She stood leaning against the large hanger doors. Her long hair tied up in a low ponytail. Her arms are crossed over her chest and her stony gray eyes are staring over the base. Without warning a pair of hands wrapped around her waist. A few months ago, she would have elbowed the man in the gut. But now she welcomes his comfort. He leans his head in the crook of her neck, holding her close. "Are you alright?" His husky voice whispered in her ear. "I'm alright, Sunstreaker." She mumbled turning her head towards him. "I don't believe you." He said kissing her cheek. "I know you don't." she gave him a small smile. He turned her around, so she was facing him, his hands still on her waist. Her hands pressed against his strong chest. "You don't have to hide yourself anymore. I'm here for you." He leaned his forehead against hers, both closing their eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued. "I know its hard to change. Especially since you've been hiding your whole life, only trusting one person, but I'm here now too. And I'll always be here." He gently pressed his lips into hers, the kiss filled with so much passion and love. Something neither of them new much about but would learn about together. For once in her life she felt whole. Sunstreaker made her feel whole. Like her heart could start beating again, letting the ice melt. The ice that incased the broken organ, to protect it from anyone on the outside.

"I'm just worried about Diesel." She admitted after they parted from the kiss. Her arms were wrapped around his neck as she leaned away to speak. "I know you are." He pulled her into a tight hug, holding her close. Her head rested in his chest, eyes wide, thinking about her partner. "He will be fine. He's with Optimus, Ratchet, Ironhide, and Jazz. They all know what their doing." He tried to reassure her. Not that it was working, but he was trying. "But what if it is all a trap. What if they never come back?" She cried. Sunstreaker seemed to tense up at her words, but quickly loosened up. "They will come back. They are the most experienced mechs I know. Prime will let nothing bad happen to them." He leaned down and nuzzled her nose, making her give a quiet giggle. "I guess your right. What time is it?" "almost one." "Shit I need to go see Lennox. He has some news for me. Want to come?" She gets herself out of his hold and begins to walk towards the offices. With a nod, he tags along.

They held hands as the two walked over. Soldiers were still getting used to Sunstreaker being in his holoform. The bases two most heartless people were together, Soldiers stayed out of their way. Autobots as well, especially the younger bots. Their pace was quick, making the walk short. Nichole knocked on the Majors door and waited for a cue to go in. A muffled "Come in" was heard on the other side. "Nichole!" Lennox jumped up from his seat, hands shuffling papers around. "Your paper work is finished and has been sent. I talked to General Morshower and if you are approved, which will probably take a few tries, he wants you under his command. Well you would be under mine, here at NEST." A frown showed on her face. "Wait I won't be able to be a Marine again?" She asked quietly. He looked at her and frowned as well. "Unfortunately, with being medically retired from the Marines, if we are to get anything turned around, you still wouldn't be able to go back in. But you can join the army and you will also get promoted."

Silence filled the room as she took the time to think it over. She would still be going back into the military and once a Marine always a Marine. It shouldn't matter to her what branch, she should just be happy having a chance to be a part of something again. Diesel is starting to get to her now. This could still work for her. If she lets it. "Alright. That will work." She said confidently. Sunstreaker squeezed her hand in reassurance. Lennox gave her a small smile at hearing her words. She tried to smile back, but her heart wouldn't let her. This is what she wants, but not how she was hoping it would go. Either way there was still a lot of work to be done. "Let me know." She said quietly, then turned to leave the room, Sunstreaker not to far behind. "I will." Lennox whispered as the door closed behind her.

"Why don't you look happy?" Sunstreaker asked as the door shut behind them. "I'm not ready to be demoted to a soldier." She admitted. Sunstreaker looked at her in confusion, not understanding what she said. "I'm a Marine. We are far and few between. Its hard training to become one and now I'll be lowing my standards to that of a Soldier. Yes, we are all fighting for the same thing, but the branches still have our own quarrels against each other. We all believe we are better in our own ways. That's just how we work. In the end we are all the same, we all work together against the enemy. Marines though, Marines are full of pride, its hard for us to go from something we've worked so hard for to let it go just like that." She explained. Sunstreaker reached for her hand, but she moved out of his reach. Comfort wasn't something she needed right now. What she needed was someone that knew her and understands her, but he's not here right now and who knows when he will be back.

