Chapter 3

Sam had no idea what the Hell, Optimus and the others were talking about but he did know that he couldn't hear what was being said over all the other noise in the room. Not that he was really bothered by that fact because if it was really important someone would tell him or he could always spend a few minutes making Optimus feel bad and then the mech would tell him anyways.

Sam was quite sure however that the talk going on in front of him had something to do with the mechs that were scheduled to arrive sometime in the next few days. The same mechs that still weren't answering any of the Autobots attempts to speak with them. Everyone was worried about what could be wrong. No one, human or bot, wanted to think that the potential comrades were too injured to answer calls from Optimus. Sam sighed as he watched the group that was standing some ways away from him. Optimus had the bond between them closed.

That in and of itself wasn't very unusual when the mech in question was talking about something important or very busy. Both of which were happening a lot more often as of late but Sam found that he didn't really mind being alone for most of his day, or as alone as one could be on a military base where soldiers had been ordered to keep an eye on you. It was amusing that even people that didn't even know his name knew that he needed to be watched out for, no matter how much he didn't really need it now.

Thankfully most of the soldiers seemed to realize that he needed his space and so they tended to watch him from a distance. Sam knew that had they tried to baby him he'd have eventually tore into them all. He didn't tend to care about rank if he was really annoyed. But none of that mattered now. No what mattered now was the conversation that was taking place in front of him.

Sam sighed and shook his head. He had to remind himself to not interfere with whatever was going on. If he was needed then he'd be alerted and then he'd be able to participate in the conversation. Sam had learned fast that he had to keep his nose out of other people's conversations no matter what or else he'd get in trouble. There was no way that he'd risk his position as Ambassador to the Autobots. It was too important to him and to the others for him to loose.

The Autobots needed someone that understood them to represent them to the Earth's various governments. That and if something happened to him he wasn't sure how the Autobots would handle having Galloway back in his old position. Not that they didn't see the annoying man every once in awhile. In fact Sam was quite sure that the man would be trying to poke his nose into whatever was going on very soon.

He and several others wanted to know what had happened to him in December very badly. So far they'd been held off because his health had been bad but he was getting better and he knew that he wouldn't be able to hide behind that excuse for much longer. Not now that he was up and around and mobile.

Sam sighed again and scratched the back of his neck. He wasn't quite sure what would happen if the government tried to get him to answer questions about those two weeks. Sam did know that they wouldn't get much if anything from him. Hell, he didn't even really remember what had happened to Bumblebee and Punch. All he really knew was that they had died and that he had been involved.

There wasn't anything more to his memories of them than that. They had dies but he couldn't remember how or why or even when.

"Deep thoughts, kid?" Sam turned towards the voice that had just addressed him and offered the man in front of him a small smile. Lennox offered him his own smile in return. The older man looked like he'd had a long day and was ready to relax. Considering that this was Lennox however Sam was more than sure that the man wasn't actually as tired as he appeared.

"My thoughts are always deep unlike some people I could name." Lennox opened his mouth to reply but stopped when Sam's words were fully processed. The man's friendly smile turned into an annoyed scowl as he pinned Sam with a look that would have had most others cowering in fear. Sam however merely smiled at the other man's annoyance.

"Are you insulting my intelligence or the twin's intelligence?"

Sam barked a laugh. "I was actually thinking about Leo. His thoughts are never very deep."

Lennox smiled and shook his head. He remembered Sam's roommate. He also remembered Sam's roommate trying to get dates with some of the younger Navel officers on the boat that they had been taken back to the US on. It was easy enough to guess what that kid was thinking most of the time.

"You sound like you miss him." Lennox said. Sam shrugged.

"Kinda, I mean we weren't best friends or anything but I did kinda enjoy his company to an extent." It was true enough. Leo was a nice enough guy once you got to know him. He was a little odd though and coming from Sam, who was the oddest person ever, that was saying something. "But it's not to bad. Being the youngest person on base that isn't in daycare kinda sucks though."

Lennox nodded his head in understanding before slinging an arm around Sam's shoulders. "Well I may be able to talk Optimus into letting you come with me this weekend. Get you off the base for a few days. How does that sound?"

Sam couldn't help but grin at Lennox's offer. "It sounds great but I don't think I can."

Lennox raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Why not?" he asked. Sam shrugged.

"Other than Optimus?" Ratchet."

Lennox winced at the realization. There was a chance that Optimus would let him drag Sam off to his house for two days but there was no way that he'd be able to talk Ratchet into. Not while Sam's health was stiff off.

Ratchet wouldn't let Sam out of his sight until he was sure that the kid was one hundred percent or as close to one hundred percent as could be. Now that Lennox really though about it it probably wasn't the best thing for Sam at the moment.

Not that he didn't want Sam to meet his wife it was just that he wasn't sure if Sarah would appreciate Sam screaming bloody murder at night. Then of course there were other things as well but Lennox wasn't going to go into them, at least not at the moment.

"You're right about that. Ratchet won't let you out of his sight until he's satisfied that you good as new and then some." Lennox paused for a moment before continuing. "What about going to see you parents. I know its been awhile since you last saw them." Sam shrugged before answering.

"I think they're coming for a visit in a few weeks. I'm not sure exactly when though because they tend to ping pong back and forth between plans and dates."

"Who ping pongs back and forth?" Epps asked as he walked up to the pair.

"Sam's parents." Lennox answered turning to look at Epps.

