Timeflip 9

Point of Reference: NightStalker13's War-Within Chapter 57 & 58. For those who have asked, this is where I fell in love with this wonderful artist's AU.

Warnings for this chapter: extremely personal for me. it will be painful, grab your hankies. And yes, the silver mate will be revealed.


Time passes…. Schedules fall into routines. Seeing the heavy project for Iacon for traveling inter-galactic dignitaries cleared only for Shockwave and a handful of heavily screened selected crew, Timeflip helps him gather up the last bits he needs. "Shockwave, I can warp in if there's anything you forget. You don't really have to take all this. Don't think you are a bit over prepared?"

He flicks a finger to the other designers, "You will have your hands full with them and your own mate. I don't need a sparkling sitter. Besides," he sighs heavily, "I could use this break. I'm tired of being looked as a 'carrier'. I need to push this processor into over drive."

Softly she pats his shoulder and whispers, "Okay, Commander."

His antenna quirk to the tease and then shakes his head to her nutty comment. He closes the oversized traveling briefcase. Before he can pull away she firmly clamps a hand over his hand which make him look directly at her, "Look, just… are you and your mate fine? You aren't… running away are you?"

His face falls to that. Something is definitely troubling him but he won't tell her even though he knows she is one of the few he could probably trust, he just doesn't want to expose and burden her with more than she needs. She does not need to know about Skywarp. Pulling his hand out from under hers, places it softly on top.

"Timeflip, I appreciate your concern to my personal life, and I know you are honest in your concern, unlike the rest of these gossip mongers, but no. Template is chaotic enough for us with his brand new sparkling, Chamfer is more rigid than I -if that's possible- and Sliderule… heh… don't concern yourself with my issues."

She huffs a little and lightly bonks his hand with her other fist, "Believe it or not, you are still in command: Senior Draftsman. They are all looking to you. They are all measuring themselves against you. They all know you are the creator of this technology. By now of course they have figured out that I am more than a bim-bot that answers phones when I tell them they have something wired backwards. So it's my job to keep the team in working order. Part of that is looking out for all of you."

He pulls his hand out and taps her in the forehelm, "No."

As he picks up the heavy briefcase she mutters, "Stubborn aft."

"Yes, and then some," he smirks back and reaches over to grab his folded blanket off the back of his chair. As he drapes it over his arm like a cloak, he orders her, "Get Template back on task. If need be, give it to Chamfer, that should put things back in line. And do NOT let the project for Praxis go through without me double checking it first, Sliderule always forgets the Beryllium concentration ratio." Timeflip jots down his last few notes as they leave his office and he shuts off the lights.

"He's not going to like that," she shuts the door.

"And I don't care." Back to that hard lined tone that is needed to make things perfect. Just the precision she loves from his straight-forwardness.

They head over to her desk and she hands over a file for the corporate transport that few in the company are authorized to fly. "The team should be at the pad at five. I told them four just to give some a chance to be late." Shockwave chuckles to her creativity in keeping the mission -er project- on schedule.

Then just to add icing to the cake, "And if any of you show up the day after, I have already recoded the lock to your office and you will be forced to go back home."

If he could, he would have pursed his lips, instead he narrows his optic, "You're evil."

"Yep!" and punks herself back into her chair, "Bye-bye." And shoos him with her hand picking up the incoming call, "Wave Industries, how may I design your day…."

"You did NOT tell him that!" Barricade gapes, fork in mid-shovel.

She flushes, "Yeah, I did."

"Are you INSANE?" He just blinks. No one pushes Shockwave around like that.

She chews on her lip for a moment, "Actually I was terrified. I was afraid I'd gone too far and was going to find MYSELF locked out."

"And…?"

"Well, my security badge still works, so I guess I'm not fired yet," she flushes.

"Look, be careful. Shockwave is-" the officer tries to choose his words carefully knowing about Starscream's trial and her Warp Trainer's part in the attack on Shockwave. He's kept it from Timeflip because he knows she will just gush all over Shockwave more it that WILL get her fired or damage the hairline relationship she has with her mentor. Or worse, Shockwave will say something that will break her spark.

"He's not your friend," he lays his fork down. "He's your boss."

"He's more than that, and you know it." Her spine goes rigid.

"During the war he was your commander and I know your sweet innocent optics doted on him like a surrogate father but-"

"I'm NOT in love with him!" She slaps a hand down on the table.

