Summary: Sideswipe's not sure of his affiliation anymore. Would it be wiser to stay with the Decepticons, or defect to the Autobots? Will his brother be the deciding vote? Part 3 of 3.


Sunstreaker snatched Sideswipe's wrist, the knife just inches from the thin metal.

His voice was strangled, desperate. "Sides, don't-"

A sharp tug, a low growl. More forceful pulling, an attempt to free his wrist. "Let go."

"No."

"Why?" He demanded, red optics flaring.

"You're my brother," his free hand touched Sideswipe's faceplates hesitantly, as if that act alone could convince him to not use the blade.

He had to explain himself. Before….Before it was too late.

"I couldn't watch you get hurt," Sideswipe whispered. "And I….I-"

"Stop," Sunstreaker responded softly.

"That's why I joined the 'Cons," he continued, ignoring his brother. "They were sending threats," his red optics looked pleadingly at Sunstreaker. "They were going to hurt you. I never meant-I didn't want-"

Sunstreaker placed a finger upon his lips to silence him. "I know…"

"I-I'm sorry," he stuttered, "Sunny, I'm so sorry." He apologized, those same four words spilling from his mouth repeatedly. His hands were shaking, and the blade slipped from his numb servos.

Sunstreaker pulled him close, placing a hand on the transparent thin metal, feeling the pulsing of the spark beneath.

He's still here, he's still alive.

Pain shot through his arm and abdomen, and he clenched his denta together to keep from crying out.

Focus.

Sideswipe was more important than a few measly injuries.

A bright beam broke through the rain, showering them in light. Both looked up in time to see a seeker transform. Sideswipe's chest plates snapped closed as soon as Sunstreaker moved his hand.

"Sunstreaker?" The voice sounded muffled due to the constant pounding of the water, but it definitely belonged to Jetfire.

"Here," the yellow frontliner croaked.

"You haven't been responding to comms, what-" his blue optics caught sight of Sideswipe, and he stopped short, hand transforming into a plasma cannon to point at the 'bot.

"Don't," Sunstreaker murmured, placing a hand on the trembling form of Sideswipe, mostly to ensure he didn't lunge at the seeker. "He's coming with."

"If he tries anything-"

"He won't."

Jetfire hesitated for a moment, as if by intense scrutiny he could ensure that Sideswipe would not try to harm him. "Alright."

Sideswipe rose haltingly, watching Jetfire carefully as he picked Sunstreaker up.

Several feet away was a shuttle, and upon arrival, Sideswipe gingerly laid Sunstreaker down on the medical bench. Jetfire walked past them, never taking his optics off Sideswipe.

That was fine with him, his main concern was his brother.

He kneeled by his side, taking his brother's hand and holding it to his face, optics dimmed.


"Sideswipe."

"I'm not leaving him."

A more insistent pull on his shoulder. "If you don't leave willingly, we'll have to remove you forcibly. Let Ratchet work on him."

Sideswipe cast one more concerned look at his brother, his pedes feeling like lead as he made his way out of the medbay, First Aid trailing him.

"We'll take good care of him," the medic promised, laying a hand on the red front liner's shoulder.

"Let me know when I can see him again."

First Aid nodded, retreating back into the medbay, leaving Sideswipe to stare longingly at the doors as they shut behind him.

It did not fail to meet his notice the two Autobots standing behind him, servos resting what appeared to be nonchalantly on their sidearms.

He knew that the positions of their hands was not a coincidental event.

They didn't trust him.

Understandable, considering his former affiliation.

But the inconvenience from being regarded as a cobra constantly coiled and ready to lash out, became...Well, tiresome after a while.

He began pacing.

To do something.

To do anything.

Anything to get his mind off his brother.

Anything to forget about what just happened.

I've been a fool.


"Sides-"

He didn't wait, didn't want to hear the rest. He shoved past the medic and burst back into the medbay.

Where is he?

His optics landed on the motionless yellow figure on a recovery slab, and he stopped cold.

His first instinct was to prod his brother through the bond, and relief flooded through him as he realized that the other was simply in recharge. His spark still trying to slow down from the panic induced energon rush, he made his way to the berth on shaking legs.

As he stood over his brother, he reached a trembling hand out to touch his brother's arm, but stopped short. He shuttered his optics as an immense feeling of guilt settled on his chassis.

Guilt from hurting his brother.

From abandoning a cause he swore his life to.

He wondered, for what seemed to be the hundredth time, if he had made the right decision.

Blue optics groggily onlined and Sideswipe leaned forward anxiously.

"Hey," murmured Sunstreaker.

"Hey," his voice was incredibly quiet. "You feeling okay?"

Of course he isn't, dimspark.

"Yeah," he frowned, "don't beat yourself up over it."

The red front liner looked away, and Sunstreaker sent a pulse of love and concern through the bond.

"What's going to happen now?" His red optics flicked nervously to him.

Sunstreaker shrugged, wincing slightly at the action. "I don't know."

Sideswipe nodded slightly, sitting on the edge of the berth, swinging his dangling legs idly.

"We'll get through it together," he placed his hand on Sideswipe's shoulder. "I promise."

He looked back at Sunstreaker, a sad smile toying at his mouth plates as he sent a return pulse of love through the bond. He suddenly felt more assured that the decision he made was the right one, and he placed a hand over his brother's.

"You're my brother," he murmured softly, and a barely hidden expression of delight passed over Sunstreaker's faceplates.

And nothing is ever going to change that.


So, what'd you guys think about this chapter? Happy? Sad? Bit of both?

Also, anybody have any prompts? I need to start widening my parameters on writing different characters.