Summary: Living with the Autobots has become normal for the Yeager family, they moved states to keep a low profile, kept the remaining 'Bots out of trouble for a whole year…then Optimus came back…and it all went to the Pit. R&R Please!

Disclaimer: I own nothing except those you don't recognize, and even then I tweaked others a little. I do not own Daughtry's It's Not Over, the song I have been using as my chapter titles and inspiration for this fic. Any of Drift's proverbs are either made up, or from Special Dictionary's 777 Japanese Proverbs.

:Comm Link Communications:

"Radio Lyrics/Bumblebee Communicating"

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Chapter Twenty Seven

This Love

Xxx

November

Xxx

Optimus groaned, digits digging and tearing at any gap they could find in Galvatron's wrist joints, servos tightening on Cybertronian and Earth formed metals alike as he struggled in the mech's grasp. The antenna connections in his very helm were screaming, the pain was one thing, the arcing electricity zapping delicate circuits was another...it made him outright nauseous as half of his systems went blind and on the fritz as two of the rather fragile yet serious wires gave out, not popping out of his helm yet, but definitely no longer connected.

Internal warnings blared loudly, making Optimus' processor spin as he bent an arm and threw an elbow back into Galvatron's hip, jamming the joint into the gap it found on impact and digging in hard. Galvatron seemed to buckle slightly at the hit, knocked off balance as Prime threw his weight back into the swing and onto the unstable limb. Releasing the fragile antenna with a snarl, Galvatron backed off long enough for Optimus to roll to his knees, growling in pain as a servo went to his helm to try and...well not stem the leaking energon, that would be pointless, and pushing against the stretched lines was too dangerous...Optimus was in too much pain to know what to do...

"Optimus!"

A light weight hit his back, nowhere near enough to affect him, just barely registered on his over taxed sensors as organic before it launched itself off his plating.

And right at Galvatron.

Or well...actually not quite, Optimus turned just in time to see Kate mid leap with her compound hunting bow, firing an arrow at Galvatron before hitting the ground in a well executed roll to bounce right back to her feet. Not what the red and blue mech was expecting for back up in this scenario.

"You were told to stay behind the lines!"

Kate glared at him, lining up another shot even as the prior one exploded, having hit an exposed energon line. Apparently you could set energon on fire internally. "And you were told to keep out of singular combat! Why don't you ever listen?!"

"Why don't you?!"

She rolled her eyes, but Optimus couldn't say anything in response, neither had the time as Galvatron roared in anger. Optimus growled in frustration, snapping a servo out and yanking Kate to his chest as he lunged to his feet and ran, trying to put distance between himself and the enraged titan, if in doing so put distance between him and the other Autobots...that wasn't exactly in the plan considering Optimus techincally wasn't supposed to be without at least one other bot by his side when engaging an enemy.

It took Kate jabbing a knife between two overlapping plates on his chest, the metal scraping angrily, for him to notice she'd been kicking to get his attention.

"Transform you moron! He's running faster than you!"

Prime really hoped Kate was as good as she said she was, taking the order blindly and beginning to fold down into his alternate mode mid stride. It was consistently possible to do this with humans, Bumblebee had regularly proved this, Pit Optimus himself used this technique when in a jam. But it was more dangerous half the time than it was safe, mainly because-well only because-halfway through the transformation, certain sensors would lose "sight" of the human, and the autobot would be holding them completely blind to their presence, meaning one wrong shift and...

Optimus tried not to think about it, over thinking lead to mistakes-especially in battle, but as he just about fell onto the asphalt road leading away from the rock pit, Kate's reassuring weight dropped onto his bench seat without an issue. In fact he almost detected a slight bit of amusement out of her as she adjusted her position. Driving in a half blind rage wasn't wise, but it rapidly put miles between others and them, fewer would get hurt like this with Galvatron so dangerous.

It took all the gauges on his dash to fritz out, and his throttle to die briefly before catching again with a cab wrenching knock for Kate to ask the question Optimus really didn't want to answer, "How bad?"

