Thanks to DesertHermit on Deviantart for the membership. I know its not technically a bribe to update, but we'll at least call it an incentive. Thanks deary. :)

As always, my great beta who has been a great influence on this story, Litahatchee, deserves some love. I recommend her stories any day of the week.

Chapter 23: It's a Long Story

Knockout simply stepped past the black Weapons Specialist, paying the Autobot no mind. He looked at the water, noting that the Autobot's medic, who must have been meaning to converge with the rest of the battle, was now wading into the water crying out the femme's name. It didn't take his medical knowledge to know that the action was useless, though.

The femme was most certainly dead. Her energon was splattered all over the black Autobot as proof.

Squealing his engine in a slight rage, the red Decepticon stood back and turned to Barricade. Said mech was looking down at his energon-covered blade, flabbergasted. Though it was obvious it was an accident, the red sportster couldn't help but state, "You killed her, you stupid fragger… Starscream's gonna be pissed."

Breakdown, his form hulking so that each step seemed to shake the bridge, came up behind the flabbergasted enforcer. He slapped him in the back of the head, yelling into everyone's audio as the black and white mech was knocked into Ironhide, nearly sending the two of them over the bridge as well, "You fraggen fool! We're as good as dead now!"

The enforcer hissed back as he pushed Ironhide away, "It was the slaggen Autobot's fault! My aim was true!"

"Starscream won't see it that way," stated Hook as he came up behind all of them and peered over the bridge as well, growling at the medic that was rummaging in the filthy water down below. It was almost ironic how many more medics the Decepticons had over the Autobots…Then again, Autobots didn't have the gears to kill a medic of any caliber; it was an honor code or something.

"Starscream?"

There was a crash on the bridge, the whole structure shaking as rubble flew everywhere and one very angry set of optics glared out through the rising dust. Starscream sauntered forward, claws extending as he spared a brief moment to glare at Ironhide before he turned his attention to the enforcer. Besides the obvious size difference, the black and white mech did not cower; he stood up straight, showing he was not afraid, not even caring if Starscream noticed his mismatched optics.

The enforcer's words were simple, "She's dead… Lord Starscream. It was the Autobot's impudence that caused the mishap."

The flier didn't even bother to look back at Ironhide, who was presently waving his weapons around in confusion as he was bluntly ignored by every 'Con. Starscream kept his attention on his supposed sparkling caretaker. That title was lost now since there would be no sparklings, at least not anytime soon.

Claws flexing, the mech repeated, "'Impudence' you say… in what?"

"In dying," growled Barricade, his blade refusing to draw back in.

"In dying?" hissed the flier as he took a threatening step forward, before he all but ignited into a vengeful ball of fury. "You have killed the Decepticon's chance at success and survival! You are no longer a Decepticon! You are dead!"

Barricade tried to pull up his blades to defend himself but Starscream's claws were quick, calculating, slashing at the neck cables and into the chest where the spark should have been located. Headlight glass and energon was sprayed upon the bridge's pavement, and before Barricade even knew it, he was falling off the side of the bridge. A scream echoed from his vocals as he fell into the waters, waves splashing over the green medic below.

Ratchet did not care; he was still looking desperately for the femme. It was only a few moments after Barricade had fallen into the water when Hound waded into the water as well. The two green Autobots, seemingly having finally found the femme, pulled out the form of a yellow Bumblebee.

Her optics were offline and the energon could be seen floating on top of the water as they pulled her to the surface. Her chest was ripped open just enough that it was easy to tell that if her spark hadn't been extinguished when she fell, the water had done so when it seeped inside her.

Starscream raged, flinging Knockout into Breakdown and finally into a mech called Dead End. The Decepticons all quickly picked themselves up, their red optics blinking as they wondered if they would be next after Barricade. The flier merely kicked on his cooling fans for a moment, energon-drool dripping down his chin from his wrath, before he turned to glare at the others, stating simply, "The femme is dead. Let the Autobots have the mudball!"

He sauntered forward, lifting a leg onto the bridge's railing as if he was going to jump off the edge. Before making his dive, though, he turned to lean in towards Ironhide and stated in a soft voice, "At least for now… I will be back when the sparkling is mature. You won't be able to hide."

