grv. Fort Lamont. Night Terrors

[dens_extra_pups]

Mason: *hurries back into the nearly deserted mess, the plate of food he'd taken with him still in his hands as he frowns and searches the big room*

Jethro: *helping with clean up, pauses as he notices his brother's expression* Wh't's wrong, Mason?

Mason: *accent comes out in his concern* Ah cain't fahnd mah secretareh.

Jethro: ... Y'ur secretareh?

Mason: Yeah. Dahk-'aiuhed feller wit' green ahs. Ah left 'im 'n th' cah.

Jethro: *frowns and moves to recruit one of the soldiers to help Mason locate the missing person*

Miranda: *coming into the mess hall now to see what her husband is up to, is chuckling softly at something she saw on her way out the door of Dixie's house*

Mason: Ah cain't th'nk wh're 'e went. 'E's usualleh too skittish t' go anehwh're. *fretting so much*

Miranda: ...Wh're who went, Mason?

Mason: *bit of agitation comes out in his voice* Mah secretareh!

Miranda: *stern look for the tone* Wh't's 'e look lahk?

Mason: *winces, apology joining the worry in his eyes* Dark 'aiahed feller wit' green ahs.

Miranda: 'Bout yea tall? *gestures with her hand* Kahnda looks lahk 'e's got s'me Native 'n 'im?

Mason: *perks* Yeah. Wh're 's 'e?

Miranda: *so amused* Snugglin' wit' Kae Yau Yeager 'n th' reclahner 't Matt 'n Dixie's.

Mason: *can't help himself. Sounds like he just got told someone slapped his baby as he explodes* Whaat!?

Miranda: *quick to catch Mason by the ear* Y'u settle down now.

Mason: *would be flailing if he weren't still holding that plate* But Ah gotta go save 'im!

Miranda: Y'u don' gotta do nothin' 'f th' sort. Kae Yau made sure 'e et dinner, 'n th' two'a th'm w're laughin' 'bout 'is comic book earliah.

Mason: But she's snugglin' 'im! *nearly looks ready to cry, and doesn't even notice when she uses her free hand to take the plate from him*

Miranda: 'E's comfortin' 'er. Th' dumbaft she w's datin' dumped 'er wit'out tellin' 'er.

Mason: 'Randa, y'u don' undahstand. Tobias'... 'E's special. *and Mason is in full protective mode*

Miranda: Rahght now, 'e's wh't Kae yau needs. S'me'un who's willin' t' jes' be th're f'r 'er.

Mason: Wh't 'bout wh't Tobias needs??

Miranda: Kae Yau knows t' respect th' word 'No'. 'Sahds. Tobias 's th' 'un who started snugglin' first.

Mason: Wh't? *blinks at her*

Miranda: Kae Yau w's aimin' f'r th' couch so Tobias'd 'ave th' comfiah seat, 'n 'e pulled 'er down t' th' chaiuh t' snuggle wit' 'im.

Mason: *all the tension and concern is just gone, like that* Oh. Alrahght. *looks around to see where he can help with clean up*

Miranda: 'Ow'd 'e bec'me yer secretareh, Mason? *moving to help clean up, too*

Mason: *food from the plate into his mouth and then starts gathering things off the floor* 'E applahed wh'n Ah first went back ta work. Th' ladeh th't recommended 'im said 'e 'ad s'me disabilitehs.

Miranda: ...Disabiltehs? Di'n't seem lahk 't t' me. *confused*

Mason: *glances at her* *quietly* Nothin' wrong with 'im. *even more quietly, knowing he can trust her* 'E's jes' not 'uman.

Miranda: *surprised, but then she's nodding* *quietly* 'Splains a lot.

Mason: 'T least, not all 'uman. Th' doctors didn' see anythin' diff'rent 'bout 'im the time Ah 'ad t' bring 'im 'n after 'e nearly dahed from eatin' chocolate.

Miranda: We'll keep 'n ah 'n wh't desserts 'e gits.

Mason: Make sure th' mint tea's realleh mint, too. *slight grin as he remembers a day he and Tobias had both needed a drink, and what he'd given the dark-haired man on a spur of the moment hunch*

Miranda: ... *soft snicker* Y'u gave 'im catnip?

Mason: *shakes his head and sighs as he stands with a handful of dropped candy wrappers* We bot' needed a drink.

Miranda: *patpat*

Dixie: *pokes her head in* Mason, Jesse's got yer bed readeh, wh'n y'u're readeh f'r 't.

Mason: *slight start and looks that way* Ah'm sleepin' here?

Dixie: *nod* Yup.

Mason: Ah thought y'ur 'ouse w's full, wh't wit' th' new young'uns 'n all.

Dixie: We's always got room f'r famileh.

Mason: Ah kin stay wit' Jethro.

Jethro: We ain't even got room f'r 'un moah campin' mat...

Dixie: Y'u'll be in th' guest 'ouse, Mason.

Mason: *surprised look from his brother to his cousin in law* Wh't? Who's at yer house, Jethro? 'N when'd you get a whole guest house, Dixie?

Jethro: We's got Denver, 'n th' 'atchlin's th't keep pahlin' int' th' van each nahght.

Dixie: Remembah th't ol' Elm tree over yondah? *points with her free hand*

Mason: *shakes head with amusement at brother, and then turns back to Dixie* Yer pet tree?

Dixie: *nod* 'T got a bug th't meant we 'ad t' chop all th' limbs off. Th' rest'a th' tree's sturdeh, so we built a 'ouse 'round 't.

Mason: *sympathy in his expression. Knows how much Dixie loved that tree*

Miranda: *in passing, with laughter* Dixie's club 'ouse.

