She stared at herself in the large mirror on the bathroom wall above the sink. The bright lights overhead, shine over some of the darkest parts of the room. She can see the darkened skin under her eyelids, each individual stitch starting right below the edge of the lack of sleep. Pulling the skin tight, no possible wrinkles could show. Unlike the other side, which shows her false age. Years of battle warn away her body making her look older than she was. She lightly touches the stitches lining the lower part of her face and down the side of her neck. She would have been dead if she hadn't been saved, covered with protection. The scar that will remain will forever remind her of who she lost. She traces each stitch, still feeling a sting of pain as she passes over each one. It had only happened three weeks ago. Still fresh in her mind. Images of that day flash in her mind. She gives a slap to her cheek, right over the stitches, echoing throughout the bathroom. Her face never winces from the pain it causes. Her head barely moves from the force of her hand. She begins to caress her cheek, soothing the pain she caused herself. Her eyes staring into her own dark cold gray eyes. Trying to remember a time when they were bright, warm and ocean blue.

That time felt so long ago, though, it truly was. It was a time of peace and happiness for her. A time she will never feel again. Her time in the Marine Corps made it easier for her to forget that time. Made her into the killing machine she is. Fighting for her country without mercy. She can look her enemy in the eye, shoot them through the heart, and have a smirk formed on her face as she watches them fall to the ground. Hitting the ground with a thud, their eyes lifeless before they hit the cold, hard ground. Their blood beginning to seep though the bullet hole made in their chest. Sometimes she would stay where she was, looking through her scope making sure they didn't get back up. This is what made people fear her. Made her superiors want her on the front lines with the grunts. Not in the back, bringing up supplies in the rear. She was known for her cold heart, how she could kill with no care in the world. Most grunts feared her as well, but they were also glad she was on their side.

Her Autobot partner had helped her become this way. He didn't intend for her to become heartless and cold towards people, though she was already that way when they officially met. Only made worse from fighting war for so long. He became her heart, he was there for her when no one was. He made sure she was okay, keeping her in check, making sure she thought about what she was going to say. They had met after she joined the Corps, when she first got to her unit. When she found him, she did everything she could to keep him alive and his secret safe. Then they were ripped apart after 8 years together, after he made sure she would live. He was her only family, the only one closest to her, that knew all her secrets. Now that he was gone, she didn't know what to do anymore. She cut off all contact with everyone. It didn't matter who they were. The Marine Corps kicked her out saying she wouldn't be able to fight anymore. They didn't need her anymore. They told her she would forever have problems and with her mental health it only made it harder for her. She would never be able to live in the civilian world. She would never be able to get a normal job and live her life. The exact opposite her partner wanted for her. The Marine Corps didn't even want to chance her anymore. This is what they needed to get her out. She was too dangerous for the military, but she would also be too dangerous for the civilian world as well.

Glass shattered around her, falling onto her skin, causing tiny cuts.

It took a minute for her to realize what she did. The once large mirror, was now in pieces around the sink.

Her knuckles began to bleed from the hard punch she threw at it. She didn't feel the pain, she felt numb. Her eyes glowed with anger as she panted from adrenaline. She thought about throwing another punch, but that wouldn't help anyone.

Then she heard a knock on her door. Quickly, she grabbed a towel to cover her hand. She looked through the peep hole to see who it was. Outside her door stood a dark-haired man, bright blue eyes, some stubble along his sculpted jaw line. He wore a red skin-tight t-shirt over his toned torso and black ripped up jeans that hugged his hips perfectly. Then a pair of black and red converse at his feet. She recognized him from earlier. He was a Autobot in his holoform.

She opened the door and leaned with her arms crossed, hiding her hand, in the door frame. "Yes?" She asked trying to be polite.

"I heard something shatter as I walked by and I just wanted to make sure you were all right." He wondered nervously.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern." She stated and began to close the door. He stopped her by putting his hand on the door.

"Is there something else?" Her voice flat. She stared at him, watching him squirm from his nerves. He was about a foot taller than her and wouldn't look at her.

"Um would you like to hang out with us? We are going to be in the rec room playing video games." He was a nervous wreck and was beginning to sweat.

"Thanks for the offer, but no I'll be staying here." She gave him a fake smile and closed the door in his face.

Sideswipe wiped the sweat from his brow and released a breath he had been holding. "She is scary." He whispered and walked away, but not without taking one more looked back at her door. Then he vanished back into his bipedal mode and made his way to the rec room. It was around six at night and the bots that didn't have duty tonight were in the rec room, cooling off.

"Sideswipe, you look like you've seen a ghost." Autobot Skids shouted at him from across the room. "Maybe he did." His twin Mudflap added.

"I didn't see a ghost you idiots." Sideswipe glared at the young twins and made his way to the cybertronian sized couch.

"What did you see?" The two came up behind him, leaning against the couch.

"Nichole happened. I heard glass shatter from her room and just wanted to know if she was okay and she is scary, but said she was fine." Sideswipe explained.

"You should probably let Lennox know what you heard." Mirage suggested.

"Yeah your probably right." Sideswipe agreed, getting up and left the room, looking for the Major.

He made his way down the hall, taking quick strides and watching out for humans. He walked into the hanger and saw Lennox on the cat walk talking to Optimus and Ironhide. He walked up but didn't get to close.

"Do you need something Sideswipe?" Optimus asked noticing the red bot.

"I actually need to tell Major Lennox something that happened with Nichole." He started. "What did you do to her?" Lennox immediately accused him.

"I didn't do anything. I was just walking past her room and I heard glass shattering. I stopped to ask if she was alright. She said she was fine, but she seemed to be hiding behind the door. I just thought I should let you know." He said sheeply.

"Thank you, I will go check on her in a moment." Lennox relaxed, glad that it wasn't something Sideswipe did. Sideswipe took his leave, leaving the three top dogs to finish their business.

He hoped everything was alright with Nichole, he wasn't sure why he cared so much. He usually could care less about fleshies. Why was this one beginning to affect him? He thought maybe it had something to do with Sunstreaker. He had to find out.