He almost didn't answer, swerving on the road as a shot from behind got a little too close, his frame was already aching, especially his tanks and spinal strut, let alone his processor and circuits.

"Bad enough." Prime admitted, side mirrors shifting outside to catch Galvatron behind and gaining on them, this fighting need to end soon, Optimus should never have been out in the field let alone in singular combat, Kate was right, he was in no condition to-

"Turn off all rear auxiliary visual sensors."

"Kate-" Optimus winced, vocal processors hissing in complaint, he'd already had to shut down all visuals in his cab, trusting the human enough to leave her alone blind.

"Just do it, you can barely talk and need to focus your sight forward so we don't crash, I got your six."

Before he could stop her, Kate was halfway out Optimus' broken driver side window, climbing onto the cab roof and dropping onto the fifth wheel supports. Driving blind to anything behind him, Optimus could only sense her by the hand on the rear cab bars, meant for drivers to pull themselves up on when connecting trailer cables.

Not cling to so she could shoot at the gunmetal gray semi right behind them.

"Slag it Katherine!"

:Boss bot! Can you hear me?!:

:Blaster!:

:Tailin' ole G-tron now, 'bout ten klicks behind ya'll, just keep 'im runnin' boss, Kate knocked a fuel line bad, he's leaking out like crazy!:

:Understood:

At least something was going right, and Optimus took that information as a cue to push the Decepticon even further, shifting gears lit up another line of alarms, some now going off in his cab in warning of serious issues, unfortunately that might have been simply from his damaged helm. The ripped antenna were almost as bad as a concussion, though instead of risk of future problems, it meant in the here and now he couldn't tell which warnings or problems were real or just fragged up sensors and circuits overloading internally.

Kate's hand gripped the bar tightly before releasing it suddenly, Optimus lost her presence for a moment as the vibrations of driving had drowned out her weight on his metal plating, it wasn't until she shifted her hip back to brace against him did he feel her elbow bump the metal. And felt the release as she sent and arrow flying once more.

This time the explosion didn't occur on impact, instead it must have gone off midair in Galvatron's face if his shout was any indication. Kate must have caught him just out a transformation-

Which meant the Decepticon had been partially airborne, making it all that easier for his weight to shift and slam into Optimus' side.

Kate didn't scream as she went flying, barely managing to grab the cab bar as Optimus' rocked on his wheels.

"Give it up, girl!"

"Frag off!"

"Fine then!"

The second impact did make Kate let go, and Optimus spun out on the road trying to see where she went, even as the mech formerly known as his brother grabbed an axle and yanked.

Galvatron chuckled as he reformed in front of Optimus, seeming to be prepared for the massive truck to slide into him out of a braking slamming skid.

"Well well Prime...seems like your little pest has left you, they all seem to do so after a time. Ever wondered why?"

The sickly sweet menace to Galvatron's voice rang in Optimus' audios as he stood, optics never leaving the mech in front of him even as his scanners strained to pick up Kate in all their failing static.

"Look at you Prime...alone and worthless! None of your troops came to your aid! And even now I have more coming to my very side to my aid and cause!"

Optimus' scanners did pick up on that bit, inbound cars just out of long distance weapon range unless someone had missiles, considering he was pretty sure Blaster was the only one who'd spoken, no one else was coming anytime soon.

"Duck!"

At least this time he was ready for the sudden command, and Prime dropped into a crouch within a split second of yet another exploding arrow being released, this one from somewhere behind him off in the ditch. While the bang was rather impressive and the resulting flash disorienting Galvatron enough to give Optimus time to get to his peds, Kate didn't hit any weak points with that shot.

Optimus didn't give it much thought, taking his precious few seconds of reprieve to stand and then punch the Decepticon in the face. Galvatron growled, recovering from the hit before Optimus could make another and retaliating with one of his own.

Metal creaking and armor straining to remain locked in place, Optimus growled angrily, mostly out of sheer frustration as he worked to subdue the 'con. He either had to get this end, or his frame was going to end it for him, aka drop Prime on his aft from failing systems. He hadn't fought in this bad of shape since...Tyger Pax.

