"We have to go back to the base sooner or later Hazel" Ironhide spoke up with a quiet mutter, his optics focused on me. Where I sat on his servo, chin resting on the palm of my hand.

I looked at him from the corner of my amber eyes that were bloodshot from the crying I had done beforehand. "I don't want to" Stubborn, I glared out at the training field around us.

We had been out here for nearly an hour and I seriously just didn't want to face William or My mum. I wish to avoid it as much as possible.

"Well you can't always get what you want." Ironhide responded swiftly in a grumpy manner, he shifted onto his feet in seconds and turned to the base with a loud huff directed at me.

I groaned out loud. Knowing I had no choice, knowing I couldn't avoid William or Dana forever. If Dana was even still there. "Fine." I slumped in defeat, holding onto Ironhides servo while he walked back into the noisy base.

I looked around lazily, the sound of Ironhide's metal peds hitting the corridors flooring easily reached my hearing as I zoned out.

I yelped in startlement when Ratchets faceplates suddenly appeared in front of my vision, blinking rapidly, I allowed my eyes to refocus to the scenary around me. My brain stuttered back into reality once again.

"Wh-at?" I stumbled out the only word that came to mind, not expecting the Medical Officer to appear out of no where like that.

Ratchet vented at this. Obviously trying to find the patience to deal with me. "I asked, are you okay?" Repeating himself, the medic tilted his helm slightly. Turquoise optics narrowed down at me with a soft glow.

"I..." Trailing off my sentence, I fiddled with my hands with a puzzled look. My heart squeezed painfully in my chest, the look of longing and wishing for acceptance clear in my eyes.

'Am I okay?' I thought to myself.

'Why didn't my mum look for me?' My brown eyes casted downwards, clouded with negativity.

'Did Ironhide actually care? Like I do for him?' I didn't know what I felt. I just felt empty. Numb...

"-el, Hazel!" Ironhides booming voice snapped me out of my drowning thoughts. I looked up at the black mech with dulled eyes. "What?"

Ironhide grunted at this and shook his helm in disbelief. "I think she needs time to clear her processor, Ratchet." Ironhide told Ratchet softly with an apologetic look in his electric blue optics. Ratchet waved the apology away.

"Keep an optic on her Ironhide, I mean it. Especially with her healing wound." Ratchet told the Weapon specialist sternly while waving his index digit in a scolding manner.

"I will" Ironhide replied with a grunt. Ratchet took this as his leave, walking off to his medic bay, Ironhide continued to his original destination.

Soon we entered the rec-room. No words spoken to one another during the walk. The sound of us entering made William turn his attention away from his soldiers, to walk up to us

There was worry and guilt in the Captains brown eyes. "Hazel..." William started as I was lowered to the floor by Ironhide. I sent an uncertain look at Ironhide, before hopping off his servo and walking on Earths surface again.

"I'm sorry, about before" William apologised, rubbing his neck as he spoke. "I just...you're my kid now. You really are."

I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know what to say. Nothing came out. I was shocked. The air had left my lungs in startlement at what William had said. My heart no longer squeezed painfully, but blossomed into appreciation and love.

Walking up to the Captain that I classified as my dad, I threw my hands around his taller frame and hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

William gladly hugged me back. "I understand...it's hard time for us all" he whispered to me. Making me swallow down the pained sob that tried to escape.

"I will always choose you, over her. Dad." I whispered back in his ear, William tightened his hold around me in response.

"It's getting late, You need to head home" William commented, casting a look to where Sarah had arrive to pick me up.

Obviously it will be a late night for William and Ironhide with all the Decepticon attacks of recent. Especially with the murders of Arcee and Nathan. There will most likely be a conference meeting held.

"Can I miss school for a while?" I asked sheepishly as Sarah hopped out of the car and walked to us. We broke the hug at this point.

William looked at me with a grin and shrugged with amusement. "Sure-".

"Not happening." Sarah butted in the conversation calmly. "She needs a distraction from everything." Sarah obviously knee of Nathan then and of the attack. The blonde mother patted my shoulder in a comforting manner.

"-but. Sarah..." William protested, mumuring in her ear about my wound and Nathan.

"She also needs an education William" Sarah sighed in return, blue eyes softening.

I whined softly, not wanting to deal with the aftermath of it all. Scared of seeing Aneska. Scared of facing reality. "I don't want to go to school and Ratchet said I needed rest."

"Fine, but only for this week." Sarah waved a finger in my face. "After that, all you have to do is sit in class and take notes. I will sign you off Sports until Ratchet clears you."

My shoulders dropped in relief.

•~••~•
|Week Later|

Sighing with reluctance. I walked up the stairs of my high school, holding onto my backpack straps tightly. I looked around anxiously, nerves flooding my body.

Flowers and cards were planted at the sign of the Highschool as a memorial for Nathan.

'A life taken too soon, Rest in peace, Nathan Stewart'.

I sighed to myself at this. To look away from the memorial, my eyes stinging at the very fresh reminder. I soon stopped at the entrance of the school, kids pushing past me, my attention was caught by a car horn.

Blinking, I turned around to see Jazz's alt-mode. I spotted Aneska who hopped out of the silver vehicle. We made eye contact for a few seconds.

'I regret all of this.'

A frown was on her lips, before she looked away from me. Walking up to me, I went to speak, but found she walked straight past me. It felt like I had been stabbed in my abdomen again, my eyes filled with hurt and sadness instantly.

Soon I entered the busy building, knowing I had class that was starting soon. The bell rang loudly in my ears, my heart pounded while I was shoved and nudged by many passing students heading to class.

I held my first subject books in my hands that started to shake, my first subject was Science today. My feet pounded against the ground as I walked to said classroom.

Why couldn't I have stayed home that day? I would be with them...

'You should be home with your family! Spend time with us on your birthday, not your friends, You're always going out! Never home."

I should have listened to my dad.

'Hazel where are you going?' The twins spoke up at the same time, looking up at me curiously.

'I'll be back in a minute Jamie and Taylor, just visiting some friends.'

'Promise?' Jamie asked, brown eyes narrowing in question. Taylor giggled at this.

'I promise'

My eyes sad, I continued to walk. Memories flooding my mind.

'Sam get to the building!'

My heart pounded against my chest, while flashbacks hit me. I tried to stay calm, a week away from school should have helped.

Why is my mind so against me?

I entered my classroom in a rush, passing my teacher that greeted me with urgency. I was too busy focusing on myself to greet back, I halted in the middle of the classroom. Breathes escaping my mouth harshly.

"Miss Lennox?-"

'Run, run, keep running!'

My breathing hitched. I clutched my jumper harshly, my books falling out of my hands with a loud bang.

Blood... So much blood...

Screaming...their screams.

'Don't stop till you get to your family!'

Aneska's bluey green eyes stared at me from afar with worry, she slowly got to her feet. Hoping off her chair to walk towards me warily. "Hazel?..."

"Miss Lennox!" The teachers voice yelled at me for their attention. The yelling seemed to trigger my state more, knees weak like jelly, I fell down like a sack of potatoes. Gasps and feet shuffling was heard.

"William!" Aneska's voice entered my hearing, she must be on a phone call. "It's Hazel! I think she's having another panic attack-"

'They're gone kid, nothing could survive that.'

'...Nothing could survive that...'

'Nothing...could...survive'

The calls of my name echoed the classroom. Aneska's face appeared in my eyesight, tears left my eyes as they left hers as well. Fear in those blue eyes.

"I...I want Ironhide." I forced out.

"He is coming." Aneska replied softly.

The Problems can not be fixed,
When The problem is myself.