Dixie: C'mon. Ah'll show y'u wh't we did wit' 't.

Mason: *offers the handful of candy wrappers to his brother*

Jethro: *will go throw the wrappers away so the hatchlings don't decide to eat the pieces of flimsy*

Mason: *grabs the chicken off the dinner plate, leaving only the veggies behind since he already ate the biscuit. Then offers his arm to Dixie and hopes she'll overlook his lack of manners with the dinner plate* Alrahght.

Dixie: *soft snerk, will accept the offered arm*

Mason: *lets her lead him out, and then watches someone large pass by, their lights shining gently in the soft night air* ...How many of those gahs're here?

Dixie: ... Ah 'onestleh ain't too sure. 'T least ten.

Mason: *winces at the sound of Diehard and Ordnance greeting one another, but Dixie doesn't seem worried by the clash of metal*

Dixie: Th' green gah's Ordnance. Th' otha 'un's Dah'ard.

Mason: *disapproval* Ordnance's got a bad mouth.

Dixie: Wheeljack's 's worse. *moves to lead Mason toward the treehouse that's situated behind the farm house*

Mason: Ain't anybody told 'im to watch 'is mouth? *frowns and watches out for rough ground that might make a pregnant lady stumble*

Dixie: 'Eaven knows Ah've trahed, 'Randa's trahed, Ratchet's trahed, 'n even Hattie's trahed.

Mason: What's the gah's problem? *frowning more. Also unconsciously hovering more*

Dixie: *slight shrug* Ah'm guessin' 'e don' git wh't words're bad, 'n which 'uns ain't. *calmly* 'N Wheeljack ain't a gah. W'ldn't call 'er a ladeh eithah though.

Mason: *blinks* Ah sh'ldn' feel so shocked, after some've the female soldiers I've met.

Denver: *echoes through the night, her ire does!*

Mason: 0.0 *yup, he's shocked*

Denver: *TELLING Saelen off now!*

Dixie: *sigh*

Mason: *not sure he wants to know* 'S th't...

Dixie: Th't's Denver, tellin' 'er fella off.

Mason: *sighs* Ah thought 't w's 'er. *and then he's pausing and looking up as he realizes how high up that light in a window is. Sees the tree house, and Denver's vocabulary is forgotten in pure little boy glee at the sight of it*

Dixie: Th't's th' guest'ouse.

Mason: Wow. Ah kin see wah y'u kin cope wit' losin' yer tree. *starry eyed!*

Dixie: *chuckles* Yeuuup.

Jesse: *leans out over the balcony and waves to Uncle Mason*

Mason: *waves back, while whispering* Which 'un's this?

Dixie: *quietly* Th't's Jesse. Chrissy's fussin' ovah Debbie.

Mason: *start* Wh're's Debbie sleepin'?

Dixie: 'N 'er new 'ouse. She's got 'un 'f th' new 'ouses th't th' ACE gahs built f'r th' ladeh soldiers.

Mason: *as he steps up onto the deck* Ah 'adn't realahzed she w's stayin'.

Dixie: She said so 'erself.

Mason: *sighs slightly* Gotta listen more. But Ah hadn' seen either of 'em in years, 'n the one's gettin' married.

Dixie: ... Wh't?!

Mason: *looks down at her with a sharp look of surprise* Dallas proposed t'night.

Dixie: *jaw drops*

Mason: Ah kahnda ruined 'is surprahse. 'E wanted Debbie t' approve Kitty first, before Ah saw 'er. *rueful chuckle*

Dixie: Well Ah nevah. *so amused now*

Mason: *softly, as he asks with a gesture if she's coming up* Ah wondah 'f Debbie'll ever fahnd s'mebodeh.

Dixie: *small headshake and a shrug* Dunno. Th're're s'me good boys 'eah.

Mason: *looks out toward the other buildings and sighs* *then remembers and looks at her* Ah sh'ldn' be keepin' y'u up.

Dixie: Ah've got t'maters t' pick, th'n Ah'm 'eadin' 'n.

Mason: Need a hand?

Dixie: Naw. Y'u git t' bed. Y'u'll be meetin' all th' bots t'morrah.

Mason: Alrahght. *still going to hover till that belly's out of sight, Dixie* G'naght.

Dixie: Nahght. *chuckles and heads off to pick a few tomatoes so she can get started on canning tomorrow*

ducks: *talk softly from where they're shut in their coop for the night at the far end of the garden. They're a little cranky about something. This isn't unusual*

Dixie: *to the ducks* Oh, 'ush.

ducks: *more soft sounds and rustling*

Dixie: *chuckles again and goes to get those tomatoes*

Hot Rod: *crows from the porch roof*

Rhode Island red rooster: *crows back from the porch railing*

Hot Rod: *challenging crow, flaps his little arms gleefully*

Dixie: 'Ot Rod, go t' bed! *pauses as she realizes Hazard's not barking at the hatchling on the roof*

hand: *over her mouth as an arm snakes around her neck*

voice: Scream, and I'll gut you.

Dixie: *kicks back and bites at the hand*

arm: *tightens around her neck even as the hand is yanked away*

Dixie: *jerks her head back, aiming for her attacker's face. At the same time, she's grabbing for the arm around her neck with the intention of throwing them off of her*

guy: *strangled yelp, and then he's landing in the tomatoes*

Dixie: *bolts right for the bot barracks* S'me'un 'elp!!!!