Only this time there was no Ratchet off somewhere in the battlefield able to come to his aid, this time there were no mechs in his immediate vicinity to back him up, there were no aerial bots overhead to provide cover should he need to move.

This time, and even more so as a wild punch sent every sensor reeling as the metal fist hit the side of his helm and shorted out his optics suddenly, Optimus wasn't so sure he'd come out of this alive. Blinking rapidly to clear his flickering vision wasn't easy, but he managed just enough to see the next hit before it collided with his shoulder and sent him stumbling.

Blocking the next blow was easier, but the defense had little to do with Optimus' ability to counter the attacks, instead it was from the blue-green fluid rapidly coating Galvatron's side and the ground. A strangled roar left the 'cons throat, rumbling from the mech's chest in anger as he tackled Optimus to the ground.

Kate was screaming for him to get up, get on his feet and out from under the massive 'con trying to wrap jagged claws around his throat. While his new armor was better suited to covering any and all gaps and exposed inner workings, it wasn't perfect and enough pressure would be really bad.

Prime jammed a knee into Galvatron's hip, flipping them over and shoving the mech away as he stumbled to get upright again. The dull roar that had been drifting on the edge of his audios for sometime now shifted into a rather loud cadence, breaking his conversation as he vented hard to cool his internals. Not that it was going to do any good, coolant was leaking down Prime's legs, in and out of his armor. The fluid was gunking up with the heat in his joints and mixing with the natural lubricant already in the complicated metal connectors.

His legs were starting to jam up as hydraulics began to give out. Optimus really needed to get the antennas in his helm rewired, just one getting damaged had fragged most of his systems to the point even emergency protocols were useless, let alone battle coding. Prime hauled his arm back to deliver another blow as Galvatron stood, shifting his weight for balance and stretching his torso with the move.

Fraggin' parasite.

The sharp pain radiating from his tanks and spinal struts wouldn't have been so bad if he'd been able to turn off any neural sensors. Realizing he had absolutely no control over the majority of his pain receptors and sensory nodes was enough to make Optimus falter. That one split second of hesitation was all Galvatron needed to slam into him again, this time the pair landed in cold mud, the ground so saturated off the road they both sunk in to the just above freezing gunk.

A vicious fist slammed into Optimus' face, jamming the battle mask into his helm and rendering it stuck in place. The increase in pressure combined with his already gritted denta made Optimus' intakes hitch, a ragged cough forcing itself out before he could stop it. The noise only encouraged Galvatron and the hits kept coming, bashing into Optimus' helm and shoulders. And then something hissed out from Galvatron's side.

Oh...so that's what it felt like to have a rocket impact and explode at point blank range. And there goes half his side armor...

Somewhere, Kate was likely screaming, and trying to find openings to shoot her bow with the exploding arrows. Vaguely Prime could remember her saying she wanted to see if the KSI technology Galvatron was made of-the shifting transformation programming-could detect projectiles slower than bullets. So far it had worked, if she could get a shot in.

Not that it was doing them any good, until one such arrow hit Galvatron's upper shoulder, sticking out of the joint enough Optimus could see it before it exploded and coated both of them in more energon that was nearly on fire it was so hot. Boiling energon wasn't pleasant, downright painful as it hit tears in Optimus' armor. Galvatron reared back from leaning over Prime's form, on his knees as he roared in pain or frustration. That's when Optimus saw them.

Six blackhawk helicopters were inbound, lead by a F16 who was already firing, and hitting exactly what it was aiming at. Skydive might have been sending Optimus' comm hails, the red and blue mech just wasn't getting anything anymore as he tried to heave himself out of the mud. The ground suction yanked back down several times before he managed to roll onto his servos and knees with a groan. Equilibrium gyros were spinning out of control, unable to recalibrate after his movements, it gave Galvatron an opening to kick him in the side once more before his own systems failed.

The ground shuddered as Gavatron took a knee, but that might have been from the Blackhawk coming in low and fast and firing at him, Optimus tried to hold a up a hand to get the humans to wait, unable to find were Kate had gotten herself too and not wanting any hits. The helicopter didn't stop, but did rapidly swerve out of range when Galvatron lunged upright and fired a shot at them. The gray mech had to be doing really bad at this point, a shot just out of point blank range had gone so wide it wasn't even funny.