Then, leaving a grief and panic-stricken Ironhide, Starscream jumped off the side of the bridge, transformed a few yards above the water, causing both Ratchet and Hound to duck, before his jet engines blasted off and left the Autobots alone to their sorrows. He was going back to Cybertron. If one femme could hide so well, who was to say others couldn't have done the same thing?

XXX

Optimus, who now had a nasty leg wound, limped down into the water despite the glare that was given to him by Ratchet on the opposite side of the bank. Who did the slagger think was going to have to clean out that wound before he could properly repair it?

Well, it wasn't going to slaggen be me, Ratchet thought to himself.

He'd make Hound do it.

"I'm not going to clean it," growled Hound as if reading the other's mind as he pretended to pull the body closer in mourning. Said body twitched at the contact as they finished laying the body onto the sand.

Ratchet quickly gained a flat expression, resisting the urge to kick the now still form. They were lucky that Starscream had a fit and was gone already or they could be in a real predicament.

Sending a signal to Sunstreaker and Ironhide to make sure there were no more 'Cons around before they rushed down there half panicked about Bumblebee, the medic turned his attention to Optimus, stating over the comm. – 'Go under the water and find Barricade… Make sure you come up under the bridge in case there are any wandering optics. I don't think it was the slagger's plan to get hit too, but we don't need Starscream knowing if he is still alive.' -

Optimus stalled, turning his head just slightly as he waited for a signal from the rest of his soldiers that it was clear. Soon there was a Lamborghini on the bridge, roaring his engine as if stating it was a 'go'. Nodding at the confirmation, the large Autobot leader, who the water was barely halfway way up on, slowly knelt into the water. A few moments later, he came up under the bridge with a bleeding 'Con in his arms, hiding him with his back as he tried to peer at the wound the bleeding 'Con growling, "I told you I'd make her death convincing."

Ratchet made sure he and Hound were hidden a few minutes later before he hit the green tracker, telling him to reveal the truth now that they were surrounded by companions and soon the green mech was one of the few mechs that weren't currently gaping because he had been in on the plan. Barricade had just sliced a few cables to cause some bleeding, not killed the femme. Hound shrugged his head at the cruel ruse and turned his hologram emitter back on so it seemed there was a gaping hole still in Bumblebee's chassis instead of a small knife wound.

Ratchet, after struggling to look over both Bumblebee's and Barricade's wounds, nodded as he stated, "Good, Barricade wasn't hurt too badly to need more than a patch right now and Bumblebee seems okay." He then turned to Hound, "Now, Hound, let's get these two some cover."

Hound turned back on his hologram emitter and quickly disguised Barricade and Bumblebee as different Autobots all together making a barely standing Barricade growl in disgust. They could not be too careful while moving the two until they were in a secure location, just in case there was a hidden Decepticon watching them. Once Barricade looked completely like wounded Autobot, Hound bowed at his lovely craftsman's ship, far too glad to be of such phenomenal use.

Ratchet glared at the cocky Hound and then at a struggling Barricade who seemed to want to get out of the hologram emitter's range; the medic still needed to do repairs on the slagger and found himself promptly yelling at the technically captured Barricade, "Stop struggling, Barricade! You are supposed to be an Autobot."

The 'Con, who was stiff in Optimus's arms since he could barely stand on his own, suddenly seemed exhausted, which was probably why he at least bothered to put on a show while they were moved into a nearby cluster of storage units for cover.

A few minutes later, when all of the Autobots had come together, Hound's holograms –which he was renowned for and their life likeness- dropped and revealed a maimed Barricade and a not-stabbed Bumblebee. Everyone who had seen earlier gave a whole new chorus of gasps, Ironhide specifically.

Barricade, however, was in on the plan all along… except for the him-getting-maimed part probably. Since he was the one who was supposed to make the killing blow, to make all of the Decepticons and even most of the Autobots believe he killed the femme, he merely made it look like he stabbed her. He definitely cut her, hitting an energon line in her chest where he knew a lot of energon would spurt out, making it look like a killing stab wound from a distance, but he didn't stab her that thoroughly. They had to make it as real as possible and since Ironhide wasn't in on the plan at all, his reaction was better than they could have hoped for, solidifying the shock for both Autobot and Decepticon alike.

A very frightened but relieved Ironhide didn't question the motives to keep him out of the loop as he gathered Bumblebee in his arms and hugged her as if he was never going to let go, trying to comfort both her and himself from the shock of it all.

