After I dialed my dad's number, I waited for him to answer. It rang 4 times before he answered it.
"Why did it take you so long to answer, dad?", I asked.
"I apologize sweetie. Stoker and I got into a scuffle and my phone was on vibrate. What do you need?", replied Prime.
"I was wondering if you could pick up mom and I. She wants to see Throttle one last time before I bury him", I said. My dad could hear the hint of sadness in my voice.
"I know it's been hard for you, Wolf. I still feel spark broken after losing Little Throttle and Little Modo", Optimus said.
"So, are you going to pick us up or what, dad?", I asked again.
"Unfortunately, I can't. It seems that Stoker isn't done with me yet. I can send Prowl to get you both", said Prime.
I looked at my mom and told her that dad would send someone else to get us. She nodded and I told my dad to go ahead and send Prowl.
"I'll see you both when you get here", Optimus said. Then I hung up.
Shortly after my dad got off the phone with me, he sent Prowl to pick up Carbine and I and bring us to the scoreboard.
Then he got into it again with Stoker about the way he treated me when Throttle was alive. Stoker was even worse after Throttle was dead. Which is why my dad tore into him.
He warned Stoker that if he said anything more against me he would make him pay. And pay Stoker did. Even Little Vinnie tore into Stoker. He loved Throttle like a 2nd father.
Little Vinnie broke several ribs and managed to puncture a lung on Stoker. My dad didn't go that far as to try and kill Stoker. Just break a few bones. But his son was past the point of going easy on Stoker.
Both Vinnie and Prime had to stop Little Vinnie from finishing Stoker off for good.
"Vinnie get Stoker to the hospital. I'll take care of my son", said Prime.
"Right. Come on, coach. Let's get you out of here and to the hospital", Vinnie said, picking up Stoker.
As Prowl was bringing us to the scoreboard, he asked if he could talk to me privately about Sunny.
"I know you miss my bro, Prowl. I miss him, too", I said.
"There's more to it than just missing him, Wolf. Before I showed up here in Chicago, I went through his personal things in his room back at HQ. I was surprised at what I found", Prowl said.
"What did you find, Prowl? I mean, besides his paintings", I said.
"He wrote a last will and testament in case anything were to happen to him. Sideswipe wrote one, too", said Prowl.
I was shocked beyond belief. I had no idea that my bro's had even written their wills.
"They never told me that they had planned to write their wills, Prowl", I said.
"Sunny never told me, either. I just thought that it was time to pack his stuff and that's when I came across it. It's in my personal quarters back at the base. I was hoping that you would come with me", Prowl said.
"I have to talk to Prime about it first, Prowl. You know how he is if I don't tell him what I'm doing", I said.
"Already taken care of. He already knows that you're going back to base with me. You're cleared", said Prowl.
"It's not that I don't believe you, Prowl, but I'd like to double check with him to make sure", I said.
"Not a problem, Wolf", Prowl said.
Ten minutes after I got off the phone, I stared out the windshield in shock. There was no way I could tell mom that Stoker is dead. She'd go after dad and try to kill him for killing Stoker, her uncle.
Carbine put her hand on my shoulder. I got startled a bit. I looked at her with shock written on my face.
"Is everything alright, sweetie? You look shocked about something", Carbine said.
I snapped out of it. "Huh? What?", I said.
"I asked you if everything was alright? You had a look of shock on your face a minute ago", said Carbine.
"Yeah, I'm fine, mom", I said.
"Are you sure you're ok, Wolf?", Prowl asked.
"Yeah, Prowl. I'm fine. Just take me back to the base", I said.
"Can you drop me off at the scoreboard before you head out?", Carbine asked.
"Yeah, sure. No problem, mom", I said.
After we dropped mom off, Prowl and I headed for Oregon to deal with my brother's things. I knew that Prowl missed Sunny very badly. I also missed Sunny and Sides very badly, too. I wish they were still alive.
As we crossed another state line, Prowl had sensed that I was very quiet. It bothered him, so he asked me what was wrong.
"Nothing's wrong, Prowl. Just been thinking", I said.
"If you don't mind me asking, what were you thinking about?", asked Prowl.
"I was thinking what my life is going to be like without Throttle. I miss him, Prowl. I don't know what I'm going to do without him", I said, as a tear rolled down my face.
Prowl activated his holoform, then pulled into the rest stop that had come up along the way.
After he pulled into the rest stop, he turned the engine off, got out and came around to the passenger side and opened the door. I looked at him strangely.
"What's going on, Prowl? Why are we here?", I asked.