The burly mech's chuckle is like a slap to her instead of quelling the issue. It adds tension instead of breaking it, only to light her pain even further. Her hands shake, "You're jealous that I've found a friend."

That silences the chuckle and he reaches for her hand, "Babe, no, it's not like that. Shockwave… doesn't have friends. He's a droid he doesn't-"

Now her protective nature goes into a flaring rage and she shoves back from the table, "Barricade, was the most hideous thing I have EVER heard you say." After all the taunts she heard Starscream throw at her blessed Commander for his mixed lineage. She seethes to seeing her mate in a whole new light using the word and it sickens her, "How prejudice of YOU! And of all bots-"

Now he launches back, "I'm trying to protect YOU, Timeflip. He will never see you in that light and I can't bear the thought of you pinning your hopes on a deep relationship with him that will only end up leaving you hurt."

Now her finger shakes in his face. The trembling is not just in rage but the hurt he could be possibly be right. "No….no. He has feelings! He has a mate, he's going to be a mother. A wonderful mother. A caring, loving….'

Barricade relaxes and tries to drop his tone to a careful soothing one, "I have no doubt that he will be protective, guiding and doting. I have no doubt that he is loyal and completely devoted to his mate but… friendship is completely different for someone with a droid personality. I work with a couple of them. I served beside them in the war. Babe, I'm sorry, but I do know more than you in this case and I'm trying to protect you from yourself."

The beautiful young copper-silver face turns to the most ugly expression he has ever seen, "And what the hell does that mean?!"

He reaches out seeing a whole new side of her, frightened that he brought it out. He looks down to his hands still flat to the table and their wonderful meal going cold. "Timeflip, I love you very much …but…you…can be…"

Another ugly hiss comes out, "What? I can be what?!"

Slowly he raises his helm and gives her the truth, "Too much."

Her shoulders slump. A blow to her spark. He sinks back to his chair knowing he has to tell her the truth and knowing it won't be received well, but still it must come out. "You have a tendency to over do it. Glomp people with your adoring, glomp them with your support, smother them with…"

SLAM

Barricade buries his face in his hands, "Primus guide me. Please help me with this. You know I didn't want to hurt her. You know she cares just too much. I can't bear to see her hurt and yet that's just what I have done. Please give me the right words, please let her let me be there for her."

Down in their berth room, Timeflip buries herself in the massive quilt she made for her beloved. Smothering herself in the fluffy glomp she had given him, she sobs. Not so much for his words, but because he's right. She did manage to alienate some of the people in Tarn in trying to do so much for them. Showering them with nice words, gifts of her sweetness, hugging them when they don't want it…

Shockwave. Reserved. Logical. Cold, to an outsider. She just knows him in ways that Barricade wouldn't understand. But then again, what did he tell her today in not so many words-

Back off.

Leave me alone.

Stop.

Sobbing she shakes into the reality, she is over the top in her need to show affection. Yes her spark had latched onto the order and training Commander-Scientist had given her -much like her father had been. The purple short clipped words of praise where like waterfalls of compassion and encouragement that few others ever heard.

Now with all these new bots at Wave Industries, she sees the strengths in each and tries to encourage them like she had once been given. She tries to help guide them through their weaknesses, but how many times has Chamfer rolled his optics as she walked out of his office? How many times has Template tossed away her attempts to organize his office? How many times has Sliderule groaned when she correct his pronunciation of a word when she was … only trying to help.

Shaking again, she cries even harder. Yeah, she has crossed boundaries. For as much as she hadn't told any of the other secretaries of her issues and hides her personal pains, she just pushes herself on her team… in help. Boundaries go both ways. Damn. She sobs, "Primus help me. I can't stop myself. Please, tell Barricade I'm sorry. Please don't let this damage us. I can't bear to think my stupidity has damaged us. I can lose everything, but I can't lose him again, please oh please Primus help me…."

Releasing the confessional plea not only bring a sense of release but also she can feel a calming wave of comfort come over her. Like another blanket of solace. Darkness of despair may not have completely gone away, the pain is still very real and very much there, but at least it's a little easier to breathe… and sleep pulls her further under.

Seeing that dinner was a bust, Barricade cleans it up and quietly as possible washes the dishes. Now for the tough part, what to do? When his mom was hurt by a fight, his dad would at least check to see when she was ready to talk. If she wasn't ready, he would respect that and back away until she was. But he would never know unless he tried.

