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...

Seven hours later Sam stirred slowly. Bumblebee whirred happily as he sat up on the berth, peering down into his hand. Not wanting to disturb Sam, who had fallen asleep in his hand before he could make it back to their temporary quarters, Bumblebee had chosen to simply let the youth sleep in his hand while he recharged.

As he was wont to do when waking, especially from a long slumber, Sam stretched. Then he blinked his eyes open. As if suddenly remembering where he was and what had happened, he sat bolt upright, his mind suddenly completely alert.

"Good morning." Bumblebee quoted from some movie or other.

That elicited a lopsided grin as Sam relaxed. "Mornin' Bee."

Sam cocked his head slightly as he hesitantly touched the link between their minds, almost as if he was reassuring himself it was really there. For a moment, Bumblebee feared that now, having had a chance to think on the subject, Sam might have changed his opinion about their bond. But that disappeared when the young human smiled.

His bright brown eyes turned upward to meet Bumlebee's optics. "For a moment there, I was afraid it had only been a dream."

That statement helped settle Bumblebee's lingering concern, making him feel even better about what he was contemplating. Then he noticed Sam looking around curiously. He beeped questioningly.

Sam glanced back up at him. "Did… Was I… Was I sleeping in your hand all night?"

Bumblebee chirped softly. "I did not want to wake you so… I'm sorry, Sam."

Smiling, Sam pat the metal palm he was sitting on. "No, that's alright Bee. It… it was kinda nice."

Bumblebee's doorwings drooped slightly with relief then hitched as Sam's stomach growled. Growled loud enough Bumblebee had no trouble hearing it. Sam grimaced, putting a hand over his abdomen as Bumblebee chuckled at him.

"I guess I need to eat something. What time is it anyway?"

Bumblebee chirped affirmative to Sam's first statement, realizing retrospectively that the strange sensation across the bond was his brother's hunger. "Ten thirty." He supplied the answer to the question. "The mess hall closed thirty minutes ago."

The young man slumped miserably as his stomach growled again. Bumblebee could not help but chuckle. He had grown used to his brother's poor nutritional management and had learned to be ready for such instances. He pulled a bottle of water and two granola bars out of subspace and presented them to Sam.

"Thankfully I came prepared." He teased lightly.

Sam laughed, relaxing completely. "Thanks, big guy."

Sam devoured the proffered foot items quickly and Bumblebee found himself considering his much younger brother.

When he felt Sam's curiosity, he spoke slowly. "Sam, yesterday you were in my processor when Ratchet contacted me. You said you heard him."

"Yeah." Sam nodded, taking a swig of water. "It was weird, like a voice in the head. Well, your head, but like I could hear it too and, er... Yes."

"I would like to try something." Sam nodded his consent, his curiosity clearly piqued. "Prime asked me to inform him when you are ready for our meeting with the others. If this works, it may help prove our point without either of us needing to get defensive."

Sam smiled. "Tell me about it."

So Bumblebee quickly outlined Autobot communications protocol and their policy regarding the of use the silent comm. systems when one of their human allies was involved in the conversation. To Bumblebee's delight, Sam lit up as he explained the details of the plan he had tentatively crafted while he waited for Sam to wake up.

"So, you ready to try it?" Bumblebee asked.

"You know if this works, it means I'll have to be in your head most, if not all, of that meeting." Sam pointed out. "You sure you don't mind?"

Bumblebee nodded firmly. "Autobots have a different approach to the concept of privacy than humans. A spark-bond re-defines those boundaries completely, even for us. What would be unspeakably intrusive for non bonded mechs becomes common and expected within a bond." He could feel some uneasiness in Sam and quickly reassured him. "But since you are human, I will respect your sensibilities and do not want to violate your privacy."

Sam frowned in thought for a moment. "How is that fair? For you, I mean."

The question surprised Bumblebee.

Sam must have felt his confusion for he hurriedly continued. "I mean, how is fair to you not to be able to… uh… I mean…" Sam licked his lips.

"Show me?" Bumblebee softly requested.

Sam stilled, then nodded. Gently, soothing nerves that were still raw from Ratchet's brutal scan the night before, Bumblebee brushed across Sam's thoughts and could feel what it was that was troubling his brother. With a smile and parting, warm mental embrace, Bumblebee shook his head.

"All Brother-bonds are built on respect. Respect for each other and trust. You are human. The idea of someone able to know your most private thoughts troubles you and I understand that. You are my brother. I won't judge you and I won't push you beyond what you are comfortable with. I don't see as intrusive what you would see as intrusive." Bumblebee sobered. "Besides, it will be safer for you to be in my mind until those safe-guards are in place than it will be for me to be in yours."

"But…"

Bumblebee put a finger gently against Sam's back, silencing him. "Trust and respect strengthen spark-bonds. I trust you to be in my processor and respect your perspective on privacy. That will help strengthen the bond because over time it will help you to trust me."

Sam smiled slightly. "So pretty much I should just respect your confirmation that you won't mind me being in your head and trust that you mean it?"

Bumblebee let his amusement at Sam's apt summation bleed across their bond as he nodded. He could feel Sam's acceptance of the new concept and chirped questioningly.

"So, are you ready to try it?" He repeated his question.

Sam nodded. "Just make sure they give me a chance to shower please? I know I reek."

Bumblebee nodded with a smile as he felt the feather-light touch of Sam's mental presence, tentatively at first then with increasing confidence, weave its way into his processors. He felt Sam settle himself and signal his readiness.

With a mischievous smile he could not help, Bumblebee opened his comm. /Prime?/

Optimus' reply was, once again, instant. /Yes, Bumblebee?/

Sam's eyes widened and Bumblebee had to fight to keep amusement out of his transmission. /Sam is awake and is requesting half an hour for personal grooming before the conference./

/Very well./ Optimus seemed mildly relieved. /Please join us in the conference room as soon as you are both ready./

The comm. clicked off.

Bumblebee quirked his antennae questioningly at Sam. "You heard?"

Sam nodded vigorously, an equally mischievous, smile spreading his lips. "Everything."

I know it is short, but this chapter is admittedly a set up for what comes next. The next one will be longer. Please Review.