"I think we need to have a long talk. The long drive back to base might make it worse. I've seen your temper and to be honest, Wolf, I don't want my vehicle mode to look like I went through a demolition derby with the Stunticons", Prowl said.
"And since we're both hurting from losing a loved one, it's only fitting that we do this here instead of on the road. And that's understanding, Prowl. Did Sides ever say or express his feelings about you and Sunny together?", I asked.
"Yeah, he did. I sat him down and told him that I wasn't trying to take his brother from him. Sunny told him the same thing. After we had both talked to Sides, he realized we were right, so he accepted our relationship and was happy for Sunny. That's when the pranks stopped. I was glad when Sides came to me and told me himself that since his brother and I were together, he stopped pranking me, Ratchet and Prime", said Prowl.
I looked at Prowl in total shock. "Are you sure my brother told you that? Cause honestly, that doesn't sound like Sideswipe at all", I said.
"I was shocked myself when he told me. I didn't know what to say at first. I sat there in total shock, then gave him a smile and told him I appreciate what he's doing so he stays in my good graces and stays my sons' guardian", Prowl said.
"Son? You have a son?", I asked.
"I'm going to assume they never told you about Christopher", said Prowl.
"And your assumption would be correct, Prowl. I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but, I don't see you as the father figure type. Unless I'm wrong, and you are the father figure type", I said.
"I wasn't at first, but once I got the hang of it, the war was getting real bad by the time Christopher was a month old", Prowl said.
"So, what happened to Christopher's mother, if you don't mind me asking?", I asked.
"Last I heard, she died of old age. We both made sure that Christopher was well taken care of and had a roof over his head before I left to join Prime's team", said Prowl.
"It's good to know that you both had his well being in mind before you left", I said.
Prowl nodded then went silent. I could tell that something was on his mind. "You ok, Prowl? You look like you're about to cry", I said.
Prowl looked at me. The look on his face, holoform or not, was saddening. He had glistening tears forming in his baby blue eyes.
I brought him closer so that he could lean his head on my shoulder. "It's ok to cry, Prowl. It doesn't make you weak like some would like to think. It makes you "human" and mortal. If my dad ever lost me, he'd be spark broken and probably would break down and cry. I know he did when he lost Little Throttle and Little Modo", I said.
Then it hit him on who my dad was. He looked at me with shock. "Are you telling me that Optimus is your father and the father of your boys?", asked Prowl.
"Yes and yes. To Little Vinnie, we are mom and dad. When not around our son, we're father and daughter. We won't tell him that his father is also his grandfather. It would traumatize him, and we don't need that. Of course when I had the triplets, we weren't father and daughter. I didn't know that he was my father 'til years later. That's when we decided that we wouldn't tell the boys. And we have stuck to the promise ever since. Don't tell my dad this, but, if he wasn't my father, I would bond with him and have more sparklings with him. But since he's my father, it would be wrong. Thing is, I feel attracted to him, so it makes me feel weird", I said.
"If I told you that when I was with your brother and was thinking of you, you're not going to smack me, are you?", Prowl asked.
"No. Honestly, I'm flattered that you even think of me. What I'm going to tell you could get me smacked", I said.
"If it's what I think you're going to tell me, then go ahead and tell me. I've heard it when I'm in the rec. room getting something to drink", said Prowl.
"If you already know, then why do I need to tell you again?", I asked.
"Cause I need to make sure its what I think it is. So, go ahead and tell me", Prowl said.
"The first time I met you, I thought you were a stick in the mud. Rather uptight, no sense of humor and always serious", I said.
"I've heard it all, Wolf. I hear it everyday. It doesn't bother me as it use to the first time I heard it. I let it go and consider the mechs who are saying it. But when I said I was thinking of you, I meant it in a different way. Don't get me wrong, I loved your brother, but my spark was aching for you and I don't know why", said Prowl.
"I don't know why, either, but my heart was aching for you, even after I lost Throttle. When I was upset, you somehow, managed to calm me down without actually being there. I don't know what it is about you, Prowl, but everything I ever said and thought about you is all wrong. You can be a nice guy when you want to be. I know Sunny noticed it, Sides noticed it, and so did I. You do have a sense of humor. Give me a month and maybe we'll talk about dating, if that's you're wanting from me", I said.
"That is what I'm wanting from you, but like you said, you want to wait 'til you're ready, and that's fine with me. I'll settle with being your friend 'til you're ready", Prowl said.