Hot Rod: *starts wailing!*

Red Alert: *ditto from the house!*

Hiney: *barking from inside the house*

Chrissy: *meets her Ma halfway, and sends the woman on toward the bot barracks, then rushes to meet the threat*

guy: *pulls himself out of the tomatoes just as Chrissy arrives. Curses and lunges at her, intending to subdue her and take her for a hostage so he can get away*

Chrissy: *screeches something in Seeker, will attack this guy the way Blackout showed everyone*

guy: *down with a gurgling gasp. Never even saw what hit him*

Diehard and Ironhide: *are those two sets of big lights that just totally illuminated the garden*

Chrissy: *making sure the guy's not getting up*

Diehard: Chrissy? Come here quickly! *can tell she's not hurt. Wants to keep her that way*

Chrissy: *hurries to Diehard*

men and soldiers: *swarming from every part of the farm, yelling questions and waving weapons*

CatScan: *hurrying over as well*

Ironhide: *scoops Chrissy up and holds her close as he scowls toward the body laying in the garden*

Blackout: *holding frightened baby bots* It's not my fault it's dead.

Ironhide: Shut up, woman.

Chrissy: *trembling now in Ironhide's hand as what happened begins to sink in*

CatScan: *doing her best to keep from feeling urky as she scans the body laying in the garden and relays the injuries* Eye injuries, broken nose, smashed trachea, broken sternum, and a broken neck.

Matt: *coming out to see what the situation is, Beau and Hiney bringing up the rear*

Hiney: *on the warpath! Teeth are reflecting in the light as she barks furiously*

Beau: *keeping a tight grip on Hiney's leash*

Ironhide: *turns and hunkers to meet Matt* The *deleted* grabbed Dixie. Ratchet's taking care of her. *offers Chrissy*

Matt: *just went pale, will fuss over Chrissy as she hides against him and cries*

Will: *goes and scowls down at the body* Does anyone recognize him?

Dallas: *expression dark* I do, sir.

Chrissy: *muffled* A-Ah d-do, too.

Will: *looks to Dallas because he's closer* Who is it?

Dallas: Debbie's ex boyfriend.

Will: *sucks in breath and looks up at Chrissy, remembering what he's heard of that ex boyfriend* I saw the cause of death. Wrap him up and stick him in the freezer. Saelen, call the sheriff.

Dallas: Yessir. *moving with some of the other soldiers to get the body wrapped up*

Saelen: On it, sir. *cell phone out and sheriff dialed*

Chrissy: *muffled* 'S-S Mama okay?

Diehard: *turns his head and looks* She has a slight concussion, and she's asking for Matt. *pause and frown* And her dog.

Denver: *growls from where she's hunkered down with her arms around Fluffy's neck*

Beau: *frowns and looks around* Wh're 's 'Azard? *worried now*

Ironhide: *head turns slowly as he searches the area. And then he's pointing toward the tree house* I hope duct tape doesn't hurt dogs.

Jake: *runs to get Hazard*

Chrissy: *hiccoughing as Matt moves to guide her toward the hospital*

Ironhide: *angrily cursing himself for missing that guy lurking there. Has no blame for Blackout because she was at the crash site all day*

Diehard: *hand on Ironhide's shoulder* *no idea that he's echoing his father* Calamity was averted. Don't dwell on the past.

Ironhide: *stares at him, and then turns away and goes to where Optimus is standing at the back of the crowd of bots*

Diehard: *watches Ironhide go with an uncertain frown*

Cyclonus: //Diehard, what is the situation?//

Diehard: //Debbie's former wordmate tried to injure Dixie and Chrissy, but they killed him. Ratchet's caring for Dixie and Chrissy now. How is Whirl?//

Cyclonus: //She has magnetized herself to me again. After magnetizing the berth. We are unable to assist.//

Diehard: *soft sigh of relief* //No assistance required.//

Cyclonus: //Understood.//

Drift: *hand on Diehard's arm*

Diehard: *looks down at her*

Drift: *will entangle her fingers with yours, Diehard. And she'll give them a gentle squeeze*

Diehard: *squeezes back and looks toward the hospital* //Ratchet, how are Dixie and her sparklet?//

Ratchet: //They're both calming down, somewhat, now that Matt and Chrissy are here. I want to monitor them overnight, just to be on the safe side.//

Diehard: //I'm glad to hear that.// *watches a tawny streak rush past between bot feet* //You may tell her that Hazard is coming.//

Ratchet: *soft chuckle* //I just did.//

Diehard: *checks on Ironhide's handful of Debbie, who just told the old soldier off and was told by Blackout to stop flirting with her husband. Then goes to where he can hear Presidential vituperation*

President Pratt: *very upset by the fact that not only was Hazard duct taped and stuffed under the guest house, two of her friends were attacked*

Diehard: *lets go his wife's hand and settles an elbow on the ground, noting that the President now has two scowling human protectors hovering near her* *gently* President Pratt, will you be be leaving tonight?

President Pratt: I... I don't know if I should or not...

Dutch: *softly* It is vhat vould usually happen.

India: The press will be expecting a statement.

President Pratt: *small nod* Yeah...

Diehard: *sits up, turns and scans* No one is near your SUV except a game rooster sleeping on the roof.

President Pratt: *small nod*

Dutch: *glances at India, sees she's not going to make a move, but that someone must* *gentle hand on the President's arm* Come. Let's go.

President Pratt: *slight blush, and another small nod, will go where lead*

India: *will bring up the rear*

Dutch: *too focused on protecting now to glance back at India. He knows what he's doing*

Diehard: *watches them go, and then sighs and turns to look toward the driveway as he hears a vehicle approaching*

Optimus: *calls out softly from where he's standing by Ironhide, Blackout, and Elita* Here is Sheriff Smith.

