A Human Friend (Sequel to A Pet Squishy)

Reunited, Torn Apart

When Thundercracker was satisfied he was safely out of range of his fellow Decepticons he landed. Lana was in his hands, shaking. He remembered that shaking; the shaking she did when he first acclimated her to his touch. Without really thinking about it he stroked her shoulder and arm to soothe her. She stopped shaking, but she was anything but calmed.

"Stop that!" she snapped.

Thundercracker frowned and then sighed, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine." the young woman replied tersely, "Can you put me down?"

The Decepticon looked skyward with irritation, "Sheesh. Some gratitude for saving you would be nice."

Lana's eyes were hard but then she looked up at him, "Thank you for saving me."

"You're welcome."

"How did you find me?" she asked.

"I almost stepped on a little boy who had your DNA on his clothes."

Lana's eyes widened, "You didn't STEP on him did you?"

"No. That's what 'almost' means." the mech rolled his optics.

"Well what did you do with him?"

Thundercracker seemed puzzled, "I let him go once he told me where you were."

Lana stood in his hands, "You LEFT that little boy out there all by himself?"

"I TOLD him I'd let him go, so I did."

"That killer bug could get him! WHY did you leave him?"

Thundercracker strode over to the side of a building and set Lana down.

His features conveyed his exasperation, "BECAUSE Lana, I didn't have the luxury of taking him with me. Your safety took precedence."

Lana gestured toward himbut then turned to find a way off the roof. The Decepticon's black hand rested in her path.

"I'm not done talking with you." he stated.

"Well I'm DONE talking with you. I'm going to find that boy you LEFT out there."

Thundercracker's fingers curled a bit closer to her.

"Get your hand out of my way!" she demanded.

"I have something for you!" the huge blue mech announced quickly.

Lana shook her head, "Didn't I make myself clear before? I don't want ANYTHING from you. Just leave me alone."

Thundercracker's optics lowered with a far off sadness. But it didn't stop him from opening his cockpit and fishing something out.

"Whatever it is, KEEP it." Lana snapped, turning away. "I don't want it."

Despite her harshness, Thundercracker extended his cupped hands. As Lana glanced over her shoulder the giant black hand unfurled and there sat her mother.

The young woman's jaw dropped unchecked, "Mom?!"

Heather stood up hurriedly, "Lana!"

"Oh my God! Mom!" the young woman reached out for her mother and took her hands, helping her off of Thundercracker's fingers.

The pair embraced, all but crushing each other with their relief. Lana couldn't stop herself from crying into her mother's hair. Her chest heaved and her knees practically buckled.