Taking a deep breath, he tries. Softly he knocks on the berthroom door, "Babe?" With no answer, he pushes the door open and sags. There's only one massive bundle of fabric wadded up on her side of the berth. He's not even sure if she is in that tnagle. Hearing that particular sound, he kneels at her side and sees just a nose. Once more his face falls seeing she is sound asleep. He doesn't want to wake her, but does need to touch her.

Soft knuckle backs graze her cheek and he sees the eeps of lemon yellow lights. "Timeflip, are you alright?" The bundle makes a 'no' shake. "Will we be?"

Her voice chokes, "Did I break us?"

Two hands push the fabric away and cups her face lighting it with massive amounts of adornment, "Never Babe, never. Oh good grief no. This is just a moment in our lives." This time he smothers his face in hers, "Oh dear Primus, my love, no. I'm so sorry I hurt you."

She sputters, "I'm sorry you had to."

Pulling the whole bundle of quilt and mate into his lap on the floor, he wraps his arms around her. "I love you so very very much, and I want you to be happy, but you just…"

"Don't understand what you are trying to tell me?"

He tips her face and makes her see his seriousness, "This is going to hurt, but you have to let me finish. I will let you speak but you have to let me finish first, alright?" Silently her head nods, respecting his wishes.

"You are far more mature that a lot of people. You always have been, one of the things I have always admired about you. You don't have time for pettiness, and I'm so glad."

She smiles knowing how he would shove away all those materialistic cheerleaders of the past. The ones that grew up to still have personalities like the executive secretaries beyond the gilded doors on her floor.

He continues seeing that she grasped and accepted his first piece, "But… you have to remember, you are still very young." She sighs to the truth. "You are strong enough to deal with people thinking we are siblings or parent-sparkling, that doesn't worry me one bit, but you have to understand…." He wrestles with what to tell her and yet not tell her about the major investigation going on all across Cybertron for one mech… one of her teachers that she trusted. Right now, she doesn't need any more trust broken.

"Timeflip, the bots you knew have been through a lot. I'm not discrediting your own isolation and it's cruelty," she nods vigorously in pushing him on to his main point. He takes a deep breath and plunges, "We've watched friends die. Even in our youth we saw far more than we ever should have. And I know the scientists tried to protect you from that, but.." His head clonks back against the nightstand, "Even they weren't. I saw what happened to Emarra." The lemon optics fare but he hasn't the spark to look at her as he tells her what happened to her lab-mate, "She was beaten to death to be made an example of… and no, it wasn't by Shockwave." That left only one other who would do it, and she swallows down. "Bots were killed by some within their own faction as well as by the enemy. It's hard to know who to trust even now in the civilian life. It's made some of us wary of wanting anyone getting close to us. Gifts of tenderness could have a nasty aftertaste of poison."

She tries to speak, but he puts a single finger to her lips, "No, my turn. Some don't want kindness… it's a reminder of what was lost. It's a reminder of what can be taken away all too easily again. No point in trying to hold on to something that could be gone in an instant." Rolling his head back to face her, he tries again, "Jaded. Some just don't know how to handle kindness and you burying them in it…" His face pouts, "I know you mean well, but it's too much. It's too hard to breathe."

Timeflip's chin trembles in worry, "Is that how you feel?"

Ever so slowly he shakes his head, "No." He cups her chin again and smiles, "I just feel that I'm the one that should be glomping my love on you instead of accepting it."

"I'm scared. I don't know what to do. I don't know how to change. I'm aching and I'm just trying to show my gratitude to some very talented, gifted-"

Cuddling her close again he hums, "I know Babe, I know. I understand ya." Rocking her like a sick sparkling he lets her tears go, "I know you miss your mom and sister. I haven't given up but right now with this search for Sk-" he catches himself.

"I'm sorry Barricade, I haven't been there for you, have I?" Another bout of pain curses through her spark.

He expels gratefully seeing how she completely missed his slip. Then he chuckles, "Don't worry about me, I'm more than fine. I've got you when I come home and that's all I need."

"I know you are stressed, and here I am with my stupid petty crying fit about you telling me to stop acting like some emo-brat," a soft fist hits him in the chest.

He chuckles, "Nah, you know me, I'm too tough for all that crap."

Now her head does roll up to him with a snotty scrunched up nose, "Huh?"