Will: I'm in my office! *well, he's running toward it*

CatScan: *sigh* He'll probably want my report... I'd better get it written down.

Diehard: *looks over with surprise* Written down? Why?

CatScan: So the sheriff can read it and file it.

Diehard: *rapid clicks and squeaks to Scanner*

Scanner: *suddenly showing on her inside screens how she can make paper with writing on it!*

Cat: *soft chuckle, and soon there's a typed report ready for when the sheriff asks*

Diehard: *nods, and then goes to meet the truck, noting that there are two people in it*

Sheriff Smith: *putting the truck in park, is giving the unfamiliar bot a cautious look*

Diehard: *down he goes, just like Optimus always does to greet people he wants to talk to* Hello, Sheriff Smith. Colonel Lennox is in his office. *offers several standard size sheets of paper* This is my report.

Sheriff Smith: Er... Th'nk y'u. *will reach for the report*

CatScan: *moving to approach*

Optimus: *steps forward and also leans down* Marcel, this is my son, Diehard. He's doing my job now.

Sheriff Smith: *small nod* Alrahght, th'n. *nods to CatScan* Ma'am.

Diehard: *peers into the truck at the other man, and at the big, rough-coated brindle dog who is wagging at him, but decides to focus on the task at hand*

CatScan: *will give the sheriff her report* Colonel Lennox will want to talk to you as well, Sheriff.

Sheriff Smith: *nod* Th'nk y'u kahndleh, ma'am. *will go over the reports as he heads for Col. Lennox's office*

Diehard: *watches him and his companion go, and then looks down as the dog stops and sniffs at his hand* Hello?

dog: *so happy to see you! Lookit that big grin and happy tail wag!*

Diehard: *looks at Optimus* What is his name?

Optimus: *gravely* I don't know. I've never met him before.


meanwhile, in the office


Will: *sees the sheriff and the other man come in* Beau, please stop Hiney from growling.

Beau: Yessir. *will move to calm the red dog down*

Sheriff Smith: Col. *nod of greeting*

Will: *nods in return* I see you have reports from some of the bots.

Sheriff Smith: *nod* Dah'ard 'n CatScan.

Will: Ratchet will have a report about Dixie and Chrissy. But I'm afraid neither of them are up to questioning tonight. Chrissy's in shock.

Sheriff Smith: *concerned*

other man: Dixie 'n Chrissy Lamont?

Will: *looks at the other man, then glances at the sheriff, asking who this is*

Sheriff Smith: *gestures to his friend* Th's 's Sheriff James Watson fr'm Bayou Saint John. 'E moved back t' th' area recently 'n 'e'll be doin' patrols 'round th' area.

Beau: *looks up from getting Hiney to settle down* Sheriff Watson? *surprised*

Will: How do you know the Lamonts, Sheriff Watson?

Sheriff Watson: W's visitin' famileh 'n Montgomery 'bout six yeahs 'go, 'n went t' assist 'n a domestic disturbance call. Li'l ladeh w's upset 'n throwin' a fit t' put mama 'ogs t' shame on account'a 'er cousin's boyfriend 'ittin' 'er 'n sayin' s'me awful th'n's t' say t' a ladeh. Me 'n Toledo got 'er calmed down 'nough t' git th' storeh 'bout wh't'd 'appened.

Beau: *quietly* Th't w's mah cousin Chrissy... Wh'n Debbie's ex 'it 'er th' 'un tahm.

Will: The same ex that's in the freezer right now? *frowning*

Beau: *nods* Yessir.

Sheriff Watson: *so worried for the little girl he remembers*

Sheriff Smith: ... 'E's 'n th' freezer?!

Will: Yes. I didn't want Dixie's garden ruined. It means a lot to her.

Sheriff Smith: *one with his facepalm* 'F Ah di'n't 'ave Dah'ard 'n CatScan's reports, Ah'd 'ave words wit' y'all f'r obstruction 'f justice.

Will: *calmly* It's because I know what they can put in their reports that I knew it was safe to move the body.

Hiney: *sniffing Sheriff Watson's feet now*

Sheriff Watson: *absently reaches down to offer his hand to the small dog*

Hiney: *gives him a mild stink eye*

Will: *meanwhile, is sympathizing with Sheriff Smith, who just looked at the pictures* Do you need a bucket?

Sheriff Smith: *disbelief* Who th' 'eck...

Beau: *quietly* Chrissy got 'im.

Sheriff Watson: *moving to take a look at the pictures* ... *quietly* Th't's th' work 'f s'me'un trained t' kill.

Sheriff Smith: *such a shocked look was never leveled at his friend before*

Will: *quietly* Chrissy's been trained. Kids pick things up around soldiers.

Hiney: *looks around and sees nothing to pick up. Gives Will the stink eye*

Will: And she reacted automatically. The man had attacked her mother.

Beau: Th' boogeyman c'me back.

Sheriff Watson: *expression grim as he remembers how hysterical Chrissy was the last time, and that she was the one who gave the finishing blow in the fight because Debbie's then-boyfriend was throttling Debbie*

Will: *sees Sheriff Smith's expression* Ratchet says that Dixie and the baby are going to be alright. Dixie's just got a light concussion.

Sheriff Smith: *relieved*

Will: *frowns at him* I think you better sit down.

Hiney: *chooses that moment to butt nip!*

Sheriff Smith: *startled yelp*

Beau: Hiney!

Sheriff Watson: *boggling, and then he's cracking up*

Will: *hand over face* I take it Hiney agrees with me?