The rest of the day, she spent her time alone and outside away from base. Her mind running, not sure when it would slow down. "I don't know what to do Diesel." She looked up to the sky, the sun had begun to set, the stars beginning to shine. "I wish I could talk to you. I know Optimus said we could, but you got a mission to finish. You don't need any distractions. I know you don't. I would be a big one and I'm not about to let you fail." She paused fiddling with some grass before she continued. "But I do need you, buddy. I need your guidance. You always know what to say and how to make everything seem better than it actually is. Sometimes I feel like you know me better than I know myself. I'm without you again and I'm losing my mind. Yeah, Sunstreaker helps keep my mind busy, but he's not you. He doesn't know all the scary details that I call my life. I don't know if I could ever tell him the deep shit. I want to, and I know you'd tell me to. I just ain't ready too. Just ain't ready. I hope you come home soon. I could really use your help right about now." With that she got up and headed back inside.

Sunstreaker was waiting for her by the hanger opening. He never left, but knew she needed some space. Everyone needs space every now and then. Without say any words, the two began to walk back to his room. Sleep had been hard to come by, but they both needed to try. Sideswipe was already in the room, passed out on his berth. Sunstreaker laid down and Nichole laid down on his chest, right above his spark. "I want you to know, if something ever happens and you lose me too...please know that I love you." He spoke quietly, almost too quiet for her to hear. She leaned up on her side and looked at him with confusion. "Where do you plan on going that I'll lose you too." She cried, trying to keep the tears at by, not understanding what he said. "Don't tell me you love me then leave." She all but shouted at him. "But I need you to know. I love you with all my spark. I know it doesn't make sense what I'm saying, but I need you to know." His optics focused on her in the dark.

He wants her to say it back. The silence following his confession was killing him. He had been dying to tell her that he loved her. All he wants is her, she is his everything. At this moment, this very moment, he is all hers and always will be. Whether she likes it or not. "I can't." She whispered looking away. He took his digit and began to rub circles on her back. He did everything in his power to not get upset. He knew she wasn't ready, but he needed her to know. "I will never be what you want. I can't love you the way you want me too." She slowly got up, her knees wobbling for a moment until she gained balance. "Don't leave." He voice low and as wobbly as her knees. "I think I need to leave." She slid down his torso onto his berth. "No!" He shouted, picking her up in his servo. "You are not going to just run away." He cried out. "Sunstreaker...Let me...Go." She struggled to get out of his grip. "I'm not going to let you run away from this. I know you have feelings for me just like I do for you. I know you don't want to admit it or talk about it, but please let me tell you that I do."

"Sunstreaker I can't. I can't listen to this." She continued to struggle. "Why not? Why can't you.." "I don't believe in love! I don't believe in those kinds of feelings. They don't exist. They are just words people say to each other to trap each other, to make them believe all the lies." She screamed at him. Anger beginning to fume inside her. He looked at her in shock, unsure of how to compute what she just said. His grip loosened, and she slipped through his grip and fell to his thigh. With him dazed, she took her chance to leave. She jumped to the floor, stumbling at first, then she ran. She ran as far away as she could. She didn't know where to run to. She had no where to go. She needed to get away from here. By time she stopped to catch her breath, she was almost to the gate of the base.

She fell to her knees.

Her head in her hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Love doesn't exist." The words she said ran through her mind. What she said was the truth. She doesn't believe in that kind of thing. The notion of love was ruined for her a long time ago. The minute her heart iced over, anything to do with love and caring and feelings was frozen. Though Sunstreaker has helped her heart begin to beat again, it won't change her mind. Nothing will ever change her mind.

She heard revving of an engine coming from behind her. Without looking behind her, she took off in a sprint. Heading to the gate. As she was about to run threw the gate, she was grabbed and taken to the ground. "Ms. James you can't leave without escort." The soldier who had her on the ground yelled at her. She struggled hard, fighting, kicking and screaming at him to get off. "Please I don't want to hurt you." He grunted out trying to hold her down. "Then SHOOT me!" She growled, taking a chance and punching him in the face. He fell back, clutching his nose. Giving her time to get up and run, just as the golden Lamborghini pulled up. He transformed screaming her name. Hoping she would turn around and come back to him.

When she didn't, he knew he had to go get back up. He couldn't leave without no one knowing. As much as he wanted to follow, it would be dangerous for him to go without back up. Meanwhile she kept running. Not caring about the burning sensation in her legs. The roads were deserted, not a living thing could be seen. After feeling far enough away, she slowed to a light jog then soon to a walk. She made sure to take a few turns here and then, not wanting to know how to get back. It wasn't until the sun was beginning to rise, she realized how long she had been walking. She's exhausted and thirsty. She continued to walk until a small park came into her view. She sat on the bench, letting her body relax for a few moments. Those few moments ended quickly as a jet flew close to the ground. A jet she recognized.

"Fuck" was the only word she could get out before the jet transformed and landed in front of her, not giving her anytime to run, it grabbed her, transformed and flew off. As the jet flew towards the rising sun, the Autobots raced through the area looking for Nichole. If they would have been a few seconds sooner, they might have been able to save her.