Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, I'm just borrowing it.
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Three Weeks Later:
Lennox sighed as he strode swiftly through the medical bay, his eyes locked on Bumblebee. The Autobot was still firmly attached to Sam's bedside - constantly monitoring the teenager's condition. Apart from the day after Sam's surgery when Ironhide and Ratchet had bodily removed him so that the medic could tend to the Yellow Bots own injuries - he'd been unmoveable. And his language during that brief period away had been enough to make even the hardened veterans of NEST whistle.
"Hey Bee," he said greeting as he reached the cubicle, silently the Autobot glanced up at him and gave a small nod before his optics swivelled back to Sam with such a look of profound sorrow in them that Lennox flinched. It always blew his mind how similar the Autobots were in their feelings and reactions to the humans they worked with - he'd seen it in Ratchet and Ironhide's concern for Bee, and in Ironhide's reaction to his little girl's apparent affection for the large weapons specialist. They were human, in all but form.
Taking a deep breath the soldier turned to look at the reason for the sorrow in Bee's optics. Sam lay still and silent on the hospital bed, just as he had every day for the last three weeks. The doctors said that the coma was to be expected given the severity and extent of his injuries - claiming that it was a miracle that he was still alive. However, for the soldiers of NEST, Autobots and Sam's family that offered very little comfort.
"Any change?" He asked glancing hopefully at the Bee, but he was unsurprised when the Yellow Bot shook his head slowly. Sighing he moved forward and dropped into one of the empty chairs beside the bed - usually Mikaela or Sam's parents would be present but they had, had to go to a meeting at Sam's college to explain about his absence.
Slowly he allowed his eyes to roam over Sam's face - noting with relief that the boy's pallor was beginning to improve. Although the marks from Megatron's still stood out lividly - bearing testament to the horrors he'd witnessed. As he sat there examining the boy, he couldn't stop his mind drifting back to when the surgeon had come to talk to him about Sam's condition...
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The Major had been in the communications suite, informing the general about the recent events and letting him know that Sam and co would be remaining on site until the boy was better. The Doctor had tracked him down, looking weary and strained after his discussion with Sam's family.
"Major," as soon as the Doctor had appeared, Lennox had cut off the call - surprised by his own anxiety to hear about the boy.
"How's Sam?"
"Not good I'm afraid," the doctor replied grimly. "To be perfectly honest I'm surprised he's still here. He crashed twice more in the theatre - and it took a long time to get him back the second time, possibly too long." Lennox had swallowed at that - remembering one of his former comrades when he'd been in general special ops - he'd been seriously injured and had crashed - they got him back but it had caused extensive brain damage. He couldn't stomach the thought of the same thing happening to Sam.
"What about his other injuries?" He asked - pushing such thoughts to the back of his mind.
"Where do I start," the doctor said helplessly. "Cracked ribs - which caused some damage to his right lung, a fractured ankle that he managed to exacerbate during the battle, broken ulna, internal bleeding in the spleen and left kidney, some deep cuts on his hands and various other cuts, bruises and contusions - all topped off by a nasty concussion."
The plethora of injuries had stunned Lennox into silence - for the teenager to have survived all that was truly a miracle. He just hoped that the boy would fight his way back.
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Shaking his head, he brought himself back to the present and found Bee looking at him with a knowing look. With a smile, that looked more like a grimace he turned his attention back to Sam. All in all, the boy had come on in leaps and bounds in the last week - his injuries healing at a slightly faster rate than they had expected - except for the strange gashes on his hands which seemed reluctant to heal. He'd been weaned off the ventilator a week ago, although he was still relying on an oxygen mask to help strengthen his damaged lung. The only really concerning thing now was the coma. The doctors were worried - there was no reason for the prolonged coma unless the crashes had caused substantial damage; a possibility that no one was willing to talk about. They all needed to believe that Sam would come back to them...whole.
Sighing he reached out to pat the teens arm, wondering if the boy was even aware of the constant stream of visitors he'd received - Leo, Mikaela, his parents, Lennox, Epps and various other soldiers and the Autobots with the exception of Optimus. Although after Lennox had heard from Mudflaps that Bee had flown for his leader after hearing how badly hurt Sam was, he was both relieved and understanding of why the Autobot leader was absent. In fact currently, all other Autobots were off base...Arcee and Jolt had gone with Mikaela and Sam's parents, whilst the others were attending a meeting at the Pentagon about arranging for a base for them.