"Thanks Prowl. I'm glad you understand. Not many are willing to wait to get into another relationship. They just jump right into another one without thinking. I had a friend who did that after getting divorced. Just jumped right into another relationship", I said.
"Do you remember this friend's name?", asked Prowl.
"Nope. We talked after we found each other again, which is when I found out he jumped into another relationship after getting divorced. I never talked with him again. I use to have a major crush on him when I was little, then lost all contact with him. We talked for about a month, then lost contact with him again. I have true friends in Chicago and in Oregon", I said.
"You mean the other Martian Mice and the other Autobots, don't you, Wolf?", Prowl said.
"Yep. Those that I can really depend on to be there for me no matter what. *sighs* Maybe I shouldn't get into another relationship, Prowl. It's not you, it's me. I'm a walking disaster. Anyone who is around me ends up dead. My brothers. My 2 boys. My husband. I don't deserve to be happy with anyone, Prowl. I think I'm better off by myself from now on", I said.
"Do you really believe what you're saying, Wolf? None of them were near you when they died. They were either out on patrol or on their day off when they died. Your husband was in the hospital when he died. Sideswipe was ambushed and died while you were on Cybertron. Sunstreaker was killed by a fellow Autobot cause his brother was dead. Ratchet and Wheeljack were killed cause of Wheeljack's invention. Both of your boys were killed while with Blaster and Jazz in Nevada at that concert. You weren't near any of them when that all happened", said Prowl.
"I wish I had never shown my face at HQ. Then no one would have died. I told you, it's me. I bring death to everyone. And it's spreading. My son killed Stoker cause of what he said about me. As soon as we get back to the base, I'm packing up whatever I have in my room and getting the hell out of there so I don't bring any more death to the Autobots. It's better for me and for everyone there that I never come back there and that no one ever contacts me", I said.
I started heading for the highway from the rest stop. I didn't want Prowl with me in case something happened to him. I don't need anyone else to die cause of me. I also text everyone that would receive it that I'm packing up everything and finding somewhere else to live by myself so that no one around me gets killed.
Rogue Valley Medical Center. Modo's cell phone went off and he looked to see what it was. Charley looked at Modo who looked at her in shock. "What is it, Modo? Everything ok?", Charley asked.
"Not really. I just got a text from Wolf. She doesn't want anyone contacting her any more. She's afraid that she'll bring death to anyone who's around her", Modo said.
"What!? Let me see that", said Charley. Modo handed her the phone and Charley looked at it in total shock.
"Why would she think that she brings death to people?", Charley asked, handing Modo back his phone.
"I have no idea, but I'm going to text her back and find out what is going on, then we'll get you discharged and head for the Autobot base. We may have to look for an SUV now. I can't be riding our son on my bike", said Modo.
"I wouldn't let you 'til he was old enough to hang on. Speaking of our son, we need to think of a name for him", said Charley.
"I would like to name him after my nephew, but its something that we need to talk about first", Modo said.
"I know you loved your nephew, Modo and if you would like to name our son after Rimfire, then by all means, go ahead. I think Rimfire would be honored to share his name with our son", Charley said.
"Hey dad, we have a problem", Little Vinnie said, looking at the text I sent him.
"What kind of problem, son?", Prime asked, walking up to his son.
"This kind of problem", said Little Vinnie, as he handed his cell over to his father.
Prime looked at the text and nearly broke his sons' phone.
"You ok, dad? You look upset about something", Little Vinnie said.
All Optimus did was nod his head then called Prowl. He was hoping that I was still with Prowl. Prime was also hoping that either Prowl or I could shed some light on what's going on. Hoping being the operative word.
"Yes Prime", Prowl said.
"Is Wolf still with you?", asked Optimus.
"No, she's not. She took off on foot. She wants too be far away in case something happens to me. Prime, she blames herself for everyone who has died. She's on her way to Autobot HQ to pack up whatever she has left there, then find somewhere to live by herself and wants no one to contact her any more", said Prowl.
"You're sure she said that to you, Prowl?", Prime asked.
"I'm very sure, Prime. She's not just my sister-in-law, but she's also my friend. Morale has never been so good and this high since she showed up. When word gets around that she's leaving, morale will go down the drain and our asses handed to us by Megatron. I don't know what's going to happen if any of us can't get her to stay. She's been a major asset to the Autobots. She's come up with some great weapons. Without your daughter around, we won't be one-up on Megatron, weapon wise", Prowl said.
"I understand your concern, Prowl. I will get in touch with Ironhide and let him know that as soon as she arrives at the base, she is to be put in the brig until I get there", said Optimus.