Hiney: *gonna try again if she's not stopped*

Beau: Yeup. *moving to help Sheriff Smith sit down*

Hiney: *growling softly as she hovers, her short tail quivering with her intentness* *and then she realizes there is laughter, and turns to bark at it. Not now! Srs stuff happening!*

Beau: Hiney, 'ush.

Hiney: *instant silence as the little redticked dog looks up to her master*

Sheriff Watson: *to Will* 'S 't alrahght 'f Toledo 'n Ah go sit wit' Miss Chrissy?

Will: *glances at Beau for his opinion* She's with her parents, and probably has WakeJumper and Ambulon in attendance. *remembers to mention the little male hatchling who only manifested his repair programming today*

Beau: Dunno 'f Chrissy'll be up t' talkin'... But Ah reckon we c'n git a cot set up 'n th' barracks f'r y'u, Sheriff Smith.

Sheriff Smith: 'T least lemme see th' poor gal?

Hiney: *looks toward the door*

Will: *does too, used now to depending on dogs and hatchlings to let him know when something interesting's going on*

Inferno: *pushes open the door and looks in, then glances over his shoulder* He's heah, Sisseh.

Jesse: *follows, her arms full of Red Alert* Uncle Marceh?

Lizzie: *frowns through the open door, her arm linked with Firestar's as she looks*

Sheriff Smith: *turns to see who's called him* *expression brightens*

Jesse: *hurries over in quest of hugs*

Hiney: *herds the kids into the room, and then stops to put her ears back at the big stranger dog who just looked in*

Toledo: *headtilt, grin*

Sheriff Watson: Toledo, heel.

Beau: Hiney, down.

Toledo: *trots over to Master, will sit pretty*

Hiney: *lays down*

Firestar: *glances at the dogs, and then returns her attention to patting the back of Unca Marcie*

Lizzie: *dog! :D Meh. :/ Hugs in this hug huddle are better right now*

Jesse: *hiding against Sheriff Smith now*

Sheriff Smith: *soothing sounds for the distraught girl* 'T's alrahght, Jesseh.

Inferno: Pa wansa see y'u, Unca Marceh.

Firestar: *nods* Y'u comin'? *gentle poke for Red Alert*

Red Alert: *soft bweee from where he's in the middle of the hug*

Sheriff Smith: *quietly* Le's all go talk t' Matt, th'n.

Inferno: *nods and heads for the door, totally unafraid of the night despite there having been a boogieman in it*

Firestar: *checks with Lizzie Sissy to see what she's going to do now*

Lizzie: *nod* *yawns and grumbles about it*

Firestar: *soft clicks and peeps as she leads Sissy out of the office*

Sheriff Smith: *moving to get up from his chair, still talking soothingly to Jesse and the hatchling in her arms*

Red Alert: *gives another sad, soft sound. Babby's world is messed up. Everything is not alright*

Hiney: *wishes she could herd them to the house. It is bedtime for kids. But she has been told "down", so she will just lay here and quiver and wish*

Will: *hadn't realized just how close to the Lamont family the sheriff was. He's watching Smith and the kids now with a frown of concern*

Sheriff Smith: *quietly* Le's go talk t' Matt, 'n th'n git y'all tucked int' bed.

Jesse: *weary nod as she moves away from him so he can get up from his chair*

Red Alert: *tips his head back to look at Unca*

Sheriff Smith: *soothing murmurs as he moves to get up*

Will: *watches the kids leave with Sheriff Smith, and then turns his attention to Sheriff Watson and finds the man reading the reports*

Sheriff Watson: *quietly* Ah ain't evah seen reports th's detailed.

Will: That's how Transformers think. *soft snort* And it's how some of them try to talk in the morning before they've woken up completely.

Toledo: *puts his chin on his Master's leg*

Sheriff Watson: B'f're th'y's woken up completleh? *raised brow*

Will: Sure. Getting their brains running after downtime's as hard for some of them as it is for some humans.

Sheriff Watson: *blink. Blink* Huh.

Will: *as a metallic rumble sounds from outside* They're people too.

Beau: Ironhide, excuse y'u!

Ironhide: *through the open door* Yeah. Excuse me. This's got my tank churning.

Will: Have something for it.

Ironhide: Nope.

Beau: *disapproving look*

Sheriff Watson: *raised brow* Y'u'll be feelin' 't t'morrah 'f y'u don'.

Ironhide: *large, glowing blue eye peers through the door* I've felt worse.

Hiney: *growls at him. He's fun to growl at*

Toledo: *ears up, looks at the big guy*

Ironhide: *ignores the dogs. He's watching the sheriff*

Will: That smell better not come in here.

Ironhide: Don't sweat it.

Sheriff Watson: *indicates the reports* D' y'u got anehth'n' t' add?

Ironhide: Debbie's *deleted*.

Sheriff Watson: *nod* Ah'd reckon so. 'S 'n 'er rahght t' be.

Ironhide: *as the sheriff's phone rings* Sent you what I saw on the scene.

Sheriff Watson: Th'nk y'u. *will check his phone*

report: *just as detailed as the others, but is obviously compiled by a cop, and covers things that CatScan and Diehard didn't think to look at*

Sheriff Watson: *nodding as he goes over the report*

Toledo: *waggatail*

Will: Ironhide, how many times do I need to remind you that paperwork means paper?

Ironhide: *absently* Bite me.

Sheriff Watson: *soft, amused snork*

Beau: *to Ironhide* Wh're's Debbie?

Ironhide: With her male batch initiator. *watches Hiney climb into Beau's lap*

Beau: *small nod* Alrahght.

Ironhide: Blackout's got him.

Beau: *surprised* 'Ow come?

