Everyone who really wanted to see Sam and Bee defend themselves (you know who you are)... Here you go. Finally we get to see Bee stop his moping and self-blame. I hope you enjoy. Fair warning, there is a reference in this chapter to part of Cybertronian culture: something I just made up, as far as I know. I apologize in advance for any grammar/spelling errors: I have been sick as a dog for the past few days. Writing and editing while drugged up on cold/flu medications can yield some interesting results...

Disclaimer: I do not own Transformers. The characters and events in this story are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual Autobots or their human allies is coincidental and completely unintentional. Blah, blah, bla-blah blah.


It had been a long day for Sam, and it had been late when they arrived at Diego Garcia. Therefore, it did not surprise Bumblebee when the boy all but collapsed onto the military issue cot some NEST soldier had kindly delivered to the room Bumblebee had been assigned as temporary quarters.

Bumblebee stayed with him for a time, attempting to recharge. But he could not get more than a several hours before he found himself very much online. Online and brooding over the events of the previous day.

His memory banks replayed numerous times the look of pained disappointment his Prime had affected when he had told Optimus about the bond and he flinched anew at the righteous anger the noble leader had fought to control. Then it jumped to Ratchet's startling revelation about the formation of the bond and he could not help but wonder if Optimus would have reacted differently had that little – stunningly significant – bit of information been known at the time.

Or Ironhide.

However, no amount of silent, pained brooding could produce any solid answers. Logic dictated that he give up such a useless pastime and attempt more recharge. But no matter how he tried, recharge did not seem forthcoming.

With a soft venting of air, Bumblebee checked on Sam. The college student was still out cold, his feelings muted and dull over the bond as he slept. And it was 0300 local time. Sam was likely to remain asleep for several more hours at least.

With another hiss of escaping air, Bumblebee climbed to his feet, careful not to disturb the slumbering human. He needed a walk.

In the predawn quiet, most of the Autobots were still in recharge. That allowed Bumblebee to leave the Autobot hanger unmolested. Once outside he glanced up at the stars. They were so bright out here, far brighter than they were in Tranquility or where Sam attended college. His gaze wondered to the patch of Earthen sky where he knew Cybertron lay, even though he could not actually see it.

So many things had happened.

If only the war had never started. If only the AllSpark had not been lost. Then they would never have come to Earth and he never would have accidentally made the life of his best friend so difficult, never would have endangered it.

He never would have even met Sam.

That possibility hit his spark like liquid nitrogen.

Would he have honestly preferred that? If he was truthful with himself, the answer was an emphatic no. He had been alone in his spark for nearly as many centuries as humans even had civilization. It was good to have a Brother-bond with another spark – or soul – even if it was imperfect.

'I. Don't. Regret. It. And I don't want Bee to regret it either.' Sam's heartfelt words echoed again in Bumblebee's processor.

But Ratchet had been right. Sam was a young member of a young species. Barely even a sparkling. He might find that relative immortality was not to his liking. And what if the Autobots were forced to leave Earth? Would it be fair to ask Sam to go with them? To abandon his home world? To leave his home, his family, his people behind?

With another soft venting of air, Bumblebee wondered if he would be able to release his link with Sam if he needed to at some point in the future. He honestly did not know the answer to that question either, though a part of him knew he would do whatever was best for Sam. Regardless of how it tore him apart personally. The last thing he wanted to do was take advantage of his best friend.

'I don't feel like I've been taken advantage of. And if I had the whole thing to do over again, I wouldn't have wanted it to be any other way. Period.'

Bumblebee allowed himself to perk up at remembering Sam's fervently spoken defense, remembering also the warmth of his embrace across the bond. With that, he realized something else.

Sam truly did not have any regrets – at least not yet – and he truly did not want Bumblebee to have any either.

While it was true that Bumblebee had to be careful and watchful over Sam as the stronger partner in their bond, how was he honoring Sam's decision, to not only keep their link but embrace it even, if he himself was brooding like this?

He wasn't. Therefore, he shouldn't.

Understanding that lifted a weight off his spark and Bumblebee knew he would be able to recharge now.

Bumblebee turned to go back inside and came face to face with Sideswipe. Bumblebee blinked in surprise then saw the look of smoldering anger in the slightly larger Autobot's optics.

/Sideswipe?/ He asked respectfully.

