Chapter Eleven

"Tell me why I have to go to this thing again?" Sam said as she met with Jazz, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker at the Ark's entrance followed by Optimus and Prowl.

"They will only deal with us in person and we will need your assistance with the situation." Prowl explained.

"In other words they're being stubborn pains in the aft." Sideswipe muttered, making Jazz chuckle.

The brown haired woman sighed then chuckled as a thought came to mind, "You know, with all the time I'm spending here helping you guys out I should be a human liaison or something." She joked, missing the thoughtful look between the Autobot leader and Second-in-command. "Anyways, this'll have to be my last…uh…help out for a while since works starting to get…funny about all my 'off hours'." She explained.

"We appreciate all the help you have been giving us, Sam." Optimus said.

"Hey don't worry about it. It's what friends do. Shall we go?"

Optimus gave a nod and the four transformed, Sam got into Sideswipe and they headed off for their destination.

"Argh! Those stupid idiotic…" she growled. She had come across some stubborn people in the past, Red Alert excluded since technically he wasn't a 'person', but these people were beyond belief.

"Everything okay, Sam?" Sideswipe asked as he approached her.

"No everything is not 'okay'. Those people are beyond belief, they refuse to compromise on anything!" nearly shouting as she pointed back at the room.

"I'm sure you'll find a way round. You always do, like the way you did with Red Alert. No one ever expected you to…" he said trying to reassure her.

"That was different, Sides." She interrupted running a hand through her hair and sighing in slight frustration as she looked down at the ground.

"How?"

"Well…he…I…it just was!" she snapped looking up at him.

The Lamborghini chuckled, "How about we take a walk, might help clear your head."

She sighed again as she rubbed her eyes, "Yeah, I could do with a little fresh air. By the way, Sides," she began as they headed out "What happened to your brother, I haven't seen him since we got here."

"Sunny? He's around somewhere, why do you ask?"

"Curiosity. The two of you are hardly ever far away from each other." She took a deep breath as they stepped outside. "Ah, fresh air."

Yo Sunshine, I'd get your aft over here if I was you.

Slag off, Sides. You know perfectly well why I'm keeping my distance.Sunstreaker replied rudely.

Your loss. It was just that Sam was asking about you, she seems concerned that you're not around.

Nice try, but I'm not falling for it. The yellow twin answered annoyed.

The red mech growled making the female look at him in confusion. "Sides? What's wrong?"

"You and Sunstreaker. That's what's wrong. How long are you going to keep this up? The least you could do is talk to him!" Sideswipe said suddenly exploding. "I'm getting fragging tired of this 'I don't want to be near her because it'll upset her' and 'I'm just going to ignore him because he hates me' act the two of you are doing." He was surprised when she chuckled.

"Uh, Sides, you might want to look behind you."

The red Lamborghini turned to see his twin behind him. He gave another small growl and turned back to Sam. "You say those people won't compromise, at least you're talking. The two of you won't even do that!" he then stormed off back inside.

Sam watched him in slight shock, she blink a few times before saying, "I guess he has a point."

Sunstreaker gave a nod.

Inside two mechs watched waiting to see what would happen.

"That's some pretty good actin' there, Sides." Jazz said.

"Acting? I meant every word I said." Sideswipe replied still partly annoyed.

"So do ya think it'll work?"

"I've done everything except stick them in the middle of a battle." The red mech said exasperated "And that's starting to look better everyday."

"I am sure it will not come to that." Another voice said.

Both mechs turned upon hearing the voice. Sideswipe sighed, "I certainly hope so, Prime." Turning back to see Sam walking back in.

"Time to face them again is it?" she said as she saw the Autobot leader who gave a nod. "I'm either going to need a holiday or a raise after this." She joked as she headed back to the room.

Eight hours passed and finally the doors to the conference room opened. The three mechs looked over and were surprised to see a thoroughly exhausted Sam, she looked as though she'd fall over any minute.

Sunstreaker wanted to go over to her, to pick her up and tell her that everything was going to be okay, that she could rest while he took care of things, but he knew that she would just push him away. He couldn't believe it, he lost the one thing he truly loved all because of his stupid temper.

Sideswipe could feel his brother's turmoil and sighed both in frustration and sadness.

"Ya okay, Sam?" Jazz asked.

She gave him a tired smile before saying, "Fine Jazz, everything's just…" her words wondered into a mumble as her eyes closed. She swayed a little before falling backwards startling the three mechs, who all made a dash to keep her from hitting the floor when a blue hand caught her.

Prime looked at the human in his hand, who was now sleeping soundly, then surprised everyone by handing the brown haired female over to Sunstreaker, who hesitantly took her.

"She has worked hard on our behalf." He said.

"So ya mean…" Jazz began, to which Optimus gave a nod.

Sideswipe smiled, "I knew she could do it." Gently stroking her cheek.

A blonde haired man started to approach the four mechs. "Optimus Prime."

Sunstreaker tuned everything out as he stared at the sleeping female in his hand. It had been so long since he last held her, he gently ran a hand over her hair and smiled slightly as she gave a contented sigh.

You need to tell her. A voice suddenly said.

The yellow mech looked up and found himself looking into the blue optics of his twin. After a moment he shook his head.

She'll never want me after what I did.Looking away sadly.

How do you know? Sideswipe asked.

Sunstreaker looked back at his brother in annoyance.

Have you not paid attention the last couple of weeks? He said rhetorically. She wants nothing to do with me! She ignores me when you're together, gives me hated looks whenever she sees me or when you try to include me. She. Hates. Me.

The red twin gave his brother a sympathetic look.

I just can't stand seeing you like this, Bro. He began You love her way more than I do, and yet it's me she wants to be with.

Hm. Isn't that usually how it goes. Sunstreaker said sarcastically. He would have crossed his arms had he not been holding Sam.

She's different and you know it. Sideswipe said getting annoyed. She loves you for you not because…

Can it, Sides the yellow twin interrupted She doesn't love me anymore and never will again. He gave the female to his brother and walked off.

Sideswipe sighed again and looked down at his hand. What am I going to do with the two of you, huh? He thought If I tell you about Sunny's feelings you won't believe me and I'd probably end up losing you again, but if I keep quiet then I'm hurting Sunstreaker. Looking sadly in the direction his brother went off in. It seems I just can't win.

(END)