Part Three:

Remembrance

"I'm here to help my friends, unlike you, I see," Sam pointed out, and Mearing flinched.

"Is that a tone of annoyance I detect? Well, I'm sorry if we got off on the wrong foot, but you should know earth has no need for this alien race anymore. They've done their job by turning our world into a battleground fairly well, don't you think? Take a look in the next room, and you'd see what I mean. Oh, and by the way," her gaze switched over to Optimus, who stared at her calmly, "When are you leaving?"

"I seem to recall the President saying we were able to stay for as long as we wished," he replied, no edge to his tone.

"Well, we all know that if you decide to leave, you can't come back, can you?" Mearing blinked, a triumphant gleam in her evil eyes. Sam started to walk over to her, but Lennox stopped him. Mearing noticed this, and turned curtly to him, saying-

"I hope you are packing your bags, Mr. Witwicky. You are no longer welcome here, especially around you Guardian friend- What's his name?- Bumblebee? Oh yes, well we can't have them dallying before they set off on their long, long journey, can we, Sam?" With each word she spoke, Sam couldn't help but seethe with rage.

"I believe, ma'am, that telling people whether they are needed here or not is my job, but thank you for applying. I'm afraid we cannot take you on," Lennox supplied, his eyes fixed on hers.

"On the contrary, I can tell you whether or not you should be fired, Sergeant." There was a growing crowd, who stared at the unwelcome guest among them with an underlying frame of hatred. This was the woman who almost ended up destroying the world simply because she did not like the guys who fought alongside them on the battlefield in the first place.

"Well, whoever said I was talking about being fired?" he chuckled, "I have the permission from the President himself that if I wanted to take my operations outside of base, then I have the full go ahead. Besides," he looked to Sam, "I've been told my men would go with me, if they wanted, and they would die for these guys." He pointed toward the Autobots, and Mearing flinched. "So I guess that means, you don't have any control over these, what do you call them? Aliens? Just to let you know, Mearing, these guys are our friends, and they mean us no harm, unless they are provoked. Anyways, they've been doing the Presidents business for the past, what, five, six years now? I think they deserve a little freedom, don't you?"

"You are chancing your arm, Lennox. I do hope you know what you're doing. I hope than none of this ends dismally," Mearing replied stiffly.

"I do, because I've been out on the battlefield with these guys, and I trust them with more than my life. I think I could say the same for all my men," he raised his voice a little, where a crowd had now gathered around Mearing, himself, and Sam. Epps joined in behind Lennox, a big grin on his face, clapping a hand on his buddies' shoulder. He loved it when his best friend stood up to guys who thought they knew it all. Out of nowhere, there was a shout, followed by more, raising higher and higher, a chant, smiles, and claps from the forty or so men still left alive after the war. Sam started to clap, his eyes smiling to the obviously human leader here.

They were cheering on Lennox, and Sam looked around, the Autobots seemed mildly surprised, Optimus most of all, his face gliding over all the men who gathered to stand up to the Government Official. About ten seconds later, Lennox leaned into Mearing, and said-

"Go bring that back to someone who'll listen to your stupid ideas." Mearing was positively furious, and Lennox added, "By the way, the kid's staying." Sam smiled again, feeling nothing but gratitude for the man who seemed careless to what 'justice' dictated.

"You'll regret this, Lennox. I mean it when I say I can have your job, everything taken from you. I can have your life ripped to shreds. I don't care who you think you are-"

"Oh, the feelings' mutual, here, ma'am. I really don't care who you think you are. You see, you made some very bad choices a few weeks ago. You chose to let these guys go, when we needed him most. So, I suppose, all of the deaths of everyone here, and everyone still buried under the remains of buildings out there, are all on your head," he emphasised the last few words, and Mearing's eyes widened in fear. She knew he was right, and the way he spoke caused her spine to shiver. There was no feeling there, except for an underlying hint of fierce anger, battling away in his eyes, his hands clenching away.

Epps put a hand on Lennox's elbow, and Lennox turned away, taking in Epps' worried expression.

"It's okay, bro, it's okay," Epps chanted, and Lennox buried himself in a manly one armed hug from him.

"Yeah," Lennox sighed. Sam watched, and sighed, ignoring anything else Mearing said, except for one of the guards slowly trying to lead her out. When she was gone, all her protests and calls for revenge disappearing into the soundless air, it was then that Lennox turned to Optimus.

"I honestly don't know what to say, other than thank you for standing up for us," Optimus filled in. He knew well he could've said something, but there was no chance Mearing would've listened. Lennox laughed, the first laugh that came from his lips.

"Jeez, Optimus, you getting all mushy on us?" he asked.

"Come on, Optimus, you didn't know? We are friends, all of us. We are a team, and teams don't back out, especially when the going gets tough" another stranger from the floor added, and everyone cheered. Sam noticed this was the first time anyone sounded remotely happy since two weeks ago, before the war, or even before that.

Optimus laughed. "I don't know about the 'mushy' bit, as you say, but I do accept the fact we are friends, and we've bonded over the years as more than a team. Thank you, on behalf of all the Autobots here, thank you again."

"Fearless is living in spite of those things that scare you to death," Epps felt like a little man saying big words, but even the Autobots seemed to agree. Bumblebee's radio made a clapping sound, finishing the whole scene nicely.

There was hope, in ways where there wasn't once before. There was a bounce in the Autobot's voices, and even a slight change in Lennox's appearance. He wasn't slightly bent over as he was earlier. He had something to occupy him, just as the others now did. Sam smiled. Maybe this was good news.

A/N: End of Part Three! Part Four shall be named 'Sentiments', and I can't wait to release it! XDD

I do love what Epps said at the very end of this chapter.. I read it in a magazine a long time ago, and I do believe it. I also find it kinda funny, Optimus saying something like "mushy"- snickering- It just doesn't sound like Optimus! Oooooh, if only it happened in the movies, then everything would be ever so sweet! XPP

In the next chapter, there will-FINALLY- be some action between Sam and Bee, although it won't be slash (Well, maybe slightly slash, but not a lot... It might be one-sided, and it might not be... I dunno) God, I just love those two together... I can't seem to get over my MASSIVE obsession with them.

I remember hearing my friends giving out about DotM, and I nearly pulled their skulls off their spines, 'cause I thought DotM was the best in the whole series... I actually loved the 3D and OMG, the surround sound was amazing when it came to the ending scenes! (Going into a seizure)

Sorry, my ranting and raving has absolutely NOTHING to do with the story at hand... So, ahem, I would love it if you could tell me how I'm getting on in this, whether you love it or loathe it, please tell me... All critisim is good critisim, so long as there aren't any flame throwers of doom... XDD

xoxoxox