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The first thing he noticed as he came to was the feeling that he wasn't alone. It took him a few seconds to remember what had happened, and for some reason it was almost impossible for him to open his eyes on the first and second try. Finally he managed to force his eyelids open and stared directly into an angel-like face framed by long, blonde locks. At first he thought it to be Sarah and muttered her name, but the woman replied with a warm smile: "She will be here soon."

When he heard the voice, he knew that it was Carly who was sitting on his bedside. He gave her a questioning look, adding a whispered: "Sam?" and her smile broadened.

"He's alright" she exclaimed with glee. "You made it just in time."

Lennox sighed in relief and sank back into the soft pillows. Thank God. For now, that was everything he needed to know – he could focus on what to tell N.E.S.T. later.

"I wanted to tell you as soon as you woke up. You kept asking Doctor Martin about him before they finally gave you something so you could fall asleep." At that she grinned mischievously. Though he had no recollection of anything that had happened after he had passed out in the ambulance, that did sound like him. "And I wanted to thank you for bringing him back safely." She bent down towards him and gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead, more like a soft brush, really, and rose back up. Her blue eyes were filled with a mixture of joy and gratitude and Lennox actually felt himself blushing.

"Just… just returning the favor" he managed to utter with a crooked grin. Then he decided to change the subject. "Who's Dr. Martin?"

„The woman who officially proclaimed you insane" Carly explained and gave a high, clear laugh. "She said she has never met anyone crazy enough to order her around like that while being in such a bad shape. She had to use your blood because they hadn't enough due to some political turmoils, but she wasn't all too happy about it as you apparently were running low on it yourself. Still, she says thanks. She says they couldn't have saved Sam without it. Guess that makes you blood brothers, doesn't it?"

"Very funny, Carly" Lennox retorted with a dry laughter, then asked: "What about Bumblebee? Is he… will he be alright?"

Carly seemed to understand that he wasn't in the mood for jokes right now, because she nodded and explained: "He took some serious damage, but Optimus and Sideswipe made it just in time. Barricade's dead. Again" she added with a sigh. "Guess we'll never find out how he survived Chicago."

„Cheyenne Mountain?" Lennox wanted to know.

"Safe and sound. The Autobots and the Air Force managed to fight the Decepticons back, though they didn't manage to catch any of them alive, unfortunately." At that a shadow of worry clouded her gaze. "They have a plan, don't they?"

"Yes" Lennox admitted grimly. They had more than a plan. They had an inside man and they had the ability to turn into anyone of them, making it hard to know who to trust. Carly must've read his thoughts, because she made a soothing noise and said: "Don't think about that now. Try and get some more rest." She didn't finish the sentence, but they probably thought the same thing: He would need it before the 'Cons made their next move. But he didn't say anything and simply nodded as she stood up and continued with a smile: "And I better go check on Sam." Before she left the white room he was lying in, she turned around once more. "Thank you, colonel. Thank you so much." Then she slipped through the door and left Lennox alone with his thoughts.

He stared at the door for a while, thinking about the conversation they had just had, and the more he considered the possibility, the surer he became. This wasn't over. Far from it. As much as he wanted to, there was no time for rest right now. Somehow there never was when transformers were involved.

Fini