Ironhide: *glances toward him with a frown* He was going to burst a gasket, so Wheeljack sedated him.

Beau: ... Good grief.

Ironhide: *brow lifts* What?

Beau: Don' remembah Uncle Mason bein' th' sort t' git th't wound up.

Ironhide: *frown* Some *deleted* just came here to try and damage his sparklet, and wound up attacking a carrying woman. Of course he's going to get wound up. That would wind Optimus up.

Beau: *wince wince wince* Gotcha.

Will: *is unaware of just how much his face shows his sympathy with the old man* This guy showed up on one of the busiest days we've had all year. If he'd come when we were around he'd still be alive.

Sheriff Watson: *small nod* We'd'a fixed 'im a nahce, cozeh jail cell f'r breakin' th' restrainin' ordah.

Will: Instead, he got here when some of us were deployed and the rest were in the fields, and managed to hide till he grabbed Dixie. *presses his lips together*

Sheriff Watson: 'N met 'is end 't th' 'ands 'f a li'l ladeh who's been trained t' kill... 'N who 'elped kick 'is can six years prahor.

Ironhide: *perks* She did?

Sheriff Watson: *nods* Th's ain't mah first tahm meetin' th' Lamonts.

Ironhide: How'd she get him before? *old man doesn't sound bored now*

Sheriff Watson: Kicked 'is kneecaps 'n shins t' 'eck 'n back, boxed 'is 'eahs, 'n got 'im wh're 't 'urts th' worst.

Ironhide: Gearbox?

Beau: *nod*

Will: *looks at the sheriff and nods*

Sheriff Watson: Th' judge laughed 'imself silleh 't th' notion th't Debbie 'n Chrissy c'ld'a intentionalleh beat th' snot outta th' gah. Debbie's injurehs w're th' sort th't s'me'un'd git 'f th'y w're trah'n t' d'fend th'mselves.

Ironhide: But they got the *slur on parentage*.

Sheriff Watson: Yep. 'E spent fahv yeahs 'n jail 'n w's s'posed t' stay fahv 'undred yahds 'r moah 'way fr'm Debbie 'n Chrissy 't all tahms.

Ironhide: I'm telling my old lady about this. *yes, that's glee in that deep old voice*

Will: *sigh*

Beau: *so much amusement on his face now as he realizes something* Chrissy used wh't Blackout taught 'er.

Ironhide: Yup.

Will: *"meep" expression. Had only said it was a soldier because he wasn't sure how the sheriff would react*

Sheriff Watson: 'S Blackout 'un 'f th' soldiers 'eah?

Ironhide: She's my wife.

Beau: She's a soldier.

Sheriff Watson: Alrahght. *small nod*

Will: *surprised look that holds relief. Still not fully certain he's not going to be facing a list of questions related to that revelation*

Sheriff Watson: Ah sh'ld git th'se reports fahled wit' th' precinct... But Ah'm plum tuckered out, 'n di'n't y'all mention th're w's 'un moah report t' be fahled?

Will: *nods* Yes. Ratchet's report on Dixie and Chrissy.

Ironhide: *stands up and bellows across the field*

Will: *face palm*

Optimus: Ironhide! People are sleeping!

Blackout: *just hit her husband* *CLANK*

Sheriff Watson: 'T c'n wait 'til mornin'... *startles at the clank*

Ironhide: *cursing*

Toledo: *ears up* *is trouble?*

Hiney: *so bored. And has Dad's lap. No trouble*

Toledo: *oh, okay. Will settle down and rest his chin on Master's lap again*

Sheriff Watson: *about to say something, when his phone goes off again*

Will: That'll be Ratchet's report. *listens to the sound of the medic out there adding her fist comment to Blackout's*

Sheriff Watson: *checking his phone now*

Will: *winces as Ratchet's ire becomes audible to humans*

Sheriff Watson: *raised brow as he looks toward the door*

Will: That's Ratchet. Ironhide's her brother. *dryly, as another clank sounds and is followed by Ironhide grouching* They've worked closely together for millions of years, and it shows.

Sheriff Watson: Ah... *small nod, will finish going over Ratchet's report*

Will: And she's also pregnant.

Sheriff Watson: *looks up sharply, then moves to get to his feet to tell Ironhide off for upsetting a mama*

Will and Beau: *watch this with startled amazement*

Toledo: *trots after Master to bark at the big guy*

Ironhide: *pauses and looks toward the barking*

Toledo: *tail wagging as he barks*

Sheriff Watson: *hands on hips* Y'u'd best settle down, Ahrnhahd.

Ironhide: *incredulous expression* Who invited you to join the party?

Blackout: *thump!*

Ratchet: *socks Ironhide* Go the *bleep* to bed, Ironhide.

Ironhide: I was being useful here, woman!

Sheriff Watson: Quit rahlin' up 'n expectin' mama.

Ironhide: *stops dead still with his mouth open, and then gives Ratchet a look of alarm and concern*

Blackout: *looks at him like she thinks he just cracked*

Ratchet: *sticks her chin out a bit*

Ironhide: *fussing grumble* What are you standing out here for, woman?! Go to bed!

Ratchet: You first.

Ironhide: ... I'm not pregnant, and I was talking to the sheriff and Will.

Will: *comes to stand in the doorway* Sheriff, you're not going to win this one.

Sheriff Watson: Ah c'n still trah.

Ratchet: *snorts and gives Ironhide a stinkeye*

Ironhide: *serious look back* I never go to bed this early when I'm sober. *and that slight twitchiness says that he's got no intention of going to bed at all tonight because his protective instincts are working overtime*

Ratchet: *grumbles as she realizes that she's not winning this one, either*

Ironhide: *hand on her shoulder after making sure there's not Perceptor there* *quietly* Go to bed. Sorry for yelling at you.

