I sat on Eric’s porch, looking out over his backyard. With the threat of Peter gone and the open space and light, my heart slowly began to slow. Sometimes it would take hours to come down from something so stressful, other times I just needed the right environment in order to get my head straight. That, and the fact that I knew Wrench was on his way.

Eric had finally gotten in touch with him, and I knew it wouldn’t be long until he was here. While I was able to slowly begin to calm my body, this was less about being able to get outside my own mind and more about just needing him to feel safe again.

A door opened behind me, and my body jumped.

“Sorry,” Eric said soothingly. He smiled softly as he came around to stand in front of me. “How you feeling?”

I cleared my throat, leaning back in the comfort of the porch swing as it slowly moved back and forth. “Better.”

He nodded while taking a seat on a chair close by and following my gaze out into the backyard. It was quite beautiful, the flowers neatly pruned and the bushes trimmed back. Small grass pathways weaved in and out through different parts of the garden, and I tried to imagine how the soft grass would feel under my feet. There were no walls out here, no shadows closing in on me, driving me into a corner.

“Lisa used to like gardening,” he said out of nowhere, drawing my attention to him. His eyes stayed focused out on the lush beauty. “I hated seeing them die and become overgrown when she disappeared so I hired someone to come and do them, so they would still be here…” he paused, his eyes flickered with emotion, “… just in case she ever came back.”

I chewed my lip. “Do… do you think she will?”

His body seemed to slump before his eyes moved across to mine. “I never told anyone, because I’ve never had any proof, but I think Peter had something to do with her disappearance.”

I felt my face pale. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Lisa was curious. She liked to have answers to questions, and when you left, I knew she could tell there was more to it than what Peter told people.”

“You think she got too close?”

“I’m just not sure,” he replied sadly, tapping his fingers on the arm of the chair.

We sat in complete silence for a while, the sounds of the trees rustling and birds chirping surrounding us in peace and tranquillity. My mind and body were impatient and wary as I kept listening for sounds of a motorbike. I tried not to imagine how angry he would have been when he found me gone. The fury and rage he would have gone through would have been frightening.

“How did you manage to get away?” Eric finally asked.

“Some girl knocked on the door while I was there,” I explained, trying to remember the sound of her voice and her long blonde hair that hung down her back. I didn’t get to see her face, but it was obvious that she was young and he had manipulated her. “They were arguing, so I managed to slip out the window.”

I hope that girl got out okay.

Eric frowned. “What kind of girl?”

I pulled my knees closer to my chest, hugging them tightly. “I think he called her Ruby. She sounded so young. I’m pretty sure…” I cleared my throat and lay my head sideway on my knees, “…she was looking for drugs.”

Eric’s hands closed around the arms of the chair. “Just another one to add to the list.”

“I hope not.”

The roar of a motorcycle filled the calm air and I felt my body relax.

Wrench was here.

“I’ll be back in a second,” Eric said begrudgingly as he stood and walked back through the house calling out, “Come in. It’s open!”

I felt for him. He’d lost the woman that he loved, not even sure whether she was still out there somewhere or if she was dead. All possibly because of his connection to Peter. The more I thought about it, the more I just wished someone would take him out, lock him up, throw away the key. This world was no better off with him in it, he was actually making it worse. Peter was hurting people, a lot of people, with this drug that he had created.

He’d already destroyed me. It had taken me a long time to find the person inside that I used to be, happy, motivated, strong. One step back inside that house, and once again, I was this broken mess. I was embarrassed about how strongly he still affected me, even after everything that was done to move on from the torture he’d put me through.

Heavy boots beat angrily against the wooden floors of Eric’s home, and I forced myself to my feet as the doors opened. He came straight for me, a hard look on his face but worry in his eyes. I stretched out my arms and he scooped me up, squashing me against his chest. His heavy breath ruffled my untamed hair and I inhaled the scent of his leather. It was comfort.

We stayed like that for a long few minutes until Eric cleared his throat, pulling us from the moment.

Wrench kept his arms around me as he pulled back and looked over my head. “Want to tell me what happened?”

I sighed. I knew he wasn’t happy about me being here, but Eric had saved me, and now he’d been there for me on more than one occasion. With all that was going on, I had a feeling that Wrench was going to have to get used to Eric being involved.

“Peter showed up at the funeral. He threatened to hurt people if I didn’t go with him,” I explained softly, holding tightly to Wrench’s clothing, my body still feeling weak. “He took me to his place. And then when he was distracted, I snuck out. Eric found me running down the road.”

“How convenient,” Wrench growled softly.

“Look, you may not like me, but I care about her wellbeing, too. Peter has lost it, and his focus is on her,” Eric explained, standing his ground. “I wasn’t just gonna leave her there. What the hell kinda man do you think I am?”

“You really want me to answer that?” Wrench shot back.

I tapped his chest. “Stop. That’s enough,” I warned him gently.

“You need to do something,” Eric said.

Wrench’s nostrils flared. “You better watch what you’re saying, lawyer. Wouldn’t want people to know you’re working with the enemy.”

I turned to look over at Eric who was clearly unimpressed, his jaw set.

“All right, I think we’re done here,” I said calmly, trying to cool the temperature of the air that had suddenly begun to burn around us. I met Eric’s eyes. “Thank you for helping me. I’m not sure what I would have done.”

His face softened dramatically as he turned his attention to me.

Wrench’s arms tightened around me. Such a damn caveman.

“I’m here if you need me, I really mean that,” he said with sincerity. “I know Peter has some problems. Something needs to be done, and you need to stay safe.”

Wrench huffed and grabbed my hand, one arm going around my waist as he led me back through Eric’s house and out to the curb where his bike sat. Handing me his helmet, he didn’t say anything as he placed it on my head and buckled it underneath my chin. He climbed on his bike and started the engine, waiting for me to climb on behind him. I looked over my shoulder, seeing Eric standing at the front door, watching on. I waved before mounting the bike behind Wrench and wrapping my arms around his waist.

“It’s time we talked to Op,” he said seriously, his voice carrying over the loud rumbled of his Harley.

My gut sank, but my brain told me that he was right. Taking a deep breath in, my body started to feel stronger as I held on tightly to him. Wrench was like an anchor, holding me in the realm of sanity, reminding me that he cared, that he didn’t think any less of me because of my disorder.

He was right.

I wasn’t bipolar.

Bipolar was just a part of me, something that sometimes dragged me down, something that sometimes lifted me up, something that I would live with for the rest of my life. And I was okay with that because I knew it didn’t define me. It wouldn’t stop me from doing everything that I’d always wanted to do. It might be hard sometimes, but it would also make me stronger. It would be worth the fight to prove that I could accomplish anything.

To have to look Optimus in the eye and tell him my story, I’d probably cry, I might even break down, but I wouldn’t run away.