He beams, "Do me a favor, just don't end up like one of those snobby Java Queens and we will be fine."

That quirks her brow, "Java Queens?"

"Adult superficial emo-spoiled brats that are more into their make up than honor and duty."

Timeflip rolls her optics, "My father would haunt me from the grave if I turned into one of those." Then she laughs, "And I WILL get fired, knowing my boss."

Barricade roars in laughter to that clonking his head back again. Her spark pulls from the ugly darkness with the sound of his laughter. Burying her face into his chest she says her praises to Primus for making this tiff not so bad.

Cupping her helm to his chest he kisses it, "Are you okay?"

"I'm starving." And he laughs again making a perfect end to the evening.


As soon as Shockwave returns from Iacon, she approaches him about redesigning her office. A short simple question with no details. Easily he tells her to talk to construction, he doesn't care. She's rather proud of herself for not asking how he is doing, or for that matter any of the designers.

She is all tied up in her conversation with the construction department about redesigning her office so that this wall will come down like a massive curved wavy wall that will also act as her desk. Seeing how their offices are up here too, she wouldn't mind sharing the large desk with their secretary. Scrapper and a couple of the other construction workers add in their two bits. By the end of the conversation, she will have her desk by the first of the next cyber-week.

The construction team steps aside and she gathers her things so they can make actual plans and measurements. As she walks out of her office, she gapes. Coming off the elevator is….

"Lor- uh- Meg-Megatron?" her voice hitches in breathing. Why the heck would he be at Wave Industries let alone on this floor?! Beside him is a petite light blue mech in a long white coat, so wrapped up in their conversation, neither pay attention to her as they walk themselves directly into Shockwave's office and shut the door. Swiftly Shockwave draws the blinds.

Extremely boggled, she makes her way down the stairs and to the public transport. By the time she gets home, Barricade has left her a text saying not to wait up for him, it's going to be an all nighter for him. Tucking herself into bed, her processor is still muggled over why Lord Megatron- correction MR. Megatron- would be at her work sight? In Shockwave's office?

"Oh please Primus… don't say they are starting that all up again!" Her thoughts wonder back to why Barricade said Prowl was in Kaon…. But then…

Her head continues to spin her into a weird and restless sleep.


The next morning, Timeflip drags herself to work after horrific and nightmarish night. Gathering cups of Energon for the weekly morning meeting in the conference room. She ties to ignore the two other secretaries but it's hard not to:

"Seriously! Prowl was the one to take Scrapper into custody!"

"For a little push and shove?"

"Yes! He's lucky that miner didn't rip his head off."

"Have you seen Shockwave's mate?"

"No! Have you?"

"I heard rumors that he is-"

At this point, Timeflip's stomach is churning to these to inconsiderate superficially bitches talk about a Senior Officer like this. Snatching the mugs, she bolts out of the break room and into the conference room. First she has to clear it for the construction department left it all a mess from their meeting last night. Seeing how it was about her new desk, she doesn't mind one bit folding up stuff and carefully setting it aside. Then get to work settings out files, mugs and holo-projector. Gathering her own, her line rings.

Using the remote, she answers in a force chipper tone, "Wave Industries, how may I design your day?"

"Uh… is this the Design department?"

"Yes it is, my name is Timeflip, how can I assist you?" Her pulse quickens to a voice she would recognize anywhere, but the tone sounds so despondent…. Lost. Not a tone she would ever associate with that voice so she's just really not sure who it is.

"Are you their secretary? I'm sorry, I just…."

"Yes, I am. Is there a particular Engineer you are looking for?"

"No, I'm calling about one of your Draft'smechs… my mate."

Timeflip sinks into a chair, oh Primus it is Megatron…. Megatron really is Shockwave's mate. But before she can grasp all of that he continues.

"I would appreciate it if you would keep this confidential, but… oh Primus!" The silver mech's tongue fails him.

"My lord," she whispers.

"Don't ever call me that," he snaps as if the title is poison to his soul.

"I'm sorry," she quickly remits her apology. After a long pause she tries again, "I will never betray Shockwave's privacy."

"Thank you," Megatron tries again to breath out the truth. "Could you inform the others he will be on medical leave for awhile?"

"Yes, of course. Is there anything he needs?" And then mentally slaps herself for the instant push of concern that may not be appreciated. Another glomp. Damn.

