Chapter 8- Changes

Mikaela felt Sam trembling as the lights from the factory reflected off the yellow paint of the mechanical giant standing in front of them. Squeezing his hand to offer him some support, she heard him mumbling "What is it?" over and over under his breath. Sensing he was on the verge of a complete nervous breakdown, Mikaela pinched the back of Sam's hand causing him to yelp, "Owww, that hurt". Mikaela just raised an eyebrow at him, "Yeah well, you were brooding. And stop being such a wuss, I've seen you take harder knocks, mostly through the course of today". Sam rubbed the back of his hand, still scowling at Mikaela, before he transferred his gaze back to the giant that was still stood in front of them, before looking back at Mikaela, his brown eyes wide with confusion, "As I said, what is it?".

Mikaela shrugged, but as she looked at the giant she found herself smiling as she saw it scuff its foot nervously on the ground, "I honestly don't know Sam, but it looks like some kind of robot", but as she continued to watch it, somehow Mikaela knew it was much, much more than just a robot. Somehow the mention of the word 'robot' brought Sam out of his trance like state, "Yeah a robot. Makes sense, but like a superadvanced robot. Probably Japanese. Yeah its gotta be Japanese". Mikaela smiled at Sam's reasoning, thinking to herself that this was probably like Christmas come early to Sam's inner nerd. However Mikaela also found herself thinking that the term 'robot' seemed too impersonal as robots generally couldn't feel emotions and Mikaela was certain that this one could, it had demonstrated that by saving them more than once today.

"What are you doing?", hissed Sam as Mikaela inched forward. She turned to look at him, "Well I'm pretty sure that if it was going to hurt us, it would have done by now. Hell, the other one didn't seem too keen on polite introductions earlier". Sam huffed, "Oh so you speak 'robot' now then? They just had a giant droid death match Mikaela".

"Yeah and this one tried to protect us Sam, it could have just left us. I really don't think it wants to hurt us Sam". Sam looked up at what had been his Camaro, and although his nerves were still jumping and every bit of his being wanted to run screaming, he had to admit Mikaela seemed to have a point. "You'd better be sure about this". Mikaela nodded before looking up to meet the bright blue optics of the giant, which seemed to radiate a sense of trust, "I am Sam. I don't know why, but I think we can trust it". As they slowly inched up the slope, Sam suddenly stopped and spun round to face Mikaela, the panic rekindling in his eyes, "They want something from me".

"What? What could they possibly want from you?"

"I don't know but the other one was asking me about my e-Bay page, and the glasses". Mikaela stopped and looked at Sam for a full minute before answering in a perfectly calm voice, "You are the strangest boy I have ever met Sam". For the first time that day, Sam felt a bit steadier as he saw the calmness in Mikaelas blue eyes, and he grinned back at her with a bit more of his usual confidence, "Yeah but that's why you love being my best friend". As Sam turned and crept a bit further up the slope, Mikaela called after him, "Yeah but don't think it's not something I've questioned over the years".

oOoOo

Bumblebee couldn't help but scuff his foot nervously as he watched the two teens continue to gaze at him, especially when he could still sense the uncertainty coming from Sam in waves. Mikaela however was exceeding all his sparks expectations as he watched her gaze at him calmly, meeting his blue optics with her own, and gradually calm Sam down at the same time, and when he heard Mikaela defending him, Bee's spark soared. As he watched them bicker their way up the slope, Bee chuckled to himself, as he finally realised where he'd seen a bond similar to the one Sam and Mikaela had, "It's just like watching Skids and Mudflap, but with more intelligence". Bee however found himself jolted out of his thoughts when he realised Sam was shouting something up at him.

"Can you talk?". Bumblebee looked down at Sam and shook his head sadly. Sam looked back at Mikaela, who Bee saw was watching him with a curious look on her face. As Bee let his radio flare into life "XM Satellite Radio.. Digital Broadcasting System"; he was rewarded with a smile from Mikaela, who poked Sam in the side whispering "I knew it", before gazing up at Bee, "So what you talk through your radio?". The sound of applause rang through the night air, accompanied by the voice of a cheesy game show host, "Thank you, you're wonderful" as Bee clapped his hands and pointed at her, his optics glowing brightly. He was pleased as he saw the faint trace of a blush appear on her cheeks, and heard her whisper "You're welcome".