Blackout: *utter. Shocked. Stare*

Ratchet: Promise you'll get some rest at some point, Ironhide?

Ironhide: Sometime. *worry clear in the shade of his optics now*

Ratchet: *small nod, will move to head for bed*

Ironhide: *huff of relief*

Will: Sheriff Watson, do you need a bunk for the night? *well versed in Southern hospitality now*

Sheriff Watson: Sure... Dunno 'f Marcel'd be up t' drahvin' me back t' mah place, 'n Ah ain't 'bout t' ask 'im.

Will: You mind sleeping underground?

Sheriff Watson: *blink* Nevah done th't bef'r. *looks interested though*

Will: Follow me. *out of the office without looking back and heads for the last little underground skinny house. Stops at the door of the bot house along the way* Somebody ask the guys upstairs for a spare mattress.

Ordnance: *looks up from frowning at cards* Sure, Chief. *pings a cellphone and listens* They're throwing it out the window.

Sheriff Watson: *startled awk as he gets beaned with the mattress*

Will: *startles and whirls to look behind him*

Toledo: *barking like crazy now and worrying over Master*

Sheriff Watson: *got the wind knocked out of him, is wheezing a bit as he tries to get the mattress off*

Will: *lifts it up, and then awks himself slightly as it's taken away completely* Thanks, Optimus. Are you alright, Sheriff?

Sheriff Watson: *catching his breath, manages to nod*

Will: *looks up at Optimus*

Optimus: *nods* He's unharmed.

Sheriff Watson: *manages to catch his breath and move to get to his feet*

Toledo: *such a worried dog*

Will: *offers the sheriff a hand*

Denver: *calling to the guys up in the barracks* Y'all beaned th' Sheriff!

somebody: What? No we... Ohhh *unprintable*! *sound of the window shutting*

Ordnance: *can't help it. He's laughing and telling this to Matt and Dixie via their cellphone*

Sheriff Watson: *looks up* Jes' bruised mah prahd, 's all! No 'arm, no foul! *chuckle*

Toledo: *tail just a-wagging now*

Optimus: *offers the mattress*

Sheriff Watson: Th'nk y'u kahndleh. *will take the offered mattress*

Optimus: You're welcome. *slight pause* You haven't got a pillow or a blanket. *stands and taps on the window*

Will: Right. *frowns and walks to the corner of the bot house to look toward the garden* Hey, who's in the tomato patch?

Sheriff Watson: *looks toward the garden as well, concerned*

Toledo: *sees ladies! Will go over to see what they're doing*

Sarah: It's just us, Will. We're getting Dixie's tomatoes so she doesn't need to worry about them.

Monique: Don't worry, we ain't stepping on anything.

Miranda: 'Tilda's keepin' guard.

Hattie: *so amused as she picks tomatoes* Got 'erself a big stick.

Tildy: *with slight pride* 'N Ah ain't walkin' softleh.

Will: *shakes his head and glances at the sheriff to see what he says*

Sheriff Watson: Toledo'll keep 'n ah 'n th'n's, too.

Optimus: Toledo is distressed.

Monique: This dog's cryin'.

Sheriff Watson: *frowns and goes to see what Toledo found*

Toledo: *Found blood, Master! Whine*

Will: What is it? *also walks over to look. Soft grunt as he runs into Matilda's stick* *eyes haven't adapted after looking at the lights*

Sheriff Watson: Mahght've found blood.

Optimus: *scans* Yes, that's what he's investigating.

Will: *frowns, then grunts as he runs into the stick again*

Monique: There he goes.

Sarah: Yeah. He's heading toward the freezer. *sounds subdued as she thinks of what happened*

Toledo: *whines and paws at the freezer door*

Sheriff Watson: *whistles for Toledo*

Optimus: Is he a police enforcer too, Sheriff Watson?

Sheriff Watson: Yep. Been mah partner f'r three yeahs now.

Toledo: *coming back because he heard the signal for "return"* *whines and cries*

Optimus: I don't think he realizes that you know about the body. He wants to show you where it is.

Sheriff Watson: *small nod* *to Toledo* Show me.

Toledo: *over to the freezer!*

Sheriff Watson: *moving to follow* Good boy!

Will: *walks over* Do you want the door open?

Sheriff Watson: *scratching Toledo's ears* Naw. Saw th' damage alreadeh.

Will: Alright. *holds up the blanket and pillow* So then?

Sheriff Watson: Lead th' way, Col.

Will: Do you need light? *is glad to see his own eyes have adapted to the starlit darkness again*

Sheriff Watson: Ah got 'un, jes' got mah 'ands full...

Optimus: *light!*

Will: *squint*

Sheriff Watson: *squinting*

Toledo: *bark!*

Monique: Optimus, you wanna turn that down? I can't see anythin'.

Sarah: *grumbling sound*

Hattie: *hand over her eyes so she can see* Down 'r off, 'f y'u please.

Miranda: *nod of agreement* Wh't she said.

Toledo: *more bark*

Will: What they said.

Optimus: *blinks, and then face palms and lowers the lights to a comfortable level* Sorry.

Sheriff Watson: *chuckles* No 'arm, no foul.

Optimus: *quiet ruefulness* My sensors aren't what they were.

Will: It's alright, I understand.

Toledo: *gonna slarp a metal foot and wag his tail*

Optimus: *pauses and looks down* Thank you, Toledo.