"You of all 'Bots should have known better." Sideswipe's voice was low and dangerous. "I was never particularly close to the kid, but after all he had done for us… why did you treat him like that?"

/It isn't what you think. I…/

"Isn't what I think?" Sideswipe took a threatening step forward. "Do you think I was sparked yesterday? It's a fragging Pet-bond!"

Feeling a touch of annoyance at the frontliner, Bumblebee straightened. /Sam is nobody's pet. He is my brother./

"That. Isn't. Possible."

"It is." Bumblebee shook his head, abandoning his comm. for verbal communication, as imperfect as it was.

"You delude yourself." Sideswipe hissed, his hands clinching into fists.

"And you know nothing about it." Bumblebee shook his head again, keeping a wary eye on Sideswipe. "Sam is happy with it, so am I."

"You have no right to speak for him!" They were standing olfactory sensor to olfactory sensor.

"Actually…" A new voice cut in and they both turned to see Sam, leaning tiredly against the hanger wall. "Actually, he does. He's my brother."

"How can you say that?" Sideswipe demanded of the human. "No 'Bot who can do that to another can be trusted with a glitch-mouse let alone…"

Bumblebee could feel Sam's rising irritation as the young man stepped forward. Knowing what he wanted, Bumblebee lowered his hand. Sam was speaking as he stepped onto the waiting palm. "You're wrong. Bumblebee is still the dependable mech he was before. He hasn't betrayed anyone, let alone me. You see… he didn't force the bond."

"You are not Cybertronian." Sideswipe shook his helm in denial.

"No." Bumblebee agreed, bringing his hand up so that Sam was nearly optic level with the belligerent warrior. "He is human. A human who has been changed by his contact with the AllSpark and the Matrix."

Sam nodded, continuing before Sideswipe could say anything more. "I formed the bond. Not Bumblebee. And neither of us want to sever it."

Sideswipe stared at them in slack jawed amazement for several long seconds and Bumblebee and Sam enjoyed a shared defiance that echoed between them. It was refreshing after all they had been through the previous day.

"That's… that's impossible." Sideswipe stammered, stepping back slightly.

"It is, indeed quiet possible." The deep timbre of Optimus' voice prevented Bumblebee or Sam from responding.

"Prime…" Sideswipe began, straightening, but Optimus waved him to silence.

"One thing I have learned in my admittedly short time on this planet is that 'impossible' is seldom a term that should be applied to humans." The majestic Autobot leader favored Sam with a kind look. "Who would have thought it possible for them to keep Megatron in stasis for as long as they did? Who would have thought they could learn as much about the AllSpark as they did or manage to keep its location so completely hidden? Who would have thought that they could land members of their species on their moon using a crude calculation device consisting of several sliding rulers? Who would have thought that the whole of the AllSpark's knowledge could be downloaded into one human's brain and not utterly overwhelm it? Who would have thought that any of them could learn to trust one of us so completely as to embrace a bond with one of us?"

Sideswipe did not answer for a long moment. "I don't understand, sir."

"I'm not sure any of us do for certain." Optimus looked back at the silver frontliner. "Your concern is commendable, Sideswipe. But for now, I will speak to Sam and Bumblebee alone."

Sideswipe straightened to attention. "Yes, Prime."

Then, with another, slightly befuddled look at the two brothers, Sideswipe retreated back into the hanger.

Optimus looked first at Sam. "It is a little early for you to be awake, is it not, Sam?"

Bumblebee saw Sam's somewhat sheepish smile. "Yeah, well, I felt Bee was troubled. Woke me up, actually. And by the time I found him out here, I saw him and Sides getting into it."

Bumblebee warbled apologetically at Sam. "I did not mean to wake you."

Sam shook his head, stifling a yawn. "I told you I wouldn't make you go it alone. That's what brothers do, Bee. At least among humans. So get used to it."

Bumblebee simply let the human feel his thanks over their bond, giving the still painfully exhausted youth a mental embrace.

"Indeed that is true, for Cybertronians as well." Optimus spoke again, stepping forward and moving his gaze to Bumblebee.

The scout straightened to attention as he waited for his leader to continue. After a long, appraising moment, he did so.

"Bumblebee, I trust you understand why I reacted as I did when you informed me of your bond with Sam."

Though it was not technically phrased as a question, Bumblebee knew his leader. His response was immediate. "I do, sir."