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The peaceful moment was suddenly interrupted by a blaring siren. At once Lennox shot to his feet and reached for his radio - whilst Bee tensed, moving perceptibly closer to Sam.
"What's going on?" Lennox bellowed into the radio, his eyes narrowing as he listened to the reply before cursing loudly.
"Bee guard Sam, we've got a Decepticon signal on the base," He growled - cursing himself for not remaining armed. As Bee moved to lean over the bed, his cannon whirling as he scanned the room he hurried off - knowing that the Autobot was the best defence for Sam.
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The Decepticon hesitated as the siren suddenly began to blare throughout the base. Currently it had no designated name - it was merely a copy of Ravage whom had been destroyed in Egypt. However, just like the original it served Megatron willingly. Crouching it considered its options, its single red optic moving around before it settled on its target - the human medical bay. The sound of hurrying feet, and readying guns made it hesitate for the briefest second...then with a low growl it sprang forwards, its own guns springing to life as it fired at the building furthest from the med bay - chuckling as the humans began to run around.
Taking advantage of the humans' temporary distraction it bounded forward, flinching in surprise as bullets suddenly raked the ground near him. Blinking his optic he returned fire, darting here and there to dodge their fire but moving steadily closer to his target.
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"One Target," Epps reported as Lennox appeared beside him - joining him in returning fire to the bounding Decepticon.
"Didn't Bumblebee already kill that one," Lennox demanded as he examined the fast-moving Decepticon - recalling the shattered remains of the cat-like Decepticon that they'd disposed of.
"Maybe it has a twin," Epps shouted back, ducking as the Decepticon's returning fire swept over their heads.
"Where are the tanks? - our bullets aren't even slowing it," Lennox bellowed into his radio, however, his gut dropped as he realised that the Decepticon was speeding towards the very building he'd just left. It was after Sam!
"Dammit," he snarled. "Stop that Decepticon - we can't let it get near the med bay," he ordered even as he got up and shot towards the med bay - firing madly at the Decepticon as he heard his men shouting orders behind him, and faintly noting the rumble of machines in the distance. Silently he cursed the fact that the Autobots were missing.
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Bumblebee's battle mask snapped into place as he heard the rumble of guns outside. The warrior in him wanted to go and help the NEST soldiers, but he made no move to do so - the unconscious boy behind him anchored him in place. Anxious to do something he sent out an urgent message to Ratchet and Ironhide, apprising them that the base was under attack and that they would need to come back as soon as possible. Closing the link he straightened, towering over the bed - his optics flickering around warily.
His processors twitched as the sound of the battle drew closer. Where were the humans? He thought anxiously, readying his guns. Suddenly the opposite war exploded - plaster, bricks and dust filling the air - forcing Bee to shutter his eyes for a second. In that instance the Decepticon was on him - metal claws scrabbling wildly at his chest plates, trying to get at his concealed spark. Furiously his optics flew open and he tore the Con from his chest and sent it flying with a loud bellow - his cannons roaring as he fired after it. Echoing gunfire made him glance beyond the thrashing Con' and he was relieved to see the NEST team heading their way. In that brief second he missed the small shape that detached itself from the cat-like robot and scuttled towards a hospital bed - a bright red optic glistening as it zoomed in on the bed concealed behind the angry Autobot.
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Sam could finally feel the shadows that had been keeping him prisoner beginning to fade. For what seemed like an endless amount of time he had been trying to escape them - desperate to reach the faint voices that would break through the darkness from time to time. He needed to find Bee...needed to know that he had saved the loyal Autobot.
As he began to stir he faintly registered the sounds of battle, frowning as he tried to make sense of the noises. His brain felt all foggy...and as he woke more and more, he became aware of the pain in his body - a deep burning pain that sizzled all through his body. He could feel something resting across his face, interfering with his own attempts at breathing and he began to panic - wondering what on earth was happening. Where was he? Where was Bee? Frantically he tried to open his eyes...he needed to see what was happening.