Sam also smiled at the exchange, feeling a bit more confident now he hadn't been crushed to death and was actually communicating with whatever it was his car had turned into, "So what was that last night? Which I guess I owe you an apology for, I kinda freaked". Sam thought he saw the giant smile before it pointed to the sky and another burst of static came from the radio, "Message from Starfleet Captain.. vastness of space.. like visitors rain down from Heaven.. hallelujah". Mikaela came and stood by Sam, everything falling into place for her at that last piece of information, as she stared up at the giant, still feeling the same sense of wonder she'd had when it had transformed in front of them earlier. "So what are you like an alien or something?".

Bumblebee heard no fear in Mikaelas voice as she asked that last question, he only heard a burning curiosity. As he answered her question the only way he could, by transforming back down to his alt-mode, wincing slightly as a few dented panels he'd gained in his battle with Barricade took a bit of settling into place, Bee found himself feeling happier than he had the previous night. Both Mikaela and Sam had accepted him, though Bee still sensed Sam needed a little more time to come to terms with it; all that was left to do now was introduce them to the rest of the family. With that, Bumblebee opened the doors, voicing "Any more questions you want to ask?" through the radio. Mikaela started towards him first, turning when she saw Sam was still looking unsure, "Sam I think he wants us to go with him".

"Oh so now its a he. And go where exactly Mikaela?".

Mikaela gazed at her best friend, and for a second she could see the unsure five-year old Sam standing before her, "I don't know Sam, I can't explain why but I trust him. And come on Sam, in fifty years time don't you wanna be able to say you had the guts to get in the car". Mikaela rested her hand on the roof, and she felt the Camaro almost shudder beneath her, causing her to smile to herself. As Sam saw the excitement shining in Mikaela's eyes, he swallowed his fears and headed over to the Camaro, looking at both Mikaela and Bumblebee as he did so, "Okay I'm trusting you on this, well no actually I'm trusting both of you". Mikaela grinned reassuringly as Sam walked round the car, and she was unsurprised when the Camaro revved its powerful engine in its own reassuring response as Sam got in.

oOoOo

Bumblebee peeled out of the yard, and when he reached the highway he slowed to a more sedate pace, to comply with the speed limits. He was aware of Sam and Mikaela chatting to each other as he drove along, mainly discussing the events of the day. Occasionally Bee would join in the conversation by finding a particularly fitting song or radio clip but he found it easiest by just emitting a loud chirp from the radio. However the first time he had done this, Sam and Mikaela had both jumped like they'd been used as target practice by Ironhide and Bumblebee had actually had to pull over for a moment as he couldn't drive with that much laughter shaking his chassis. Mikaela had finally regained enough air in her lungs to ask what the noise had been, and Bee had somehow managed to stop the laughter that was also ringing through the speakers enough to reply "Easiest way.. to talk". Sam had seemed impressed, but Mikaela had just lightly tapped his seats before warning him not to do anything like that without warning them first.

As he drove along, Bee was aware of Mikaela leaning forward to talk to Sam, resting her arms on the headrest, trying to ignore the feeling that it created in his spark, "You know, this cars a pretty good driver". Before Sam could answer, Bee flicked the radio, "Why thank you pretty lady". Sam couldn't hide his laughter as for the second time that night he saw his usually unflappable best friend rendered speechless and blushing furiously, "You just make everyone fall in love with you don't you Mikaela". Mikaela slapped Sam hard on the shoulder, "Look he was just saying thank you. It's what polite people, cars, whatever, do okay". Bee however decided to press home his advantage and scanning through the radio, he found the perfect song. As the song 'Crush' filtered through the speakers, Sam's laughter doubled, "Oh this is great". Mikaela buried her head in her arms, and Bee felt a momentary spark of concern before he realised she'd lifted her head and although she was still blushing furiously, Bee could see a small smile on her face. Mikaela swallowed back some of her own nervousness before tentatively running her hand along Bee's cracked leather seats, and whispered "Thanks big guy" low enough so Sam was unable to hear her. However as her hand continued to stroke the faded leather, completely unaware of what it was doing to Bee's circuits, Mikaela found herself speaking out loud, "If you're some kind of a superadvanced robot, how come you change back into this scrappy looking Camaro?".