The hand that was placed on his shoulder was that of a friend and it led Bumblebee to look into his Prime's optics. "Had I known the whole of the matter, rest assured I would have responded differently and I apologize. I of all Mechs should have known better then to jump to conclusions." Like all truly great leaders, Optimus was quick to acknowledge when he made a mistake.

Though Optimus' words warmed Bumblebee's spark, hearing the Prime apologize, especially when it was filled with that much spark-deep regret, made him feel uneasy. Almost unworthy. Across their bond, Bumblebee could tell Sam felt much the same way.

"While I appreciate that Prime, you did nothing for which you should apologize." Bumblebee shook his head, looking down, embarrassment keeping him from meeting the other mech's optics.

Because his gaze was plastered on Optimus' pedes, he missed the almost wistful look of appreciation that flickered over the Prime's features. "You have always been forgiving Bumblebee, even to the point of your own detriment. It was my assumptions about you that I most regret."

Bumblebee was really uncomfortable now. He looked back up, almost pained. "Please, Prime, it is enough to know I am redeemed in your sight."

Optimus heaved a sigh of air through his vents and nodded. Bumblebee relaxed slightly and smiled gratefully up at his leader. Eye ridge briefly quirking at the reaction, Optimus acknowledged Bumblebee's silent expression of gratitude.

"Sam," Optimus looked at the human gravely. "In my ignorance, understandable as it might have been, I insulted the honor of your brother and I ask for your forgiveness."

Bumblebee found himself staring at his leader, shocked once again at what he had just heard. With that statement – a statement that was a mirror of the traditional phrase used in similar situations among Cybertronians – Optimus was granting Sam the honor and respect that would be accorded to any mech whose bond-brother's honor needed to be upheld. That was a statement all its own.

Bumblebee could feel Sam's own surprise deepen into awe as he showed his younger brother the full ramifications of the Prime's words through their bond. The reaction made Bumblebee smile.

The boy swallowed, closing his gaping jaw for a moment before he bowed his head. Bumblebee knew Sam intended the gesture to be his own show of respect. "Now that I better understand the implications of what everyone believed happened… I agree with Bee." Sam looked up at Optimus again. "I'm surprised your reaction wasn't stronger. I'm just glad the situation is resolved. I don't think there is anything to forgive."

Sensing Sam's sudden insecurity, as if he was afraid he had said the wrong thing, Bumblebee sent him reassurance. Bumblebee could not help the pride he felt in his human bond-brother, especially as Optimus nodded gratefully.

"Thank you, Sam." Optimus said softly. "But I am afraid the situation is not entirely resolved."

The sudden dismay Bumblebee felt mingled with Sam's as they stared up at Optimus Prime, both of them speechless for a long moment.

"I…I don't understand." Sam glanced pleadingly back at Bumblebee, who warbled his own confusion.

Optimus vented another sigh, that all to frequent expression of weariness ghosting across his features. "I believe this information should be shared with the other Autobots."

Sam nodded quickly. "Anything that will keep what happened with Sideswipe from happening again, I'm all for."

Bumblebee simply nodded, thinking he could not possibly improve on what Sam had said. He agreed completely.

Optimus smiled slightly at Sam's earnestness. "I think it would be best if the two of you were also present at that conference."

Sam looked up at Bumblebee and the two shared a moment of silent communication. Sam was still very exhausted, the adrenalin that had fueled his excursion outside quickly fading, leaving him almost trembling in its wake. Bumblebee, sensing the wave of weakness quickly encompassing Sam, reached up with his other hand to support him.

Bumblebee looked back up at his leader. "That conference must wait until Sam has had sufficient rest, Prime."

Optimus nodded. "Agreed. I believe you could use some recharge yourself."

Bumblebee warbled sheepishly, admitting to the truth of the observation. Optimus smiled and then tipped his head back toward the hanger in silent dismissal.

Bumblebee hurried to comply, aware Sam had slumped into a semi-reclining position in his hand, his grip on consciousness waning. However, before he disappeared into the hanger he paused to glance back at his Prime.

Optimus stood almost in the exact spot Bumblebee had occupied before his altercation with Sideswipe. The Autobot leader was likewise gazing up into the sky. Bumblebee could only speculate on what was filling his leader's processors.


Okay, so Bee comes out of his funk, Sam gets bolder and Prime is now on their side... things are looking up. Please review.