Optimus couldn't bring himself to come up with a worthy quip for the failure, he could barely stand up and pull his sword from his back, apparently he could also forget he had the damn thing. That and he was rapidly losing any fighting power with a gaping hole in his lower torso, he should be glad that pure dumb luck had kept his hip and pelvic joint from being obliterated.

Galvatron turned in time to get a face full of blade, the brunt of the strike coming from the flat of the weapon. Sparks flew as Optimus ripped the weapon away, shredding man made metal with east before he stabbed the long weapon into the gaping, glowing abyss that was Galvatron's chest, only this time he didn't let it stay there. Prime meant to rip it out and hit somewhere else while Galvatron's systems were still trying to compensate from the obstruction. It had only taken a few conversations with Joyce for Prime to learn the hole was almost entirely a ventilation system to expel hot air.

Instead of ripping the sword out, Prime's leg buckled, sending him to the ground and the massive sword tearing down through Galvatron's frame. Optimus hit the ground seconds before the gray mech did, watching as Galvatron roared in pain as he collapsed.

Deep sapphire optics that were fuzzing out and going dim, blinked in relief as Galvatron's fram shuddered as he sagged into the mud. Prime let out a harsh vent as he let his frame collapse back, his weight sinking into the torn up ground once more as his systems began to cascade one by one...or at least...what was left of his systems.

"Optimus!"

His optics found Kate suddenly, the young woman running to his helm and having to stop as she came almost too close to the hot energon on the ground and still leaking from most of his frame.

"Oh shit..."

That's almost how the red and blue mech felt, trying to nod and cringing at the pain. Kate recoiled at the same time, ducking away from the sparking that exploded from the side of Prime's helm.

"C'mon big guy, you gotta get up, First Aid's trying to meet us, but you gotta get moving."

Optimus groaned as he struggled to push himself up, unsure just why he had to move if he ached to the point his neural lines were starting to go numb.

Oh frag...

Kate jumped back as Prime's engines abruptly died, and the mech fell back to the mud with enough of an impact mud went flying, Optimus looked past the human, squinting when his optics refused to lock on his target. Galvatron hadn't moved yet, in fact...

His optics were dark.

Good, at least Optimus atoned for one of his mistakes.

Xxx

Cade winced as he watched Crosshairs get...well...bitch slapped across the face, lining up a shot and blowing the Decepticon's helm in half before the sniper finished him off. At this point the battle was just about done, half of the autobots had pulled back to either seek medical attention or check on the humans and the perimeter. The arrival of the promised military reinforcements was much appreciated but almost unnecessary. Except for a cocky F16 that had pulled some really stupid stunts in the midst of all the chaos. To the point Cade was really surprised Kate hadn't called the aerial bot and human pilot out on it.

Speaking of the brunette...

"Kate, what's your 20?"

The eight minute gap that followed the question covered the time the battle ended and Cade was helping a few others pack up their weapons and take notes of damages. Not a single human up on the rock cliff had gotten seriously hurt, minor bruising and scrapes from flying rocks but no more.

"Kate, how's it looking?"

:Katherine, what's going on?: Ironhide's voice was surprisingly serious after all his trash talk during the battle, if it weren't for the black titan's aggressiveness and sheer power behind his weaponry skills, Cade would have questioned his authority in the Autobot ranks, Ironhide had never come across to him as authoritative.

:Slag it Kate! Where are ya?!:

Until Kate finally answered.

"Guys..."

:Oh slag this is bad!: Blaster sounded faint, not from messed up communications, more like he was freaking out, judging from Kate's soft voice...

"Yo Katie, holla back girl, what's goin' on? Where you at?" Leo's voice speaking for the first time all day made Cade flinch, but his stomach was already rolling as Kate's comm link crackled back to life in reply.

"Prime's down.

Holy Primus...almost three years later, you guys are going to murder me...

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