Sunstreaker didn't seem very calm with the issue, though. He paced back and forth as he eyed Barricade, who was checking the wound in his chassis, not letting Ratchet near, so the medic was caring for Optimus's leg as said medic continuously sent glares in Barricade's direction.

"We should have been let in on this plan. Who cares about realism! How do we know this slagger isn't going to betray us?" roared Sunny, who was pressed off of attacking the wounded 'Con by his brother.

"Why would I let myself get wounded too, if I were going to betray you? Why would I have done any of this?" Barricade gestured as widely as his wounds would allow before turning back to his repairs.

Sunstreaker glared at Barricade suspiciously, turning his attention to Optimus, asking in almost a growl, "What did you give him, Optimus? Did you say he could frag her because I will kill him where he stands if…"

Optimus waved his hand, stating, "Calm down, soldier. I would do no such thing. All he asked was to make a request of Bumblebee …"

Looking over at the black and white mech, who seemed far too busy repairing major ripped lines to notice, Sideswipe asked Sunny's question, "What kind of request?"

"You'll have to ask him."

Barricade's shoulder's relaxed again a nearby wall, finishing his repairs as best as he could so he wouldn't bleed out. His hand was over his chassis, directly over the area where the compartment that held Frenzy had once laid. It was now ripped open for all to see, lines torn and bleeding from where Starscream had swiped. He'd probably never be able to carry another drone again, the chamber destroyed, but it was a worthy sacrifice if only for realism. Energon was lighter than water and, while he did cut an energon line in Bumblebee's chest, it wouldn't be enough to bubble to the surface so Starscream's attack wasn't a complete negative. A mech such as Knockout would notice the amount of energon's lacking. However, Barricade's wound provided more than enough energon to be convincing for even that red twerp.

The wound still sucked though; it looked bad, but it would heal in time. Since Barricade had the drone chamber, his spark was lower than other Cybertronians his size. Starscream likely didn't know that and Knockout didn't either, since he generally avoided Decepticon medics...all medics, really. So… he was now a free mech as well. Every 'Con would think him dead.

All in all, she was worth a little lost energon though; Bumblebee was worth it. Those Allspark sparklings needed someone… Barricade could not accept such a burden. It would not be him; his hands were too soiled to raise the young...

Turning his head to look at the vapors that Starscream had left behind in his retreat into space, the black and white mech sagged in relief. He would speak to the femme as Optimus had promised he could do, tell her where a treasure laid balled up… He could not stay here, not with the femme so near. She was not as daft as the others. Femmes were always smarter.

Hopefully, he could be gone before Bumblebee would realize why she didn't kill him back when he had nearly caught Ladiesman217. If Barricade had been able to crush the boy, as planned, this would have never happened. The thing would have remained misplaced as it had meant to be years ago: the Allspark.

Damnable thing… All it brought was curses.

Regardless, Optimus had promised Barricade his one request and with the way the femme was eying him, it seemed that he would be getting his request sooner rather than later. All he would need was a moment, only a moment, and then back into the darkness to hide and be misplaced, to find a home to be alone and where no one would find him. It was a tragedy, really, but that had become their kind's way.

Barricade pretended not to notice that Ironhide was eying him with contempt as Bumblebee went up to him, asking, "Y-you did all this … for me? I still don't understand … Why?"

Barricade waved an arm, noting how the Weapons Specialist's guns twitched, stating, "Don't you believe that freedom is the right of all sentient beings... or something?"

If the femme had a mouth, she might have frowned, continuing, "Your favorite saying is to punish and enslave, Barricade. I doubt that's it."

The enforcer hated how the mechs were all staring at them. He thought this was supposed to be a private conversation, not that he blamed them. They had just gotten their hope for the future back.

Regardless of the voyeurism-like stares of the others, he could say what needed to be said without any confessions, though he would have loved to get that weight off his chest. Pressing off that thought, he stated, "Call it debt fulfilled. You didn't have to leave me alive after I nearly crushed Ladiesman."

Ironhide acted like he had been slapped, stepping forward and between the 'Con and his little femme, barking, "You let him live back then! You know the only good 'Con is a dead 'Con."

"Ironhide, Ironhide, calm down," Optimus chided. "Let the mech talk, because we both know Bumblebee might very well still be in danger if it weren't for him."