"I don't know…. I …"

"Is he alright?" now the soft deep honest concern comes out hearing something desperate in the other.

"No," she almost didn't hear him.

Timeflip can already read between the lines but instead of making the father say that his sparkling is dead and his mate is painfully grieving, she does what Barricade had encouraged her is her greatest strength: Respect.

Respectfully she pushes down the line, "Go be with him. I will inform the others he is on medical leave." The sigh of relief comes out of her former leader. Timeflip can't stop herself though, "Megatron, I'm so sorry. You both are in my prayers."

With a grunt, he finishes, "I appreciate you handling this for us. Good-bye," and the line closes with out giving her a chance to say anything else.

Pulling her headset off, Timeflip folds her hands and leans her face into them. Tears stream down her face as she prays for Megatron, Shockwave and their lost sparkling. Like a jab to her own pain, she pleads. It's just not fair.

Her helm lifts to the sound of familiar pedes pounding their way up the staircase. "Timeflip!" Lifting her helm, Barricade turns and sees her. Anger and grief are all over his face as well as exhaustion. They both move and meet.

She sobs into his chest beating a fist into his chest and he wraps his arms protectively around her. "You knew, you knew who his mate was, didn't you?!"

"Yes."

"And now… they both lost…"

"I know, I'm so sorry…" He knows she is not only crying for her mentor's lost family, but for their former leader's hope in a new future (all he head fought for) and for their own loss. The well of pain that Barricade had not been present for, now comes out again. Neither of them cares that they are standing out here in the open while she silently sobs into her mate's chest.

"I got you, Babe." He leans down into her audio, "Let me take you home."

Her head shakes a 'no' into his chest. "I have four more mechs counting on me. And now, I have one more who needs me more than ever to make sure all his hard work doesn't got to Pit." A touch to both Shockwave's current projects but also the new life Megatron had fought for all of them… and himself.

Barricade tips her helm back and beams, "That's my strong mate. That's my deep mate. That's my wonderful mate. The one who surpasses everyone else."

His big thumbs swipe away her tears and he kisses her most warmly, proudly. Deeper he kisses knowing he can't take the pain but that he can be her comfort. Clinching tightly to his sides, presses back into the kiss taking all he has to give.

"Hot damn femme!" Sangria breaks into their public moment.

Timeflip flushes and buries her face back into her chuckling mate's chest. "Yeah, that would be my mate," Barricade arrogantly chucks back, rubbing his cheek next to her dimming light. "Hot and … DAMN!"

Chamfer huffs to the delay, "So are we going to get this meeting going or are we going to watch the mush-channel?"

Sangria rolls her optics and snarks back, "And THAT, Chamfer would be why you will forever be single. You have no idea what romance is."

Chamfer narrows his gaze, "Oh I do know what romance is, I just haven't found anyone worth my time. And that goes double for you." With that he walks right past her and into the conference room.

"Did he just-"

"Hit on you, yes," Sliderule teases and follows Chamfer.

Sangria actually flushes. Her mouth flaps a bit and turns, but not before she gets a last look at the perfectly manicured charcoal grey and amber orange mech who turns his helm just enough to wink at her before returning to his pad. Sly bastard! Fumming, the wine colored femme stomps down the stairs.

Barricade chuckles and nuzzles his mate once more, "Oh my goodness! Is this a business or a junior high school?"

Timeflip leans into her mate, "I love you, Barricade."

Snuggling her, he lets her know, "I'll try to be home tonight."

"I'll try to be there too," she teases back.

"If not, I know exactly where to find you and I'll just have to arrest you for dereliction of duty." Her helm rotates up to question him. "Tonight, I want to try for that family."

She wants to protest but the desperation is in his optics. How can she tell him no? She is ready and has been ready, but had been waiting for him. Some how she knew he was waiting for her to say something first. Doesn't matter now, it's all out there now.

"Alright."

"It's going to be alright this time," he encourages. Then one last kiss and he motions to the conference room, "Your team needs you more than ever right now."

"I will not fail them."

He strokes her cheek, "I know… I know." He waits until she enters the room before he leans back against the wall and scrubs his face with his weary palms. Silently he says his own prayers for her mentor and his mate. Megatron's promise… the life he so deserved ripped from his mate's very spark in a petty stupid moment. Damn they better find Skywarp soon.

"And Primus, please give Timeflip a healthy sparkling!"