Bumblebee skidded to a halt when he heard Mikaela's words, he knew she hadn't meant them unkindly but there were only so many times Bee could put up with the comments about the state of his paintwork. As he heard Sam pleading with him to start as other road users yelled at him, Bee resolutely refused to move anywhere, and both Sam and Mikaela climbed out, Mikaela whispering she was sorry as she got out. Bee closed the door before driving away from them in the opposite direction, chuckling as he heard Sam informing Mikaela, "That car is sensitive", before his optics caught sight of just what he'd been looking for.

Mikaela meanwhile was ignoring Sam's hissy fit completely, as she felt her heart sinking as she watched the Camaro drive away from them. She honestly hadn't meant to offend him, as she could feel herself growing fonder of the Camaro by the second, and she certainly wasn't ready for the feeling of abandonment that had lodged itself in the pit of her stomach. As she heard Sam bemoaning the fact that "Four thousand dollars had just driven off", Mikaela tried to apologise to him, but as she knew deep down it wasn't Sam she needed to apologise to, her heart really wasn't in it. As she turned to follow Sam, who'd already stomped off ahead of her, Mikaela heard the sound of an engine revving, and she spun round hoping to see their battered Camaro.

"Wow". Mikaela was unable to keep the admiration out of her voice when she saw the gleaming new Camaro that was idling in front of them, and from somewhere behind her it sounded as though Sam was having trouble breathing. Mikaela trailed a finger along the now shiny yellow paint, before whispering, "Still you big guy?". She was rewarded with a flash of the lights, and an affirmative chirp from the radio, as that was all Bumblebee trusted himself to do until he'd settled his spark. He could still feel the trail Mikaela's finger had left on the paintwork, and he actually shuddered as the pulses of current flowed through his wiring. Mikaela chuckled as she felt the shudder and guessing what had caused it, flushed slightly as she climbed in, though not before she called over to Sam who was still staring at his car with a look of amazement; "Sam breathe. It's your car". Sam looked back at her, and gulped in a deep breath, "Really".

"Yes really". Bee confirmed Mikaela's answer by chirping his own reply. Sam grinned widely and continued to admire his new car as Mikaela closed the door. Settling into the passenger seat, Mikaela trailed another fingertip along the leather interior chuckling as she heard the Camaro's engine almost purr in response, "Making you nervous big guy". Bumblebee added a little more power to the purr of the engine and smiled to himself as he heard Mikaelas laughter, before he heard her begin to speak, "Hey look I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, I liked the old paint job too. And I was going to apologise but as you gave yourself the makeover and now look pretty damn hot, I really can't say I'm sorry any more".

"I can't believe you kiss your car goodnight".

Mikaela laughed as she recognised the song, "Nice try big guy". However the mood was broken by Sam jumping in the car, much to Bee's irritation and for the first time, he was almost tempted to break Optimus' golden rule of not harming anyone. "Surely dumping him back out onto the concrete wouldn't hurt that much", Bee thought to himself, however his irritation with Sam was short-lived when he listened to Sam's excitement over his new look, "This is so cool". When Mikaela didn't reply, Sam waved a hand in front of her face before noticing she looked like she was fighting back yet more blushes; and as he watched her absent-mindedly draw circles on the dashboard, he also noticed that the interior of the Camaro was slowly but surely warming up.

"Okay okay, rule number one. No flirting while I'm in the car". Mikaela embarrassedly moved her hand, and as Sam heard Bee's questioning chirp through the radio, Sam lightly tapped the steering wheel, "Yes that means both of you".

oOoOo

A/N: Well Bee's finally found his voice in more ways than one, and Mikaela is slowly getting there ;) Enjoy as I'm having a blast writing this, so would just like to say a quick thank you to those of you who've reviewed, put this on your favourites list or are simply following it. You all know who you are and I love you all lots xx