Optimus stepped closer, making Barricade want to shrink away. It wasn't that Prime's size really made him nervous, but it invoked recollections of seeing comrades crushed. The large mech seemed to notice and lowered his shoulders to be a little less menacing.

Optimus remembered how calculative and strangely mentally competent the black and white mech was. On the drive up, Ratchet even tried to warm the Prime up to the idea of convincing Barricade to switch sides… or at least go neutral.

Optimus could tell that Barricade was going to run for it as soon as he asked Bumblebee whatever he had in mind, and at first Optimus had thought it was going to be 'frag me,' but that seemed unlikely now. The Decepticon was actually trying to keep some distance between himself and the femme.

What could he possibly want to ask, then?

"Find a new alt form in case any 'Cons are still around and … follow me. I have a request," Barricade finally stated, noticing all the attention as he eyed the others with his mismatched optics for a moment before taking a step forward. He promptly ignored Ratchet's cry of 'let me look at your injury first' and was now in a slightly dinged alt form, energon dripping from his form like a leaking water pump, the last remnants of water trickling down his form as well.

Ratchet actually cringed, muttering, "Idiot."

Bumblebee gave a look at her commander, part of her still wondering how much freedom she had, horror still ringing in her head.

Optimus sighed, saying, "You don't have to follow him, Bumblebee. You've been through a lot. It's up to you, but we will be following."

The femme nodded, a knot in her tank relieved. Looking around their surroundings, she noticed a parked car and, though hybrids weren't her favorite, she scanned it. Soon, her form was throwing a sprinkle of water all over the others as she twisted down into her borrowed alt form.

Barricade wasted no time in waiting for the others, throwing up dirt and pebbles as he slammed his engine into a high gear. Bumblebee followed and Ironhide was quickly behind her.

Just as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe were about to transform and follow after, Optimus placed a hand on the yellow mech's shoulder and stated, "Wait, soldiers. I know, Sunstreaker, that you have just been through a trying time and you seem worried about Bumblebee, but please head back to base. Tell Prowl that Bumblebee is okay; he has probably paced a hole into the floor."

The yellow Lamborghini stared at the fading femme, looking very disappointed before he transformed, Hound taking up his rear.

"Oh… that's going to be trouble," grumbled Ratchet. "I've seen that protective gaze before, but we can worry about that later. Ironhide's fat aft is disappearing into the distance."

Prime's optics got wide and he chirped, "Let's go Ratchet. Maybe Barricade's wounds will slow that 'Con down for us large mechs to catch up."

Ratchet merely snorted and followed after the semi as Optimus raced after the Topkick, his heavy engine roaring.

Surprisingly, they did not go that far; across town, over a bridge, past a graveyard, and a dancing traffic cop, and they were there. It was as if Barricade had been planning to make this request as quickly as possible, and then get out of here.

Ironhide was not impressed, though he did find the traffic cop highly amusing.

"What's with the abandoned hanger and the airplane…grave yard," Ironhide said, kind of creeped out, not that he would admit it. Human junkyards of any kind were…unsettling, as if the dead were on display.

Optimus and Ratchet were soon transforming as well, scanning the area, and wondering if they would be ambushed. In the end, both the mechs turned their attention to the building behind the Decepticon, who seemed to be guarding it, his door wings spread wide in almost a defensive stance. Then, as if noticing his posture, Barricade's door wings dropped and he slowly shrugged towards the hanger.

"It's … in there. I want you to take it," said Barricade, his face showing emotion for a moment as if he was pained, ashamed. Then, just as swiftly, the emotion was gone.

The enforcer growled as Ironhide opened the sliding door, who then gave Barricade a suspicious glare.

"It's in there and you're scaring it, you bulky Auto-freak!" Barricade said threateningly, wings raised. "Let Bumblebee get it." It was obvious that he was threatened by the larger mech.

"No, I don't trust you!" stated the black mech, fluid spitting from between his bared denta. "I nearly had my Charge taken from me hours ago to be… be violated.She's not going anywhere without me checking it first!"

Barricade's weapons almost were bared; Ratchet had onlined them because it would have been suspicious to have an unarmored Decepticon in the ranks. A hiss escaped his vocals, "Stop it! You're scaring him, you slagger!"

