o24 ★ THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

[electrowhipit]

[ There's a clatter as the phone is knocked off the hook. Another as Jolt tries to pick it up you can hear him muttering: ]

I'm back- it can't be true, it can't-- I'm back.

[ A final scramble for the phone and he manages to grab it. There's no mistaking the urgency of his tone ]

Sideswipe-- I need to talk to Sideswipe!

Comments

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

[Jump hug]

Don't look in the living room!

[electrowhipit]

[ He tenses and drops the phone again ] What?! What... Harley?

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

.....they sent...

[And she's trying not to cry...]

They sent me their heads...

[electrowhipit]

[ He blinks a couple of times, and suddenly it's like he's really seeing her. He puts his hands on her shoulders and fixes her with a serious look ] What happened?

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

[Harley just looks ....horribly, horribly sad]

....in the living room.

They sent me...my best friend Ivy, and Vorpal...an...and Robo...

Th-they sent me their heads....

[electrowhipit]

Oh, Harley... [ he just pulls her into a hug ]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

[clingy hug back. She hates life.]

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[This has just been the weirdest day of his life. He's mood-swinging all over the place for some bizarre reason, people are breaking down left and right, that woman is back...]

What--? What is it?

[... and now Jolt is apparently panicking over the phones.]

[electrowhipit]

Where are you.

[ Someone's been learning how to ask questions from Ironhide. ]

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[CLEARLY. Which makes him pause a moment.]

... My house. Why? Are you all right?

[electrowhipit]

Just don't-- [ his voice breaks and he has to pause for a second ] Don't. Go anywhere.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

I... won't.

[He pauses too.] Jolt, what's happened?

[electrowhipit]

I'll explain when I get there.

[ he just. hangs up and heads out ]

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

All right, if you sa--

[And the line goes dead. He just stares at the phone for a moment or two before setting it back down.

Time to go get that present, while he waits.]

[electrowhipit]

[ A short time later, there's a knock on the door. ]

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[A short time after that, it opens...

And Sideswipe almost literally staggers backward, thanks to the sudden rush of pain, confusion and fear he gets in response.]

Not... not again.

[electrowhipit]

[ He reaches for Sideswipe, concerned, but then he's suddenly unsure and he stops ] Sideswipe?

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[The confusion just gets worse, and he shakes his head slightly, his hand to his face.]

Everything is... I don't know what's wrong with me. I can't get... my mood's everywhere.

[He swallows.]

... I'm suddenly terrified and confused and damn if I know why.

[electrowhipit]

[ he looks at the ground ] That's how I feel, too.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[He steps forward, despite the fact his head is all but spinning.]

What happened?

[electrowhipit]

[ He recoils, still afraid and a little doubtful ]

I-- I went home.

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

[And he... is jerked back by those feelings. He still can't comprehend why. Jolt's backing away only adds to the confusion.

But what Jolt says makes his mouth go dry.]

You... you what?

[electrowhipit]

I went home. [ He didn't really, but it felt so real that he's certain it happened. ]

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

You went...

[He doesn't even know what to say. He just sits - right where he is in the hallway, totally overwhelmed.]

... You went home. I... How?

[electrowhipit]

Mayfield, I guess.

[ he takes a shaky inhalation, and opens his mouth to speak. He has to try a couple of times before he's sure he can say it without breaking down ]

You weren't there.