks blazing pink as she pushed by.

"I don't need you to rescue me. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Before you even came along..."

She found her right hand tugged upon. Alexis' body was forced back around.

"I didn't mean to anger you," he said softly. "I just want you to be more aware of your surroundings, to be careful." His voice went even lower, his breath brushing across her nose. How did he end up so close? Alexis took a step back and pulled her hand out of his.

"You are right, of course. I did place myself in danger," she spoke apologetically. "Thank you, for coming after me."

His shoulders dropped, eyebrows rising. Frowning, Tim watched Alexis walk away.

"Perhaps, I should sleep elsewhere," Alexis recommended.

"When there is a perfectly suitable bed here?"

This was the first time they came upon a house in their travels and now that they were inside it; Alexis felt not exactly uncomfortable, but uncertain about what to do.

"You can have the bed," she offered readily. She pointed inside the room, staring at the rather large thing. Backing up, she believed the matter settled now that she sacrificed comfort.

"It's best we don't separate," he said quietly but firmly, "especially after we saw signs of Decepticon activity." "You take the bed. I will sleep on the floor."

"I don't know I... that is..."

"This isn't up for discussion."

"And just who put you in command?"

"In matters of warfare?" He lifted up his back, arms crossing defiantly over his chest. "Myself. I don't recall you having any combat experience."

"And being stuck for several months with some of the most dangerous Decepticons doesn't quality me a little?" she asked with agitation.

He shook his head at that. "No, however, if you actually shared about what you went through instead of holding on to it all perhaps, then..."

"As if you haven't been keeping things from me, I am not the only one holding onto things, and I don't appreciate..."

It was Tim's confounded look that stopped Alexis. Where did all that hostility come from anyway? No, she knew from where. She was a frightened, for the first time in a while, the Decepticons seemed too close for comfort and she was at odds at how to deal with it.

Timothy went across the room and disappeared inside what looked to be a bathroom. She heard water running and then stopping. He returned.

"The water is still working. It's not hot, but should be good enough if you want to bathe."

She nodded her head but didn't move. Timothy placed a hand on her shoulder.

"It's OK to be frightened, Alexis. I know I don't have any idea what you went through, but I do understand that the time spent among those Decepticons must have been hell."

"I'm sorry I bit your head off. I didn't mean to."

He smiled a little. "I know. So I will sleep on the floor, and you get the bed," he repeated.

"Okay," Alexis finally agreed. Pulling off the top comforter, she handed it to Timothy. "This should help with the hard floor." She handed him a pillow as well.

She sat on the bed and brought her legs up to her chest. Leaning against them, she tensed when after he placed the stuff on the floor he sat down beside her on the bed.

"We are going to be OK, Alexis. I promise. I'll take care of you."

She almost went back into defensive mode at that. But he wasn't calling her weak, just trying to ease her fears. Alexis acted upon her sudden gratefulness, holding onto Timothy while he whispered comforting words, more promises made. That was when she knew only God could have led her to someone such as him. And for the first time since she met up with Tim, she felt the incomprehensible need to tell him more. Parting from him, his hand lingering on her own, Alexis told him what she never wanted to tell anyone.

"I was with my brother when I was captured. You see, there was this boy and..." she began, not stopping until most of her experience among the Decepticons was purged.