"Scaring what?" Ironhide hissed as well. "I bet this is a trap. You are probably…"

"Move, fragger! Fine, I'll get him; I just didn't want to wake him up!" roared Barricade, pushing at the larger mech, Ironhide nearly tripping over himself as he was slammed against the doorway.

The Decepticon then stomped into the room, only to slow his steps as he got further inside. Then, once near what looked like several large tool chests and tarps, the mech leaned forward and surprisingly started to click, soft and echoing like a lonely bird.

Slowly, there was a stirring, a soft click coming from the corner. Then, as if a weed suddenly popped out of the ground, a small green mech… No, no, a large green sparkling, rose to greet the 'Con.

The sparkling looked towards Ironhide, who was flabbergasted, before suddenly hissing at him. The sparkling ran up to Barricade, who lifted him up, and he quickly slid his arms around the enforcer's neck.

Ironhide could only blink. The little thing looked like a very moody monkey with four arms and… red optics. It was easy to tell that the sparkling must have once been a soda machine or something, but there were weld marks and metal sheeting where the spark was near. Obviously, medical care had been given, which was making the youngling's already sharp features seem far more jagged than they were. If it wasn't for the Cars blanket he was clinging to, like a grumpy child being waked from a nap, he might have appeared to be frightening.

Slowly, walking past the surprised Topkick, the 'Con walked out into the sunlight, the sparkling's optics going wide as he whimpered at the sight of so many mechs before him. Barricade clicked at him for a moment more before setting his sights on Bumblebee.

The femme actually took a step back in surprise. So, this is what Barricade wanted to tell her? A sparkling? Why?

Bouncing the sparkling so that the youth would pull out of the crook in Barricade's neck, optics settling on the enforcer's mismatched optics with a hand reaching up as if to touch one, Barricade optic's met Bumblebee's gaze. He stated in almost a sad tone, "I can't take care of him and I sure as Pit can't stay on this planet. And he won't let anyone touch him but a femme since he's so temperamental and he scares easily. He needs … someone like you."

Slowly, he stepped forward and Bumblebee, not knowing what else to do, opened her arms. The sparkling shrank away a little.

"Click to him… He'll know what you are," Barricade said. "He'll recognize that you will protect him. I called him 'Dewbot.' I also was thinking of naming him 'Bulkhead,' but I won't be his caretaker so it won't be my right," Barricade stated in almost a whisper. "He likes his blanket and sometimes I'll play him some music before he goes into recharge at night."

For a moment Bumblebee saw Barricade's optics shutter as if he was about to weep, but he cleared his vocals and continued, "I've built him up with some stolen medical supplies as well as I could, but… he needs a proper upgrade."

Barricade then got intimately close and slowly handed the sparkling over, clicking to him the whole time until he was nestled in Bumblebee's arms. He next instructed Bumblebee how to properly hold a sparkling, "Now, keep your arm underneath his aft and hold your other hand on his back, over his spark. Its comforting and also, if attacked, it will give his spark extra protection and also, for a large sparkling, you can protect his helm by having him place his head under your chin or for smaller ones, in the crook of your armpit. There, you got it."

Bumblebee soon found herself with a whimpering babe in her arms who was reaching out for Barricade, but the mech just kept taking a step back, unable to look at the sparkling as he stated, "There… That is my request to you. Take care of him. A femme knows best."

Turning away from the sparkling that was now all but crying in Bumblebee's arms, the 'Con was about to transform and leave when, finally, Ratchet spoke up.

Ratchet walked up to the inexperienced femme to show her how to place the sparkling's head against her chassis to hear her spark, stating, "That's it? You're just going to leave the sparkling with an inexperienced femme?"

"I trust her," growled Barricade. "She has some natural instincts."

But Ratchet continued, knowing all too well now, not to disregard a Cybertronian's sex by their physical form alone, "And that's it? You were taking care of him just fine and I'm sure it's not your first." Surprisingly, Ratchet was embittered. "I know clicking like that. It's not amateur. I was a medic long before the war and was in the youngling centers many times… It now makes since why Bumblebee couldn't kill you. The spark knows."

Barricade started to growl, fangs bared, "Don't you say it, medic."

"An old femme should teach a young femme a few things," added Ratchet, throwing his most powerful scans over Barricade, knowing far too well that it was unlikely that it would reveal anything but ripped energon lines.