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Unaware that Sam was finally beginning to stir, Bumblebee fired repeatedly at the trashing Decepticon - his blue optics narrowed in anger and hatred. Each blast destroyed another part of the Con, until with a final defiant shriek it went still... a blast had ripped straight through his chest, killing his spark. Bee's optics swept around the med bay - before returning towards the relieved NEST teams that were cautiously approaching.
None of them noticed the tiny, crab-like Decepticon that scuttled towards Sam's bed...its front pinchers clicking together in triumphant. Checking that the Autobot was otherwise occupied it scurried up the legs of the bed, pulling itself up onto the rails behind the boys head. Muttering to itself in triumph the little Decepticon lifted its pinchers and readied itself to strike the human.
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Sam finally managed to pry his eyes open - feeling them water and sting as the light hit them. Blinking he tried to reorientate himself...feeling dizzy and nauseous. From his current vantage point there was no one in sight, and that made him feel even queasier - where was everyone? A sudden glint of metal distracted him, and his eyes widened as he found himself gazing up at the 'Doctor.' Fear rushed through him as he remembered what had happened last time they met. However, his body refused to respond to his frantic commands for it to move... his breathing quickened and became more laboured as he panicked.
Fortunately this was what saved him...the monitors around him picked up on his distress and at once began to beep loudly. The Decepticon froze as Bumblebee whirled around in alarm - his optics flashing as he saw the Decepticon. For a second the two robots stared at one another. Suddenly the little crab Decepticon moved - intending to finish its mission...Bee cried out unable to fire for fear of hurting his human, and knowing that he was stood to far away...however, a gun fired loudly at the same time and the Yellow Bot watched in relief and disbelief as the Con was thrown backwards into the wall.
At once Bee strode forward, reaching out with a giant hand to scoop up the dazed Decepticon. Bringing it up to eye level he growled at it, and then without hesitation he closed his hand- crushing it in an ironclad grip.
A faint cough and moan from below made him glance down, and his spark brightened as he found Sam gazing up at him blearily...brown eyes weary and confused. Instantly he threw the crushed Decepticon aside, and carefully lowered himself into a crouch beside the bed - his optics warm as he gently reached out and let Sam weakly grasp one large finger.
"Welcome home soldier," he rumbled through his radio - not wanting to overwhelm the boy any more than he already was. Wearily Sam mouthed 'Bee' through the oxygen mask, his eyes already drooping - however, just that much recognition thrilled Bumblebee.
"Sam," a loud, happy voice said and the boy slowly turned his head to gaze at Lennox as the dust-coated soldier trotted over to them - gun still clutched in his hand from where he'd shot the little Decepticon. "Welcome back," Lennox added, grinning down at the teenager - not failing to notice how the boy was clinging to Bee's finger like it was a lifeline.
Sam blinked wearily at Lennox, glad to see the man, but too tired to try to communicate properly. Slowly his gaze wandered back to Bee - relieved to see that his guardian was in one piece, although he could see dents and scratches on the bright Yellow paint. He was barely aware of Lennox shouting for the medics, or of the other soldiers gathering around his bed...his eyes slowly drifting shut of their own accord as he gazed up at Bee.
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Bee sat quite contentedly next to Sam, his finger still in the boy's bandaged hand - as Sam's grip hadn't relaxed even in sleep. The lyrics from 'I'm so excited' played quietly from his vocaliser as he watched the doctors checking Sam out, whilst soldiers bustled around them - attempting to tidy up the mess and cover the hole up with a wind-proof cover. He had already sent out another message to the other Autobots to tell them of Sam waking up, and to reassure that the base was secure once more...or rather he'd sent it to every Autobot except Optimus, still unwilling to talk to his leader.
Lennox had called the university and left a message for Mikaela and Sam's parents, and had already dispatched a helicopter to bring them back to base. As soon as he was sure that was taken care of, that his men were in one piece - and that the repairs in the med bay and the barracks that had been damaged by the cat-like Cons original attack were underway he too returned to Sam's bedside. Standing next to the humming Bee - a wide grin on his face as the doctors seemed pleased with their findings. Things were looking up.
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Megatron knew that his Decepticons had failed...however, the doctor had managed to send out a last message - a scan of the boy's vitals. The large Decepticon scowled as he examined it...the boy's signature was warped, as though a large electricity source had interfered with the scan. The red optics gleamed...what had his brother done to the human boy?
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