The Specialist and I

12

I flinched as Rhyan pressed on my ankle. Dad and Mom were in the doorway, Ron was standing on my left.

"Well, you sprained your ankle. The swelling will go down, eventually. Don't walk too much as it could worsen your injury.", Rhyan said as he wrapped my ankle and turned to the others, "Someone will need to be keeping an eye on her at all times."

"I will.", Ron said, "Pax has enough firepower with all the soldiers under his command."

"Fine. I will let him know. If the injury starts to bother her, give her these. She only needs two. Lori, if you start experiencing any pain, you need to tell Ron. I gave him ibuprofen for you if you need it.", Rhyan said, I nodded, "Now, I have to go. You call me if something goes wrong. Understand?"

"Yes.", Ron said and Rhyan walked to the door.

"Don't forget about your appointment, Ron. I will be expecting you.", Rhyan said and left.

"Appointment?", dad questioned.

"Annuals.", Ron answered, dad nodded in understanding.

"I'm going to make dinner. Will, you want anything?", mom said.

"I have to head to base. I've got a meeting with General Morshower and Pax. We are discussing recent events. Sorry.", dad said and kissed my forehead.

He kissed mom before leaving. I looked down at my lap. He's been leaving a lot lately. Dad and mom both. It almost makes me feel abandoned. Mom went downstairs and made dinner. When she finished, Ron helped me downstairs so I could eat. By helped me, I mean he carried me. I wonder how long this will last.

I took my phone out of my back pocket and opened up the calendar. Shit! I have a book club meeting tomorrow. I showed the calendar to Ron.

"Book club meeting tomorrow? Alright, I'll take you.", Ron said, I nodded my appreciation.

"Book club meeting? What time?", mom asked.

"8:30-11.", Ron answered.

"Could you take Annabel with you? I have to work.", mom looked at Ron and I.

"Yeah. That's fine.", Ron said, mom smiled and we ate.

When I finished, Ron helped me back upstairs to go to bed. I curled up into my blankets and fell asleep.

~

I smiled at Ron as he carried me to the truck. Book club just ended and mom ended up calling in sick so she's with Annabel. My phone beeped and I pulled it out when Ron set me in the passenger seat.

'It's Ron's birthday tomorrow. Thought you'd want to know.' - Orion.

I smiled and sent a thank you. I put my phone back in my pocket before Ron could see. We pulled up into the driveway and I was the first one in the house. I spotted my mom as she turned off the stove. Annabel was the one that was sick, not her. I grabbed her hand and pulled her upstairs to my room.

Ironhide POV (surprise!)

She's up to something. I heard a noise and turned toward the little brat. She had a smile on her face though her eyes showed she was tired. I sighed, knowing I was going to regret doing this. I picked Annabel up out of her playpen and rocked side to side slowly. Annabel fell asleep and I stopped.

The door opened and I turned to see Lennox.

"Don't say a word.", I growled.

"I wasn't going to tease you, Ironhide. You got her to go to sleep on time. Something tells me you will be a great father. If you ever do have kids of your own.", Lennox said as I handed Annabel to him.

"That's not happening. Ever.", I said, "Do you happen to know who texted Lori? She practically dragged your wife upstairs."

"Optimus asked me for her number. If I had to guess, I'd say he's the one who messaged her.", Lennox answered, "What he told her, I have no idea."

I closed my mouth and spotted Sarah coming down the stairs with Lori behind her. What were they up to?

Lori POV

I smiled at Ron as I followed mom down the stairs. I had shown her the text Orion sent me and she agreed to take me to the store in the morning. She had tomorrow off.

"Come on, you two. Lunch is ready. How are things back at the base?", mom asked as she sat down.

"Quiet for the most part. Rhyan isn't too thrilled that Ron isn't there mostly because he has two sets of twins to deal with.", dad said.

"Two? We only have one and a half.", Ron said and walked up behind me, his arms on the back of my chair.

"Steven's brother arrived this morning.", dad stated, Ron groaned.

"Great. Steven and Stephan back together. No doubt Pax has his hands full.", Ron said, dad nodded.    

"The two twins have decided to do a prank war. Steven and Stephen on one team, Simon and Miles on the other. I don't know who their first target is. Or what they plan on doing.", Dad spoke.

I finished with my food and went to stand up so I could put my plate in the sink. Ron must have caught on to what I was doing and grabbed my plate.

"I got it.", Ron said.

I looked over at dad as if asking for an explanation. He only shrugged. Ron went upstairs to grab the crutches Rhyan had given me.

"He's taking good care of you.", mom said, "I forget, is Ron married?"

I stare at her, eyes wide and mouth open. I knew what she was getting at. Dad didn't quite understand. It's a girl thing after all. I pulled the hood of my hoodie over my head completely to hide my blush. She thinks he'd be a good husband for me. I heard Ron coming down the stairs and acted as if nothing had happened.

"No, he's not married.", dad answered, "Ron is a soldier, always has been and always will be."

......And it's ruined. Ron handed me my crutches and looked over at dad, a questioning look on his face.

"Why are you talking about me being married?", Ron asked, I walked out of the house, not wanting to hear anything else.

I thought about Ron and I getting married. Strange thing is, I could see us being a couple. I blushed again, though I was glad no one was around to see it. I looked at Ron's truck and my mind went to the gutter. My blush darkened. I calmed down and once my blush was gone, I walked back inside the house.