With a growl, Barricade brought out her weapon, the chain slapping to the ground as if the 'Con expected to be attacked right there. Immediately, everyone took a step back, especially the larger mechs, all putting their hands up with soft words of 'calm down' and 'now, now.'

It wasn't until Bumblebee appeared in front of the now spooked Decepticon that Barricade did calm down somewhat. The younger femme spoke, almost hurt, "I-is that true? Are you a femme?"

Face component twitching, Barricade barked, "I... think you already know what's true. Our sparks have a little more of Primus in them then a mech, so even if we don't know… our sparks do."

Bumblebee, having felt alone for so long nearly dropped the sparkling. Yes, there was X-bot, but she still felt alone, barren plains with nothing but sweeping grass and no one to hear your pleas but the wind. She… She had… Well, Barricade wasn't her first choice, but everything wasn't so frightening now. Maybe she was still in shock from nearly being raped, but she no longer felt the dread of rape. It was as if the knowledge of no longer being alone made everything a little better, though it really, really wasn't.

This was Barricade after all, but Bumblebee couldn't help but state, "I'm not alone…"

Barricade gave her a look as if she was almost insulted, stating simply, as if Bumblebee had heard it a thousand times before, "Of course… femmes have more wits than a mech."

Bumblebee just stared at her for a moment in shock. Then, handing the sparkling to the medic, ignoring his squeals of injustice, her engine growling as she yelled, "I was not alone! I was scared and frightened and confused! You knew the moment we fought, yet you… you…"

"What? I didn't show you my spark like a fleshy flasher," growled the older femme, suddenly pressing the younger being back with her hostile presence alone. "We were at war. Sex does not designate companionship! Back off!"

Bumblebee, noticing the stiffness of the 'Con and took a step away, adding, "Don't leave me alone… I-I know so very little about sparklings."

Barricade huffed, her weapons lowered and calmed by the pure fear in the femme's voice. Slowly, her shoulders sagged and she looked over at the large commander, hissing, "What do you want me to do about it? I'll never defect!" Squinting her optics into a glare at Optimus, she also added, "Or be a brood mare."

"They wouldn't…" Bumblebee started.

"And how do you know?" Barricade almost yelled, baring her fangs. "I didn't survive this long to die in such a way. I am a soldier and deserve to die as such!"

Bumblebee's door wings fell. Though Sunstreaker did set her mind at a kind of ease, she hadn't actually confirmed anything with her commander, except that they wouldn't harm her or force her. That didn't mean he didn't have expectations. She couldn't help but look at her commander also. She needed a little reassurance as well.

As if reading her thoughts, both femmes' optics boring into him, Optimus stated carefully, "No femme under my care would be a 'brood mare,' as you so eloquently put it. I will protect and treat any femme with respect and care."

"I hear a 'but' in there," Barricade growled. "When are you going to fuck her?"

Bee's wings dropped, old fears rising in her chest.

Optimus, surprisingly, growled at the older femme, "No one will force her, especially not under my care. She can breed… when she's ready." Adding in a soft, hopeful, tone, he said, "I do hope she has many children, but we will cross that bridge when it comes." He looked at Bumblebee, hoping that she would understand that she wouldn't be harmed and that he would give her all the time she needed. He then looked at Barricade, "The same goes for you, Barricade. No more running, no more hiding, and the sparklings will have…"

"Don't dare command me! You are not my Prime!" Barricade snapped.

Optimus's proclamation went silent and he shifted on his large feet, insulted, but not willing to lose the old femme so he remained silent as she continued her rant.

"I don't trust you. Any of you. You may accept her choice not to breed at first, but then you will grow impatient with slow progress," Barricade pressed, noting how Ironhide was suddenly behind his charge, whispering something to her in a calming tone. "And then I will take her from you."

The cruiser then transformed and was out of there as fast as her alt mode could carry her, leaving all the party confused and slightly insulted.

Ratchet, however, couldn't help but chuckle as he struggled with a whining sparkling that was ready to break down into a fit, "Well, at least she didn't say she was leaving. There's still hope she'll come around."

Optimus, the light gleaming off his armor, nodded his head as he, too, chuckled, "Yes, there is still hope. Now, let's go home. Bumblebee… we have much to discuss."