"Aw. Do I want to know what they're ping ponging about this time?" Epps had seen the pair fight before and they did ping pong back and forth. In fact the couple tended to switch sides so fast that it was hard to keep up with their conversations.

"Doesn't really matter at the moment. So can I ask about the conversation or should I just wait?"

"Optimus said he'd tell you if you really wanted to know. It's nothing major or anything but at the moment it's best that we keep the greenhorns out of it until we're sure that they can be trusted completely." Epps said.

"Last thing we need is for one of these guys to spill something to Galloway or someone else that doesn't need to know everything."

Sam nodded in understanding. There were things that the government needed to know and things that were none of their damn business no matter what they wanted to think. Things like what had happened to Sam and what his relationship with Optimus really was. Yah, if it was deemed need to know then only the few that the Autobots truly trusted were going to know.

And Sam much to his delight was one of the few that was almost always told. It made him feel special in a way. Sam did know however that the things he was told could put him in danger either in the form of humans or Decepticons. It didn't bother him too much because he was pretty much always in danger. He was used to it.

Ooo

Optimus was pacing. Back and forth like he had to much pent up energy and couldn't sit still. This wasn't the case of course. In fact the only reason Optimus was pacing was that for some odd reason it seemed to help him think.

Optimus knew that Sam was watching him from where he was sitting on the bed. The young man had an amused look on his face as he watched Optimus pace. Neither one really felt the need to break the silence that had fallen between them some time ago. There was no reason to really not when both of them were completely comfortable.

"What are you thinking about?" Sam asked. Optimus paused in his pacing and turned to look at Sam.

"I'm trying to choose who to take with me when the new mechs land in a few days."

"Well I know Ratchet will be one of them in case there's an injury. And if you take Ironhide Lennox will end up going and maybe Epps and if Sideswipe goes Epps will go with him because with those four where one goes the partner is sure to follow." Sam's brow furrowed as he thought. "Why not just take them all?"

Optimus shook his head. "I'm not leaving the base unguarded."

Sam snorted. "You're not leaving me unguarded you mean."

Optimus smiled slightly at sam's quick realization before he could stop himself and Sam shook his head.

"Optimus nothing's going to happen to me if you leave me here by myself for a few hours." Sam said. Optimus's gaze fell on him his blue eyes bright.

"I'm not taking that chance. Even if it is unlikely. I won't leave you without a guard." A wave of guilt slipped down the bond between Optimus and Sam before Optimus was able to stop it. Sam sighed and scrubbed his face with his hands before turning his own gaze onto Optimus.

"When are you going to stop feeling guilty Optimus. I've told you before that what happened wasn't your fault. When are you going to believe me?"

Optimus stopped pacing and turned so that he was facing Sam. He stood still for a moment before moving forward and sitting next to Sam on the bed. "I don't think I'll ever stop blaming myself for what happened."

Sam opened his mouth to say something but the words dies before they reached his throat. He wasn't quite in the mood to argue with Optimus over this at the moment. Getting Optimus to forgive himself was something that would take a long time.

It was why he hadn't worn his collar since he'd gotten out of the hospital. He'd been overjoyed at having it back but the looks that Optimus gave both it and him had made it so that he felt bad for wearing it. It was quite possible that he'd wear it again eventually but now wasn't the time for it. No, he had to take care of Optimus first because Optimus needed looking after too no matter how much the mech didn't seem to think so.

"I wish I could make you see the truth Optimus." Sam said as he leaned forward and wrapped his arms around Optimus's holoform. Optimus sighed and closed his eyes as he wrapped his arms around Sam in return.

They held each other in silence for a few moments before Sam pulled back far enough so that he could lean forward and give Optimus a peck on the check. Optimus smiles a true smile at Sam's show of affection.

"Have I told you that I love you more than anything?" Optimus asked.

"Not today you haven't." Sam answered, then squeaked as Optimus pulled them backwards so that they were both laying on the bed instead of sitting. Sam could feel it as Optimus placed a soft kiss on the scars that ran down the side of his face.

"I love you more than anything in the world." Sam smiled and buried his face into the side of Optimus's neck. He knew that Optimus meant what he'd said with his entire being. He could feel the complete and utter love that Optimus had for him filling the bond between them. Things were at that very moment about as perfect as they could be. Sadly neither of the people laying on the bed knew that it wasn't going to last.

Oooooo

Okay so once again it's not quite as long as I wanted but it's better. This story doesn't want to cooperate at all and I haven't been able to type up a little event list for it yet.

Eh, sorry about the wait but I wasn't able to get the novel because I'm broke and I've started a rotation of other stories as well. This is the third on list to be updated so it gets updated about every three weeks or so. It would have been up last week but I had a con to prepare for. In fact the only time I'll ignore a story for reasons other than writers block is to prepare for a con but don't worry I'll update the next week or so.

Well the reason for lateness was the con and all the storms we had last week. It rained so much last Sunday that the basement of our house flooded and the basement just happens to be my area. So we had to move all the stuff out of my room and it was just a big mess. I'm back upstairs again. Hopefully the carpet and everything will dry soon and I'll be able to move back down there.

Now it's only a few more days until Dark of the Moon comes out and I'm really excited! Me and my friend might be going to a midnight showing of the movie and if not then we go later that day! Gods above I can't wait! I hope that all of you guys can go and see it and that you enjoy it. It looks like it'll be epic!

So please read and review and I'll see you guys in a few weeks unless you read Hatching Eggs.