Toledo: *happy dog*

Sheriff Watson: *pulling a funny face now as he tries not to yawn*

Will: This way. *heads back toward the garden, intending to go past it and then between it and the bot house so that he can go behind the bot house*

Sheriff Watson: *moving to follow, Toledo trotting along at his side*

Optimus: *big footsteps sounds softly as he follows*

Will: Back here. Watch your step. *behind the bot house and then through the peach orchard*

Sheriff Watson: *doing so, wondering to himself if there're any snakes he needs to be worried about*

Toledo: *happy dog is happy* *is totally going to use Master as a pillow again*

Will: *as something rustles* Wow, there are some gophers left.

Sheriff Watson: Gophers're good eatin'.

Will: We had them for supper, with macaroni and peach-apple sauce. *over to where a narrow white structure stands among the sweet smelling trees*

Sheriff Watson: *chuckles* Y'all et a feast.

Will: There might be some left.

Optimus: No. I heard some of the people complaining that only the alternate was left.

Will: Guess I'm not having a bedtime snack.

Sheriff Watson: Alternate?

Will: Fried chicken, beaten biscuits, and mixed veggies.

Sheriff Watson: ... 'N folks w's c'mplain'in?

Will: *chuckles* It didn't have the sauce.

Sheriff Watson: Ah. Gotcha. *nod*

Will: *reaches up and takes something down* You can have all the peaches you want, though. *offers*

Sheriff Watson: *as he accepts the offered peach* Th'nk y'u kahndleh, Col.

Will: *points to that narrow white structure* And this is your berth for the night. *over to the front door and opens it*

Sheriff Watson: *moves to follow once more* Fanceh lookin' place.

Will: *soft snerk* This is just the upper floor. *flips the switch and points to the stairs*

Sheriff Watson: *boggling now, whistles*

Toledo: *headtilty. You wants Toledo?*

Will: The bathroom's under the stairs. The sink's that white thing against the wall under the mirror. *looks down through the floor*

Optimus: *gently nudges the sheriff in the back with the mattress*

Sheriff Watson: *slight stumble, turns to see what touched his back*

Optimus: *offers mattress, folded in half*

Sheriff Watson: Ah, th'nk y'u. *will reach for the offered mattress*

Toledo: *moving to make sure this place is clear of bad peeps*

Will: *carries the bedding down and sets it in a neat pile on the floor* *looks around with a sigh* I have a feeling you're going to be in charge of this investigation. I don't think Marcel can do it.

Sheriff Watson: *as he moves to set the mattress down on the floor at the far end of the room* Prolleh not. 'E w's tellin' me 'n th' way 'eah 'bout 'ow 'e 'elped bring Jesseh 'n Chrisseh int' th' world.

Will: So that's it. *compassion on his face*

Sheriff Watson: *nod* Yep. Loves th'se two lahk th'y's 'is own girls.

Will: Do you think you can handle it?

Sheriff Watson: *nods* Yessir. 'Andled th' case six yeahs 'go, too.

Will: That'll probably help in court. *turns and frowns up the stairs as the door opens and hushed voices sound* Springer? Hot Rod? Why aren't you going home with Jethro?

Springer: Pa no go 'ome. 'Tay 'n hep fam'leah. *hugging a doll and holding a balled up blanket* Babeh sleepin' 'eah.

Hot Rod: *grumpy clickings*

Toledo: *coming to see who's at the door*

Springer: *clicks to the dog and then starts down the stairs*

Hot Rod: *doesn't even wanna pull on doggy ears* *issagrump*

Sheriff Watson: *raised brow* *quietly* Th't's th' 'un th't w's 'n TV th' othah day...

Will: *nods* Springer and Hot Rod are Jethro's adopted sons.

Hot Rod: *is also a very grouchy, cranky little who is gonna thrrpt at you, Uncle Will!*

Sheriff Watson: *very soft snerk*

Will: *quietly* Roddy might be a witness, too. He was up on the roof.

Springer: *stops and looks at the nice stranger* Babehs sleep wit' y'u?

Sheriff Watson: Plenteh 'f room. *nod*

Springer: *happy nudge for his brother* We kin sweep 'n th' down 'ouse, Roddy.

Hot Rod: *grumpy crackle*

Springer: Bubby gits treat!

Will: Roddy, is that a bite mark? *catches the little guy's arm*

Hot Rod: *grumpy crackle, huff* 'Tupee Red.

Springer: Red bahted Roddy. *nod nod, and then goes to put Roddy's doll and his blanket on the mattress*

Hot Rod: *crackle, huff, sulk, goes to get his baby* *clicky conversation with the cheerfully grinning ragdoll*

Sheriff Watson: *quietly* Th'y ain't verreh old, 're th'y?

Will: That depends on whether you're talking about years, or about physical age. *hand on Springer's shoulder*

Springer: Roddy w's gonna snugga Aunty 'n Chrissy-Sissy, but Red sed no.

Hot Rod: *thrrpt* 'Tupee Red.

Will: Red's just worried about his mom.

Springer: *shrugs* Yeah. *rubs his eyes* Babeh tahrd.

Hot Rod: *hiding under blanket now. No baby here!*

Toledo: *moving to sniff at the blanket lump*

Will: *glances at the sheriff*

Sheriff Watson: Ah'll git th'se two tucked 'n.

Will: Alright. I'll see you tomorrow. Breakfast's at seven.

Sheriff Watson: Alrahght. 'Ave a good 'un.

Will: *quick hug for Springer* Good night, Hot Rod.

Hot Rod: *crackle*

Will: *soft chuckle. Nods to Sheriff Watson, and then heads up the stairs to go help patrol the farm for the rest of the night*

((Written with random_xtras))