The femme tightened.

"For one, I'm sure Sam wants you to contact him; he's been bugging Prowl. And … about your future. It may seem bleak in some ways, but please recall our belief system; freedom is the right of all sentient beings and Bumblebee," he stated tone softening, "We would never hurt our brothers or sisters in arms. We are family. Never forget that."

She could merely nod her head. A heaviness was still in her spark, but now it was supported by so many more piers. The waters would not be pulling her under, not today.

Not today.

XXX

Ratchet smiled at her. He wasn't smiling at her because she was young, wounded, out of pity, and certainly not because she was a femme. He smiled because he cared for her… They all did. He was smiling for her in the silent way the medic always did for patients that had been through a trying moment.

He really didn't want to do this, but it was part of his job.

Putting down his tools, the medic gave Bumblebee a calming look, glad that everyone was presently trying to find the new mechling who had run off the moment he put the little ankle-biter down.

"Now," Ratchet started. "I know after such a traumatic experience this it is the last thing you want to talk about, and I didn't want to ask Sunstreaker about something so private, but I need to know in case I have to take counter measures against… carrying. I can tell, without even looking at your spark, that it isn't aroused, meaning that it must have been given a moment of relief from your heat cycle."

Bumblebee went stiff, turning her head away, almost sick now that she hadn't allowed Ironhide to stay with her as he had offered. She still felt somewhat nervous around every mech in the base except for Ironhide and Barricade, who wasn't even here. Ratchet, however, had been very professional with the examination and this was the first time he had even strayed to the topic of her sexuality since they got back to the base.

Looking away, voice soft, nearly scratching, she whispered, "Hook touched me… and relieved my spark so I wouldn't … melt his hands. Starscream wanted to, but Barricade never gave him the chance."

Ratchet nearly crushed the tool he had picked up, putting it down once he heard the metal squeal, only to lift it again and fling it into a wall with a curse, barking, "I'll kill him!"

Bumblebee flinched, wanting to melt away into the berth. She hadn't expected him to react in such a way, but then he slowly calmed and asked, "And all he did was touch it? There was no sexual interaction?"

The femme shook her head, "No… and I'd rather not have anyone touch me there for a while… if you don't mind. I-I don't…"

The medic put up a hand, stalling her when he noticed the twitch of her wings, worry evident. His words were soft, "That's fine. Just come to me if the heat starts bearing its," she flinched again, thinking the worst, but Ratchet continued, "...for a coolant shot. It won't hold it off forever, but it will make it bearable for a little while."

She nodded, still feeling awkward, thinking the only thing she could do was… apologize.

"I'm sorry Ratchet…" she stated, optics turning to face him. "I never meant to hurt you or anyone with my secret. It's just that… I."

He quickly finished for her, placing a hand on her shoulder in the comforting way that he did for all patients that needed a warm word…though he was never noted for it over his good aim.

"It was for the best," Ratchet finished for her. "It kept you alive and you were scared. It is understandable. Now, be off. A lot of people want to talk to you," he stated, smiling as she gave him a nervous glance, thinking Optimus wanted to bear into her disobedience. The medic continued, "I hear Sam came by once he heard you were safe. He wants to see you… as well as the ankle-biters. Dewbot barely lets anyone catch… I mean, hold him. Barricade trained him to be a wild animal."

Bumblebee nodded, landing on her peds, giving him one more look before she headed outside the bay. She stopped when she saw the first person who wanted to see her, and she wanted to see him too.

Sam was looking at the floor, eyes downcast. A sudden wave of guilt overcame her. She had been willing to leave him without even a proper goodbye.

She felt that, for the next few days, all she would be doing was apologizing… to everyone. She felt that she had scarred her family in some way by trying to run off like that.

"I-I'm sorry, Sam. You know I didn't want to leave… I felt I had too," Bumblebee stated softly, slowly getting down onto one knee as she brought a hand forward, running a finger tip across his cheek. The human slowly raised a hand in response and rested it against her finger, looking up.

Bumblebee almost drew back in shame when she noted he had been crying, probably for awhile. She did kind of run out on him... She felt no apology would be good enough. All she could do was lean forward and slowly pick up the human like he was a frail sparkling, bringing him into a loose embrace. He slowly brought up a hand and grabbed her mouth piece, pulling on it as if chiding her, "I understand… but don't do it again."

She slowly nodded, feeling no words would do as the human continued, "Now, next time you have any issues expressing your sexuality, just ask for pink fuzzy dice or something.

Shaking her head and rising to her feet, she slowly started to walk forward… She needed to have a real talk with Ironhide, and then she wanted his support to speak with Optimus. That was something she was not looking forward to. She knew the large mech was giving her space, but his patience was not infinite. She'd have to speak to him about…expectations. That was the word he had used. It could mean anything…

Suddenly, the sound of heavy feet interrupted her thoughts.

Turning around, she saw the mech she was thinking about… running towards her. He had his gun drawn.

She immediately went stiff, fearing the worst. Perhaps Starscream had figured it out. He was coming for her… He was going to…

"Bumblebee," stated the commander as he came to a halt beside her. Hound, Sideswipe, Sunstreaker, Wheeljack and Prowl all ran passed, the tactician stopping next to the Prime to report, allowing the commander to speak first, "Stay here with Ratchet and the sparklings in the medical bay. There are several Cybertronian signatures coming our way and we have to make sure that they are… friendly."

He then turned, speaking with Prowl over the comm. as their long legs brought them to the door.

Bumblebee stood there a moment when Ratchet suddenly stepped out of the room, stating, "Come here youngling, we need to-"

"No," she suddenly barked, turning as her arm that wasn't holding Sam transformed into her gun and she headed after the others.

Only taking a moment to look insulted, Ratchet swore at her before giving chase. Yet, the moment they got outside into the sun, they were all surprised to see a red plane transform and come to a halt. There were four other vehicles as well, all bearing the Autobot symbol.

Prowl was the first to completely lower his weapon, asking, "Is that you Blaster? Report. Where has your unit been? We could have used you hours ago."

A red mech that had transformed from a mini-cooper alt form with large speakers, laughed. He then stated, "Hola, Prime y Prowl. ¿Cómo has estado?

"… What?" asked Optimus, turning off his weapon targeting.

"S-sorry, still stuck on Spanish. Man, I thought it would be easier to get over the Mexico-American boarder, but humans can be awfully suspicious of vehicles in the desert… especially shiny ones like a certain blue mech I know."

"I was not going to get dirty," came a familiar voice, the visitors' designations all started popping up on the comm. links: Mirage, Tracks, Blaster, Bluestreak, Powerglide, and Trailbreaker.

"Tracks! Is that you?" asked Sunny, coming forward to one of the blue mechs, the two wrapping hands together as the blue Autobot continued, "Who else can always look this good?"

The two laughed and then the two groups suddenly started converging with laughter, hearty punches, and data exchanges.

Blaster, the unit leader, turned his attention to Prime and Prowl. He noticed Bumblebee standing in the doorway with Ratchet still in a defensive poise next to the young mech. He ignored it, though, knowing he'd know the reason soon enough.

"So," said Blaster, smiling, "Tell me what I missed?"

Optimus chuckled as a curse came from the base, Ratchet trying to grab Dewbot, who was now running forward between the medic's legs and towards the new mechs.

Dewbot stalled long enough to look the new mechs over as X-bot ran up to him, trying to steal back her stuffed octopus. Optimus shook his head, knowing all too well that the green sparkling had been Ratchet's second focus after Bee, and was apparently just as good at escaping medical exams as the femme. He was further humored as X-bot hit the other sparkling and took her stuffed toy back.

The commander looked at Blaster, stating, "My friend, it is quite a story; one that our kind will not forget any time soon."

XXX

Paw07: A bittersweet ending, I know. A lot of you are probably disappointed because you were hoping for a pair, but I myself believe in platonic love; which I realized means more to me as a person than sexual love. I really didn't want the story to be remembered for a pairing at the end. This story was about acceptance of a person no matter their sexual affiliation and it was also about the acceptance of one's personal sexuality and the fears that come with it. There are also some political undertones there but if you didn't find them … well, I'll just let you be.

And about Barricade; yes, I've been planning that since chapter 6. For those of you that saw it, congrats. It also opens a window if I chose for there to be a sequel or a prequel for that matter. I have notes on both but I haven't decided if I wish to continue.

Regardless, thanks for all the love and support. Glad you enjoyed. Good day and happy reading.

PS: Happy, 11/11/11!